Turn uphill or downhill on ZTS?

[MalaiseMowerMan]

A steering wheel ZTR will hold a slope much better than a traditional ZTR with lap bars. I have a Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S. I found it cheap (it needed repairs), and bought it to replace my lap-bar ZTR. The CC had numerous benefits over the mower it replaced, but I bought a mower with the steering wheel configuration just because of it's superior slope holding ability. The CC works MUCH better than my lap-bar ZTR on slopes. My yard has slopes that my lap-bar ZTR struggled with. There were areas that the lap-bar ZTR would try to slide down the slope if I mowed across it. With the CC, I can treat all the slopes on my property like flat ground. I don't have to concern myself with going straight up & down, or where I make turns. Maybe with enough experience you can do as well with a lap-bar ZTR as with a SW ZTR, but most of us don't log hundreds of hours per year on a mower. For us homeowners with sloped yards who mow once a week, the SW ZTR wins.

Thanks for your reply. Good to hear from someone who has experience on both.

 

[MalaiseMowerMan]

In my, limited, experience mowers of the;

• Mini tractor configuration, tend towards having a quite narrow track (until you get the the real tractors ) which of course makes them less stable on slopes.
• Zero turn more often have a wide track, however the castering front wheels also tend towards poor cross slope directional stability and the aft mounted engine to potentially dangerous weight transfer when travelling directly up/down.
• Mowers with high seating positions, are also prone to dangerous weight transfer.

For realy good/safe slope operation, the low slung go-cart style, available with 4x4, is the only way to go.

This is an example (I have no connection with the company) https://www.therazorback.com.au/capabilities

More important points;

• There is no such thing as a completely stable / safe slope mower, that a person rides in/on. There are only more/less capable units.
• Human nature - the more stable the mower, the greater the risks/angle of slope, the operator will attempt.

Thanks SD. I’m not trying to see has far I can push the limit; quite the opposite. I’m just trying to find the safest way to mow my block.

 

[Skippydiesel]

Thanks SD. I’m not trying to see has far I can push the limit; quite the opposite. I’m just trying to find the safest way to mow my block.

Not suggesting you are pushing/exploring the limits MMM, just pointing out a, well documented, feature of human behaviour (particularly common in the male of the species).

Without visiting your "block" no one, other than yourself, can make judgement calls on safety - I just hoped to expand your knowledge of what can happen, what equipment is available to mitigate the risk and what precautions may help. There is nothing wrong with your mower - just don't ask it to do something it was not designed for, - it might bite

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

A steering wheel ZTR will hold a slope much better than a traditional ZTR with lap bars. I have a Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S. I found it cheap (it needed repairs), and bought it to replace my lap-bar ZTR. The CC had numerous benefits over the mower it replaced, but I bought a mower with the steering wheel configuration just because of it's superior slope holding ability. The CC works MUCH better than my lap-bar ZTR on slopes. My yard has slopes that my lap-bar ZTR struggled with. There were areas that the lap-bar ZTR would try to slide down the slope if I mowed across it. With the CC, I can treat all the slopes on my property like flat ground. I don't have to concern myself with going straight up & down, or where I make turns. Maybe with enough experience you can do as well with a lap-bar ZTR as with a SW ZTR, but most of us don't log hundreds of hours per year on a mower. For us homeowners with sloped yards who mow once a week, the SW ZTR wins.

I have never seen a mowing business running a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel on any hills, NEVER. There has got to be something more to that then my own personal experience.

 

[GearHead36]

I have never seen a mowing business running a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel on any hills, NEVER. There has got to be something more to that then my own personal experience.

Neither have I. I suspect that mowing business that handles hilly properties would use a 4x4 mower of some type. The SW ZTR's, IMO, are an improvement over lap-bar ZTR's, but probably still not good enough for serious hills. My Pro Z154S works great on my property, with it's moderate hills. The local airport has some serious hills surrounding the runways, covered with grass, and I don't think my mower could handle those. Whenever I drive by, I usually wonder what they mow those with.

 

[MalaiseMowerMan]

Not suggesting you are pushing/exploring the limits MMM, just pointing out a, well documented, feature of human behaviour (particularly common in the male of the species).

Without visiting your "block" no one, other than yourself, can make judgement calls on safety - I just hoped to expand your knowledge of what can happen, what equipment is available to mitigate the risk and what precautions may help. There is nothing wrong with your mower - just don't ask it to do something it was not designed for, - it might bite

My intention from the start has been to find the safest way to use my mower whilst staying well within the limits of my gear and my abilities. Your comments have been helpful and appreciated. Cheers, M

 

[MalaiseMowerMan]

I have never seen a mowing business running a Cub Cadet zero turn with a steering wheel on any hills, NEVER. There has got to be something more to that than my own personal experience.

I am somewhat confused by this. I live in a very hilly area. I know of several local contractors who use Cub Cadet steering wheel zero turn mowers and have nothing but praise for them. This is one of the reasons I bought one. There are also multiple examples on YouTube.

I get that you don’t like these mowers and that you would never use one. What I don’t understand is whether this is just personal preference, like a Ford driver who would never drive a Chevrolet (Holden where I come from), or if you have a clear reason for not liking them. Rather than repeatedly saying you would never use one, it would be really helpful if you could explain exactly why. For example: Is it something about the design? Do you not like the quality of construction or the reliability? Have you actually used one? If so, did you have a bad experience?

I appreciate and seek other opinions, good and bad, but I find them most helpful when people can explain why they hold their opinions. Regards, M