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I drove a gravely for the 1st time today

Oct 21, 2021#1

PTmowerMech

Well, the first time I've mowed for a long period of time on one. Spent about 2.5hours on it. It's a 52" cut, IIRC. Decent size Kawasaki engine.

Darn thing bout beat me to death. The landlord said she'd knock $100 off my rent if I mowed her big ass yard. Good grief man, she's got a huge place. And there's some pretty good size bumps. But for the most part it's pretty flat.
What I learned.
It sucks mowing on the side of the ditch. Slips and slides a lot. Not near enough traction.
The grass wasn't too tall. But very thick. The mower had a hard time not losing HP in the thicker stuff. Even when I slowed down.

But the main thing was how uncomfortable it was. I see now why she wanted me to mow it for her. Good grief. Seriously like a tank. In fact, I think a tank maybe better.

I'm getting in my mind to buy a new ztr. But not going to buy a Gravely.

Oct 21, 2021#2

M

MParr

PTmowerMech said:
Well, the first time I've mowed for a long period of time on one. Spent about 2.5hours on it. It's a 52" cut, IIRC. Decent size Kawasaki engine.

Darn thing bout beat me to death. The landlord said she'd knock $100 off my rent if I mowed her big ass yard. Good grief man, she's got a huge place. And there's some pretty good size bumps. But for the most part it's pretty flat.
What I learned.
It sucks mowing on the side of the ditch. Slips and slides a lot. Not near enough traction.
The grass wasn't too tall. But very thick. The mower had a hard time not losing HP in the thicker stuck. Even when I slowed down some.

But the main thing was how uncomfortable it was. I see how why she wanted me to mower for her. Good grief.

I'm getting in my mind to buy a new ztr. But not going to buy a Gravely.

The ride on my Gravely is a big improvement over my former Toro Timecutter HD. My Gravely has a suspension seat and the Toro didn’t. It also handles slopes better than the Toro.
Did you check the air pressure in the tires before mowing?
My Pro Turn has plenty of power.
It’s all about what you are willing to spend on a mower.

Oct 21, 2021#3

Scrubcadet10

if you want good suspension, Toro my-ride....

Oct 21, 2021#4

M

MParr

Yep, the Toro Titan with MyRide would be a good choice. The Titan MAX with MyRide is another. Stay away from the Timecutter.
The Toros may be hard to find. Toro seems to have low inventory. I think that they are trying to fill the gap with Kohler engines where they had Toro branded Loncin 708cc engines.

Oct 21, 2021#5

PTmowerMech

Scrubcadet10 said:
if you want good suspension, Toro my-ride....

I want good suspension. But I also want to have access to the top of the deck.

Oct 21, 2021#6

M

MParr

@PTmowerMech
It sounds like you are describing a Ferris IS700.

Oct 21, 2021#7

PTmowerMech

MParr said:
@PTmowerMech
It sounds like you are describing a Ferris IS700.

You get me excited when you even say the word "Ferris." But, I have doubts about Ferris future. Plus there's not a Ferris dealer anywhere close to hear. I think the closest is like 1.5hrs away.

I don't know why, but I just keep leaning towards Spartan.

Oct 21, 2021#8

7394

Happy Hunting. Many Dealers are struggling to get new stock ..

Oct 22, 2021#9

PTmowerMech

7394 said:
Happy Hunting. Many Dealers are struggling to get new stock ..

TBH, I'll probably end up putting an engine in the Husq, and just keep on going. Letting go of thousands of dollars, jus to cut grass... That's hard to swallow.

Oct 22, 2021#10

Ron3

Probably had dull blades, I’ll adjusted tire pressure, poor engine tune and who knows what else is going own with that particular gravely . I don’t own a gravely but most owners like them. Just my 2 cents.

Oct 22, 2021#11

S

slomo

Had a guy at work get bucked off a 0-turn. Mower kept right on going. Slammed into a nice new Jeep whatever mobile $$$$.

Oct 22, 2021#12

bkeller500

When you get past the entry level ZT's, most brands are very similar. They all pretty much have the same hydros, motors and tires. Deck design varies a little and some convenience things change a little. When you narrow down the choices you focus on 2 or 3 things that you feel are superior but in reality they are not much different. When you get to the Pro models there are other features that the residential models likely do not have. Most important to me is how well the deck is supported and can it be easily leveled, Is there a nice wide chute for the grass to exit, and is the seat comfortable. Some models offer a suspension system or a suspension seat and if you plan to spend a lot of time on your mower, those are a must. The cheap zt's will likely disappoint you so strongly consider a mid-range or higher. If traction is you most important issue due to hills and ditches you will be much happier with a tractor.

