Dealer & Mower Recomendations

[jloktalGst]

Like a lot of folks, I started looking for ZTR mower info online and found this site. After reading hundreds of opinions and recommendations, I finally have a reasonable number of (hopefully) intelligent questions. Here goes, 1st what I have; a little over 2.5 acres, with trees, fence, outbuildings etc. Add a few ruts, rocks, concrete and slopes, (so it isn't your local golf course). What I'm trying to do, cut my mowing time down to something less than 1.5 hours, weed eating is extra. How much I'm looking to spend, under $5k, and under 4 would be better. Lastly find a dealer in my neck of the woods that understands what we put up with as it relates to lawns, weather etc., in the North Fort Worth area. With all of that said, this is what I think I have learned, welded deck, biggest engine I can afford, (I'm partial to Kawasaki), and find a good, make that great dealer. Oh yeah, 54 inch deck seems about right. Please let the opinions and advice fly.......

 

[whelch1]

I also was looking in that price range and recently bought a 52"scag freedom z with the Kawasaki 21 horse engine. Only have only used it to cut twice but so far I love it. Built like a tank and has a good ride. Not quite a commercial mower but has the commercial grade deck which was my main priority. Other mowers I considered were the hustler raptor and the bad boy ctz. The scag was $4900 where the raptor could be had for $4000, and the bad boy for $5800.

 

[whelch1]

Sorry it's a 52" with a 21 horse, it's late and I need to get some sleep.

 

[1striper1]

I'm cutting and pasting this from another post I just made on a similar thread...but the advice still applies:

To me, the purchase comes down to which mower offers:

1. Buying it from a reputable dealer who knows their products and offers after sale support
2. A "better" engine. Ask 5 guys which engine they like and you'll get 5 different opinions. For me it's the Kawi FX Series (dual carbs and dual air filtration). STAY AWAY from the B&S Pro Series (an oil burner).
3. Which ZTR has the stronger hydro's. Not knowing exactly which your choices have I can't really offer more. But seeing that you're not mowing for a living any of them are probably OK.
4. Frame build quality.
5. I'd guess that in one of your choices it'll come with a suspension seat? That to me is worth the extra $$ or a worthwhile upgrade.
6. IMO - do NOT get a rear discharge deck unless you see firsthand if the cut quality and clippings meet your expectations

I come back to #1 -- is there a dealer that you have a relationship with?

EDIT - agree on the 54" size

 

[bertsmobile1]

If speed is what you need.
Dixie Chopper - worlds faster mower.
The tag line says it all.
Got a couple in my run, nothing to write home to mom about but the one that I regularly service gives little trouble the other is breakdowns only & he has more problems because he thinks a service is changine the oil.
Trick to reducing the mowing time is to mow frequently.
If you are only knocking off 1 to 2" off 4 to 6" high grass you can run over it at 16 mph about 25 to 40 minutes.
If you ar trying to lop 6' off 10" high grass you will be lucky to do 2 mph.
Keeping the gass at around 4" will mean that you will always be clear of rocks, sticks stone, tin cans, beer bottles and any other debris that seems to accumulate on the grass.
And from a distance it will always look nice & green ( weather permitting).
This speeds up the mowing no end and is a lot easier on the blades and belts as the pulleys run close to inline.
Buying a second set of blades and changing the blut ones for sharp ones will also cut down the mowing time no end and you can then sharpen the blades when you have time ( or send them out ) rather than havine to do it before mowing because they are no longer cutting.

The worst thing you can do to your mower is mowing close so long & often is the clever way to do it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

And if you are only doing your own 2.5 acres consider an ex commercial with a bigger deck, 60" or 72" make a big difference if you can get them around the obstacles on your block.
If you spray, fit a 5 gal drum on the mower with an electric spray pump and hand belt wand so you can spray the fence line at the same time you mow, Saves a lot more time.

 

[Shughes717]

If speed is what you need.
Dixie Chopper - worlds faster mower.
The tag line says it all.
Got a couple in my run, nothing to write home to mom about but the one that I regularly service gives little trouble the other is breakdowns only & he has more problems because he thinks a service is changine the oil.
Trick to reducing the mowing time is to mow frequently.
If you are only knocking off 1 to 2" off 4 to 6" high grass you can run over it at 16 mph about 25 to 40 minutes.
If you ar trying to lop 6' off 10" high grass you will be lucky to do 2 mph.
Keeping the gass at around 4" will mean that you will always be clear of rocks, sticks stone, tin cans, beer bottles and any other debris that seems to accumulate on the grass.
And from a distance it will always look nice & green ( weather permitting).
This speeds up the mowing no end and is a lot easier on the blades and belts as the pulleys run close to inline.
Buying a second set of blades and changing the blut ones for sharp ones will also cut down the mowing time no end and you can then sharpen the blades when you have time ( or send them out ) rather than havine to do it before mowing because they are no longer cutting.

The worst thing you can do to your mower is mowing close so long & often is the clever way to do it.

Dixie chopper's claim to be the worlds fastest mower is totally false. Pull up zero turn mower race 2011 and watch dixie chopper come in last place. First place hustler super z, second scag cheetah. John Deere and xmark are pretty close together, but the " worlds fastest mower" gets smoked. Besides non of that really matters much anyway. All of them have a similar blade tip speed, and if you go much faster than 10 mph while mowing it's going to look horrible. Dixie chopper has one mower that has two engines on it that has a transport speed of 25mph, but that thing cost as much as a new car and won't mow any faster than the others. The rest of dixie's line is no faster than any other brand. Not saying they aren't well made, but their claim to be the fastest is just false.

 

[Shughes717]

Like a lot of folks, I started looking for ZTR mower info online and found this site. After reading hundreds of opinions and recommendations, I finally have a reasonable number of (hopefully) intelligent questions. Here goes, 1st what I have; a little over 2.5 acres, with trees, fence, outbuildings etc. Add a few ruts, rocks, concrete and slopes, (so it isn't your local golf course). What I'm trying to do, cut my mowing time down to something less than 1.5 hours, weed eating is extra. How much I'm looking to spend, under $5k, and under 4 would be better. Lastly find a dealer in my neck of the woods that understands what we put up with as it relates to lawns, weather etc., in the North Fort Worth area. With all of that said, this is what I think I have learned, welded deck, biggest engine I can afford, (I'm partial to Kawasaki), and find a good, make that great dealer. Oh yeah, 54 inch deck seems about right. Please let the opinions and advice fly.......

Before we start naming possible mowers to consider we would need to know what brands you have available in your area. Great dealer support starts with local dealers. You don't want to have to drive 100 miles for parts.

 

[Shughes717]

And if you are only doing your own 2.5 acres consider an ex commercial with a bigger deck, 60" or 72" make a big difference if you can get them around the obstacles on your block.
If you spray, fit a 5 gal drum on the mower with an electric spray pump and hand belt wand so you can spray the fence line at the same time you mow, Saves a lot more time.

No need to get a 60" mower for 2.5 acres. I mow over 4 acres with a commercial 48" snapper pro s150xt in 2 hours and 15 minutes. I have slopes, numerous trees, kids playground equipment, and a lot more obstacles. The op can get a new mower for 4 to 5k and suit his needs perfectly.

 

[Ric]

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