Buying New ZTR - around $5,000 - deciding end of May

[RatRacer]

Congrats on the end of the spec wars! Don't be a stranger, now that you got what you need. Keep us up on the trials and tribulations on the learning curve.

And of course, we need to add the old.....

 

[djdicetn]

DONE!:smile:
WOW...I am wore out from deciding on a ZTR...who knew there were so many choices?...i didn't, but I do now!

We ended up with a GRAVELY Pro-Turn 48.
It was a very hard decision, especially price, ended up being about $6,400.
With about 2500 down, my payments will be about $83 a month.
Lawn Mower Fanatics reply helped with what people pay to have their grass cut......and they don't get the fun of doing it or a mower!!!
My brother told me a lady he knows pays around $400 a CUT!!!!... yes, her yard is very large - but that just blew my mind!!

We used it yesterday and we were done cutting grass before we knew it!.....and that was at beginner, slow speed!
Djdicetn- I have to admit when I first read you first experience with the ZTR i really didn't understand, BOY I sure do now!! i can totally relate!
For me, it can still be alittle slower, but i will take it as slow as I can until I get the hang of it......they fly!!
We are also glad that we stayed with the 48" cut instead of going bigger. Our place isn't very "mower friendly" and the 48" is perfect for us.

I'm also glad that we got from a dealer, instead of a big box store. I now realize how important a dealer is , especially with such big purchase.

Thank you all VERY, VERY much for helping us,
- fry
p.s.....I' still love the Kubota Kommader, and if I win the lotto - that will be our second mower!!

Fry,

Congrats...and welcome to the growing Gravely clan:0)
On the speed....make SURE you are running the engine at full throttle when mowing(for blade cutting speed), just don't press the lap bars forward very much and you'll still "mow going at a slow speed" until you get used to it!!

 

[fry]

]

Fry,

Congrats...and welcome to the growing Gravely clan:0)
On the speed....make SURE you are running the engine at full throttle when mowing(for blade cutting speed), just don't press the lap bars forward very much and you'll still "mow going at a slow speed" until you get used to it!!

Thank you - I did do better today feeling comfortable at a slow speed - I plan to take it slow for a while!
........and here's some pictures of her......
....well, maybe not - i'm not sure if the pictures are attaching.....I select upload and it doesn't seem to be taking.....must be an operator issue!
I'll see if I can put them in an album on my profile.

No that didn't work either. :-(.

....finally I got them to come up......a lot smaller than I thought...but they are on here!

 

[Brucebotti]

DONE!:smile:
WOW...I am wore out from deciding on a ZTR...who knew there were so many choices?...i didn't, but I do now!

We ended up with a GRAVELY Pro-Turn 48.
It was a very hard decision, especially price, ended up being about $6,400.
With about 2500 down, my payments will be about $83 a month.
Lawn Mower Fanatics reply helped with what people pay to have their grass cut......and they don't get the fun of doing it or a mower!!!
My brother told me a lady he knows pays around $400 a CUT!!!!... yes, her yard is very large - but that just blew my mind!!

We used it yesterday and we were done cutting grass before we knew it!.....and that was at beginner, slow speed!
Djdicetn- I have to admit when I first read you first experience with the ZTR i really didn't understand, BOY I sure do now!! i can totally relate!
For me, it can still be alittle slower, but i will take it as slow as I can until I get the hang of it......they fly!!
We are also glad that we stayed with the 48" cut instead of going bigger. Our place isn't very "mower friendly" and the 48" is perfect for us.

I'm also glad that we got from a dealer, instead of a big box store. I now realize how important a dealer is , especially with such big purchase.

Thank you all VERY, VERY much for helping us,
- fry
p.s.....I' still love the Kubota Kommader, and if I win the lotto - that will be our second mower!!

Congratulations! I'm sure that you will love it. Hard to believe that now you can look forward to mowing...:laughing:

I laughed when I first read Djdicetn's "encounter" on his maiden voyage. After that, when I got my ZTR, I totally understood. Thank God for the low speed..:smile:
Bruce

 

[djdicetn]

View attachment 14770View attachment 14769]

Thank you - I did do better today feeling comfortable at a slow speed - I plan to take it slow for a while!
........and here's some pictures of her......
....well, maybe not - i'm not sure if the pictures are attaching.....I select upload and it doesn't seem to be taking.....must be an operator issue!
I'll see if I can put them in an album on my profile.

No that didn't work either. :-(.

....finally I got them to come up......a lot smaller than I thought...but they are on here!