Oct 22, 2021#13

PTmowerMech

bkeller500 said:
When you get past the entry level ZT's, most brands are very similar. They all pretty much have the same hydros, motors and tires. Deck design varies a little and some convenience things change a little. When you narrow down the choices you focus on 2 or 3 things that you feel are superior but in reality they are not much different. When you get to the Pro models there are other features that the residential models likely do not have. Most important to me is how well the deck is supported and can it be easily leveled, Is there a nice wide chute for the grass to exit, and is the seat comfortable. Some models offer a suspension system or a suspension seat and if you plan to spend a lot of time on your mower, those are a must. The cheap zt's will likely disappoint you so strongly consider a mid-range or higher. If traction is you most important issue due to hills and ditches you will be much happier with a tractor.

Comfort is a big thing for me. I have a back that's just looking for a reason to start hurting again. I agree on how most are the same. As far as cutting, that's the mowers main objective. They all do that. Even the MTD low end brands.
Comfort, good quality so I don't have to start fixing stuff the few years. Availability of parts (and their prices) and engineered to be able to work on it without a lot of trouble. Like hiding the damn solenoid, no room to get a socket on the starter mounting bolts etc etc

Oct 22, 2021#14

P

pollishpickle

I have a Gravely Proturn 460 and my sister in law has an older Gravely 52 or 54 and I had to mow for her as her husband left her. I used her mower and swore I would never use it again as it has no suspension and mine has an air ride seat it about killed me from the bouncing. My wife ask why I was taking pain pills and I told her that all the bouncing killed my back I used my mower 2 time over there and it was like a dream mowing.

Oct 22, 2021#15

M

MParr

PTmowerMech said:
Comfort is a big thing for me. I have a back that's just looking for a reason to start hurting again. I agree on how most are the same. As far as cutting, that's the mowers main objective. They all do that. Even the MTD low end brands.
Comfort, good quality so I don't have to start fixing stuff the few years. Availability of parts (and their prices) and engineered to be able to work on it without a lot of trouble. Like hiding the damn solenoid, no room to get a socket on the starter mounting bolts etc etc

I just finished 3 acres with my Pro Turn 160. My back isn’t hurting at all. That’s what makes suspension seats a plus. I had a car wreck back in 1977 and had a compression fracture of my 2nd and 3rd lumbar.

Oct 22, 2021#16

PTmowerMech

pollishpickle said:
I have a Gravely Proturn 460 and my sister in law has an older Gravely 52 or 54 and I had to mow for her as her husband left her. I used her mower and swore I would never use it again as it has no suspension and mine has an air ride seat it about killed me from the bouncing. My wife ask why I was taking pain pills and I told her that all the bouncing killed my back I used my mower 2 time over there and it was like a dream mowing.

I used to drive a semi, coast to coast. Weeks and weeks out on the road at a time. I had air ride seats in it. Could raise it, lower it. Put as much air in the cylinder as I wanted. Also, the seat has air bags for the lower back, upper back. It was like a $1200 seat back then (that I got out of a scrap yard for free.)
Anywho, After coming off the road, I was glad to be in my pick up. EXCEPT for the fact that it is a dodge, with what felt like plywood seats.
I wished I could've put that seat in my dodge when I sold the semi. Putting something like that on a ztr, heck yeah.

Oct 22, 2021#17

PTmowerMech

MParr said:
I just finished 3 acres with my Pro Turn 160. My back isn’t hurting at all. That’s what makes suspension seats a plus. I had a car wreck back in 1977 and had a compression fracture of my 2nd and 3rd lumbar.

I don't know what I did to my back, but since before Christmas of last yes, it's been giving me fits. And it's SOO easy to flare up. When it first started hurting, I swear, I couldn't even put my socks on. Much less tie my shoes. When I got able to go to town, I had to go get a pedicure because I couldn't reach my toenails to cut'm.
And now, all of my shoes have to be slip ons.
Most days now, everything starts out good. And I can do just about anything. I get used to that, and BAM!!!!!!!! I do something like trying to lift something heavy, or even reaching down up pull up my sock, and it's over. No rhyme or reason. Just when it wants to.
After mowing that yard for two days, I can feel it coming on. I felt it about an hour before I was done today. It was getting tender.

