2022 Bad Boy Elite 54" steering complaints

Curt1940

Member
Joined
May 26, 2023
Threads
4
Messages
16
My ZTR has a 14" travel on the steering handles from full forward to full reverse. My old ZTR's 2006 Ferris & 2017 Scag TigerCat II both have about a 6" travel on the handles. I cannot stand this much travel, my arms are fully extended in forward and the handles hit by body in full reverse. I have had to start using my other mowers, my new Elite has only 19 hours on it and I'm ready to sell it if I can't remedy the problem. Are there any mods that can be made to shorten the stroke.
Curt
 

BigBlueEdge

Active Member
Joined
May 27, 2015
Threads
6
Messages
69
Have you contacted your dealer or Bad Boy directly to ask about adjustments? I know on my Rogue there are various steering lever-related adjustments but I don't know what they really do because I haven't had any issues to fix.
 

Curt1940

Member
Joined
May 26, 2023
Threads
4
Messages
16
i have only contacted my dealer but didn't get any results. I will contact Bad Boy and see if they can help. I've had zero turns since 1995, my first being a Dixie Chopper, my second being a 2006 Ferris, my third a 2017 Scag, all being commercial rated, and now the Bad Boy Elite, rated as a residential mower but built like a commercial. All the others had very short (about 6-7 inches of steering travel) versus the Bad Boy being 15 inches. I cannot get used to that much travel between full forward and full reverse. I hope Bad Boy can help as I would hate to lose so much money on a mower with only 19 hours on it. Thanks for the reply.
 

Bertrrr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
391
Been running Bad boys for about 10 years now and never ran across this issue. Most of these zero turns have mechanical stops / adjustments on the arms to keep them equal for traveling in a straight line. If I had to guess you could shorten the arms so the travel would be less drastic , sounds like something is out of adjustment , I'll look at mine today and see how it's set up.
 

Curt1940

Member
Joined
May 26, 2023
Threads
4
Messages
16
I'm aware of the mechanical stops. The mower travels in a straight line, but the distance between full forward and full reverse on the handles is about 15". My other mowers (Ferris & Scag) are about 6-7". This makes it much easier to maneuver around obstacles and to go in reverse without the handles hitting my body. I guess my arms are too short lol. Thanks for the reply.
 

Bertrrr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2021
Threads
4
Messages
391
I looked at mine - it's a Magnum and total travel is about 12 inches or thereabouts , from Neutral position back and forward seems to be about 6 inches each so I guess that is normal
 

Curt1940

Member
Joined
May 26, 2023
Threads
4
Messages
16
Guess I will take a loss and put it up for sale, I will keep using my 17 year old Ferris IS1500Z and 6 year old Scag Tiger Cat ll, both much faster and with 1/2 the steering arm travel. I really wanted the Bad Boy Elite to be my go to mower but It won't happen. Thanks to all who responded.
 
Top