My new toy, how have I lived without this for so long?

[nathan104]

Its not new, but new to me. My brother buys and repairs riding mowers to sell or part out. A few months ago he bought out a retired guy who had a landscaping business. He bought this zero turn for $200 I believe it was because it was broken. It needed a new gear box on one of the back wheels. No cheap fix, the part cost $600. But, once fixed, still only had $1K in it for something that would cost me $3K used and the guy paid $7K for it new.

It's an MTD Pro Z2460. Has a 24 hp kohler and a 5 ft wide deck. Its a professional model.

This thing will cut right through the 4-5ft tall stuff in my pasture. After using this for a week, I have no idea how I have lived without one of these for so long. It is very fast and has cut my mowing time down to probably a 1/4 of what it used to take me. I can also use this thing to cut through stuff that I would have had to break out the tractor and brush hog for. Its very comfortable and very fun to drive.

Every once and a while some comes along that just changes the way I do things. Last year it was the loader on the tractor, this year it the Zero turn. I just love it.

Heres pictures. Yes, it has two different width of tires on it right now. This is also the same mower my brother drove to the bottom of his pond a few months back. Its good as new now though.

[Kathy in MD]

very nice....my hubby would be so jealous

[Callieslamb]

We bought one a couple of years ago. I love it. I wish my DH loved it as much as I do.....we bought it so HE could mow the lawn... It takes a bit to get used to it but the zero turn can't be beat.

Congratulations!

[RenieB]

I know how you feel. I no longer can push a lawn mower and after a couple of years of our lawn looking like a jungle we finally got a riding mower last year. Our grown children said they would take care of the lawn but none live right nearby and it never seemed to get done. I love my rding mower and it does a nice job. Enjoy your new toy!!

RenieB

[Quint]

I've always found the commercial type zero turn radius mowers faster to cut with as well as feeling a little more stable on hills. I wish I had one. I managed to flip my regular riding type mower last week while mowing. Found a newly washed ditch in high grass and over she went. I was just waiting for those two spinning blades to come crashing down on top of me. oddly enough my thought was "I wonder if my tibia/fibula are thick enough to stop a twin lawnmower blades turned by a 17 horse engine or if it will cut completely through?" Thankfully I didn't have to find out.

[Scrounger]

Congrats!
I'm in the situation where I can no longer use a push mower, too. My wife comes out and does some of it, but there is a lot to do. Just last week, I bought the first NEW rider I have ever had. We bought used ones before, but thay didn't last very long. Now I can do most of it and actually get DONE in one day. It's not a ZTR but, we really didn't want one.

Just tell your brother to not take it fishing anymore......

[MelissaW]

NICE! My husband got a zero turn last year, and now he and my son fight over who gets to mow. I, however, lack the brain function to work the steering. Our Bobcat is even worse because it's backwards, and every time I've had to drive THAT I've ended up crying!

[Nancy]

If you ever start mowing with a ZTR mower you know you can never mow with a standard mower again. We've had a Grasshopper mower for many years now, DH can make repairs as needed, and it gives a beautiful cut lawn. Even if it is mostly weeds they look good when mowed! Congratulations on your wonderful mower. Enjoy.

[FreeRanger]

Our SCAG tiger cub zero turn commercial mower was the best investment for the farm ever. We had them weld a hitch spot on the back before we left the lot. Use it to pull large garden trailer around MORE than we mow. In fact I have 1/4 acre of backyard that still hasn't been mowed this year. But it can handle that NO PROBLEM. Very safe on the steep hills...I've used it to chop corn stalks...small brush... you name it.

