Looking for advice/recommendations on ZTR's

The exmark lacks a suspension seat, otherwise would be a good choice. A suspension seat could be added for around $700.

The gravely is nice, but those baggers are a pia and hard to resell if unwanted.

Ferris is ok but I don't know a lot about them comparatively.

Note: buying from a pawn shop, come in at least $1000 less then ask, and go from there. None of them are worth what they are asking.

 

Oh my. Im writing this because I have a 121s Kubota with a 21hp Kohler sitting in my shop.

Mower is my buddies 18' with 29hrs on it. He bought it last year but has since decided he wants a sub compact. I do know of a few items Kubota will warrenty because of known issues. Im now concerned with your Kohler expeirence.

He offered to sell me the tractor for 3k which is what Kubota would give him in trade toward the compact. Thoughts?

 

brand new it was $5k plus tax.

$3k is a solid price used, but I've always said "never mix business and friendship" . If you will be mad at him for it blowing up, don't buy it. It's not worth screwing up a good friendship. Good news is that It's warrantied for three years from date of purchase by kohler, so at worst, drive it for a year, and trade it....you probably won't lose any money even after running it for a year. Just make sure u get the purchase date in writing from a dealer or your buddies purchase receipt. The zt3100 transmissions in that unit are solid and nothing to fear.

If you are asking if I'd keep that unit past warranty termination? No freaking way. I haven't seen a 21hp go personally, but the mowers I mostly see don't have those particular engines in them.

 

bocefus78 ...the Gravely ZTHD 60 you posted earlier, appears to be a Heavy Duty Residential. 2 questions:

Do you think it will hold up to the abuse my crappy land will dish out?

Second, do you think my fat azz, 6'-2", 275 pounds will fit in the cockpit??

Eric VW, please no snarky comments on cockpit! Lol

 

One more question bocefus78....I was going to look at a 2010 Scag Tiger Cat with a 22 hp Kaw (52" deck), homeowner use, under 500 hours. Then I read reviews, most say it is Scag's worst mower. I cancelled my appointment, but still not sure if I should have. Asking $4200, I would have offered $3500 & most likeley settled at 38 or 39k. Thoughts??

 

How about me?
And I'd probably tend to go more so after your self described "stats" than "cockpit"...

 

You guys suck...

 

Thanks. There would never be an issue bewteen us or any one I call a friend with purchases. My buddy seems to recall purchasing an extended warrenty on this mower. I have a call into the dealership to verify and see if it would transfer. Thanks again.

 

Not to hijack (but sort of)-
I’m in a similar situation with slightly less lawn. Mostly flat except a small trail through the woods. Maybe 1.75 acres mowed 5 months/year. I have an entry level 48 inch Husqvarna rider now that mows at 7.5mph. I love the speed but this larger lawn is wearing it out fast. Cheap spindles, ect...
I’d like a ZT that goes at least as quick with a 50-something inch deck that will last 20 years with routine maintenance. I’d probably put 15hours a year on it.
$4000 is pushing what I want to spend for something that is total overkill. Is there something in the new or used commercial market I’d be looking for? JD 535m is what I was looking at new. I have a family member managing the local JD dealership but I’m not committed to green except it would be nice to spend the money there. This is really the same question as the original but I’d be mowing less and I’d much rather spend a little less if possible. Does that put me in a different category? I can hold off until the fall if it helps.

 

just bring that down to me and I will get you the bestest ZT you have ever seen, heck it will cut the lawn while you watch or sleep or drink beer....

 

At only 15 hours a year you could get a lot of years out of a used commercial ZTR.

 

Hey, I didn't pass out, that was a highly technical and calculated dive....No chance a drunk could have pulled off that tent entry!!

 

FWIW, I bought a used 2007 Kubota ZD for less than $6500 (less than half of new) with 800 single owner, non-commercial hours on it. It had a few small issues like a broken caster, cracked rear grill, a few other small things and was needing new blades. I fixed what needed fixing for about $300 total (all OEM parts) and now I have an extremely solid and not bad looking mower. I read before purchasing that these units can go 3000+ hours when cared for which puts me into roughly the year 2045 at my current usage rate. I don't mind a few parts along the way, so long as the engine and trans stay together.

I would recommend a good used commercial/industrial unit over a brand new lesser unit. I was leaning towards a Grasshopper front deck before finding the 326 at the Kubota dealer. The old farmer who traded it simply wanted a new mower and bought a brand new unit, same model. He had used all OEM filters and fluids for maintenance, which was verified by dealer showing me his purchase history.

The key is finding the right mower for the right money. Have seen other examples of the 326P with more hours than mine advertised for $8k. I got kindof lucky, but I had been 'shopping' for about 6 weeks and haggled the dealer a bit. They wanted $7k for it. I got it for a little more than $6k. They even threw in the original turf tires that came with the mower that I was unaware of. (it's on bar tread tires and will probably stay that way)

In my research I learned to stay clear of the early two digit Kubotas due to HST issues. (ZD28, ZD21, etc) Some had issues, some didn't.

Fall and winter are great times to buy a mower, if you can wait.

 

Thanks for the advice, sounds like you got a great deal on the Bota!

I have been talking to a dealer on ebay about a 2005 Scag Turf Tiger with 800 hours. He is asking $6900 and I have him down to $5650...I told him that I would consider it at $5000

Scag turf tiger zero turn mower with EFI engine | eBay

 

I've never heard anyone run down Scag. Good stuff from my little experience around them and reading about them. I remember being very impressed with the build quality of the older units...very stout.

 

...and...

 

He is down to $5500.00, but that is still a bit more than I think it is worth. I was 20 minutes away from going to look at/make an offer today on this beauty

31 HP Kawasaki gravely zero turn commercial mower

But I got screwed by the list of Craigs! Long story, but looks like it is being sold to his wifes place of employment. I don't believe it only has 155 hours, but it has been babied its entire life!