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I have a small lot 1/2 acre mostly flat but one section drops off to the road. Lots of things to go around and I hate trimming. I am too lazy for a mulching push mower so my wife bought me a 42" tractor type at the John Deere store. It scalps and leaves dirt spots where there are high spots in the yard. I see Zero turns, commercial walk behinds, stand ons and such, someone point me in the right direction, I Hate mowing right now.

Audioi said:

I have a small lot 1/2 acre mostly flat but one section drops off to the road. Lots of things to go around and I hate trimming. I am too lazy for a mulching push mower so my wife bought me a 42" tractor type at the John Deere store. It scalps and leaves dirt spots where there are high spots in the yard. I see Zero turns, commercial walk behinds, stand ons and such, someone point me in the right direction, I Hate mowing right now.

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Mowing a lawn with a zero turn mower is almost as much fun as you can have on a lawn mower. However, even the residential grade zero turns will cost twice as much as a residential tractor mower. You don't have a large lawn, so you don't need to get crazy by going for a commercial ztr with a 60" deck. We can help you, but we need a little more info. What is your budget, and what dealers do you have in your area? Even with a zero turn you will have to do some trimming, unless you spray round up around the obstacles you have to mow around. If you are having a problem with scalping look for mowers with anti scalping wheels mounted on the front, and back of the deck.

Shughes717 said:

Mowing a lawn with a zero turn mower is almost as much fun as you can have on a lawn mower. However, even the residential grade zero turns will cost twice as much as a residential tractor mower. You don't have a large lawn, so you don't need to get crazy by going for a commercial ztr with a 60" deck. We can help you, but we need a little more info. What is your budget, and what dealers do you have in your area? Even with a zero turn you will have to do some trimming, unless you spray round up around the obstacles you have to mow around. If you are having a problem with scalping look for mowers with anti scalping wheels mounted on the front, and back of the deck.

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I would like to keep it at $5k or less, we have all the high end. ferris, gravely, scags, xmark and so on plus lots of mid & low stuff.

1/2 acre? and you want a ztr?

If your physically capable consider the toro grandstand.They are really maneuverable and are commercial quality.If I had it all to do over would likely go this way for my 1.6 acres. Given their quality I wouldn't hesitate to go used.

Get a good used Snapper RER, they are fun to use, and you will have to beat the chicks off with a club!!!

Fish said:

1/2 acre? and you want a ztr?

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I don't necessarily want a zero turn that was my original question which direction to head?

From the sounds of things you may as well just hire it done by a pro outfit that can do it as right as you like.

That's an option but I hate to seem so lazy...

Audioi said:

That's an option but I hate to seem so lazy...

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Not to be a jack*** but a ZTR would be way overkill. As stated it won't eliminate trimming unless everything is mulched/treated(whatever). Scalping could still be an issue even with a ZTR depending how bad the lawn is. How low are you cutting currently? If you wanna look like a badass and cut a 1/2 acre with a ZTR...to each his own. Maybe a walk behind? Those are likely more expensive than you think because they are considered mostly commercial only but maybe someone makes a residential model.

I agree with a zero turn being over kill, unless you go with a small 42" mower. Could still mow the lawn in a half our or less. If you hate mowing and trimming then hiring a professional landscaper may be your best option.

If your looking for a well built commercial grade smaller cutting deck ZTR consider a Snapper Pro S50XT 38inch, Gravely Compact 34inch/44inch or even a Worldlawn Gator 34inch. Again these are commercial style ZTR's and will likely be near the 4.5k-5k range. Also this isn't an all small deck commercial ZTR list only ones off the top of my head at the moment.

http://www.worldlawn.com/riding-mowers/commercial/gater/gater-wyz34fs600v/
http://www.gravely.com/en-us/zero-turn-mowers/compact-pro
http://www.snapperpro.com/us/en/zero-turn-mowers/s50xt

Zero turn seems overkill to me, so a commercial walk behind or a stand up? which one?

A commercial stand up will be just as much over kill. The stand up or the walk behind will cost in the $4000 to $5000 range. Commercial mowers are built to get landscapers in and out of jobs fast so they can get more done in a day. If you are willing to spend that kind of money for a half acre why not get a small deck ztr? The mowers mentioned earlier are good options. I have the snapper pro s150xt 48" and I mow 4.2 acres with lots of trees, hills, and some rough spots. The icd deck cuts great. The s50xt is smaller than my mower, but the icd deck is offered on it as well. There are plenty of other options out there. There are residential ztr mowers with smaller decks as well that may suit you fine (craftsman, john deere, toro, husqvarna, bad boy, snapper, etc). You can find these at box stores and save some money. Should be able to get one in the $2000 to $3000 range. Decks will be similar to what you have though.

Does the mower you use now have anti scalp wheels?
If so you should be able to adjust them. If not then see if they are offered as an accessory. Raise your cutting height.

Good point about the anti scalping wheels. Some tractor mowers only have anti scalping wheels on the back. That doesn't make sense to me seeing as how the mower is going forward most of the time. Anti scalp wheels on the front of the deck seem to work much better. If you have them then adjusting them down should help prevent scalping.

Sorry you got a junk Deere.

For what you are looking for I would go with the cub cadet ltx1040

42inch deck 4 anti scalp wheels.
And only $1,500

I got one last year and used it cutting foreclosed homes.
Put over 600 hours on it with no problems.

It cuts very good.
Turns very tight.

Shughes717 said:

Good point about the anti scalping wheels. Some tractor mowers only have anti scalping wheels on the back. That doesn't make sense to me seeing as how the mower is going forward most of the time. Anti scalp wheels on the front of the deck seem to work much better. If you have them then adjusting them down should help prevent scalping.

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I have a Deere 120 with only a couple wheels, cut at 3.5 but the property is on a corner and the Kirby is flat to the road so I loose a chunk every time I run off into the road.

Audioi said:

I would like to keep it at $5k or less, we have all the high end. ferris, gravely, scags, xmark and so on plus lots of mid & low stuff.

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I disagree with others and IMHO if you can afford to spend $5k for a small(no larger than 48") deck ZTR for 1/2 acre(like a Gravely ZT HD 48" @ $4,999 or one of the other brands you mentioned high-end Residential that is in the $5k range) they would undoubtedly last you > 20 years easily if well maintained and would be worth your investment. It would also accomplish the purpose of making mowing fun!!!!

I only mow 1/2 acre and am tickled with my 42" Hustler. I did it for 12 years with a tractor no problem, but the ZT is pure pleasure to mow with. No bogging, no clumping, no raking and yes, it looks damn cool! $2519 was a bargain considering the SCAG stander next to it was nearly 4k. Yes, it is a "better" machine, but more overkill than the Raptor and doesn't have a cup holder. :smile:

What about a simple belt driven 36" walk behind. Not as fun as a zero but will get the job done and you will have the same amount of trimming with a zero.

Basically how lazy do you wanna be? Remove obstacles plant more grass get a 72" deck do 2 passes and be done in less than 10 mins

RetiredGuns said:

I only mow 1/2 acre and am tickled with my 42" Hustler. I did it for 12 years with a tractor no problem, but the ZT is pure pleasure to mow with. No bogging, no clumping, no raking and yes, it looks damn cool! $2519 was a bargain considering the SCAG stander next to it was nearly 4k. Yes, it is a "better" machine, but more overkill than the Raptor and doesn't have a cup holder. :smile:

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Let us know when you get that full suspension seat(you know you deserve it....just tell the wife it's your Birthday/Christmas/Anniversary/Fathers Day gift:0)
Then your neighbors couldn't wipe that smile off your face with a 2X4 when you are mowing:0)