Zero turn shopping is a real mental drain.....

I guess a lot of it depends on where you use it. I doubt it’s any better than a “normal” zero-turn if all you mow is flat ground. And the rear wheels won’t reverse on a turn unless you’re backing the whole machine up, so instead of it spinning on a dime into the same track like a regular machine will, the best you can do is spin on one stationary wheel while the outside wheel drives, to turn you into the next swath. But of course that stationary wheel will grind a spot into the grass if you do that. So they do behave differently.

Mine was a huge investment for me at the time; I had literally saved up to purchase it. So I’ve made a point to take care of it, but I’ve always been very happy with it. It does what I need it to do, and much faster than my 26” Snapper Comet did. Now, THAT was one tough little machine!

 

One other thing about the steering wheel mowers that I’m reminded of on the rare occasion I run a lever-steer mower - I always have one hand free to move limbs, wipe my face, or swig a drink as I’m moving.

 

I have to do a bunch more practice because I'm still tearing stuff up. Lol

 

I one hand both levers for moving low limbs...easy enough when going straight, a little trickier when turning with one hand, I can do it, but only whole moving slowly.
I just for the first time ever had a branch send me for a loop a couple weeks back...I was one handing the controls and moving the branch with the other hand, somehow the branch grabbed the left control lever and sent me for an abrupt left turn... fortunately somehow the throttle got knocked down to an idle at the same time, otherwise I suspect I'd have gotten hurt, and/or been mower damage. Sheesh!

 

A Y turn is where it's at to not tear things up.

Just because it can zero turn doesn't mean you should.

 

A Y turn, yeah that's it!

 

It's a really nice design. I like how you maintain your machine. Can you possibly put the YouTube video about it on here?
Just seems complicated for a mower. I don't have any experience with one just drawings and videos.
I think it's totally down to maintenance and care. Average Joe I'm not sure.

 

If you really want to fine tune your driving skills, smoke a cigar while mowing…

 

I'm wanting some servos and a cnc, GPS, machine vision whatever controller....... retrofit kit.

 

We have a couple farmers locally that always smoke a pipe while driving tractor...the joke is "what smokes more, the JD, or Jr's pipe"?!
But yeah, a ceegar would be interesting...my luck I'd catch some dry leaves on fire n burn the back yard down!

 

And what da duck are they thinking in regards to the drink holder?? Hello Kitty??

 

Honda was working on a robotic sidehill mower clear back in the early/mid ninety's. A number of companies have them now (big ones, not just the little yard ones you buy on Amazon)
I'd bet you could DIY one pretty cheap these days, well, someone that knows what they're doing with that stuff anyways, not me.

 

Have you seen the one hand bar? Pop's up on Amazon

 

I'm sorry, I don't have any video of it, and don't have a Youtube account. The maintenance I do - greasing the front joints and wheels, oil changes, air filter cleaning, and blade sharpening - is common to any riding mower. The only "repair" I've had to do is replace the spindles once due to the bearings roaring, because Cub Cadet chose to use non-greasable spindles. Unfortunately, there don't appear to be any aftermarket greasable ones for this particular mower, either.

It's honestly not a complicated mower. You drive it like a tractor-type riding mower, except that the front wheels turn a full 90 degrees or more so it turns much sharper. The front steering linkage has a rod going back to each transmission. Basically, the transmission steering levers you move by hand on a normal zero-turn are replaced by the rod from the front steering linkage instead, and operate the rear wheels just as you would by hand. Only they're coordinated with the movement of the front wheels. Not much more complicated, just different. I've never had any part of that system fail or go out of adjustment, and although I do take care of my mower some parts of my property are pretty rough.

Hope this helps, sorry about the lack of video!

 

I think that's just a bar to help you get on and off the ztr. I looked on Amazon and that's all I found. If there was a "lock the bars together device "it was probably banned by lawyers. No offense to any lawyers on here, but y'all make life so much more difficult for those that have a brain in their heads.

Lawn jarts and ATC's for example.
Off my soapbox now.

 

I've 1 handed ours too.
Sure glad you didn't become mower mulch.

 

What is that supposed to accomplish?!
(Other than separate you from your $150?!)
I don't get why that is better than one handing it bone stock?
Actually it looks like a hazard waiting to happen....

 

Especially having to unhook it to open handles to get off.

 

If you wanna tap back beers while ZT mowing you need a Walker. I tried to find one not for that reason before I found the Kubota.