[AT] ZTR's laughing

[Ronald L. Cook]

Whew!!  Apparently there are many many manufacturers of lawn mowers. 
Most of the ones mentioned in this ZTR thread I have never heard of. 
Deere, Grasshopper, Dixon, Simplicity, pretty much in that order around 
here.  I use a Deere garden tractor.  Just something about a cup of 
coffee in one hand and the steering wheel in the other that catches my 
fancy.  I am not an intense mowing type.  More the relaxing type.  My 
occupation fills the intense void.<g>  I have a couple friends with 
Grasshoppers.  They are absolutely nuts about it.  One has a sloped 
area.  I'll have to query him as to how it handles.  I know his wife had 
quite a time getting onto driving it.  All the front deck style mowers I 
have seen have a very deep deck.  This is a very good thing.  Also the 
obvious advantage of the flip up feature for maintenance.  I am not 
particularly impressed with my Deere 48C deck.  It plugs too easily. 
The little town where my business is located uses Simplicity.  Both 
undermount deck  garden tractor type and zero turn front deck type. 
They can mow the airport in the rain!  They do an excellent job.  Deep 
decks.  They are commercial versions, however.  The zero turn is a dark 
green color and is not called Simplicity but I can't remember the name 
right now.  My dad bought a Simplicity riding mower.  Home version.  I 
think the current one is called the Coronet.  I am not impressed with 
that thing.

I just had a phone call response to a newspaper ad about my B Allis with 
the 72 inch Woods deck that is for sale.  The fellow wanted to know the 
horsepower.  I told him low twenties somewhere.  He stated that was not 
near enough horsepower, and hung up.  Wonder what he thought he was 
calling about?  Briggs powered lawn tractor, I'll bet.<g>

Ron Cook
Salix, IA

James West wrote:

> When,  I was looking to buy my JD 727 ZTR last year, I talked to my 
> brother in law, as he owns a mowing service. He has nothing but the 
> Dixie Chopper brand ZTR, I looked at his, and yes they are built tuff, 
> and I am sure would due a great job. But there is no real local dealer 
> here and this is no small town. One garden center store was listed as a 
> dealer, I called them. None in stock, but I could drive over at look at 
> a picture. No parts on hand. No financing!
> 
> So I went to my Deere dealer, they loaned me one ASAP so I could try it 
> out, they delivered it to me 30 miles each way for them, I never even 
> had to fill anything out, just pure trust. As far as they know I could 
> have been a bum. (Bad credit risk)
> 
> After one cutting, I called them back and told them to bring me a new 
> one. I gave them my credit info, and the next day they dropped off a 
> brand new 727 ZTR, pickup the loaner, and I am one happy camper.
> 
> I have lots of trees to go around, and the ZTR cut my mowing time about 
> in half. So lets recap.
> 
> 
> Local Deere dealer, parts, service, loaner mower if mine has to go in to 
> the shop, great deal on financing, 2.5 percent nothing down.
> 
> Deere was the way for me.
> 
> 
> 
>> From: "kreig" <astroguy at nas.com>
>> Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Subject: [AT] ZTR's  laughing
>> Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 14:26:49 -0800
>>
>> I am laughing at all the comments about ZTR's, especially from those 
>> who seem to have never driven one.
>>
>> I know of a family with a ZTR which they use for everything, hauling 
>> woood with a wagon, cutting grass( of course), snow blowers, and 
>> more.  They can be multi use machines.  Most models come with a pin 
>> hitch in the back, same as a regular mower.
>>
>> When i operated the Demo 17 hp, 40 inch deck mower,  I was cutting 7" 
>> tall winter grass, up a hill, at the 2" cut setting.  What happened?  
>> The engine started to bark like it was working, the only time it ever 
>> slowed down, and then only a little.  Keep in mind, this cutting was 
>> done at full speed, 7 mph!!!  Some other ZTR machines can go faster.
>>
>> The hours saved with a ZTR will give me an additional 4 hours per week 
>> for other chores or maybe even a nap!!
>>
>> Now i just have to make a decison on which model.
>>
>> Kreig
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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