I'm new to this site. I maintain 5 ZTRs. A 2004 Dixon RAM 44 with a 18 h.p. Briggs, 2003 Dixon 3536 with a 15 h.p. Briggs, 2004 Toro 38" with a 14 h.p. Briggs, 2015 Ferris IS3200Z 61" 35 h.p. Kawasaki and a 2015 Hustler SD 54 with a 21 h.p. Kawasaki. I could hardly wait to purchase a Hustler after being so disappointed with my last Dixon RAM 44 and experience the Kawasaki motors.
First thing that happens is the 35 h.p. Kaw breaks a valve spring and has to have the whole engine replaced at about 80 hours. Now the Hustler's hydrostats stop operating with 170 hours. Now I wished I had been a little more selective with this purchase. I was told when purchasing the Hustler nobody is installing grease fittings any longer. Then when we purchased the Ferris I find it has about 20 or more fittings.
I'm also not so sure about the Kawasaki engines being so much better than the Briggs and Kohler. The only problems I've had with the Briggs engines is I had to add fuel shut off valves to keep the engines from hydro-locking with fuel from leaky carb needle valves. The 15 h.p. had a compression release stick on its first tank of fuel. Not a problem since. The 18 h.p. has to be filled a little short on oil or on hills or slopes it fogs the combustion chamber with oil.
Out of all of these the Toro is the least built, no oil filter, stamped deck, but has not had one problem. Of course it doesn't get used as much as the others, but still is a 2004 and still runs and operates fine. The Dixon 3536 is built like a tank and is of the old Dixon quality. The RAM 44 has a lot of poor design flaws. This is when Dixon tried changing from plastic to steel bodies, wanting their mowers to look like others. They had a very good design and should have stayed with it. Now their not even in the running for high quality machines.
Preacher
First thing that happens is the 35 h.p. Kaw breaks a valve spring and has to have the whole engine replaced at about 80 hours. Now the Hustler's hydrostats stop operating with 170 hours. Now I wished I had been a little more selective with this purchase. I was told when purchasing the Hustler nobody is installing grease fittings any longer. Then when we purchased the Ferris I find it has about 20 or more fittings.
I'm also not so sure about the Kawasaki engines being so much better than the Briggs and Kohler. The only problems I've had with the Briggs engines is I had to add fuel shut off valves to keep the engines from hydro-locking with fuel from leaky carb needle valves. The 15 h.p. had a compression release stick on its first tank of fuel. Not a problem since. The 18 h.p. has to be filled a little short on oil or on hills or slopes it fogs the combustion chamber with oil.
Out of all of these the Toro is the least built, no oil filter, stamped deck, but has not had one problem. Of course it doesn't get used as much as the others, but still is a 2004 and still runs and operates fine. The Dixon 3536 is built like a tank and is of the old Dixon quality. The RAM 44 has a lot of poor design flaws. This is when Dixon tried changing from plastic to steel bodies, wanting their mowers to look like others. They had a very good design and should have stayed with it. Now their not even in the running for high quality machines.
Preacher
