I was at my local sears store a few weeks ago and a customer was there picking up a new ZTR and I watched him almost run over one of the store clerks while attempting to drive the thing to his trailer!After a few more aborted attempts he finally gave up and had the manager back it on his trailer so he'd have a straight shot off when he got home!! :hide: :fing32:

 

They do seem to be THE thing to mow with, but I don't care for em. My Dad & brother have them & I tried them but they don't do a thing for me. I just like my tractors! My 1st ride was funny to watch too!

 

ah comeon! my 2 1/2 yr old rides on my ZTR and he can drive in a straight line. I have even taught him how to turn around at the end of the row by pushing one forward and pulling the other back. He sometimes turns the wrong way, but even he can drive the thing! Of course I am on it with him, (only because he isn't heavy enough to hold down the seat safety switch!)

 

NOW!------Hang a twin bagger and vac on one and go mow the yard, when the bags get full,-------THEN steering gets neat!------I didn't say good,------just neat!!! Got one, not super impressed, but it does quick excellent job of mowing/catching clippings for compost fixin's!! thanks; sonny

 

I remember my first experience with one. It was an older White that had the levers right in the middle. It took awhile to get used to, but it was alot of fun. For me, going in a straight line was about as hard as turning it.

Greg

 

When new owners pick them up we've experienced pretty much all above.......wild first timers,having to back up on trailer for some and people going very slow at first.

Probably the funniest though, was one I delivered. Took it off the trailer,shut it down went over controls and taking extra time to show how the short throw on sticks gives you zero to full speed.Guy and his wife were watching and nodding.Then I fired the machine back up and I drove it slowly around to show how things work. I stop, set brake and get off turning it over to hubby and stand back (always my practice).

Well,this guy hops on,turns throttle wide open and takes off jamming sticks hard right to left. I couldn't tell if he was trying to go straight or turn. Machine is ALL over the place and he has this wild eyed out of control look. His wife starts yelling...and he starts heading for me! ....I jump behind a tree and he's like an out of control carnival bump-em-car as he starts heading for his wife's little Suzuki SUV.. mg: ......MAN!,she really gets in gear running behind him screaming and waving her arms for him to stop. More she yells, the more he zig zags.....finally missing the car by inches as he veers off and finally finds neutral on both sticks. Would have been interesting to see a ZTR going 6 or 7 mph (it was a little Toro TimeCutter) colliding with a Suzuki...I don't think the thin bodied Suke' would have stood a chance.

I'll always remember the site of him zig-zagging towards her car trying to stop and her rather large self running after him. ROF

Later on he takes the door frame out to his storage shed with it. :biglaugh:

 

:sidelaugh :sidelaugh thanks for the story Neil you've really started my day on a good note :thThumbsU

 

All I have to say is, if you have trouble operating a ZTR mower, stay off of a skid loader. They operate on the same principal and can do a lot more damage!

 

All it takes is a little practice to gain confidence in the controls. In a little while you'll be mowing lazer straight stripes

 

I've operated skid steers & have a hi-lift dozer, so I know it'd only take a few minutes to adjust to the Z's controls, but I like tractors with a hood. I know, I know........if I gave them a chance I'd love one. But I can't afford one anyway, so maybe there's the true rub. I do bet they are pretty stable on slopes with their low center of gravity.

 

Good one neil! I've gone through much the same thing many times when on the delivery truck. The timecutters and Cub ZForce are bad enough,but when the customer is a homeowner that just has to have "one of those like the professional has" it's almost too much to stand. I've got to get a camcorder in the truck for those times I deliver an Exmark LazerZ or a Kubota ZD28 to homeowners.