Recent content by MParr

Z930M or Z950M, if you want a John Deere. With a 3 acre yard, a commercial grade mower is the way to go. A suspension seat, 60” deck and a minimum of 25 hp engine.

The first thing that you could do is to clean the deck top off, in order to see exactly what’s going on. Please clean it off and send another picture. The belt is shot. Those pulleys and spindles need to be checked for binding up or slop. Those two idler pulleys look to be as old as the deck and...

If you take care of it, it should last a long time. It’s powered by a single cylinder Briggs and Stratton engine. My dad had a D100 and my sister inherited it. It’s 21 years old and still running. However, it’s on it’s third mower deck.

Is the tire salvageable? Can the tire be patched and a tube be put in?

You can fit a 23x10.5-12 easily. A 4 ply rating at minimum. The Bad Boy Reaper tires are a specialty item. Toro and Hustler have similar tires. Bad Boy and their dealers would love for you to buy exact replacements.

You can probably buy 2 new tires that will work fine. Golf cart tires. ATV tires. Kenda or Carlisle turf tires should run about $90 to $120 each. Those Bad Boy Reaper tires are pretty expensive.

What is the original tire size?

Replacing rear tires on riding mowers can be a headache. Sometimes, buying the exact same tire brand and size won’t match the circumference of the existing good tire. Going to another brand of the same marked size can be a little worse. Some people buy rear tires in pairs. Filling the new tire...

And, that’s why mower manufacturers have different speed numbers on units equipped with the same hydros. Different branded machines equipped with exactly the same hydros will have different sized tires and some will weigh a little more than others. That’s where some of the different ground speed...

Maximum speed on a Hydro-Gear ZT3100 is 9 MPH. How much a mower weighs and how the manufacturers set up their mowers determines the actual speed. https://www.hydro-gear.com/product/zt-3100/ The Hydro-Gear ZT2800 has a maximum speed of 8 MPH. https://www.hydro-gear.com/product/zt-2800/

It’s damn sure cocked sideways. You will need to pull it off and see how much damage there is and what needs to be replaced. I think that you may find the deck top to be warped a bit. The carriage bolt goes up through the deck and that area is not reinforced. The constant pressure from the belt...

I have no doubt that you will have the engine running as it should and the cut quality will improve, as a result.

This link takes a little long to load. Look on page #23. Your particular engine is not listed. The reason for that is John Deere has a special model number for their Briggs supplied engines...

There are no filters on the Hydro-Gear EZT hydros. The fluid can be changed however, the hydros must be removed from the machine, the fill port bolt must be removed and the hydros must be dumped. It’s possible to use a fluid extractor without removing the hydros. Refill with 20W50 engine oil or...

Exactly the sort of wear that I was expecting. I’m sure that the bolts have some wear too.

The Bad Boy ZT Elite is a residential mower, equipped with Hydro-Gear ZT3100 hydros. A speed of “up to” 7 mph is just about right. If you want speed, you would need to move up to the Maverick and Maverick HD to start seeing an increase in ground speed. If you have a bumpy lawn, 7 mph is about...

I have copied a link to a parts diagram. This may or may not be for the OP’s actual mower, model number and serial number are needed to confirm. The belt, pulleys, mounting bolts, and bar must be removed and inspected for wear. Again, model number and serial number are required for correct...

You are going to need to get the assembly off and check for wear in the assembly and/or bolts. You may get lucky and only have to replace the bolts. You will need the model number and serial number in order to get the correct parts.

Pull the belt off and check for play in the pulley. If there is play, replace the pulley.

Exactly. At 3600 they develop peak horsepower. Peak torque comes in around 3100. This is according to Briggs and Stratton. However, try 3300 RPMs and see how it cuts. You certainly don’t want to have your customer blow an engine straight out of your shop. What @Will1988 said about the Gator type...

I can understand liking the Gator type blades for leaves. A deck leveling adjustment and raising the RPMs will help some.