Oct 22, 2021#18

M

MParr

PTmowerMech said:
I used to drive a semi, coast to coast. Weeks and weeks out on the road at a time. I had air ride seats in it. Could raise it, lower it. Put as much air in the cylinder as I wanted. Also, the seat has air bags for the lower back, upper back. It was like a $1200 seat back then (that I got out of a scrap yard for free.)
Anywho, After coming off the road, I was glad to be in my pick up. EXCEPT for the fact that it is a dodge, with what felt like plywood seats.
I wished I could've put that seat in my dodge when I sold the semi. Putting something like that on a ztr, heck yeah.

There are some models that come with air ride seats. Those mowers are the top of the line. The one on my Pro Turn 160 has a dial you set according to your weight.

Oct 22, 2021#19

M

MParr

Check this out.

Oct 22, 2021#20

PTmowerMech

MParr said:
Check this out.

There is a god.

Oct 22, 2021#21

Scrubcadet10

PTmowerMech said:
There is a god.

No, that's just Mark Sims.......

Oct 22, 2021#22

7394

PTmowerMech said:
I don't know what I did to my back, but since before Christmas of last yes, it's been giving me fits. And it's SOO easy to flare up. When it first started hurting, I swear, I couldn't even put my socks on. Much less tie my shoes. When I got able to go to town, I had to go get a pedicure because I couldn't reach my toenails to cut'm.
And now, all of my shoes have to be slip ons.
Most days now, everything starts out good. And I can do just about anything. I get used to that, and BAM!!!!!!!! I do something like trying to lift something heavy, or even reaching down up pull up my sock, and it's over. No rhyme or reason. Just when it wants to.
After mowing that yard for two days, I can feel it coming on. I felt it about an hour before I was done today. It was getting tender.

Maybe this: "Sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve causing inflammation.

Oct 23, 2021#23

PTmowerMech

7394 said:
Maybe this: "Sciatica" refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve causing inflammation.

I just moved to a new state. So I'll have to switch insurance (more than likely). When I get all that set up, I'm going to go see a doctor about it. The chiropractor I seen a few months ago, took Xrays, that I got to look at. He didn't have much of a medical professional opinion about what he was looking at. (I think he was more of a saleman, than a medical man) But he didn't point out any specific cause for all the pain. I didn't really expect him to, because he was just a chiropractor. But thought his experience would come through and he could point out something major, if there was something major to point out.
LMAO. All he actually did was give me some sales pitch on how I needed 36 "treatments" at $100 a pop, 3 times a week.
So my question to him, after his salespitch was "OK, so what's causing the pain." I stopped listening when he said "It's probably....... "

Oct 23, 2021#24

Otis3d

order a low profile seat suspension on Ebay. I put one on my husqvarna and it rides much better.

Oct 23, 2021#25

M

Mikelk

PTmowerMech said:
Probably has dull blades. I have them sharpened. It’ll make a big difference in the tall grass

Oct 23, 2021#26

Q

qmark

Put a puffer seat on the Gravely. Likely cheaper than trading.

Oct 23, 2021#27

PTmowerMech

qmark said:
Put a puffer seat on the Gravely. Likely cheaper than trading.

It's not mine. It's the landlords. We talked about why I was cutting her grass. I'm pretty sure it's because that darn thing is rough.

Oct 23, 2021#28

U

ukrkoz

Well, everyone, who complains about mowing uneven property, should come here and try mine.
This is why I sold 2 ZTRs. 52'' and 60''. Though they mow well and were great fun to do donuts around trees, after about an hour doing mild storm waves of grading, on my lower 3 acre lot, head felt like as if it were disconnected from the body. Nauseating.
This is how I ended with UTV towing a flail. At least, in UTV, I have normal seats and four corner long run suspension. And, price combined for both, it is still half the price of say 60 inch ZTR with four corner suspension.
As of lack of traction .... the first thing I do on each mower I have is to ditch turf tires and replace them with ATV tires. THEN you have traction. As I have hills too. It's HELL to mow every time. I have to edge fence with rider, 52'' Cub, as UTV with flail does not go into tight corners and, after about a year of edging 6 acre property, steering rods on that Cub bent so much, from hitting high points with the front wheels, that they started pointing about 15 degrees in opposite directions.

