Looking for advice/recommendations on ZTR's

Kubota, I bought one 13 years ago and all I’ve done is replaced some wear items, blades, belt, deck wheels.......

 

Stay far away from anything kohler right now. Especially their efi engines. Kawasaki is the way to go. This info is from me doing all the warranty claims for our ope service dept.

The efi engines require a laptop and diagnostic software to fix...all bad if you are a diy guy.

Get the biggest hydro pumps you can afford.

Rough ground means you want a full blown commercial suspension seat.

if looking new, the Gravely zthd 60 is $5200 and a suspension seat can be added for another $700.

Exmarks to match the features above don't exist for 6 grand new. They make their own motors now ( no proven track record....only been out 2 years), and are over 7k with no suspension seat.

A used commercial grade in the 5k range would be a good choice, if you can get records of the hydro services being done. If not, pass. Examples are lazer, super z, etc.

if you like diesels, the Kubota zt331 is a total beast as is it's little bro, the zt 326.

Stay away from Deere. Cut quality sux, expensive parts, etc.

let me know if you find anything specifically....I'll look at it for ya, give you used value, etc.

 

said no man ever.





Yes, that is probably overkill, but it should last a lifetime or two...

 

Read top line again...

 

Come to think of it, usually the ladies are saying this to me!!

 

Bota is probably out of my price range, but thanks for the advice.

 

Thanks, I was hoping you would show up in this thread. I will run my choice thru you before I purchase.

 

I have a Hustler ZRT, 54” cutting deck with a Kawasaki engine, I mow 2.5 acres twice a week. It has roughly 500 trouble free hours on it. I don’t have any complaints...honestly it is probably more mower than I would have bought and has a larger price tag than I would have personally spent.

When I bought my current house I negotiated it into the contract from the previous owner....the mower actually delayed the sale...I wanted it, previous owner wanted to keep it.

In the end I’m happy I got it and not sure I could ever go back to a conventional riding mower.


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Follow bocefus78 advice! I got a ferris because the 5 acres I mow was a horse pasture that had heavy equipment run all over it..

Before engine change my family swore buy Exmark! 30 years commercial mowing traded in every 3 years usually with close to 3000 hours..

 

Glad you guys pointed out that Exmark changed to their own engines, They were one of the top contenders for me!

 

I bought a used Gravely, consulted with the forum a few years back. Commercial grade hydros and Kawi engine were my criteria. Aside from that, I think most big dogs make a reliable machine in that ballpark.

 

Chris, are there any models of the Kohler engine that are still considered bulletproof?

 

eatonpcat exmark is only using their own motors in the radius e and s series and the quest which is a turd. The x series radius and all the lazers have kaws or kohler as options but they start at around $7800 iirc. $9500 and up for a lazer.

Absolutely not. Nothing like the old single cyl k series which I'm assuming you were referring to.

I'll see if I can figure out the dollars I've claimed this year between kaw and Kohler. Then the answer will be obvious

 

I know the older ones like my Bolens and Troy Built were built to last. When did they start building the timebombs?

 

both of those brands back in the day used the k series single cyl bulletproof motors. They were also both legit brands before mtd bought them both and proceeded to cheapen all units produced under those brands to disposable junk.

 

Now for the "friends don't let friends do kohler" data.

This pic is 2018 data only. Yes, I've filed that many claims folks. The columns from l to r are

Total claims paid$, number of claims, brand, total percentage of all claims filed by $.




This is all of 2017 data which supports my theory of they aren't really trying to improve anything in 2018 and beyond.



So buy all the Kohler products you want to.....you are keeping us ope service centers in business. Aka....don't say I didn't warn you.

 

Lots of good advice. If you have the time to look, I'll recommend a used commercial as well. Another vote for Kawasaki engines.
I bought a commercial Toro 10 years ago. It has 1250 hours on it, some of it mowing 5 fairly rough acres on a piece of property I own. I have replaced one spindle, a throttle cable and a PTO clutch- and that was because the plug in for the wire harness wore out-not able to be replaced. My 2017 Toro has a different design.

 

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I may have decided that bigger is better. Any thoughts on the price bocefus78, or the Kubota engine. Also, any idea how the gas tank got a hole in it! Thanks guys, look forward to your opinions

 

Linky no worky.

 

And just hearing Kubota and hole in gas tank tells me somebody rode that thing down a hill sideways without even seeing a pic.

Remember me saying they are beasts?

Not all that uncommon as heavy as they are. Waiting a working link.