Good looking machine fry!!! BTW, in Information Systems we call "computer-challenged" users a "PICNIC"...behind their backs(an acromym that stands for Problem In Chair Not In Computer:0)
A little "recommendation" on the Pro-Turn(this is my opinion and may not represent that of management)...when you "store the ZTR" between mowings(and particularly over the winter) put the deck height at the very highest setting(5 and1/4" I think) instead of at the lowest setting. You'll notice that this takes all of the "stretching" out of the deck leveling/stabilizing springs on each side of the mower. Even though these are really heavy-duty springs, IMHO storing them "completely relaxed" can only make them last longer without getting "stretched" and losing some of their tension ability. If you store the ZTR with the deck at it's "lowest" setting, I would think over time those springs could be adversely affected by remaing stretched for so long. Probably not a big deal, but if you are like me I want all that money I spent to be not in vain if I could have prevented a maintenance "problem" by a little foresight.

 

[exotion]

Good looking machine fry!!! BTW, in Information Systems we call "computer-challenged" users a "PICNIC"...behind their backs(an acromym that stands for Problem In Chair Not In Computer:0)
A little "recommendation" on the Pro-Turn(this is my opinion and may not represent that of management)...when you "store the ZTR" between mowings(and particularly over the winter) put the deck height at the very highest setting(5 and1/4" I think) instead of at the lowest setting. You'll notice that this takes all of the "stretching" out of the deck leveling/stabilizing springs on each side of the mower. Even though these are really heavy-duty springs, IMHO storing them "completely relaxed" can only make them last longer without getting "stretched" and losing some of their tension ability. If you store the ZTR with the deck at it's "lowest" setting, I would think over time those springs could be adversely affected by remaing stretched for so long. Probably not a big deal, but if you are like me I want all that money I spent to be not in vain if I could have prevented a maintenance "problem" by a little foresight.

That's a good point, just like bungee cords when parking my trailer I always release them I hardly ever have to replace them. When storing it for winter be sure to drain and burn your gas and clean clippings as they will eventually corode and or be a pita to clean up.

 

[fry]

Tips and Recommendations always welcome and VERY MUCH appreciated.....that is why I absolutely LOVE this forum.
Okay.......to review:
Before mowing, we:
-Check the gas and oil
After mowing, we:
-Blow the mower off real well and wipe down.
-Raise the deck to the highest setting.
Before storing, we:
-Raise the deck to the highest setting
-Make sure mower is clean on top and underneath.
-Burn all the gas out.
I'll admit, I've got a lot to learn, so PLEASE let me know what I need to add to my list!

 

[exotion]

Tips and Recommendations always welcome and VERY MUCH appreciated.....that is why I absolutely LOVE this forum.
Okay.......to review:
Before mowing, we:
-Check the gas and oil
After mowing, we:
-Blow the mower off real well and wipe down.
-Raise the deck to the highest setting.
Before storing, we:
-Raise the deck to the highest setting
-Make sure mower is clean on top and underneath.
-Burn all the gas out.
I'll admit, I've got a lot to learn, so PLEASE let me know what I need to add to my list!

Don't forget routine maintenance frequent oil changes blow out air filter maybe replace air filter once a year. Sharpen blades frequently visual walk around see if anything is amiss. I didn't read if you have a. Bagger but if you do keep the chute and bags clean. Check air pressure. Lube zerks if any make sure engine isn't dirty in the air sinks I'm sure I'm missing some I'm really tired

 

[djdicetn]

Tips and Recommendations always welcome and VERY MUCH appreciated.....that is why I absolutely LOVE this forum.
Okay.......to review:
Before mowing, we:
-Check the gas and oil
After mowing, we:
-Blow the mower off real well and wipe down.
-Raise the deck to the highest setting.
Before storing, we:
-Raise the deck to the highest setting
-Make sure mower is clean on top and underneath.
-Burn all the gas out.
I'll admit, I've got a lot to learn, so PLEASE let me know what I need to add to my list!

You got most of it down pat...but as user exotion pointed out be sure you do ALL of the maintenance like air filters, etc. according to the Owner manual or Engine Manual that came with it. I don't know about yours, but mines got a little "switch" in the engine area that has "Right Tank"/"Left Tank"/"Off" for switching gas delivery from one side to the other. When I stored mine last winter I just turned it to off, ran the engine until it ran out of gas and then made sure I had adequate fuel stablilizer in both tanks(if they both still had gas). But you can do whatever is recommended in the Owner Manual or what feels right to you(I thought it was a bit of overkill to drain/throw away unused gas since I use "non-ethanol" and always add Stabil to every tank). Also, I HIGHLY recommend that if you can find a gas station that sells "non-ethanol" gas nearby, run it instead of regular unleaded with ethanol. Your Kawasaki will thank you for the little bit extra money you spent on what it drinks!!!