I would have to say those blades aren’t producing enough lift. RPMs are a little low. Is the deck leveled properly? Are there any holes sandblasted into the deck top? Installing GX21785 high lift blades will improve the cut. The GX21786 mulching blades will work also. I’m not sure if Rotary or...

A 3/8” torque wrench will work. You are looking at anywhere between 45 lb.ft. to 55 lb.ft. depending on the bolt size. You don’t necessarily need an impact driver to remove the bolt. All you have to do is prevent the crankshaft from turning. The Double D setup as mentioned above will make it...

That particular filter crosses to a NAPA Gold 1056, FRAM PH8710. https://www.barrettsmallengine.com/p/fram-ph8170-oil-filter.html If you can fit a 1/2” longer filter, go with a FRAM TG3614, Super Tech ST3614, or STP S3614.

I agree with you. However, some customers aren’t very knowledgeable and expect to see a Kohler filter on a Kohler engine or Kawasaki filter on a Kawasaki engine, or B&S filter on a B&S engine.

What I used on my two former Loncin powered Toros were FRAM TG4967 or STP S4967. There can be problems with oil filter compatibility on the Loncin engines. Some filters that are supposed to fit won’t work. The base plate will bottom out before the gasket can compress enough to seal. Check the...

You have two options. One is to adjust your tire air pressure up or down. That won’t change your settings a whole lot. Too much pressure and you get a rougher ride. Too little pressure and that could cause the tire to come off of the rim. The second option is to re-level your deck. That means...

Let me add something. If you are the mower owner and do your own oil changes, any aftermarket filters that are the same outside diameter and have the same diameter and thickness of the sealing gasket as the OEM oil filter, they will work just fine. If you own a repair shop, using OEM filters...

I certainly don’t have a problem using the Super Tech ST3614. Right now Kohler is contacting Champion Labs to make their oil filters. In the past Kohler had FRAM make their oil filters. Whichever company gives Kohler the best price for their specifications gets the contract.

The Super Tech and Kohler filters are made by Champion Labs. Put them side by side or cut them open. The only differences are the cost and paint colors.

What’s the Kohler part number? Some Kohler engines use a short filter. That’s usually done for clearance issues. If you have enough clearance, I would use the standard length filter. I’m using a Super Tech ST MP3614 on my Kohler Confidant ZT740. FRAM TG3614, NAPA Gold 1348, WIX 51348, STP S3614...

3600RPM no load conditions. If you bought it from a servicing Ariens/Gravely dealer, take it back to them for adjustment.

The deck is probably lower in the back. Make sure the deck is not packed with grass clippings. Adjust the tire pressure to recommended psi. Adjust deck according to the operators manual. If you are using Gator type blades, that can also lead to front blowout.

Good choice.

Possible blown head gasket. Things to look for:

You will be hard pressed to get the actual cutting height to match your deck selector setting. I doubt that you have enough adjustment to raise the deck 2”. You may be able to get it a little higher and maintain the level and pitch. Raising it to much can put the deck lift in a bind. I had to...

Stanley/Black and Decker bought both MTD and Excel Industries (Hustler and Big Dog). I doubt there will be any cheapening of the Hustler and Big Dog commercial units. There will probably be some changes to the residential units.

All three are good units. The Bad Boy Maverick HD with the Honda EFI is something that I would avoid. The Honda engine is to new to the market to recommend. The Maverick HD also comes with a carbureted Kohler Command. I would recommend it over the Honda EFI. Plus the Kohler equipped model will...

2,4-D amine + surfactant for The broadleaf weeds. Garlon 3A + surfactant for the broadleaf weeds. Glyphosate + surfactant is non-selective. That means it takes out everything. Glyphosate is not harmful to pets or wildlife. Urban legend says it is. Then there is the mix of diesel fuel and burnt...

