[AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style

Phil M. Vorwerk pvorwerk at newulmtel.net
Tue Jun 9 12:22:30 PDT 2009


You know, sometimes my writing skills leave a lot to be desired.  This
should read that we sold the Cub Cadet to buy a second 425.  Oh well.



-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Phil M. Vorwerk
Sent: June 09, 2009 1:58 PM
To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style

The 425/445/455 series have become a pretty good value when buying used.
$3,500.00 should buy a pretty decent one, and $5,000.00 should buy a low
hour, almost pristine example. The 425 uses a 20 hp liquid cooled Kawasaki
commercial series engine that has a lot more "real" power than the "25 hp"
Kohler Magnum engine that was on the Cub Cadet that I owned for a little
while, and it is much quieter.  We liked the first 425 we had so much better
than the Cub that we sold it (with only 75 hours on it) and found another
425.  Very well built tractors - I have talked to a couple of guys who
traded off their 425's for the new series JD equivalent (I think it is an
X400 series) and they regretted making the switch.  I've had good luck,
anyway.

When I was debating what mower to go with 6 years ago I settled on the 425
based on feedback from the ATIS list.  It's nice to be able provide my own
feedback now.

Phil
Courtland, MN


-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Offiler
Sent: June 09, 2009 10:35 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style

Phil, that's real interesting.  For kicks, I just visited the JD
website, and found they have a nice "selection tool".  You tell it how
many acres, how many obstacles, how flat or sloped the terrain, and
whether you need to handle snow or other garden-tractor tasks (which I
do not, as I have a larger Ford 1520 utility tractor for all of that).
 The selector brings me to a model X324 which is a 22HP, 48" cut,
4-wheel-steer garden tractor.  In order to force the selector to
suggest a Zero-Turn mower instead of the garden tractor, I have to
tell it my terrain is FLAT (where in reality I think it best matches
the "sloped/hilly" option, but not the "challenging" option).  I've
got a JD dealer about 10 miles from home, and a different one less
than 5 miles from work.  Hmmmm...

Steve O.


The JD tool brings me to a
On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 10:27 AM, Phil M. Vorwerk<pvorwerk at newulmtel.net>
wrote:
> I didn't see the original post either.
>
> I don't know how large of a tractor style mower you are thinking of, but
we
> have had great luck using a pair of JD 425's with all wheel steer.  We
have
> a large area to mow, with a lot of trees and half of it with a pretty good
> slope.  We debated the tractor vs ZTR style a bit, and the AWS style
garden
> tractors make a nice compromise, plus there are a lot of attachments
> available (albeit expensive).  Very stable, comfortable tractors with
> hydraulics and power steering, and about a 10" mowing radius depending on
> the size of the deck you choose.
>
> Phil
> Courtland, MN
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Brad Gunnells
> Sent: June 08, 2009 3:56 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
> Subject: Re: [AT] mowers - ztr vs tractor style
>
> I didn't see the original post so I'm not sure all the questions.
>
> Considering ZTR mowers only use the back two wheels to control the
> speed and direction (the front two are just along for the ride!) of
> the mower, slopes are an issue. I clipped the side of a building with
> the chute when mine slid out of control down a wet slope. It was
> partially operator error. It was new and I didn't have much seat time
> to know it's characteristics. But when they slide you loose pretty
> much all control where as a tractor style likely will still allow a
> little steering. Kind of like a car where it slides and you can
> counter steer vs. locking the brakes. My instincts were to try to
> stop instead of full speed ahead and try to regain control.
>
> Once you get past that and the fact they "may" (depending on size,
> tires, etc.) ride rougher they are very maneuverable and generally a
> time saver.
>
> I got a demo unit from the dealer to see how well I liked it first.
> So a rental/demo unit would be a wise choice as you investigate your
> options.
>
> Brad
>
> On Jun 8, 2009, at 2:55 PM, Mike Meulenberg wrote:
>
>> 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
>>
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