Oct 23, 2021#29

Ron3

Sounds like your landlord may want you to fix her gravely. Lol

Oct 23, 2021#30

PTmowerMech

ukrkoz said:
Well, everyone, who complains about mowing uneven property, should come here and try mine.
This is why I sold 2 ZTRs. 52'' and 60''. Though they mow well and were great fun to do donuts around trees, after about an hour doing mild storm waves of grading, on my lower 3 acre lot, head felt like as if it were disconnected from the body. Nauseating.
This is how I ended with UTV towing a flail. At least, in UTV, I have normal seats and four corner long run suspension. And, price combined for both, it is still half the price of say 60 inch ZTR with four corner suspension.
As of lack of traction .... the first thing I do on each mower I have is to ditch turf tires and replace them with ATV tires. THEN you have traction. As I have hills too. It's HELL to mow every time. I have to edge fence with rider, 52'' Cub, as UTV with flail does not go into tight corners and, after about a year of edging 6 acre property, steering rods on that Cub bent so much, from hitting high points with the front wheels, that they started pointing about 15 degrees in opposite directions.

Mild storm waves?

Thanks man, I had to whipe tea off my computer screen.

BTW, when it comes to edging, screw all that. Grass & weed killer works wonders. No more weed eating. At least on the places that's a pain to get to.

Oct 23, 2021#31

PTmowerMech

Ron3 said:
Sounds like your landlord may want you to fix her gravely. Lol

Yes, that was discussed before I even moved in. My brother knows them very well, and he told them about me when he found out this place was for rent.
Anything they need done, that I can do, I do it. And it reduces my rent. $100 for mowing, probably twice a month. Makes the rent only about $350 a month.
Seriously, in Texas right now, this house would rent for no less than $1500 a month.

Oct 24, 2021#32

Ron3

Sounds like you are getting a good deal rent here in East Tennessee rent has gone crazy along with the price of houses.

Oct 24, 2021#33

PTmowerMech

Ron3 said:
Sounds like you are getting a good deal rent here in East Tennessee has gone crazy along with the price of houses.

One I couldn't pass up. So good, I left my girlfriend to move here.

This is the kind of crap I was running into in east Texas. $750 per month.

Oct 24, 2021#34

bkeller500

PTmowerMech said:
I don't know what I did to my back, but since before Christmas of last yes, it's been giving me fits. And it's SOO easy to flare up. When it first started hurting, I swear, I couldn't even put my socks on. Much less tie my shoes. When I got able to go to town, I had to go get a pedicure because I couldn't reach my toenails to cut'm.
And now, all of my shoes have to be slip ons.
Most days now, everything starts out good. And I can do just about anything. I get used to that, and BAM!!!!!!!! I do something like trying to lift something heavy, or even reaching down up pull up my sock, and it's over. No rhyme or reason. Just when it wants to.
After mowing that yard for two days, I can feel it coming on. I felt it about an hour before I was done today. It was getting tender.

Just a side note on your back issue. You wrote an exact description of my back situation from earlier this year. Very much the same. I finally went to Physical Therapy and after 2-months I am now able to put on those sox and tie my shoes and get up off the floor. For your own quality of life....I strongly suggest to talk to a doctor and get into PT and get going on those stretches.

Oct 24, 2021#35

PTmowerMech

SamB said:
All 0-turns ride a bit rougher than a tractor. A good seat makes a world of difference, but still not as comfortable as a tractor-style mower, mostly due to being right on top of the drive axles, whereas the tractors have you sitting between the axles, only getting 50% of the bouncing.

Are you sure about that? Just to double check, I went out and looked at the two riders I have, and both seats are directly over the rear tires. And the only cushion is the seat, seat spring and tires. While most of the ztr's seats are a tad bit in front of the drive tires.

Oct 24, 2021#36

PTmowerMech

bkeller500 said:
Just a side note on your back issue. You wrote an exact description of my back situation from earlier this year. Very much the same. I finally went to Physical Therapy and after 2-months I am now able to put on those sox and tie my shoes and get up off the floor. For your own quality of life....I strongly suggest to talk to a doctor and get into PT and get going on those stretches.

I'm glad you said that. My last doctor was going to get me into PT, but I had to move. So I never got to go. But I didn't understand how that was going to help anything. Because when I could do stuff, it only seem to make it worse.
I suppose it's in how you do stuff, that makes the difference. And a PT would know what to do and what not to do.

