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Your honest feelings about zero turn mowers

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mowergene

· Deceased as of 06 February 2021
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My wife's uncle had a zero turn mower 35 years ago and he loved it. Now it seems so many people are going for them and certainly the dealers are promoting them. I've looked closely at a few but not many because they don't excite me. Here are some of my thoughts on the zero turn:
1. I know I'd look ugly sitting on one.
2. My acreage is low wetland in the smoky mountain range. On tight turns, I'd tear up the turf.
3. Two hydrostats to maintain. One is plenty per mower.
4. On the mowers I've seen, maintenance would be really tough such as oil drain in a near inaccessible area.
5. Both hands are tied up. I often need a hand to lift a branch I'm going under. Having a cigarette can be done with one hand. Blowing my nose can be done with one hand. I'm really being serious here.........don't laugh!
6. Most ztr's sit up so high and have no fender to ride when doing the 45* angle.

Now there's six reasons I'll never have one and if I had ever had one, I'm betting there'd be more reasons!
 
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#2 ·
Couple quick thoughts - ZT can be operated one handed, so long as you’re moving in a straight line.

My dad’s Cub ZT is a pain to change oil in, as can many of them be. The trick is to be more savvy than the manufacturer- relocate the drain via a little piece of pipe, elbow, and a cap.
 
#3 ·
You probably look ugly, no matter where you are sitting...not just on a ZTR....sorry you left yourself open for that one
Zero turns are great and extremely fast on fairly level large lawns...I mean really fast...you almost wonder how it is cutting anything they go over the land so fast....if you have to sit at a 45 a Zero turn is probably not for you...as for oil change being difficult....some are and some are not
 
#5 ·
They don't:

plow or blow snow
push gravel or dirt
pull a cart full of firewood out of the woods
operate a grapple
pull a log arch
pull a large trailer full of straw and 2 year olds at Halloween picnics
have a 3pt attachment point
accept an FEL or back hoe

But they do mow fast. My work log, mowing is about 1/3 the hours on my GT, so I would never reap the benefit of a work tool for about 5/12 of the year
 
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#6 ·
Jere39 said:
They don't:

plow or blow snow
push gravel or dirt
pull a cart full of firewood out of the woods
operate a grapple
pull a log arch
pull a large trailer full of straw and 2 year olds at Halloween picnics
have a 3pt attachment point
accept an FEL or back hoe

But they do mow fast. My work log, mowing is about 1/3 the hours on my GT, so I would never reap the benefit of a work tool for about 5/12 of the year
Click to expand...


Love it! heck yeah!
 
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#7 ·
We got 4 at work (Town job) great on flat dry ground,anything else forget it.We have 2 Kubota and 2 Ferris.The Kubota will beat the crap out of you, no suspension.The Ferris ride like a catty.
If you have wet areas then look into one of these Atoz.They come in rough cut and finish mower.
 
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#8 ·
I'm wanting one of the CCs with the steering wheel just as a yard runabout/toy. The basic design characteristics would keep me from using it as hard as I do my GTs and GXs. A ZT can't have the vertical load capacity due to the two separate transaxles. Some have struts between the transaxles to tie them together and increase the strength but it's no where as strong as a one piece case.
 
#10 ·
I don't own one; 'nuff said.
 
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#11 ·
The neighbors had an old gentlemen who mows yards as a way to keep busy do theirs. In 3 years, he has replaced the ZT yearly, I'm wondering why, so I asked him, first one blew the motor. The second, the tranny went out, didn't say what side. I'm waiting to see if it is replaced next year. These are big exmark machines. I've had one machine a 318 that is still doing a 120 hours a year in lawn, snow and other for 30 years.
 
#13 ·
Jere39 said:
They don't:

plow or blow snow
push gravel or dirt
pull a cart full of firewood out of the woods
operate a grapple
pull a log arch
pull a large trailer full of straw and 2 year olds at Halloween picnics
have a 3pt attachment point
accept an FEL or back hoe

But they do mow fast. My work log, mowing is about 1/3 the hours on my GT, so I would never reap the benefit of a work tool for about 5/12 of the year
Click to expand...
Well it depends on on the Brand about Plowing or Blowing snow and even 1 has a slip Bucket Loader


The Cub Cadet S zero turns Have Front Blade attachments which Can be used for snow or Light grading

Bad Boy zero turn also Take a front Blade and some Models Use to take snow Blowers even

https://altoz.com/explore/accessories/

Walker

https://www.walker.com/addons#attachments

Myself there are only 4 Brands I would ever consider

S series Cub Cadet Because I Like the steering wheel design ZTR and the Fact that the do Take Dozer Blades https://www.cubcadet.com/equipment/...y?storeId=10051&productId=1963375&urlRequestType=Base&langId=-1&catalogId=14101

The other two would Be Simplicity of Ferris for the suspension Because You Can mow Faster and Not get beat up by those Machines

https://www.simplicitymfg.com/na/en....com/na/en_us/product-catalog/zero-turn-mowers/citation-xt-zero-turn-mower.html

https://www.ferrismowers.com/na/en_...rs.com/na/en_us/product-catalog/zero-turn-mowers/is--700z-zero-turn-mowers.html

Now the Ferris front Mount zero turn Can also Do a lot more Jobs Than Cut Grass
https://www.ferrismowers.com/na/en_..._us/product-catalog/front-mount-lawn-mowers/f800x-front-mount-mower-series.html

Walker Makes zero turn front Mowers
https://www.walker.com/

But I would always Have a Garden tractor & Compact as well Because I do Need a Loader and a Tiller:thThumbsU
 

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#18 ·
If you just want to mow a relatively flat or gentle rolling property and do it quickly then ZT is way to go. They cut superb and fast. On typical suburban .5 to 2 acre lot you will generally cut your mowing time in half, which is significant if you are spending 2 hours a week or more on mower. Downside of ZT not versatile at all- yeah some gimmicks out there like joke of a plow for CC ZT—but they are at their heart dedicated mowers. On most suburban lots they will cut your mowing time in half due to increased speed and maneuverability. I think I am in majority on this forum, in that enjoy my seat time, and I take advantage of the versatility of a garden tractor with snow blower, pull a cart, aeration, some here tow boats or campers around their property, till the soil. Ability to mow any hill or wet area with no fear of tipping over or getting stuck so plenty of room for both type mowers- but it’s a garden tractor for me all the way!!
 
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#19 ·
Hated mine. Useless when not of flat, smooth ground. They do have a place but give me the 4X4 JD any day but I grew up at the farm and started out on a JD when a kid so maybe a little bias!!


I really enjoy riding on the tractor.
 
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