LOOKING FOR NEW ZERO TURN

[ONTHESTRINGER]

Sounds like you need a sickle bar instead of a lawn mower. :laughing:

Need a yard boy!!!!!!!!!!!!:laughing:

 

[linwoodcampbell]

In response to the comparison of John Deere vs. Toro, I should first point out that I am a lawn mower mechanic for a Toro dealer and I my primary responsibility is home owner riders, both Z's and the traditional garden tractor. I also do some new mower setup and some sales.

The homeowner deck is stamped as is the frame. However Toro is the only company to use high alloy American steel. Other companies use sub tubing with stamping but use the low quality steel made in China. I should point out here that we do not sell the garden tractor variety of Toro as we know they are made in China.

As for the greasing issue with zerks. It has been my experience that the vast majority of home owners do NOT grease their machines. An unofficial survey of our customers reveals that most do not even own a grease gun. I find in servicing machines that most owners do not even clean their air filters or check their oil. So having zerks in not an advantage. I believe sealed bearings on spindles and axles and even front forks is preferable. No service needed!

I believe that the John Deere home owner series is produced in China.

As for cutting, the Toro Z series (Timecutters and Titans) are new this year so did not make Consumer Reports. However the decks are the same as last year and last year that were at the top of the chart in cutting (amongst a lot of other things as well).

I apologize if I have sounded offensive in any way. I'm going by my observations and knowledge gained by working in and observing the industry every day.

Hope this helps!

 

[Black Bart]

In response to the comparison of John Deere vs. Toro, I should first point out that I am a lawn mower mechanic for a Toro dealer and I my primary responsibility is home owner riders, both Z's and the traditional garden tractor. I also do some new mower setup and some sales.

The homeowner deck is stamped as is the frame. However Toro is the only company to use high alloy American steel. Other companies use sub tubing with stamping but use the low quality steel made in China. I should point out here that we do not sell the garden tractor variety of Toro as we know they are made in China.

As for the greasing issue with zerks. It has been my experience that the vast majority of home owners do NOT grease their machines. An unofficial survey of our customers reveals that most do not even own a grease gun. I find in servicing machines that most owners do not even clean their air filters or check their oil. So having zerks in not an advantage. I believe sealed bearings on spindles and axles and even front forks is preferable. No service needed!
I believe that the John Deere home owner series is produced in China.

As for cutting, the Toro Z series (Timecutters and Titans) are new this year so did not make Consumer Reports. However the decks are the same as last year and last year that were at the top of the chart in cutting (amongst a lot of other things as well).

I apologize if I have sounded offensive in any way. I'm going by my observations and knowledge gained by working in and observing the industry every day.

Hope this helps!

Sounds like you are saying Toros are perfect for idiots. :laughing:

 

[linwoodcampbell]

Nope, just a really great product line for people who don't want to spend all their free time working on their lawnmowers! :smile:

 

[Black Bart]

Nope, just a really great product line for people who don't want to spend all their free time working on their lawnmowers! :smile:

Yea I understand where you are coming from.

You prefer they neglect them then pay you for repairing them.

I have been mowing the last 20 years with a Grasshopper bearings are still good but my 25 year old JD 180 has sealed bearing and while it has done little mowing I replaced the deck bearing this week.

What that cost me would have bought grease for the next 100 years.

So what you are saying is the average home owner would rather spend 350 bucks on repairs than 10 bucks on grease.
I would hardly call a couple minutes servicing all my free time but like I pointed out in a earlier post all I need to do is flip the foot board and hit 3 Zerk's and that it.

With a unibody sealed bearings are better because you could not service it anyway.
If it had Zerk's few would use then too difficult to get to them.

 

[ONTHESTRINGER]

In response to the comparison of John Deere vs. Toro, I should first point out that I am a lawn mower mechanic for a Toro dealer and I my primary responsibility is home owner riders, both Z's and the traditional garden tractor. I also do some new mower setup and some sales.

