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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Cincinnati Ohio
    Posts
    4,731

    New Zero Turn Mower

    Starting to think about a new Zero Turn Mower.
    I now own a Toro 52" with a 19 Hp Kawasaki that I have been happy with. Mow 2 1/2 acr all flat.

    What brand have you been happy with?
    More important. Is there a brand you have had trouble with? Parts hard to get etc.....
    "Remember back in the day, when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work?"
    - Rick Dale

  2. #2
    I've got the Toro 52" and it went back to the shop four times before it had 8 hours on it. Most of the problem was with the cheesy deck belt they make but I don't think I will buy another Toro.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    NE OH
    Posts
    2,615
    I've had a snapper pro 52 or 54 for about 4 or 5 years. It's built like a tank and I've had zero problems with it. No service at all other than oil/lube/filters/sharpening. Of course that means I can't speak to parts availability. With stuff like that, I tend to shop for a good dealer with a good service department, and then choose from brands they offer. I always ask to see the service department.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Lake Gaston, Henrico, NC
    Posts
    8,973
    I'm getting a Ferris, that has a suspension system. No experience with the brand, but I figured it would be the last one I buy, and didn't want to do any more bouncing around. I did check what dealers were available, as there seems to be a big difference in after sale ability between them. I had narrowed it down to Scat, and Ferris, but decided on the Ferris.
    Last edited by Tom M King; 09-16-2019 at 5:07 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Medina Ohio
    Posts
    4,515
    I had a Cub Cadet 60 inch Tank that went back 6 times for the same problem that they couldn't fix so they gave me my money back. The reason I bought it was I talked to 2 other people that owned them one was a yard service that had 2 and the other was my neighbor that had 2000 hours on his from mowing 10 different places the smallest was 6 acres. I ended up with a Gravely pro turn 460 with a Yamaha engine and air ride seat.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Highland MI
    Posts
    4,511
    Blog Entries
    11
    I have had a Deere 425ZT for nearly ten years with little to no problems. Only 250 hours on it as I have a fairly small yard.
    NOW you tell me...

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Ole Anderson View Post
    I have had a Deere 425ZT for nearly ten years with little to no problems. Only 250 hours on it as I have a fairly small yard.
    Short answer, anything but a Deere, you need to call out a lab tech/Deere rep (competent or not) to deal with repair of those things. They have a "nobody but us can legally repair them" attitude that is utterly repugnant, and they need to be driven into insolvency, the only answer to that. Sorry and good luck (so far.)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Highland MI
    Posts
    4,511
    Blog Entries
    11
    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Dawson View Post
    Short answer, anything but a Deere, you need to call out a lab tech/Deere rep (competent or not) to deal with repair of those things. They have a "nobody but us can legally repair them" attitude that is utterly repugnant, and they need to be driven into insolvency, the only answer to that. Sorry and good luck (so far.)
    Sounds like you have had a bad experience. You would think that with service like they would go out of business. But they haven't. Actually I am not sure what servicing a competent DIY'er couldn't do. I sold my Saber hydrostatic lawn tractor (Made by Deere) to my neighbor and it is still running. Only had to help him change a mower belt in all these years. It has to be going on 20 years old. Not saying they are in the same league as a commercial ZT that costs twice as much. Each of them has been in the shop exactly once in their lifetime.
    NOW you tell me...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    5,427
    Quote Originally Posted by Ole Anderson View Post
    Sounds like you have had a bad experience. You would think that with service like they would go out of business. But they haven't. Actually I am not sure what servicing a competent DIY'er couldn't do. I sold my Saber hydrostatic lawn tractor (Made by Deere) to my neighbor and it is still running. Only had to help him change a mower belt in all these years. It has to be going on 20 years old. Not saying they are in the same league as a commercial ZT that costs twice as much. Each of them has been in the shop exactly once in their lifetime.
    The issues with John Deere are with their big stuff, not their lawn mowers. The big stuff is heavily computerized and John Deere refuses to supply any of the software required to connect to the computer(s) to independent mechanics. John Deere has even gone so far as to state the software in the units still belongs to John Deere and not to the owner. There are calls for right to repair legislation over this.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    I've had a SCAG Freedom-Z for about a decade now. It's been excellent. My advise is to look at brands/models sold and serviced by local companies. Avoid the machines at the 'borg which are not constructed the same way as those you'll see at independent dealers, even if they have the same color and brand name on them, and place value on local support and service. (Same advice for things like tractors, etc.)
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Central MN
    Posts
    42
    Cub Cadet pro z 100 for about 3 years. It has been an excellent and I can get parts and service right up the road.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Medina Ohio
    Posts
    4,515
    See if you can demo one that is what I did. I tried Exmark Cub Gravely and John Deere Hustler. They all had things that I liked and things I didn't. The Tank was the one that I liked the most but After the problem eith the linkages they gave me credit for another but at the end of the year I got the Gravely that was high on my list. My Brother in law has a John Deere and he has more problems with it and I mow more then he does and his is a commercial unit bought new from a dealer. It has been in the shop at least 3 times a year for major work.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    N. Central Texas
    Posts
    116
    We bought a Gravely 60" this year and it's rock solid. Only have about 35 hours on it and no problems so far. We have all the various dealers in the area and the Gravely came out on top. The SCAG dealer didn't seem to want my business.

  14. #14
    I had a lawn company back in the 90’s. We cut a lot, one crew 5 days a week 2 cutting crews on Thursday and Friday. We ran the Scag mowers and we ran them pretty hard. 2 61” turf tigers and 2 48” zero turns. I recently saw the newer one and boy it looks way nicer than the older ones we had. Solid machines that should last a really long time outside of commercial use if maintained properly. I demoed other brands but none cut as good at comparable speeds. Exmark was probably the closest. this info is old so TIFWIW.

  15. #15
    I think long term a commercial mower is going to be better. They say the difference is going to be the hydraulic motors and the spindle/deck.

    I have a Scag. Its been a very good machine for me. For homeowner use it has a 3 year warranty parts AND labor. I don't think you can beat that! And I like the idea of MUSA.

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