Walmart is China’s best customer. I like going to my local Ace Hardware for many items. My local Ace Hardware is also a NAPA Auto Parts. My local Gravely/Ariens/Toro dealer and local Hustler/Exmark dealer have decent prices on oil, oil filters, fuel filters, air filters, and spark plugs.

MSMA 6 Plus is a good product. If the majority of your grass is Bermuda, it will take out the Johnsongrass and Bahai grasses. You don’t want to apply it to Centipede or St. Augustine grasses. Rodeo is an aquatic labeled herbicide. It’s actually an aquatic labeled glyphosate product. You will...

Page 19 on the link @sgkent posted.

Page 21 Lengthen the push rods. Pay particular attention, this also adjusts your tracking. So, you will have to match it up for your mower to run straight. https://badboymowers.com/images/manuals/2017_manuals/BBM-MANUAL_ZT_Elite_2017.pdf

Have you consulted your operators manual? It should be in there. Also, what hydrostatic transmissions are on the mower?

Look at the parts drawing that @StarTech put up on page 3. Do you see the electric pigtail going to the electric clutch? Have you consulted your operators manual?

If you can get some Target 6 Plus (MSMA 6 Plus), it will take care of that Johnsongrass. Always follow the label directions. If you really want to buy a Bad Boy mower, the dealer may bring you out a demonstrator to try out. It wouldn’t hurt to ask. At a minimum, the Bad Boy Maverick HD 60 would...

@Hammermechanicman has the best advice. A shared reservoir can mean that the other pump has been contaminated.

Uh oh! Metal shavings in the reservoir is not a good sign. Is your machine still under warranty? I hope that there has been regularly scheduled fluid and filter changes done. Changing the fluid and filters will be fairly expensive and may or may not save that hydro. It could prevent the same...

@Fastrak1972 This link is just a guide. It shows Kawasaki’s oil recommendations chart. The brand oil, whether it’s conventional, semi-synthetic, or full synthetic doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the oil is changed every 100 hours or at the end of the season. And, that the proper oil...

There’s nothing wrong with a semi-synthetic oil. The Kawasaki oil has high levels of zinc and phosphorus and better for your air cooled engine than regular automotive engine oil. Some 15W40 heavy duty diesel oils have high zinc and phosphorus content. Shell Rotella T5 and Motorcraft Super Duty...

Stens and Rotary are aftermarket parts dealers, manufacturers, distributors. You need to confirm the dimensions of your new belt. Also, give us the numbers off of the new belt. You could have the wrong belt. If the belt is correct and you are still having problems, take it to your local Hustler...

1: Hustler belt part # 2: Stens belt part # 3: Rotary belt part # 4: Actual belt dimensions If your new belt is not 140.77” long and 5/8” wide, it’s the wrong belt. You should make sure that there is no belting material around the electric clutch brake (PTO). Make sure that your PTO switch is...

Hustler Belt part #791988 Stens part #265-336 Rotary part #15190 5/8” x 140.77 (140 & 49/64”)

My dad owned a John Deere D100 with a 42” deck. His lot was one acre and had sandy soil. He would go through two sets of blades a year. I had to replace the deck because the sand blasted two holes in the deck top. There was now way that it could be repaired. That mower is 22 years old and still...

I was at my Gravely dealer buying service parts, yesterday. I asked the owner about my former Pro Turn 160. He said that, he had it at his house and it was running fine for three hours. My last visit, he said it was on it’s second Yamaha engine and that one was running bad. He finally told me...

They are worn out. That’s what continuous sand blasting does.

BKR5E No experience yet. I have two waiting to go in my Gravely Pro Turn 260 (Kohler ZT740). I really wanted the Champion XC12YC but, the NGK was all the Gravely dealer had. I don’t see why they wouldn’t perform as well as the Champion plugs.

Zip tie?

I would pick the Scag.

If it won’t lock into place, take a small pair of locking pliers on the bypass lever, when you pull it back. The pliers should hold the shaft against the frame.