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zero turn ???

pappabass

pappabass

Inactive
May 19, 2006
2,575
3,311
Alabama !! Roll Tide
#1
After 30 years of tractor style lawn mowers, I bought a zero turn mower. My old one was 15 yrs old & literally falling apart. I could not afford a Scag or Xmark, but it is pretty cool. Jury is still out if I like a zero turn over traditional. I have a lot of straight cutting so its not as beneficial as other users may have. But hey, its new, don't have to jump it off!
 
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#4
pappabass said:
After 30 years of tractor style lawn mowers, I bought a zero turn mower. My old one was 15 yrs old & literally falling apart. I could not afford a Scag or Xmark, but it is pretty cool. Jury is still out if I like a zero turn over traditional. I have a lot of straight cutting so its not as beneficial as other users may have. But hey, its new, don't have to jump it off!
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Congrats.

How much land are you cutting? My neighbors and I all have just shy of an acre, the guy across the street has a zero turn Cub Cadet, the lady next to me has a four wheel steer John Deere and I've got a free Simplicity old school tractor style. Of the three (and I've used all of them) I like the Deere the best.
 
#6
pappabass said:
After 30 years of tractor style lawn mowers, I bought a zero turn mower. My old one was 15 yrs old & literally falling apart. I could not afford a Scag or Xmark, but it is pretty cool. Jury is still out if I like a zero turn over traditional. I have a lot of straight cutting so its not as beneficial as other users may have. But hey, its new, don't have to jump it off!
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So are you saying that it is a cut above the rest?
Fishheadjoe
 
#8
I paid for college partly by working summers for a landscaping business where I literally did nothing but mow industrial sized lawns 60 hours a week. The zero turn radius mowers definitely make a difference when youre a professional and time = money.
 
#9
I dunno - some purported professionals appear to be very good at ripping holes in the turf by locking one wheel and pivoting, or going forward to reverse too fast. Between that and not bothering to do the clean-up cut where all the turns were made, I'm at least convinced that they can be used incorrectly by folks who are not too good at the job. I'm sure they can also be used well, but most people who use them well would manage just as fast on some other mower through approaching the job with their brain turned on. Long-term the weight and hydraulic drive are a real pain when the drive opts to stop working and you have a very heavy lump that does not want to move, or be moved. An old-fashoned riding mower might look really good at that stage, and a 20" push mower looks real good right about then.

Right - the other thing is wet spots. Again, the weight working against you - very easy to bury them up to the mower deck, and getting out is a lot of work or needs bigger equipment to help.
 
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#13
A local guy went into a ditch under one last week it tipped in on top of him. Didn’t cut him, landed on his chest and crushed him to death. Apparently they (zero turn) get about seventy people a year so mind your P’s & Q’s.
 
#15
guy n. cognito said:
Usually a guy needing a 60” deck is rarely also considering a 22” push.....
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But you said needing. It's very often "needing" with air quotes - I have no idea for the OP. Having mowed a ton of lawn with a 20" push, I've observed a whole lot of lawnmower overkill and suburban silliness in lawnmower choices. Unless you have a soccer field, lawn tennis, or serious croquet going on, once you get the "wildfires burning next to the house" area mown there comes a point of "and why are you mowing 5 acres of grass more often than it takes to make hay from it?"
 
#16
Mike N said:
Congrats.

How much land are you cutting? My neighbors and I all have just shy of an acre, the guy across the street has a zero turn Cub Cadet, the lady next to me has a four wheel steer John Deere and I've got a free Simplicity old school tractor style. Of the three (and I've used all of them) I like the Deere the best.
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I cut an acre, each time I cut I get better with the zero turn. Sharp turns do tear up the grass. Hey, its new !! My old one I had to jump it to start, belts slipped, deck has holes in it !
 
#17
T_Bone_TL said:
But you said needing. It's very often "needing" with air quotes - I have no idea for the OP. Having mowed a ton of lawn with a 20" push, I've observed a whole lot of lawnmower overkill and suburban silliness in lawnmower choices. Unless you have a soccer field, lawn tennis, or serious croquet going on, once you get the "wildfires burning next to the house" area mown there comes a point of "and why are you mowing 5 acres of grass more often than it takes to make hay from it?"
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Or an acre. The OP said he’s mowing an acre.

But at least you aren’t angry about it. ;)
 
#18
T_Bone_TL said:
But you said needing. It's very often "needing" with air quotes - I have no idea for the OP. Having mowed a ton of lawn with a 20" push, I've observed a whole lot of lawnmower overkill and suburban silliness in lawnmower choices. Unless you have a soccer field, lawn tennis, or serious croquet going on, once you get the "wildfires burning next to the house" area mown there comes a point of "and why are you mowing 5 acres of grass more often than it takes to make hay from it?"
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Its a 1 acre lot plus the easement along the road. We all pitch in and cut the easements and entrance. The mower has a 46" deck.
 

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