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Thought i would ask all the owners of true commercial zero turn mowers which make and model do you use and swear by. From large to small. Also machines to really cut tall grass down to nothing every cut.

I don't know about BEST, but I'll give you a candidate for WORST ... I have a 1 year old John Deere Z920R that has what I believe to be a warped deck ... it cuts with a small ridge at the overlap of each pass ... I bought the little tool for leveling the blades ... and I got them to be near perfect ... ON A HARD, LEVEL SURFACE. Once I start mowing ... the little stripes show up again ... SOOO ... I took it to the dealer (RITCHIE TRACTOR - ATHENS, TN.) ... and explained the problem to the SERVICE LADY ... waited one month, then started calling about it. After several calls, she said it was DONE !!! I asked her what they found about the warpage ... she acted like she never heard me tell her about that, BUT ... they did level the deck, and wanted $84.00 for that service !!! After much ranting & raving, she finally gave me back my mower ... took it home ... fired it up ... SAME PROBLEM !!! They never addressed the real problem, but wanted $84.00 for something that wasn't even wrong !!! The Z920R may not be a lemon, but my dealer certainly is ...

I highly recommend John Deere mowers for the servility and easy to get parts!

springscapes said:

I highly recommend John Deere mowers for the servility and easy to get parts!

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SOME models have decent reviews/reputations ... I also have an old Deere 285 that came in with one of the earliest Kawasakis ... WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP THAT ENGINE IS !!!

Personally I wouldn't recommend John Deere to anyone. As far as the worlds best mower goes there's no such thing. Everybody is going to swear what they have is the best. As far as mowing goes and which type of mower or ztr is the most productive I would have to say the Stander would rank number one and the Zero Turn Rider number two.

Good to know you like john deere nachines. Ive seen a few kubotas in the uk doing graft. They seem a good sturdy machine. I use the procat and so far very pleased. Next year i will be upgrading to another. Predator pro seems nice but not sure if its that much more faster and powerful for my school grounds.

Altoz of course

No one has any reviews on the Altoz and the youtube video is pretty poor. They never seem to do zero turns justice cutting very short grass. Maybe its just me but the grass i cut grows like stink in 8 days and needs a solid machine to cope. Time will tell if these are true xommercial grade. Look good mind

uk gardening said:

No one has any reviews on the Altoz and the youtube video is pretty poor. They never seem to do zero turns justice cutting very short grass. Maybe its just me but the grass i cut grows like stink in 8 days and needs a solid machine to cope. Time will tell if these are true xommercial grade. Look good mind

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I was just kidding I love my Gravely but I'm not gonna say Gravely is the best. That's like saying ____ is the greatest guitarist ever. There is no best.

Mike88se said:

I was just kidding I love my Gravely but I'm not gonna say Gravely is the best. That's like saying ____ is the greatest guitarist ever. There is no best.

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Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist ever.

Ric said:

Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist ever.View attachment 20228

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Maybe if you don't count Jeff Beck or Roy Buchanan or...

I've ran toro, exmark, kubota, John Deere and scag and I like the scag the best. I've heard good things about hustlers and gravelys but don't know about them from experience.

Ric said:

Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist ever.View attachment 20228

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OK Ric, now you've done it(started the heated debate:0)
I would have voted for Jimi if he had lived a little longer and had more music performed. I'll have to go with Eric Clapton(plugged or unplugged:0)

djdicetn said:

OK Ric, now you've done it(started the heated debate:0)
I would have voted for Jimi if he had lived a little longer and had more music performed. I'll have to go with Eric Clapton(plugged or unplugged:0)

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Hey man Clapton's cool, he'd be my second choice. I actually would rather sit and listen to Claptons music more than Hendrix. Guys like Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page and others all voted Hendrix best guitarist in the RollingStone pole. Anyhow we need to get off the Hendrix kick.:smile:

Stevie Ray vaughn

ken helton said:

Stevie Ray vaughn

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Ooooooooo, good one(only white guitarist....except maybe Clapton...to ever "master" the blues:0)
Unfortunately, another life cut short before he could make more music to listen to:0(

djdicetn said:

Ooooooooo, good one(only white guitarist....except maybe Clapton...to ever "master" the blues:0) Unfortunately, another life cut short before he could make more music to listen to:0(

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Listen to a little Joe Bonamassa. He's really good as well. http://youtu.be/5tNhGTlQwiY

djdicetn said:

Ooooooooo, good one(only white guitarist....except maybe Clapton...to ever "master" the blues:0)
Unfortunately, another life cut short before he could make more music to listen to:0(

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You gotta be kidding Roy Buchanan, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Jimmy Vaughn etc ect etc

djdicetn said:

Ooooooooo, good one(only white guitarist....except maybe Clapton...to ever "master" the blues:0) Unfortunately, another life cut short before he could make more music to listen to:0(

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Also listen to some zz top. Some of their blues stuff. Great stuff. Oh and Jeff healey. Lots of greats.

tnman said:

Also listen to some zz top. Some of their blues stuff. Great stuff. Oh and Jeff healey. Lots of greats.

