Well, the POS mower has died

[Misplaced Texan]

We have a horrid big box store Cub Cadet that came with the property.  It is now 3 years old.  Sunday it started knocking to beat the band.  No grief from me as my RA old body can hardly walk when I get off of that thing.

I mow about 3 acres every week.  I do almost all of the mowing as it is one thing I can take off John.  but the next mower cannot beat me to death or this chore will get loaded on John and I will hate that.  Besides, I like to mow.

We sold a Kubota ZD18 when we left Texas for a small city lot.  Stupid, I know.  Now we have space again and I do not want another cheap POS like the Cub Cadet.

So I went looking and my first stop is ,Kubota, of course.  I will have to move up to a ZG327 to get the comfort I will need.

I am going tomorrow to ride my friends Ferris.

So the question is,  What is the most comfortable mower you have ridden.

Our land is rough and so am I.  I am of the school that if the front wheel goes over it...mow it!

Gail

[Michael Lloyd]

I've got a big ZD series Kubota. Don't remember which one. The zero turns from Snapper are also pretty nice. I had one of those for almost 10 years. I mow 2.5 - 3 acres with over 20 pecan trees. The Snapper took 4 hours. The ZD takes 2.

[thebayougardener]

I have a JD Zero Turn and I can tell you if I had false teeth I’d have to take em out before getting on the thing.  I’m running half the recommended air in the rear tires and it’s still a very rough ride.  It takes about half the time to mower which is about all I can take.

Donald

[Misplaced Texan]

Good to know Donald.  Michael, is your 300 series Kubota rough?  I don't remember my ZD18 being bad at all but I am 4 years older and the RA is worse so I need to demo it!!  I would like to know if you happen to remember to look to see what one it is.

Gail

[JohnK454]

Had a Toro zero turn for ten years until I moved up to a Hustler Super-Z last year.  The suspension seat on the Super-Z, coupled with the optional flex forks is a nice ride.  And FAST.

Ferris has suspension, but my short demo said it didn't ride as well as the Super-Z - to me.

[Michael Lloyd]

I just took a look. It's a ZD326. Big un. It's pretty smooth. Some "ahem" person ran a dozer through the front ditch when the phone company was installing fiber (he didn't want to walk over and talk the guys that were boring my yard to keep from messing up the ditch   so he drove a dozer through the ditch. I "conversed" with them...) When the mower hit that (before they filled it with sand) the mower was rough...

[AllisCA]

Had a Toro zero turn for ten years until I moved up to a Hustler Super-Z last year.  The suspension seat on the Super-Z, coupled with the optional flex forks is a nice ride.  And FAST.

Ferris has suspension, but my short demo said it didn't ride as well as the Super-Z - to me.

I like the Hustler/Landpride mowers. My personal opinion is they are the toughest well built ZTRs on the market. Ferris mowers do ride well but seem not as well built. My 72" LP doesn't have flexforks or suspension seat but have heard those options do ride much better.

[Misplaced Texan]

I think the suspension seat will move me from the zg227 to the zg327,  My zd18 was diesel but don;t think I can do the price for that this time.  The gas engines are fuel hogs though.

I would guess the 426 and 327 are similar.  y'all are talking abt brands I need to look up and go see a bout.

Thanks,

Gail

[sirhc62]

Gail a brand that should be included at looking up is badboy mowers http://www.badboymowers.com/  I believe they have the option for a full adjust suspension seat for all their models. Some of there models have ez-ride system giving a full frame suspension just depends on how much you are willing to pay.
They have a model for just about any budget.

Chris


Just wanted to add... just about any brand of mower your looking at buying a video can be found on youtube. I look for the videos of owners showing off their toy. These videos are not focusing on the selling points like a commercial will do. 

[Lake Erie]

Gail...... I have a ZD21 which is the same as your old ZD18 exc the engine, tires & cutting width....... I mow ~ 5 acres with mine....... I bought it the 1st year they were introduced before they started adding roll bars........ I'm fat & have a bad back and I don't get beat up by it ( maybe because I'm a fatty ) ....... And my yard is a POS too........... Just a bumpy farm yard............ But boy, I can flat out mow lawn........ The neighbors look out & say "There goes that crazy old man again on his Kubota zero turn"...........

Brent

[corl]

No matter what mower you get make sure it has a suspension seat, usually hydraulic damper. My Kubota F2100 has one that is adjustable for your weight and it is terrific. No mower has suspension springs or shocks so the seat is the answer. Get a test ride!

[JohnK454]

Ferris has a spring suspension system, they are well known for this and it is a major selling point for them. 

http://www.ferrisindustries.com/

The flex forks on my Super-Z aren't springs, just basically a torsion bar arrangement for the front forks allowing some give to the front of the mower.

As mentioned, the seat is adjustable for weight and is the primary "first line of defense".

Looked at Bad Boy mowers also - they were a contender in my selection process, but I wasn't comfortable with the dealer.

[corl]

Ferris mowers - I stand corrected - a suspension system.  Interesting.