The homeowner deck is stamped as is the frame. However Toro is the only company to use high alloy American steel. Other companies use sub tubing with stamping but use the low quality steel made in China. I should point out here that we do not sell the garden tractor variety of Toro as we know they are made in China.

As for the greasing issue with zerks. It has been my experience that the vast majority of home owners do NOT grease their machines. An unofficial survey of our customers reveals that most do not even own a grease gun. I find in servicing machines that most owners do not even clean their air filters or check their oil. So having zerks in not an advantage. I believe sealed bearings on spindles and axles and even front forks is preferable. No service needed!

I believe that the John Deere home owner series is produced in China.

As for cutting, the Toro Z series (Timecutters and Titans) are new this year so did not make Consumer Reports. However the decks are the same as last year and last year that were at the top of the chart in cutting (amongst a lot of other things as well).

I apologize if I have sounded offensive in any way. I'm going by my observations and knowledge gained by working in and observing the industry every day.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the info. I personally like the greasable spindles. I do all of my own maint. Grease spindles after mowing every so many hours, blow out filters every other time mowing depending on the dust, blow off motor so that cooling viens are clean to help aid in cooling, etc. I saw a video on u -tube toro vs JD and the toro ran circles around the JD. I don't know if is was planned like that or true. I'm leaning more towards a Dixie Chopper now. I have a grasshopper with over 4000 hrs.

 

[KennyV]

You had me right up to the time you started to rationalize sealed bearings by pointing out "that most owners do not even clean their air filters or check their oil." With this rationale the crankcase and air cleaners should be sealed and made non serviceable...

The one place you are right.... for a few folks, "So having zerks in not an advantage."... ONLY an advantage for after sale repairs... just because some people do not service their equipment is no reason to assume that the majority should be prevented the opportunity to service theirs....
The idea that moving parts, especially parts in a very dirty environment should be okay if they are 'sealed' is a bit short sighted...

In a perfectly clean temperature stable environment OR with precise machined support a sealed system may have a chance... none of that is the case with mowers with sealed bearings...

It is slightly cheaper to make poorly supported sealed bearings assemblies... plus a run of replacement parts at the time of manufacture... but it is NOT in the best interest of the consumer... and should not be spun to be so...

It is not just Toro that is pitching this misleading rationale, & I am sure that you are just passing on information that you were given... but it is not completely accurate... a machine designed to be serviceable will lead to it being serviced... there will always be some that neglect things... but the norm should not be aimed at that group... :smile:KennyV

 

[ONTHESTRINGER]

Well I bit the bullet and purchased a DC 3374 today. Getting it tomorrow @ 11am ---- hopefully it will last a long time!!! It came stock with a Amsoil bypass filter, screw on oil filter, & screw on filters for each drive motor (5YR Warranty) ! Each drive motor/pump has it's own oil cooler & and engine oil cooler. Everything is greaseable!!

 

[KennyV]

Well I bit the bullet and purchased a DC 3374 today. Getting it tomorrow @ 11am ---- hopefully it will last a long time!!! It came stock with a Amsoil bypass filter, screw on oil filter, & screw on filters for each drive motor (5YR Warranty) ! Each drive motor/pump has it's own oil cooler & and engine oil cooler. Everything is greaseable!!

Sounds GREAT ... I'm impressed that you are getting a bypass filter with that machine.... Very good idea... :smile:KennyV

 

[ONTHESTRINGER]

What do ya'll think is the best way to sell my Zipper TS-22 lawn mower? It only has 480 hrs and has been well maintained. The only thing I might do is repaint the rims. I was thinking either craigslist or e-bay. Any ideas on what it may be worth? New about 6 -8 yrs ago it cost about $10,500. It has a 22 HP Koehler Command, & a 64" flip deck. I just put new blades on it and recently serviced everything. It's in good shape and everything operates well.