Thanks man.

Oct 24, 2021#37

S

SamB

PTmowerMech said:
Are you sure about that? Just to double check, I went out and looked at the two riders I have, and both seats are directly over the rear tires. And the only cushion is the seat, seat spring and tires. While most of the ztr's seats are a tad bit in front of the drive tires.

I'm embarassed! :-( You are so right about the tractors! My Snapper has the seat in the middle. The Snapper is probably the only mower that is set up like that. Ill delete that ill-informed post!

Oct 24, 2021#38

gamma_ray

PTmowerMech said:
Well, the first time I've mowed for a long period of time on one. Spent about 2.5hours on it. It's a 52" cut, IIRC. Decent size Kawasaki engine.

Darn thing bout beat me to death. The landlord said she'd knock $100 off my rent if I mowed her big ass yard. Good grief man, she's got a huge place. And there's some pretty good size bumps. But for the most part it's pretty flat.
What I learned.
It sucks mowing on the side of the ditch. Slips and slides a lot. Not near enough traction.
The grass wasn't too tall. But very thick. The mower had a hard time not losing HP in the thicker stuff. Even when I slowed down.

But the main thing was how uncomfortable it was. I see now why she wanted me to mow it for her. Good grief. Seriously like a tank. In fact, I think a tank maybe better.

I'm getting in my mind to buy a new ztr. But not going to buy a Gravely.

We have an old Hustler Fastrak, and that's the only downside I know of, no suspension other than the tires. You definitely feel any bump or hole the tires encounter. I never thought whether or not other ZTRs have suspension, at least a spring under the seat, like farm tractors.

Nov 1, 2021#39

PTmowerMech

gamma_ray said:
We have an old Hustler Fastrak, and that's the only downside I know of, no suspension other than the tires. You definitely feel any bump or hole the tires encounter. I never thought whether or not other ZTRs have suspension, at least a spring under the seat, like farm tractors.

I've seen a few ztr's with springs on the front casters. And wondered if they helped? Or were just just to keep the wheels on the ground?

Nov 1, 2021#40

7394

Simplicity has front coil overs on base models & higher has coil-overs on all 4 corners. Same for Ferris Commercial, & many others.
I service that Simplicity for a neighbor, not sure if the front only coil springs help much, but IDK for sure.

Nov 2, 2021#41

bkeller500

I just replaced a John Deere tractor X-590 with a Simplicity Courier XT and the 4-corner shock are a big help. On the same lawn and the ride is a little smoother and fewer jolts for sure. The cut is so much better from the Simplicity deck too.!

Nov 2, 2021#42

7394

Nov 6, 2021#43

gamma_ray

PTmowerMech said:
I've seen a few ztr's with springs on the front casters. And wondered if they helped? Or were just just to keep the wheels on the ground?

Since most of the weight is in the back, I bet they would be mostly to maintain front wheel to ground contact, like you say. Who knows though, they may help with the bone-jarring!

Nov 6, 2021#44

gamma_ray

PTmowerMech said:
One I couldn't pass up. So good, I left my girlfriend to move here.

This is the kind of crap I was running into in east Texas. $750 per month.
View attachment 58780

Wow, last year we had trouble keeping renters in a two-bedroom home with a large covered deck and fully fenced-in yard in N. Louisiana for $650/mo.

Finally sold the place.

Nov 8, 2021#45

S

SamB

PTmowerMech said:
Are you sure about that? Just to double check, I went out and looked at the two riders I have, and both seats are directly over the rear tires. And the only cushion is the seat, seat spring and tires. While most of the ztr's seats are a tad bit in front of the drive tires.

So true. My mistake. Tractor-style mowers do indeed have their seats over or even a bit behind the rear axle line. Opps! Only my Snapper RER has it in the middle. Thanks for the correction,PT!

Nov 17, 2021#46

P

parapower

I own 2 old Gravely they both have the original 12 hp Kohler engine and have the 40 inch deck. Both are in excellent condition and run smooth

Nov 24, 2021#47

PTmowerMech

parapower said:
I own 2 old Gravely they both have the original 12 hp Kohler engine and have the 40 inch deck. Both are in excellent condition and run smooth

I suppose "smooth" is an opinion.

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I drove a gravely for the 1st time today

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