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I'm getting so much better info in this thread than if it had remained discussing the world's best ZTR:0)

uk gardening said:

Thought i would ask all the owners of true commercial zero turn mowers which make and model do you use and swear by. From large to small. Also machines to really cut tall grass down to nothing every cut.

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I purchased the number 1 rated zero turn JD z655 .Money buys ratings. It is a piece of crap that 4 dealers can not fix .No help at all from company rep so the only thing that I can do is to put the word out.

woc710 said:

I purchased the number 1 rated zero turn JD z655 .Money buys ratings. It is a piece of crap that 4 dealers can not fix .No help at all from company rep so the only thing that I can do is to put the word out.

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Maybe people will listen someday that junk Deere is crap.

The number one selling mower does not make a mower the best.

There are a lot of good zero turns on the market. Scag makes great mowers. We run Kubotas. A ZD 326 Kubota with a 60" deck is a beast. Our operation is brutal on mowers and ours has had no down time in 350 hours. We are going to have to changer the deck belt soon otherwise put fuel in, service at regular intervals, cut grass. When we trade mowers the only thing I will consider will be Kubota unless our clientele changes drastically.

There are many mowers out there that cut great. I have not looked at any that appear as rugged as Kubota. They are built like tanks. We also have a ZG 222 with a 48" deck. Only regret on the ZG 222 is that I did not buy the ZD 221 instead.

The jury is out on the 100 series mowers as far as I am concerned. Course they are not really commercial mowers anyway.

I have seen a lot of commercial guys replace other brands with Kubota. I personally have not seen anybody in our area replace a Kubota with anything else.

jekjr said:

There are a lot of good zero turns on the market. Scag makes great mowers. We run Kubotas. A ZD 326 Kubota with a 60" deck is a beast. Our operation is brutal on mowers and ours has had no down time in 350 hours. We are going to have to changer the deck belt soon otherwise put fuel in, service at regular intervals, cut grass. When we trade mowers the only thing I will consider will be Kubota unless our clientele changes drastically. There are many mowers out there that cut great. I have not looked at any that appear as rugged as Kubota. They are built like tanks. We also have a ZG 222 with a 48" deck. Only regret on the ZG 222 is that I did not buy the ZD 221 instead. The jury is out on the 100 series mowers as far as I am concerned. Course they are not really commercial mowers anyway. I have seen a lot of commercial guys replace other brands with Kubota. I personally have not seen anybody in our area replace a Kubota with anything else.

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Will you please talk my wife into letting me get a kubota

I keep looking at them and dreaming but she still will not let me get one.

I like the 221

Carscw said:

Maybe people will listen someday that junk Deere is crap.

The number one selling mower does not make a mower the best.

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When I was shopping ZTR's I looked at the JD's and couldn't believe the only model they had to offer in my price range($6k-$7k) had a "stamped" deck:0(
The salesman tried to convince me that John Deere's "research" had proven that a stamped deck gave a better cut than a welded, fabricated deck. I asked him...."then why do your $10k ZTR's have a fabricated deck"? He didn't have an answer for that:0)

P.S.
I really like your avatar........would that imply that you own a Chevy truck???? I have a 1995 Stepside Extended Cab Z71 Silverado that's pushing 1/4 million miles(just turned over 239,000). I wouldn't trade it for two "new" trucks. Built like a rock and will probably outlive me. Below is a link to a photo I posted on the "Post your trailer setup" thread. Post a pic of yours!!!

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attac...66243647-post-your-trailer-setup-dsc03338-jpg

P.S.S.
Maybe we need to start a thread titled "World's Best Truck".....that would get a few Ford & Ram truck users riled up now wouldn't it:0)

djdicetn said:

When I was shopping ZTR's I looked at the JD's and couldn't believe the only model they had to offer in my price range($6k-$7k) had a "stamped" deck:0( The salesman tried to convince me that John Deere's "research" had proven that a stamped deck gave a better cut than a welded, fabricated deck. I asked him...."then why do your $10k ZTR's have a fabricated deck"? He didn't have an answer for that:0) P.S. I really like your avatar........would that imply that you own a Chevy truck???? I have a 1995 Stepside Extended Cab Z71 Silverado that's pushing 1/4 million miles(just turned over 239,000). I wouldn't trade it for two "new" trucks. Built like a rock and will probably outlive me. Below is a link to a photo I posted on the "Post your trailer setup" thread. Post a pic of yours!!! http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachments/commercial-residential-lawn-mowing/13843d1366243647-post-your-trailer-setup-dsc03338-jpg P.S.S. Maybe we need to start a thread titled "World's Best Truck".....that would get a few Ford & Ram truck users riled up now wouldn't it:0)

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My work truck is a chevy trailblazer before it was a ram.

The chevy has a smaller engine but pulls better then the dodge.
I used pick up for years but really like the trailblazer.
Don't like ford trucks at all.

