new Zero turn mower choices

[flying belgian]

No, it's just so much easier to use. You can cruise around with a lemonade in one hand and mow your lawn!

Lemonade?? Okay we,ll go with that.

 

[jimmyjoe]

No, it's just so much easier to use. You can cruise around with a lemonade in one hand and mow your lawn!

Bought a joy stick mower 30 years ago,only way to go. Still going strong.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Zero turn mowers use 2 hyd motors, one for each drive wheel. If one spins the mower is dead in the water, as using the other wheel turns the mower further into the soft ground area.
With all the clipped grass and dust flying around I'd never attempt to drink N drive.

I wuz asking johnllob about the diff in his Country Clipper, as not all ZTR style mowers use two separate hydraulic motors.

 

[Hemmjo]

I would have trouble using a joystick mower. My free arm would get bored!! My pair of hands are just used to working together, backhoe, excavator, skid loader, excavator, etc.

In many situations, I can manipulate both levers with one hand make small steering corrections, while the free hand pushes tree branches out of the way.

Honestly, I never heard of a joystick mower before this thread.

People like different things, that is why Baskin Robbins has 33 flavors.

 

[RedMVa]

I wuz asking johnllob about the diff in his Country Clipper, as not all ZTR style mowers use two separate hydraulic motors.

Yeah they are just like a regular zt, last one I worked on was 3-4 years ago and I can’t remember how the joystick worked. It had a blown engine and I didn’t waste much time looking it over , owner was a big pita so new engine installed, checked op and out the door it went. I do remember had to get the engine from country clipper cause it had a special crankshaft that only they used.

 

[Ray,IN]

I wuz asking johnllob about the diff in his Country Clipper, as not all ZTR style mowers use two separate hydraulic motors.

How is wheel speed varied to steer with only one motor?

 

[Hobo,NC]

How is wheel speed varied to steer with only one motor?

Transaxle

 

[Tree-Farmer]

Is everything hydro now? I bought an older JD 725 front end mower. It has hydro, controlled by foot pedal, but I don't like it! I sometimes mow thicker and taller grass/weeds, so I want to go slow. I prefer a standard riding mower, where I can put it in first and forget about the speed. But my 725 has a 72 inch mower, so that is much better than a standard riding mower.

 

[Hemmjo]

Is everything hydro now? I bought an older JD 725 front end mower. It has hydro, controlled by foot pedal, but I don't like it! I sometimes mow thicker and taller grass/weeds, so I want to go slow. I prefer a standard riding mower, where I can put it in first and forget about the speed. But my 725 has a 72 inch mower, so that is much better than a standard riding mower.

you are not using your hydro correctly. Hydro can go any speed you want, from zero to maximum. No shifting involved, Forward to reverse,, no shifting, it PERFECT for the situation you describe.

 

[johnlobb]

My Country Clipper has 2 Hydro Gear 3100 transmissions...

 

[560Dennis]

Pretty good posted question, thanks

 

[Texasmark]

My Country Clipper has 2 Hydro Gear 3100 transmissions...

Does your CC have a "manual lift" mower deck? I almost bought CC with one until I watched the sales guy raise the 60" which was the size I wanted....he was stout......I'm not any more.

 

[Tree-Farmer]

you are not using your hydro correctly. Hydro can go any speed you want, from zero to maximum. No shifting involved, Forward to reverse,, no shifting, it PERFECT for the situation you describe.

Yes, you're right, but only if I hold my foot steady. I have to make an effort and hold my foot in just the right position to go very slow. Somehow I end up going faster. Something I'm doing is making it go faster than I want. It's more work and doesn't work as well for me, for this type of mowing as a standard transmission where I can put it in first gear and not think about the speed, and just think about driving.

 

[showcrop]

Yes, you're right, but only if I hold my foot steady. I have to make an effort and hold my foot in just the right position to go very slow. Somehow I end up going faster. Something I'm doing is making it go faster than I want. It's more work and doesn't work as well for me, for this type of mowing as a standard transmission where I can put it in first gear and not think about the speed, and just think about driving.

It sounds like it is the pedal design. I bought a new tractor with hydrostatic drive in 1986. The forward reverse pedal required that you old your foot on it in an uncomfortable position which made it difficult to maintain a constant speed.

 

[Steve in IL]

Friend said a local big dealer (America Pride, Zanesville, OH), who deals in multiple brands, steered him to Hustler. Longer warranty. Might be worth a look.

 

[johnlobb]

Does your CC have a "manual lift" mower deck? I almost bought CC with one until I watched the sales guy raise the 60" which was the size I wanted....he was stout......I'm not any more.

No, it has the manual raise deck, I do wish it had the power lift, mine is a 52"...

 

[INCase]

Friend said a local big dealer (America Pride, Zanesville, OH), who deals in multiple brands, steered him to Hustler. Longer warranty. Might be worth a look.

bought the Hustler "raptor xl" should be delivered tomorrow. the "raptor X" (20hp Kawaski, no suspension, no armrests) would have also worked but got a pretty good deal even without asking (small local dealer).

cleaned up the 1989/90 Wheelhorse 312-8 my dad bought new to pass on to son-in-law. 1 family mower but between my brother and dad and I its mowed in 4 different states.

thanks for all the "advise" and information. Still boils down to the frame and deck quality since most all had the same hydro's and engines. Scag was moved to second choice since it had a Briggs engine but they seem to be the best built otherwise.

was quite disappointed the kubota had so much plastic and in the wrong places (rear guard) and a higher price (but does have ROPS and easy adjust seat and slightly longer warranty)


now to figure out a new washer (no i'm not starting that thread here) .... always something

 

[Texasmark]

bought the Hustler "raptor xl" should be delivered tomorrow. the "raptor X" (20hp Kawaski, no suspension, no armrests) would have also worked but got a pretty good deal even without asking (small local dealer).

cleaned up the 1989/90 Wheelhorse 312-8 my dad bought new to pass on to son-in-law. 1 family mower but between my brother and dad and I its mowed in 4 different states.

thanks for all the "advise" and information. Still boils down to the frame and deck quality since most all had the same hydro's and engines. Scag was moved to second choice since it had a Briggs engine but they seem to be the best built otherwise.

was quite disappointed the kubota had so much plastic and in the wrong places (rear guard) and a higher price (but does have ROPS and easy adjust seat and slightly longer warranty)


now to figure out a new washer (no i'm not starting that thread here) .... always something

Why do I need or want a ROPS on a low to the ground riding mower??????? A reason: To act as a frame for a hard cover over the occupant like is used on tractors......Buttttt once you do that you move the center of gravity upwards and increasing the opportunity for a tip over that wasn't there before....in my humble opinion......and you are limited as to where you can mow and where you can stow.....fact!

 

[Hobo,NC]

Why do I need or want a ROPS on a low to the ground riding mower??????? A reason: To act as a frame for a hard cover over the occupant like is used on tractors......Buttttt once you do that you move the center of gravity upwards and increasing the opportunity for a tip over that wasn't there before....in my humble opinion......and you are limited as to where you can mow and where you can stow.....fact!

Have saw if it’s in my way other than a power pole guy wire it getting cut off/down. I love my canopy’s: )

 

[Destroked 450]

Why do I need or want a ROPS on a low to the ground riding mower??????? A reason: To act as a frame for a hard cover over the occupant like is used on tractors......Buttttt once you do that you move the center of gravity upwards and increasing the opportunity for a tip over that wasn't there before....in my humble opinion......and you are limited as to where you can mow and where you can stow.....fact!

Roll overs isn’t a big concern but there’s documented cases of mowers flipping over backwards on embankments crushing the operators