Help Me Decide on Mower

[Tadpole]

I'd like to buy a zero-radus mower. But, there are so many out there. The last mower I bought was a 24 horse JD and not pleased at all. I'm going to buy me another and need help on deciding what one is best and would hold up the best. Like I said I want a zero-radus mower this time.

[Tiffin]

I have a Husqvarna 36" zero turn walk behind. I have had it for 2 years and like it. Only one issue it does not have an electric start which normally isn't a problem as it starts on one or two pulls normally, but when the weather cools to 50's or so in the fall I have a terrible time starting it. DH has to start it for me. My next one I will insist on electric start. Actually the price I paid it should have had one.

[Tadpole]

I've saw this Husqvaena at a friends house. But, not the zero-radus kind. I'm looking to buy a riding one I can't walk behind one even tho I may need to. I got to get a riding mower a must!

[Beeman]

I would try one on my property before I bought one.

[Stephen in SOKY]

I've been very pleased with my Grasshopper brand.

[tyusclan]

I bought the 52" Troy-Bilt from Lowe's. So far I'm pleased with it.

My oldest son has a landscaping/lawn business, and he runs Grasshoppers. After running his commercial mowers, I can definitely tell this one isn't. But it cuts very well and with proper care and maintenance it should hold up pretty well. I have a lot of mowing here, my number 2 son cuts his grass, and I help mow the grass at church every Saturday with it. I've had no problems at all.

If you can swing the upfront cost of a commercial brand such as Grasshopper, Scag or Exmark you'll be ahead in the long run. You'll never wear it out using it for personal use. I would have preferred to buy a commercial, but I'm in the middle of a lot remodelling and just couldn't swing the difference right now.

Grasshopper also makes a "residential" line that are less expensive. They're more than the Troy-Bilt, but are also built a little stronger.

The Troy-Bilt that I bought from Lowe's and the Cub Cadet sold by Home Depot are the exact same mower, both made by MTD. One's just painted red and the other one yellow.

[Callieslamb]

I would buy a brand that is sold as close by as possible for servicing and parts. We have had a cub cadet for 4 years - no trouble except flattening the tires with close turning. We put tubes in then and no trouble now. we take it in each yr to be serviced, but I am sure it is nothing you can't do yourself with a bit of skill and time. DH just chooses not to do it since he has so much to do and is so often out of town. I love mine - we let DFIL borrow it for a year while we lived in an apartment and he put a bagger on it for me. Easy, easy, easy to mow the 1 1/2 acres.

[pheasantplucker]

They are pricey, but the ExMark has around 30 horses...even a ROPS system. My property has some monster hills and a neighbor came over and demoed on mine, and he was able to go up and down even the most trecherous hill on my property. I am saving toward the ExMark. His is around $11,000 new, but he bought his from a company in Zanesville, Ohio which used it for 800 hours (one season) and he got his for $5,000. His has a 72 inch cut, and flies over flat areas. Good luck.

[clovis]

Dad bought a Deere 757 last year and loves it!!!!!

He has about 3 acres of flat ground, and he can fly when mowing.

After 2 years of mowing, no service or quality issues.

Clove

[Lazy J]

We have a Grasshoppr 720K that we purchased new in 1998 and love it. It has a 61" deck and bar tires for good traction. I would recommend a Grasshopper to anyone. We will be buying a new one this next winter, a 26 HP Diesel I think.

I would NEVER return to using a garden tractor for mowing, what a waste of time.

Jim

[Danaus29]

I've got a Toro z500. Pricey but I love this mower! Takes gentle slopes, turns on a dime, goes 20 mph and supposedly does a great job mowing at that speed. Easy to see out the front, stops quickly, rides very nicely. The only drawback is the lever steering, it does take a while to learn. I've used it more than dh because I like it so.

[SteveD(TX)]

Kubota

Trust me on this one.

[Gercarson]

Originally Posted by tyusclan

The Troy-Bilt that I bought from Lowe's and the Cub Cadet sold by Home Depot are the exact same mower, both made by MTD. One's just painted red and the other one yellow.

