We bought a Hustler Fastrack about 6 years ago and it has been great. It cut mowing time in less than half and it looks much better. Two things we required when we purchased: Kawasaki engine, after research and having a close friend who works for Kawasaki. Fabricated deck, because, besides being heavy duty, if damaged, they can be repaired. Hit something with a stamped deck and they can 'spring' so you'll have to replace it.
My question is: if I don't need the maneuverability of a zero-turn, what advantage is there over a good tractor? I kinda like holding a steering wheel rather than levers...
Maintaining a manicured grass lawn is one of the more dubious customs that we inherited from the British. We kicked that custom out the door 25 years ago and never looked back.
It's all about speed. A zero-turn will run circles around a tractor and do a better job of cutting the grass while doing it.
Apparently, not everyone got the message. If I'm looking to buy a house, the one with the nice lawn is more attractive. Not because of the lawn, but because the lawn is an indicator.
Many of the zero-turns have an option for striping kits placed either just behind the deck or at the rear of the mower. This folds over the grass in the direction of travel and creating a pattern as you mow. Going one direction, turning around and going back the other direction is how you do it. You don't have to have a striping kit to do this, but it will make the effect more pronounced.
I got this one also. Have about 4 acres of manicured woods for a front yard and doing it with the old riding tractor would take 8+ hours due to all the backing up and turning to get up close to the trees. I can now do the same job in under 4. Kaw engine and fab deck are the way to go. Mine was a return at Lowes. was 500.00 off the price + used the military discount for another -275.00. Ended up paying less than what a new lawn tractor would cost. Its also fun to drive and the wife likes running it. Win Win
I bought a ExMark in 2013 with a 60" fab deck Kohler 747 series engine. I do a bit of comerciel mowing and now have 2887 hours on it. Have only did the normal oil changes, use good clean fuel and clean the air fiters every week when I change out the blades for a sharp set. I do one lawn that took me over 4 hours to mow with a 17 HP rideing tractor with a 48 inch deck. today I do the same lawn in a tad under 2 hours. The blades on mine spin at 18,000RPM and produce a great cut. Today were I to go shopping for a new Z turn I would hit Simplicity first like the idea of haveing more than a suspetion seat. Starting at about $7700. briggs engine scares me how ever. https://sleequipment.com/simplicity-5901779-citation-xt-mower-5901780.html Or go back to ExMark Lazer Z eseries with a Kaw engine and a 60 to 72" deck. starts at $9,000. I would want a test drive of the Simplicty how ever to make sure the bounceing suspetion doesn't provide a jumpy cut. And yes we have land care dealers here. People that want a quilaty machine and dealer support stay away from the likes of home depot, Lowe's, Menards, TSc and other non support box stores. Try to go into Home Depot and get a set of replacement blades for a John deer z turn they sold 3 years ago!!!!! Al .
I mow about 6-7 acres with a 7273 Cub Cadet with a 72" belly mower made by Woods that I purchased in '97 that has 1610 hours. Takes me right at 3 hours to mow 6-7 acres. I also clear snow from my 1/4+ mile drive in the winter with a 6' blade, have a 58" tiller for gardening and a 6 ft bush hog for the other 3 acres in the bottoms by the river. I just do not know that I can replace my tractor with one zero turn. My wife or son push mow around our home so it can be bagged and clippings not tracked into the house. As we get older and empty nesters I need a way for my wife to mow more easily than a push mower but continue to bag the clippings. Thanks everyone for this discussion, it really is helping to understand what is available and in use already. Troy
I used to cut grass for a living, 20 plus years using Z mowers. Loved the Exmark , owned 2 for a long time. 60 " was the best with a Kohler. The lastone I owned was a Gravely and it was just as good as an Exmark. These were commercial mowers . The Gravely was more comfortable. Depends a lot on how much ground you are going tomoweach week, how long do plan on living there and how much you want to spend. The biggest thing I recommend is where you purchase your mower and what kind of service are you going to get. That's what sold me on what I bought and where. Paul
I have read several posts on this website slamming Briggs & Stratton engines. I bought my now-ancient John Deere tractor because it had one. I always look for B&S engines in anything powered that I buy. I have never had a significant issue with one.
So wats the best mower to make crop circles. Let it grow tall and get creative. Thats what i wouid do if i had some of the yards mentioned here.
Them Gravely are nice machines,..I'm trying to get a fella up the street from me to sell his late 70s Gravely lawn tractor it's a beast with a 3 or and several attachments
So far this year I have purchased my wife two new weed eaters and another new $800 electric start push mower. I really don’t care what she mows the yard with or that it takes her a little over eight hours to mow it. She does a good job of keeping the fence rolls cleaned out too. There is a Zero Turn John Deere commercial mower on the farm but she would rather push mow it. I did offer to buy her some Goats to help keep the weeds down but she said they would eat her flowers. (Last time we had goats, they got loose and cleaned out all the flower beds) As for me, I would rather spend my time working in my shop on my GS. Marv.
