[AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style

Tue Jun 9 05:51:56 PDT 2009

If you buy a ZTR make sure you don't get one of the cheaper homeowner 
quality jobs as they don't last and don't work that well. Spend the extra 
money and buy a commercial quality machine and it will be the last mower you 
ever buy. Stick with a brand that the commercial  lawn crews use in your 
area. Toro, Exmark, Scag, Bunton, Gravely, Great Dane, Grasshopper, BobCat, 
and some others make good machines. Make sure it has real charge pumps and 
wheel motors and not a hydrostatic transaxle. Make sure you buy one with a 
fabricated steel deck, preferably 7 gauge.
Mark
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Offiler" <soffiler at gmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 7:14 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style

All good ideas, Charlie.  I will inquire about a demo unit.  We have
about three dealers within 1/2 hour of me (perhaps one or two more in
that radius, need to study the Yellow Pages).  All three are small
operations who may or may not have a demonstrator unit due to their
size and inventory constraints.  Can't hurt to ask.  One is Cub Cadet,
one is Gravely/Wheelhorse/Toro and one is Massey-Ferguson.  Hmmm, now
wait a sec, there's gotta be a JD dealer around... dang, my blood just
doesn't run green and I'm drawing a blank on that.  Again, gotta check
Yellow Pages.  All of the working farms in my area run JD equipment.

I am pretty much set on the ZTR once I get past two things; one being
my existing Cub Cadet (remember where this thread started?) which I
might just keep if Karen decides she likes it.  It's a pretty nice
machine to operate, with the Kohler Magnum opposed-twin ("boxer"
engine like VW bug, Subaru, and BMW motorcycle) which are very smooth,
inherently balanced, even-firing engines, and the hydro couldn't be
smoother or simpler to operate.  The steering on the CC is not
power-assisted but it is geared to be very easy to turn, downside
being about half a zillon turns lock-to-lock but a spinner deals with
that nicely.  Then as you say there will be certain limited areas that
I will still maintain with my existing 17HP 42" walk-behind.

The other thing I need to get past is this whole traction on slopes
issue.  I do believe it's a real issue based on many comments in this
thread, and the prevalence of machines that are converted from turf
tires to more ag-like patterns.  That makes some sort of rental or
demonstrator unit that much more important because the answer to that
question is very specific to my terrain.

SO

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 4:58 PM, charliehill<charliehill at embarqmail.com> 
wrote:
> The guys that mow the Marine Corps base here use them on some fairly steep
> slopes and I've seen them running ATV tires that look basically like farm
> tractor tires.
>
> Steve one thing you could consider if your heart is set on the ZTR (I want
> one myself) is to establish the areas it's safe for your wife to mow with 
> it
> and have her leave the rest for you to finish up with the walk behind or a
> weedeater.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Meulenberg" <msm10301 at juno.com>
> To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 3:55 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style
>
>
> I personally don't think the slopes will be an issue. Around here all the
> lawn companies use them and there are some pretty steep hills. I have
> noticed a few that switched the rear tires to the ATV style, more than
> likely for wet conditions, these guys mow rain or shine, although in rain
> they just make a big mess. We had a rental house that we had mowed the 
> front
> yard was very steep, and they could mow it with no problem, either 
> straight
> up and down or crosswise, they alternated every week. Mike
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style
> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 15:30:42 -0400
>
> Good thought, rental... now why didn't I think of that? :-) Thanks
> Dennis. I'll have to make some calls...
>
> SO
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM, Dennis Johnson<moscowengnr at yahoo.com> 
> wrote:
>> What I would recomend is to go and RENT or BORROW a ZTR type mower and 
>> try
>> it to see how it works. Then you could get some idea of how well it works
>> for you and your lot.
>>
>> I still use the "tractor" style mowers. I drove to Oklahoma and got one 
>> of
>> mine repaired over the week-end - new fuel hose replacing old cracked 
>> hose
>> after replacing fuel shut off solinoid that got broke off when mowing too
>> close to some brush and downed limbs. I then was able to mow about 2 
>> acres
>> in 3 hours - lot with several trees, an ditch and a few draws, etc.
>> (including re-installing carb linkage that got knocked of mowing too 
>> close
>> to some brush and branches and one pushed in to undo carb linkage.) I 
>> just
>> enjoy using the tractor style mowers, and they work well for me (as long
>> as I keep reasonable distance from brush and limbs.)
>>
>> My wife is also able to use these, and they do well for her, but she does
>> not mow the ditch or push limits mowing over small brush, etc.
>>
>> If I was trying to earn a living mowing lots, then I might pass on the
>> enjoyment of using the tractor style and go with a ZTR.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>>
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