[Misplaced Texan]

I rode my friend's Ferris and found it nothing special.  Nice padded seat and springs on the wheels.
I am still leaning hard toward the Kubota ZG327.  Run flat front tires, big floor deck with a latched hatch in the floor to access the belts pullys etc, and best suspension seat with 3 pos. lumbar support etc.


Best part the Zg327 in Alex is not much more than the 227 here in Shreveport.
Going to ride that one on Saturday.

Gail

[AllisCA]

Just realized that Kubota is what my neighbor has. Never mowed with it. Have only watched as our yards adjoin. However I will say its not anywhere near the league of Lanpride or Hustler. Looks to be Homeowner duty in comparison. To be fair though its probably all most people will ever need and most likely costs alot less.

[Misplaced Texan]

Don't guess I know a thing about LP or Hustler.  The kubota looks like a tank to me in the BIG 300 series.

G.

[IH Farmall]

I debated for a couple of years on what I needed to replace my POS craftsman mower.  I used my 5 foot finish mower behind the tractor and trimmed with the craftsman.  It got to the point that the craftsman was broken more than it was running and the finish mower was just too big to use in the back yard.  I looked at lots of zero-turns and could not find one that rode good, was comfortable or easy for me to get my large frame onto without stressing my back and my knee.  The prices were extremely outrageous in my opinion, considering that they only cut grass.

I ended up getting a Kubota BX2360 with a 60 inch deck.  It is extremely comfortable, rides well and is easy to operate.  I like the hydrastat transmission and the sharp turning radius.  It isn't a zero-turn but it it does so much more.

Tim

[Misplaced Texan]

We have an L3400 w/ FEL and a ton of implements for work other than mowing,  I just need something that will last a long time and not kill me,

The hustler mower site looks great and there is a dealer close.  May be more $ than the big gas Kubota for me.

Gail

[jcdogfish]

If your yard is rough try the ztr's on YOUR property.  They are fast but can beat you to death.  Second go diesel.  A good used commercial diesel will outlast the gas ones and much better fuel economy.  I just traded in a zd326p.  Super grass cutter and built like a tank.  Went back to a tractor and finishing mower.  Takes me 3 hrs to cut now vs 2 on the ztr but I can walk when I get off the tractor and don't have to run straight to the shower after eating grass, dust, and bugs for 2 hours.  I have RA and it is amazing how much better I feel not getting on the zero turn twice a week.  I think it would inflame the joints to the point of flare ups. I guess if you go slow on a ztr it would be better,,then, what would be the point of the ztr if you had to go slow. A dealer in south la has my zd326 with 250 hrs for 8k.  Great mower with no issues and maintained.  May be worth the ride if you go ztr.

[Misplaced Texan]

That is a great price on your mower.  I need to talk to John abt that.  I was wanting to hit the 0% financing and don't thinkthey will swing that on a used machine.  Where is your mower?  Henderson Implements in Lake Charles?

I also have RA but was never hurt on my ZD18.  This CC is just awful.

LEt me know where your rider is.

Gail

[jcdogfish]

Lemann's in Donaldsonville.

[Misplaced Texan]

Today we went to Alexandria, La and bought our new ZG327 mower.  It is impressive.

We met a fellow in the parking lot to deliver some american Blue rabbits.  turns out his family owned the Kubota dealership in Oakdale 45 minutes away.!!

i felt kinda bad but not enough to drive to Oakdale because they bought 2 rabbits!!

I will post a picture when it gets here on Tuesday.

gail

[tbird]

  I work on Commercial mowers for Golf Courses.  I hate to be against the group here but my least favorite is Kubota.  Their wiring systems are weak, their deck belts are one of the shortest lived, expensive and one of the hardest to change.  I service a few ZD21s as fairway mowers on manicured courses and I make a lot of money off of them.

  My least troublesome mower that will cut grass twice as fast at 1/4 the expense is Exmark with a Kawasaki engine. I have already two very happy course owners that have unloaded their Kubotas and switched to Exmark.

  Just an opinion of a mower mechanic.

[Lake Erie]

T-Bird....... I have a Kubota ZD21 and have had no problems with it....... Of course it is owner operated vs having hired hands running it as is the case with most commercial equipment........ One question I have on the Exmark; are they pigs on gas?....... I love the 3 cyl diesel on my Kubota as it is powerful & still stingy on fuel......... I can mow full tilt on less than 3/4 gal of fuel per hour.... My Kubota has ~ a 7 gal tank & it will last ~ a full day of mowing...... I see equivalent size Exmarks have almost double that size tank, which I assume are to provide a days mowing w/o refueling??....... I do know early Kubota zero turns had tranny problems which are mega $$$ to get fixed.......... Mine is in the early generation, but so far I have had no tranny issues......... But maybe I need to look at an Exmark b-4 my tranny blows.....

Brent

[Misplaced Texan]

OUr ZD18 (same as the 21 but smaller)  was a fabulous mower.  and we loved the diesel engine.  Couldn't pony up the extra $2500 for the ZD this time so got the ZG.

Being this new ZG327 is home owned and doing 3-5 acres at a time and not a golf course we expect it to last a very long time.  It is a big commercial mower and not a small rider by any means.  Owner operator makes a lot of difference in anything I am sure.

Gail