The Troy-Bilt that I bought from Lowe's performs well - but as for the replacement parts - Lowe's turned out to be a dud - they feel that if you've had the mower for more than two years they are not in any way obligated to carry parts - namely replacement blades. Plus, at my Lowe's, the young man was particularlly rude when he found out that my mower had been purchased more than two years ago - saying that was the reason they no longer carried the blades. I did get the blades easily at a mom and pop shop.

[agmantoo]

I have the Toro Kohler powered 27 HP commercial zero turn. I would not want to give it up. It is the best mowing device I have ever owned and I have owned a lot of different mowers. The others do not even come close to what this machine can do. Mowing is done in 1/2 the time and the results are better than any other mower I have owned.

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by SteveD(TX)

Kubota

Trust me on this one.

Kubota is a good machine, but they're no better than Grassshopper, Scag, or any other good quality commercial machine.

Someone mentioned finding a good local dealer. Well, that's the problem with Kubota here in our area. The Kubota dealership is worthless IMO. I'd just about mow my grass with a reel-type push mower before I'd buy anything from them.

Originally Posted by Gercarson

The Troy-Bilt that I bought from Lowe's performs well - but as for the replacement parts - Lowe's turned out to be a dud - they feel that if you've had the mower for more than two years they are not in any way obligated to carry parts - namely replacement blades. Plus, at my Lowe's, the young man was particularlly rude when he found out that my mower had been purchased more than two years ago - saying that was the reason they no longer carried the blades. I did get the blades easily at a mom and pop shop.

Yeah, I knew Lowe's would be no help in the service or parts area. I bought a set of aftermarket blades when I bought it so that I could always keep a sharp set. I just took the original blades off and put the aftermarket on. This was the third swap out with the original blades, and they're already worn out. The aftermarket blades are much better made and are still holding up fine. I'll just get another set of those and keep mowing.

The aftermarkets are less expensive than the originals as well.

[swamp man]

Originally Posted by SteveD(TX)

Kubota

Trust me on this one.

Don't trust him on that one.

I run a lawn maintenance company, have been in the business for several years, and know most of the other guys who cut grass for a living around here. None of them run Kubotas, because they know better.
They make great tractors, though.

[swamp man]

Originally Posted by Tadpole

I'd like to buy a zero-radus mower. But, there are so many out there. The last mower I bought was a 24 horse JD and not pleased at all. I'm going to buy me another and need help on deciding what one is best and would hold up the best. Like I said I want a zero-radus mower this time.

Of all the mowers we've run in my lotsa' years of the lawn maintenance business, Scag puts the rest to shame in every way. We have a Hustler and an Ex-mark as well, both very good mowers, but with the Scag around, nobody wants to use 'em.
Since you're in MS, I'm bettin' you have bahai grass, no? It's hard stuff to cut, but the scag will do it effeciently if you get a model with the "advantage deck"...it generates a grip of lift, and that's what it takes to cut alot of bahai real fast.
The scags are exceptionally durable, especially the spindle/pulley assembleys, which is generally what gets torn up on mowers under heavy use.

[Tadpole]

swamp man, Your in the lawn mower business? OK, I have looked at the Hustler, Scag and what one would you advise on no trouble an will be faithfull? I'm looking at 24 or more horse and no I'm only using it for home use. But...bought a 24 horse JD 3 years ago and I have replaced about 14 or more belts and they would not stand behind it. After 3 from them (pricey) I found a place you can buy 3 for the price of one. You can cut the grass maybe twice without changing belt before it breaks. So long JD Hello something else!
I just need to be able to cut grass and worry about a break down. If you know what I mean.

[Nancy]

The only ZTR we've had are Grasshopper. Had one for 15 years probably and we love it. We had a Dixie Chopper for a year and it rode so rough that we sold it. We buy our Grasshoppers from a dealer that also sells reconditioned used ones. More affordable for us and DH can fix almost anything so that helps.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by Gercarson

.......... but as for the replacement parts - Lowe's turned out to be a dud - they feel that if you've had the mower for more than two years they are not in any way obligated to carry parts - namely replacement blades. ............

Just another reason, NOT too buy mowers from the Box Stores.