eXmark zero turn mowers

Dave 2N · Jun 12, 2008

Anyone had any experience with them?

Gun guru · Jun 12, 2008

I have never owned or operated one but I always see them used by commericial grass cutting operations. (must be pretty good)

Anonymous-0 · Jun 12, 2008

Around here.( Davenport, IA ) The eXmark or JD, commercial ZTR is about all that gets used. I know they are pricey, a 60", 26hp unit will run you about $9500.00. I personally own a Country Clipper which is equal to the others. Mine is a 60", 25hp unit. It uses a "joy stick" for steering, which I liked better than the "twin" stick other models. Mine is almost 6 yrs old and have never had a problem, still has the original belts. Maybe something to think about.

Tom671 · Jun 12, 2008

They are a grass eating machine. We have one on our farm and it get used at least 3-4 times a week around here. It is a X-Mark and it is one tough machine, the only down side to a zero turn is they are not good on hills,(up,down or sideways). Thats just my experience with them. I just stay off the steep hills and banks. Try one out from a local dealer, and remember that the more expense they are the better the machine.

Spook · Jun 12, 2008

seems like most of the commercial cutters around here use them.

RobMD · Jun 12, 2008

They are an awesome machine. I tested one, and I was soooo surprised, that thing ate through everything at 6 mph.

HOWEVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR - the price tag is a TOTAL turn-off for me. I've been fixing up junk lawnmowers that I get for free and run them 'til the wheels fall off.

26Red · Jun 12, 2008

They are good machines. Designed and built in the midwest with American steel. Once you try a zero- turn mower, you will never want to go back to a regular rider. Toro purchased the Exmark company several years ago. So far it has been a good move.

I am biased though, I work for the company.

We have a 72" deck, 27Hp machine at the farm, and so far it's been great. Cutting the grass fun now...

huntingreen · Jun 12, 2008

I used one for a couple years. It was a good machine. It convinced me I needed a zero turn. I bought a Hustler 60 inch cut 24 HP Honda engine. It is faster than the XMark.

John M · Jun 13, 2008

"the more expense they are the better the machine."

You're joking right?

JT · Jun 13, 2008

Not a bad residential machine, if you are gonna use them commercially,they eat a lot of primary drive belts, you always need to have a spare, they bend blades easily, I used to sell them , replaced a lot of hydro pumps, input shaft failures, deck bearings are not replaceable, they force you to buy whole spindle assemblies, their parts are higher than Toro, but are the same company. And they are overpriced for what you get. They are also making a cheap homeowner unit with light hydro transaxles, so if the price is in the 4K range, it is the cheap one. You pay a lot for a "name"
Thre are a lot that are just as good or better quality and lower priced. Hustler, Country Clipper, Dixie Chopper,

OliverGuy · Jun 13, 2008

We use all Toro which is similar to Exmark. Check out those also. There's a lot that is the same, but some is still different. I've been very happy with our Toro's. I've got 9 of them from 60" to 72". Several have 2500+ hours on them and we use them every day. Try a zero turn, you'll like it. These are all commercial machines that I buy, they run $8-9k. I bought a residential one for my Dad and it was $4k. He's been real happy with it--but it only mows 1 acre/week. All my others are collectively mowing over 150 acres/week now. No wonder I feel like I buy a lot blades, etc.

Kentb of SWMO · Jun 13, 2008

Looked at a ExMark at the local L/G dealer I use. It has a little 3 cylinder CAT in it. If you would buy a mower like this and MAINTIAN IT, it would be the LAST lawn mower you would buy. This has a good chance of being the cheapest when the cost is spread over the years Yes, it cost about $14,000. You must remember that many of the 30 year old JD rider that are still earning a living cutting grass cost almost what a car did 30 years ago. A 1967 JD 140 cost near the same as a car.

Kent

Lenny Kirby · Jun 13, 2008

Are you sure it was a cat and not a Kubota? We sell them haven't seen a cat just Kubota..

Rick Kr · Jun 13, 2008

Bought a Ferris, but looked at the exmarks.

If you are going to spend a fair amount of time on it, get the good suspension seat. Exmark has it made with their logo in it.

Local exmark dealer wanted $600 for it. Looked on the back of the seat, made by "Michigan Seat Company, Jackson Mi"

One call Northern tool, got the seat for $340.
Same seat, no logo.

Rick

Kentb of SWMO · Jun 13, 2008

The engine was painted CAT Yellow and said CAT on it. The funney thing is the govener body had a Perkin's tag on it.

Kent

Lenny Kirby · Jun 13, 2008

Huh.. thats a new one... The little CATS are just re badged Perkins.. Cat owns perkins. the backhoe engines are Perkapillars...

eXmark zero turn mowers

Dave 2N

Well-known Member

Gun guru

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Tom671

Member

Spook

Well-known Member

RobMD

Well-known Member

26Red

Member

huntingreen

Member

John M

Well-known Member

JT

Well-known Member

OliverGuy

Well-known Member

Kentb of SWMO

Well-known Member

Lenny Kirby

Member

Rick Kr

Well-known Member

Kentb of SWMO

Well-known Member

Lenny Kirby

Member

Similar threads