Need some advice for a ZTR on a small lot

[Ric]

Good suggestion, but you have to think that they most likely will have a commercial ZTR that can go 10 mph, and his entry-level ZTR wouldn't go that fast. Also it might be a 2 or 3 man crew.

Ya know when you think about that statement of a commercial Ztr and running 10 mph it's really dumb for someone to run a mower that fast, it can't possibly cut grass that speed. My GS will run 8 mph but I never run over half that speed, that's should only be done when in transport mode maybe moving from one client to the next in the same area or back to the trailer to load and move to another area. I mean really your car has a v6 or v8 engine and do you take it out on the road and run it wide open? (Hell No) and you shouldn't a mower. Besides getting someone to do his lawn may be his best alternative, the money he is going to spend on a ZTR would carry him for at least two seasons maybe more if he can get it done cheap.

 

[Carscw]

That could very well be however this is a brand new house with a new lawn so I have hoses and sprinklers all over the place. My house also has 18 corners. You really need to think about the total time required including all support activities. It is not like the clock starts and stops with the blades on the mower.

1) Get ready to mow. Throw on old clothes and shoes. Get head phones / ear protection (5 min)
2) Get out mower and set up for mulch, throw, or bag depending on lawn conditions. Set proper height. Add gas. Sometimes check oil (5 min)
3) Disconnect all 6 sprinklers and move hoses out of the way (5 min)
4) Tilt up down spouts, remove kid toys, pick up dog crap. Charge up trimmer. (10 min)
5) Mow front left and left side (10 min)
6) Trim mow back (10 min)
7) Mow back (30 min)
8) Mow right side and front right (10 min)
9) Get out blower and house. Clean up mower with blower and washout. Put away (5 min)
10) Get out trimmer, check string, edge driveway, sidewalk, curb 300 ft (10 min)
11) Edge around the house / deck (5 min)
12) Blow off edger and put away. Blow off sidewalk, driveway, and siding. Put away blower (5 min)
13) Hook up sprinklers (5 min)
14) Go inside, take shower (15 min)

This is assuming no additional landscape work and that I'm not bagging the lawn - just over 2 hours start to finish.

The way I see it a ZTR would probably cut 60 min of mowing to 15. Also subtract another 15 minutes depending on the day as may not need to shower. An additional 10 minutes will be saved when I can get rid of the sprinklers.

I suppose when you think of it saving an hour each mow isn't a ton of time but when you have twins every second during the day counts :/

I am going to be nice and not say what I am thinking.

There is no mower that is going to help you.

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

 

[tkk]

I am going to be nice and not say what I am thinking.

There is no mower that is going to help you.

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

Thanks but I was trying to make a point that mowing is a subset of yardwork. All the little things add up. I was able to time the back yard at 30 minutes exactly so I was a bit off. Take out all of the sprinklers and I'd say 50 minutes mow time - not terrible but not great twice a week when you add in all the rest.

Now my current mower is a POS so it has got to go - the question remains what to replace it with.

I went to see the time master 30 and the time cutter 4260 in person and liked both.

Will the 30 inch cut my mow time down to 32 minutes (36% reduction)? Probably 40 minutes is more realistic. It is definitely a much nicer mower but wow it is pricey for a walk behind.

The ZTR could probably hit my lawn in 15 minutes with some practice. I'd say that is well within the territory of being able to do quick maintenance mows whenever needed during heavy growth. I still struggle with the fact that is is pretty ridiculous to have for my lot.

Can anyone with a time master 30 comment on their experience?

 

[tkk]

A zero turn mower on a new lawn, that's not going to look pretty when done:ashamed:

it's pretty well established at this point (seeded first week in June). The back needs mowing 3x week and is thick to the point that I needed to use a pickaxe to remove sod for landscaping because my half moon cutter bent.

 

[exotion]

Point being if you are counting all the prep time your only going to cut your actual time behind the mower down from apx 45mins to 25ish mins does that justify 1000 dollars?

I say if you need a better mower go buy a 300 dollar toro or honda 21" and work on reducing the rest of your prep time that's where your time saving will be

 

[mowerman05]

lets hear what your thinking carscw:laughing:

 

[Ric]

Thanks but I was trying to make a point that mowing is a subset of yardwork. All the little things add up. I was able to time the back yard at 30 minutes exactly so I was a bit off. Take out all of the sprinklers and I'd say 50 minutes mow time - not terrible but not great twice a week when you add in all the rest.

Now my current mower is a POS so it has got to go - the question remains what to replace it with.

I went to see the time master 30 and the time cutter 4260 in person and liked both.

Will the 30 inch cut my mow time down to 32 minutes (36% reduction)? Probably 40 minutes is more realistic. It is definitely a much nicer mower but wow it is pricey for a walk behind.

The ZTR could probably hit my lawn in 15 minutes with some practice. I'd say that is well within the territory of being able to do quick maintenance mows whenever needed during heavy growth. I still struggle with the fact that is is pretty ridiculous to have for my lot.

Can anyone with a time master 30 comment on their experience?