The best thing is it's commercial grade so has all the best engineering in the design. It's made to be serviced every day by the operator. So all the grease fitting are easily reached (I pointed out to a friend that was considering a consummer grade machine that it didn't even have any grease points on the moving parts!!! plus it had a stupid hydraulic lift for the deck which is an over kill... we mow with the deck ALL THE WAY UP 95% of the time...how often do you change your cutting height?). The oil is easy to change...it's very heavy duty...our dog run is on a very steep hillside with a woven wire fence on wooden post...occassionally the grass is too tall and wet so I loose traction and slide into the fence. I have hit two of the post so hard that they cracked off at the bottom but the mower was undamage...

Anyway I highly recommend buying a SCAG for the farm and selling your high price John Deere lawn/garden tractors. The SCAG is so much more safe...it can't fall over because of the center of gravity is low and between the rear tires...we never get the push mower out anymore...I should sell it.

[Cheribelle]

I am so jealous! Not really, but yeah, one of these is big time on my wish list!

[newfieannie]

I've never heard of a ZTR myself until now. i'll most likely get one of them when mine goes. i'm still driving my old John Deere. i've had that for 15 or 20 years. still like new. like quint i rolled mine last summer.i thought i was a gonner. i was a couple of months getting over the aches and pains cause i was trapped under it for the longest time. good thing is when i lift off the seat the engine stops.
...Georgia.

[BethW]

Very nice! A ZTR is at the top of DH's wish list, and it's creeping to the top of mine, too. We mow with our tractor and a finishing mower, but it takes wayyy too much time...over 6 hours a week. Time to buy a new toy

[DamnearaFarm]

Greg bought one for the speed. Now what took all day, takes a bit over an hour. he likes to mow at what I deem *the speed of light*.

[lickcreek]

RRR - that's exactly why I don't step foot on our Snapper! It goes WAY to fast for my liking! Scares me to death. That, and I haven't got the hang of the steering really.

The first ZTR I was on was a John Deere of a friends. Now THAT one I LOVED. But, of course, DH had to out-do that one with the Snapper, and I just don't feel as comfortable on it. DH can do the whole yard in a couple of hours, both by the house and the shop. I still spend 2 evenings a week (6-7 hours) with a push mower doing the yard around the house, because I just don't trust that thing! AND, I'd never hear the end of it if I messed it up somehow!! LOL. Too bad I can't get DH to mow more often! For what we gave for that thing, mowing should be HIS responsibility now.

I'd still do the trimming! :baby04:

[RandB]

DH would LOVE to have a zero turn, but with what they cost, there is no way. Even used ones are over $3000. WHY do they cost so much more than the regular riders???

[trappmountain]

They aren't very good in my yard. It's too hilly. My DH has a landscaping business so we use these

[nathan104]

I believe the main part of the higher cost is the dual transmissions for the rear wheels and the pressurized hydraulic system that drives them. Like I said, the set of gears for just one of the rear transmissions was over $600.

I dont think I could ever go back to a regular riding mower. Have a nice heavy duty Murray garden tractor I guess I need to sell now.

I will be adding a ball hitch to the rear of mine very soon. Already have it, just need to weld it on.

There are a few things that arent to great about them. One, if you get a flat tire on one of the rear wheels, you arent going anywhere. The rim will just spin in the tire. Luckily when it happened I was at the farther point on my property from my garage, lol.

Also, rough ground is not such a pleasure to cut. Part of my land is gopher mound pocked. Driving over that part will loosen your fillings. Also, for some reason it seems to kick up more dust and dirt than my rider did.

I would not want one other than the commercial model. Luckily this one was broke and cheap or I wouldnt have been able to afford one.

I drive this thing around with the mower off just to get around fast. When the wife is on the 4 wheeler, Ill take the ZTR. Its so quick.

If youve never been on one and are going to be buying a new mower, I recommend that you check one of these things out first. Its very wierd to drive at first but after a day it felt like second nature to me. Very comfortable to ride around on.

[hotzcatz]

Let's see, add a sunshade, some earmuffs with stereo, is there room to put a small cooler in back somewhere? Maybe some fat sofa cushions for the seat? Looks like a fun thing! Even the geese are jealous, they can't eat grass that fast.