Zero Turn Mowers

[premiumplus]

Sooooo....my 17 year old Troy-Bilt (Read MTD here) lawn tractor has decided it's time to retire. I've got a half acre to mow and this thing has been ok but as we know there's always room for improvement.
Enter Zero Turn Fever. I've been watching the gal across the street mow with her ZT mower for years and they're just so...COOL. I went to the local high end lawn shop and dropped about $4K on an entry level ExMark ZT mower. It was delivered this morning.

Let me say that there's a bit of a learning curve here. I got it out in the middle of the yard and I was jerking back and forth, spinnin' around like a drunk sailor. Those damn control levers are sensitive. But after 10 minutes or so I got the hang of it, and fired up the cutting deck and mowed the yard. This thing is freaking FUN to run. I got over confident down by a culvert on the driveway and scalped the yard. At least I didn't break it.

So there ya go fellas, if you've got an old lawn tractor and need a new machine, go for a ZT mower. It makes mowing the lawns fun.

 

[laatsch55]

Did you check out the Hustler?

 

[bill7621]

I bought a Scag Turf Tiger II two years ago
A step up from a Craftsman garden tractor
I have 5 acres to cut and went from roughly 5 1/2 hours cutting to around 2 hours or so. I bought some noise cancelling headphones and listen to music while I cut. Usually 3 to 4 albums. Really enjoyable doing the lawn now.

 

[AngrySailor]

Let me say that there's a bit of a learning curve here. I got it out in the middle of the yard and I was jerking back and forth, spinnin' around like a drunk sailor.

Easy there land lubber!

 

[premiumplus]

Did you check out the Hustler?

No. But I used to "read" the magazine in my teens.

 

[8991XJ]

Neighbor got one a few years ago. These things hate hills. I have to mow carefully to avoid the thing driving off into the road.

 

[rtp_burnsville]

I looked at them several years back but bought a Kubota BX as I could also get a loader which has been really useful. If you have soft ground the zero-turn can easily tear up your yard unless one is really careful.

Robert

 

[Gibsonian]

Another happy Scag owner here.

Pluses annd minuses vs tractor styles but fot max fun, esp if you in race mode, is the zero turn.

I use headphones and crank the jams while riding or listen to the Cards. Gotta have those.

 

[Billboard]

I bought a Cub Cadet Z50, love it, need to be careful when starting off, or the back tires will spin and destroy grass. Lovely Yamaha V motor, very smooth. Also use noise canceling headphones and listen to music.

 

[premiumplus]

I looked at them several years back but bought a Kubota BX as I could also get a loader which has been really useful. If you have soft ground the zero-turn can easily tear up your yard unless one is really careful.

Robert

Right on, I've got some nice skid marks from the first mow. Plus I found you've gotta be careful or it's easy to lose control when you're on a slope and a wheel loses traction. I'm getting used to it though and a good pair of noise cancelling headphones sounds like a great idea.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

It's too hot to mow..... And for 4 grand, I bought an entry level Goat, and built 4 WOPL's. Plus, the milk is good for making White Russians.

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

By the way, you can tell it's MY goat..... Check out the grass stains on her knees....... HA


HUH?????

 

[mr_rye89]

I'm too lazy to grow a big lawn and too cheap for a zero turn. So I mow weeds with an '01 42" Murray with a 17.5HP Briggs Twin IC and turf destroyers on the rear. It has one zillion really hard hours on it and the motor is prolly due for a refresh.....though it still runs good. I wish Briggs would bring back the twin, Inteks are head gasket eating piles of crap......

I've thought about goats, but I have miniature cattle that eat kosha weeds like they're candy.

 

[laatsch55]

I hate Kochia weeds, battled those on the farm...hate em..

 

[mr_rye89]

I hate Kochia weeds, battled those on the farm...hate em..

Yeah they grow everywhere man, and turn to trees if you let 'em