I have a 1985 ramcharger with a 360 ( sux down gas fast ) that I love pulling a trailer with. My wife likes to see the face on the brats in their mustangs when she takes them off the line pulling a trailer.
Will post pics

As others have said, I won't claim its "the best" but I run a Hustler Super Z, 25hp Kawasaki, 60" deck with a bagger. Bought it in 2006 and haven't spent a dime on repairs.

Eric Clapton

I own a Scag Tigercat for personal use. I'm completely satisfied with the power, speed, reliability and performance of the machine. It makes all residential machines toys.

Ric said:

Hey man Clapton's cool, he'd be my second choice. I actually would rather sit and listen to Claptons music more than Hendrix. Guys like Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Jimmy Page and others all voted Hendrix best guitarist in the RollingStone pole. Anyhow we need to get off the Hendrix kick.:smile:

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How about some love for Chet Atkins?

I have a Gravely 260Z. Does a terrible job on long Bahia grass.

Oh, and Jose Feliciano.

uk gardening said:

Thought i would ask all the owners of true commercial zero turn mowers which make and model do you use and swear by. From large to small. Also machines to really cut tall grass down to nothing every cut.

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Grasshopper, SCAG. Diesel for long life but my Kubota gas 21 HP 3 cyl. Has 2100 hrs. On it.

I've been very happy with Gravely. Traded in my 7 year old XL 40" last fall for the larger XL XT 48. Two of my son's also use Gravely, and we all have been extremely pleased with the quality of these machines.

Carscw said:

Maybe people will listen someday that junk Deere is crap.

The number one selling mower does not make a mower the best.

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This is what John Deere is best at,

I have been running a Gravely 260 for the last four years. It is a 2003 model and it has had one of the two hydraulic motors replaced about 5 years ago. Otherwise, it has been running very well and with the 60" cut, the jobs go pretty fast.

I have had the Johndeere zero turn mowers in my fleet for 16 years and they have been awesome. 757z trac, 717A ztrac & 657 stnd up ztrac. Would recommend a johndeere to anybody.

Frank Zappa.
Have a listen to "shut up an play yer guitar" apparently a jibe from an audience member.
And Carlos Santanna to prove I listen to more than white males.
For technical excellence and pushing the instrument way beyond its design limit there was Robert Fripp & Brian Eno on their duet albums not the commercial pop.

As for ZTR's no such thing as best full stop but some are better at specific things than others.
I have become quite fond of Great Danes got a few of them in my repair run, can't seem to kill them particularly for rough cutting.
For fine cutting, never seen anything that could hold a stick to a Walker and double ditto for manouverability.
Then the articulated Stiga out front Park series, a supurb mower, excellent cut on fine lawns, reasonable on paddocks but really needs the 4WD, have worked on both.
The rest of the Stiga range is best avoided, might work on fine on soft summer lawns but dont work at all down here where the grass grows all year and do 2' a week in summer.

uk gardening said:

Thought i would ask all the owners of true commercial zero turn mowers which make and model do you use and swear by. From large to small. Also machines to really cut tall grass down to nothing every cut.

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THEE BEST Zero turn , WITHOUT A DOUBT !! is the one the lawn service guy is using while i sit around suckin down a cold one in the sweltering heat !! :cool2: :thumbsup: ........Boobala

Fuzzy1 said:

SOME models have decent reviews/reputations ... I also have an old Deere 285 that came in with one of the earliest Kawasakis ... WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP THAT ENGINE IS !!!

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I not the only one that thinks this about a Kawasaki engine.

I own a z655 a very bad mistake to purchase. They lure you in with the warranty but it’s not good at least in Michigan.Dont pay for a name cause money buys a great review cause a z655 was voted the best zero turn mover I like to know who voted cause as a owner I sure wouldn’t voted that way

We cut extremely large amounts of Pensacola Bahia Grass in Lower Alabama. Personally I have never seen anything that will cut this mess with a Tiger Cat Scag.

We run three 53" Tiger Cats with 22 HP Kawasaki motors. There are more expensive mowers, there are bigger mowers, there are faster mowers. For our operation there is nothing that will touch them in tall stemmed grass when they have fresh blades on them.

jekjr said:

There are a lot of good zero turns on the market. Scag makes great mowers. We run Kubotas. A ZD 326 Kubota with a 60" deck is a beast. Our operation is brutal on mowers and ours has had no down time in 350 hours. We are going to have to changer the deck belt soon otherwise put fuel in, service at regular intervals, cut grass. When we trade mowers the only thing I will consider will be Kubota unless our clientele changes drastically.

There are many mowers out there that cut great. I have not looked at any that appear as rugged as Kubota. They are built like tanks. We also have a ZG 222 with a 48" deck. Only regret on the ZG 222 is that I did not buy the ZD 221 instead.

The jury is out on the 100 series mowers as far as I am concerned. Course they are not really commercial mowers anyway.

I have seen a lot of commercial guys replace other brands with Kubota. I personally have not seen anybody in our area replace a Kubota with anything else.

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We were sold on those Kubotas back then. However we got our hands on a Scag and learned better. WE traded a Kubota in on a Scag. After running Scags I would never go back to a Kubota and I was sold on them back then.