I can't comment on the Timemaster but if it cuts anything like it's big brother it will be a sweet mower and ideal for your situation. For the $999 price tag I don't think you can beat the price. Yes you can buy a 300 dollar Toro or Honda 21"like someone else suggested but that would be stupid on your part because you would end up exactly where you are now and at least with the 30" you cut your mowing time. If you have an hours worth of cutting time with your 21" the 30"will cut it in 40 minutes so your looking at cutting your time by a third and you'll end up with a far better cut. From the way you describe your lawn and the way you break it down as a business and I run a 30" a 36" and a 48" mowers the 30" is what I would mow with, the ztr Imo would be over kill and most likely leave me with more trimming to do than the 30" which is something for you to think about if you have never run a ztr because as someone else stated there's a learning curve with a ztr and even when you get used to it you will leave more area to be trimmed than using the 30"

In my opinion a good way for you to go would be to buy the Timemaster and work on reducing your prep time in some ways. Another point that someone mentioned and was a good point and that is if your lawn is a new lawn you'll have to be real careful with a ztr and go slow or you can tear or create a lot of turf damage so there goes your speed advantage with the ztr, and at between 2 and 3k that's a lot of waste.

 

[tkk]

I can't comment on the Timemaster but if it cuts anything like it's big brother it will be a sweet mower and ideal for your situation. For the $999 price tag I don't think you can beat the price. Yes you can buy a 300 dollar Toro or Honda 21"like someone else suggested but that would be stupid on your part because you would end up exactly where you are now and at least with the 30" you cut your mowing time. If you have an hours worth of cutting time with your 21" the 30"will cut it in 40 minutes so your looking at cutting your time by a third and you'll end up with a far better cut. From the way you describe your lawn and the way you break it down as a business and I run a 30" a 36" and a 48" mowers the 30" is what I would mow with, the ztr Imo would be over kill and most likely leave me with more trimming to do than the 30" which is something for you to think about if you have never run a ztr because as someone else stated there's a learning curve with a ztr and even when you get used to it you will leave more area to be trimmed than using the 30"

In my opinion a good way for you to go would be to buy the Timemaster and work on reducing your prep time in some ways. Another point that someone mentioned and was a good point and that is if your lawn is a new lawn you'll have to be real careful with a ztr and go slow or you can tear or create a lot of turf damage so there goes your speed advantage with the ztr, and at between 2 and 3k that's a lot of waste.

There's no doubt that the 30 in can get right up in there - probably not much worse than my 22. Only having driven a ztr once I do not have a feel for what it will miss. Trees appear to be no problem but I have no trees, just a few corners with 3 of them being inside corners that need mowing. I actually plan on making those go away with some rock beds next year. I certainly have a lot to chew on but I believe it is down to the 30 in time master or the timecutter 4260.

As far as the prep time I will see what I can do about that - should be fairly simple, just need to mow in my dress clothes, rip off the down spouts, put away the sprinklers, shoot the dogs, and buy a goat (for trimming). Actually come to think of it I could leave my mower out in the front yard so it is always ready to go. I am still going to clean the damn thing though because like I said it is a POS and clogs up after mowing 3 strips :tongue:

 

[Ric]

There's no doubt that the 30 in can get right up in there - probably not much worse than my 22. Only having driven a ztr once I do not have a feel for what it will miss. Trees appear to be no problem but I have no trees, just a few corners with 3 of them being inside corners that need mowing. I actually plan on making those go away with some rock beds next year. I certainly have a lot to chew on but I believe it is down to the 30 in time master or the timecutter 4260.

As far as the prep time I will see what I can do about that - should be fairly simple, just need to mow in my dress clothes, rip off the down spouts, put away the sprinklers, shoot the dogs, and buy a goat (for trimming). Actually come to think of it I could leave my mower out in the front yard so it is always ready to go. I am still going to clean the damn thing though because like I said it is a POS and clogs up after mowing 3 strips :tongue:

As far as your prep time goes your on the right track. Instead of ripping off the down spouts why don't you install them at a height that will not hinder your mowing instead of screwing around with them every time you mow and yes throw the hoses and sprinklers away and try installing a under ground sprinkler system with a timer to turn it on and off like you should and would it be possible to make or teach the kids pick up there own toys and put them away when there done playing with them, there are a few more ways you could cut time off your list of complaints but I guess doing things with the right tools would be out of the question. As far as the mower clogging because it's a POS, that's a lot of bull because if a person knows how to set up the mower, mow his grass at the proper height the mower will work perfectly the way it's designed to. The thing is the timecutter nor the 30" isn't going to help you one bit because your not addressing your list of complaints at all. I guess it's like the old saying goes, You can't help those who can't or wont help themselves.

 

[Carscw]

Like I said no mower is going to help you.

The problem is not the mower your using the problem is your O C D

I bet you have yellow lines all over your yard from the hoses laying around. Someone said hire someone to cut your grass for you I would charge you $50 just to move all the crap off the grass first.

And cut the grass when it needs it

(( cowboy up and get over it ))