Cut Quality: Garden Tractor versus ZTR

Rivets

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djdice, if you read my post carefully #4 says it is based on the operator. Most of the "professionals" are in it for the $$$ and they go for speed. The best manicured lawns are cut more than once a week, and then you can go as fast as you want, but it still takes an experienced operator, with a well prepared unit to get the bet job. I'll put my 38" mulching deck on my 16hp tractor against any machine and make it look professional, but it will take me longer, even longer yet if you want it stripped, which is very tough for a zero turn.
 

pugaltitude

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The only good quality cut is made by a cylinder or reel mower.

A rotary style cutting deck is not designed to give you a quality cut but cut grass.
Its what happens after you cut where you get the quality.

Side discharge and mulching usually leaves clumps depending on grass type and conditions.
Also ZTR not designed to collect as no direct collection system.
Collection usually leaves an alright finish but time consuming when you have to empty the collector.

Dont tow with a ZTR. Gearboxes are not really designed for it. They are only designed to cut grass.
 

Brucebotti

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Thanks again for the replies. It looks like I either go with a Garden Tractor, or go with the ZTR and keep my Craftsman Garden Tractor to tow the DR around in the fall.

Maybe I should just get my old 1967 Sears SS-12 going again.

Thanks,
Bruce
 

Ric

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Dont tow with a ZTR. Gearboxes are not really designed for it. They are only designed to cut grass.

Don't tell Dixie Chopper there not designed for towing, the Dixie Choppers can tow or have towing capacity's from 100lbs to 2000lb. Most of the commercial ZTR mowers a have some type of pulling capacity but as I said before there pricey.
 
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Brucebotti

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Don't tell Dixie Chopper there not designed for towing, the Dixie Choppers can tow or have towing capacity's from 100lbs to 2000lb. Most of the commercial ZTR mowers a have some type of pulling capacity but as I said before there pricey.

The Ariens Zoom and XL are rated to tow 300# with a 30# tongue weight. That would be pushing it with my DR.
Bruce
 
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And just to add some "fire" to the "firestorm"(I just know that user Lawn Mower Fanatic will have to respond to this one:0)......what about comparing the "cut quality" of a push mower to a ZTR or Garden Tractor???????

I think the quality of a cut with a push mower compared to a garden tractor or ZTR is the same or maybe even a little better. I know it depends on many variables, like how tall the grass is, how fast you are going, and what the grass type is, but a push mower has a smaller deck which can lead to a better cut.
twin blade.jpg
 
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I use both if you keep your deck adjusted to spec, and your blades sharp either one will do you a good job. I use a ys4500 Craftsman 54", and a Bunton ztr 61", and both cut well the bunton is just faster.
 

djdicetn

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I use both if you keep your deck adjusted to spec, and your blades sharp either one will do you a good job. I use a ys4500 Craftsman 54", and a Bunton ztr 61", and both cut well the bunton is just faster.

wjjones,
I previously used that exact same Craftsman with a mulching kit and it did a very even, well-manicured look cut!! Problem was, if I went a couple of weeks and the grass got a little tall it would "bog down/die" and take 2(sometimes 3) passes to get rid of the clippings. The thing I LOVE about my new Gravely ZTR is that without a mulch kit(due to the high blade tip speed), one pass even at a high travel speed leaves absolutely no trace of grass clippings.....and even more importantly absolutely no grass clipping/dirt/etc. build-up on the underside of the deck like the old Craftsman lawn tractor did(if I didn't clean the deck everytime I mowed with the LT, it would throw/break the belt on the next use).

rivets,
Yeah, I see your point that the operator mowing technique and mower settings are variables that can significantly affect the professional cut look!! On striping.....I may start another thread, rather than creating a sidebar on this one, but I'm curious about how well my Gravely ZTR could produce a striping look. Gravely has a "regular" and a "hex" striper kits that I wish I could get some experience feedback on...but what puzzles me is that my next-door-neighbor has a 15-yr-old Ariens 42" Zoom ZTR and when he mows his grass in a diagonal pattern it produces a professional-looking "striped effect" and he doesn't have any kit installed on that mower at all. I am pretty confused on how he gets that from a "regular" ZTR.
 

txzrider

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both my "regular" ztr's stripe just fine! And I have to believe it is easier with a ztr due to the zero turn.
 
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