[AT] ZTR mowers

[Alan Nadeau]

In ZTR mowers the commercial quality machines are generally well built, 
reliable and SAFE to operate.  When you move down into the homeowner level 
machines some of them are terribly cheaply built and in many cases are 
dangerous to operate on anything other than virtually level areas.

I base my opinions on my own experience, 1300+ hours on an Exmark Lazer Z, 
several demos of other commercial machines, two seasons totaling 80-100 
hours on a Kubota and a bunch of conversations and test rides on various 
homeowner level junkers.

The homeowner machines tend to be "sleek" so every yuppie owner can think he 
has a stylish machine.  They generally are lightweight with high HP engines 
and smaller drive tires.  Traction is poor and that links directly to poor 
controllability.  The rears lack adequate traction to swing the front end 
around when turning.  Get them on a cross slope and they are likely to swing 
downhill and nothing the operator can do will stop that.  I would expect the 
$2,000 Crapsman to be right down in the pits of that category as all any of 
the Husquvarna homeowner models that I have been on or heard comments from 
their not-real-thrilled owners.

Exmark, Toro, Ferris, Scag seem to have their act together on the 
commercials, I've never been on or heard about their low end machines so I 
can't comment on them.

The Kubota mower I use as a volunteer at our shooting club is pretty much a 
conundrum.  31 HP(IIRC) diesel, 60" very deep deck which handles clippings 
better than anything I have been on, very heavy machine, solid, comfortable 
with one HUGE flaw.   Something is just WRONG with the way the weight is 
balanced and it just hates to go in anything but a straight line.  The front 
is wicked heavy and it acts like the cheapies, the rear wheels don't have 
the authority to pull the fronts through a tight turn.  It's alright if 
you're moving along briskly, usually, but sometimes you keep hauling back on 
steering lever and you keep going straight.  More of a problem if you're 
trying to work slowly around obstacles if the ground is a little damp.  Sit 
still and spin.  The rear wheels really should be further forward or 
something.  It's a joy to operate when you're on open ground but it 
generates some serious cussin' in close quarters.

Try before you buy, if you can, and if you buy on the bottom of the price 
range be prepared to be disappointed in both performance and longevity.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Bowen" <don.bowen at earthlink.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 2:52 PM
Subject: [AT] ZTR mowers


> We have been gone for three weeks of rain and the yard has taken over.
> My Craftsman 42" mower is not feeling its best and the rank growth it
> had to mow yesterday may have added to its eventual demise.  Several
> people have been trying to convince me to get a ZTR.  I have looked and
> saw several versions in several price ranges from one friends high
> dollar(>$5000) John Deere to another friends lower dollar (<$2000)
> Craftsman.
>
> What is the collective experience of the list?  I mow a little over an
> acre, sometimes every week and at times like the drought a couple of
> years ago every other week or so.
>
> -- 
> Don Bowen           AD0NB
> "A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without 
> reserve. In solitude alone can he know true freedom."
> -Michel De Montaigne 1588
> http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>