In the market for a new zero turn mower. Currently have a 48” gravely. Thought on Scag, Exmark, and Bad Boy? Planning on jumping up to a 54”.
OT: zero turn mowers
- Thread starter dawgdreamin
- Start date
Exmark gets my vote.
Make sure you have a dealer support close no matter what you decide, but don't count out Husqvarna commercial series, good mowers. Stay away from Briggs, and IMO, Kohler can be problematic. Kawasaki engines for these are bulletproof with proper maintenance.
Make sure you have a dealer support close no matter what you decide, but don't count out Husqvarna commercial series, good mowers. Stay away from Briggs, and IMO, Kohler can be problematic. Kawasaki engines for these are bulletproof with proper maintenance.
Have a friend that is a dealer for scag and hustler. I was set on a scag but he quickly talked me out of that and into a hustler. I was planning on buying something used so he didn’t stand to make any money. Said Hustler is a basic easy design that is very reliable and easy to do basic maintenance on. I had the mower for three years before moving to a new house with a small yard so I sold it. I tell people that sometimes I wish I had some grass to mow so that I would have had a reason to keep it. Loved the thing.
I know Hustler wasn’t one of your picks, but I like telling people about my Hustler that I don’t own anymore.
ETA: Back when i was buying, Exmark had been bought by someone (toro maybe) and wasn’t considered to be the same top shelf mower that it was originally. I know nothing about your other choice.
I know Hustler wasn’t one of your picks, but I like telling people about my Hustler that I don’t own anymore.
ETA: Back when i was buying, Exmark had been bought by someone (toro maybe) and wasn’t considered to be the same top shelf mower that it was originally. I know nothing about your other choice.
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Have had a Bad Boy for years. Yearly maintenance is easy enough and it's a lot of fun to ride. We have a lot of hills on our property and it handles them. The only trouble I've had with it is the front tires lose air pressure faster than you would think. Customer service is good and if you live near a Tractor Supply they usually can provide the Mx needed every 5 or 10 years.
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Yard size? If it's greater than 2 acres you'd appreciate stepping up to 60". Some will disagree with the cost justification, but I bought a 60" diesel kubota 8 yrs ago to mow 5 acres and it's been problem free.
Cutting about 3.5 acres. Currently leaning to the exmark radius 52” e-series. How does the exmark engine compare to the Kawasaki engines?
I love my 60 inch Kubota. Whatever you get make sure it has a suspension seat. A friend of mine got a $15,000 John Deere, but he didn't notice it didn't have a suspension seat. He mows about 10 acres and it beats him to death. Those grade 8 bolts don't have much give to them.
I've been testing them and researching this for literally a couple of years. I'm a slow buyer. Will analyze it to death before pulling the trigger. I bought a 60" Exmark Radius X this year. Don't have a single regret. Never had a mower give a better cut. Butter smooth and clean. Thing is built like a tank, too. 4" ultracut deck. Kawasaki 703 engine. 3400 hydro pumps. Very subtle cut height adjustment, in 1/2" increments. They have a deal on them now. $1,000 off. I paid $7,999 for mine. And if you need it, 0% 48 month financing, through the end of April.
If you can swing the X series with the Kawasaki, get it and don't look back. It's the better value. The 60", at $7,999, isn't but $300 more than the 52", in the X series. The 48" is $7,200, I believe. If you're gonna spend that much, get either the 60", or save $700 and step back to the 48". All three have the Kawasaki engine, though. The 48 and 52 have slightly smaller hydro pumps.
Be careful that you get the commercial series on all brands. Minimum spec of ZT 3100 transmission, ZT 3400 if it is heavy. Commercial motors only! Briggs, Kohler, and Kawasaki all make good commercial engines. Homeowner engines are for folks with 1 to 2 acres.
Look under the deck, and if the baffles are paper thin, run away.
Look under the deck, and if the baffles are paper thin, run away.
Curious. Why not another gravely?
Had my gravely approx 13 years (mow 3.5 acres) and still excellent mower.
Paint is coming off some.
I own a Kubota diesel and love it. The important thing is to buy a brand that you can get serviced locally. You can buy a great machine, but something is going to give up eventually. Having a local dealer, service center, is key.
All depends on yard size and how often you use it (residential once a week vs. commercial every day). At 3.5 acres, you MIGHT get away with the mid to high end residential mowers, if it's flat. I have 2.5 acres, some flat, some hills, and I have a Hustler Raptor (one step up from the bottom line residential) and it's been great. It might work for you, or you might need to go up to the bottom grade commercial level. Also depends on what you want to spend. I would not go cheap though, in your situation. Cheap is for 1 acre or less suburban folks who want to impress their neighbors with a big machine.
I went to get an xmark, but wound up with a Hustler. Unless you go up to commercial grade, xmarks have their own engine which is made in China. My Hustler has a Kawasaki engine that is bulletproof. No matter what you decide, if they offer the Kawasaki buy it.
You can’t go wrong with the Kawasaki. I bought a 52” Toro commercial in 2006 and this is the 15th summer Ive had it. I mow 4.5 acres with it and the only things I’ve had to replace are the spindles on the deck (last year). It still has the original spark plugs and the original belt on the deck. I work for a John Deere dealership and I sell mowers every day (sold 3 zero turns yesterday) and to be honest with you I don’t know if I wouldn’t buy another Toro at this point. John Deere makes a great mower (as long as you stay with the Kawasaki engine) but they do get pricy. I sold a customer a 72” commercial with a diesel engine a couple of weeks ago-list price on that mower is $25,000. I can’t justify that personally-not for a mower.
I bought a used hustler 15 years ago and have never had any issues. It cuts great and the Honda engine seems to have more torque than some larger engines from other brands I've used.
Unless your yard is silky smooth, focus on getting the widest cut with a suspension seat that you can afford. I don’t care how fast it WILL cut, you can’t cut that fast if you can’t stay in it or it’s breaking your back.
Just saw this after I said the same thing. Kubota 726x with Kawasaki and suspension seat. As long as Im sure I can stay upright I’m full throttle.
I no longer live on a farm. But when I did all I ran was John Deere. The main reason for doing John Deere was because I knew John Deere dealerships were always going to be there and knew I generally could get most parts overnight. Yes they are a rough ride. The last zero turn I had was a Z-757 Deere. We cut aprox. 12acres a week. Two 3acre residential yards. Around two large barns. And beside both sides of 1mile Private road/driveway.
A subject I can comment on!
I handle Kubota and Exmark. I used to handle Grasshopper and Hustler as well, dropped them. I have had the majority of the big brand reps ask me to add their line, but, I have the only 2 brands I want.
I would put these mowers in the upper class: Kubota, Exmark, Scag, Grasshopper, Gravely, Hustler, Ferris.
Understand every brand will have different classes priced similiar across lines. From my experience, Kubota is the best value of all.
Radius E is a great mower, the 52" is $5999. It has a 24.5 HP Exmark engine and HG 2800 trans. Kubota counters with a Kommander S with 54 inch deck, 25 HP Kohler, HG 3100 trans, susp seat, led lights for $5499. Thats just one example. The more I talk the more confused I may make it for you. I ask every rep, let me see your specs and I compare Kubota vs theirs, the general response is yep Kubota makes a good mower. I would actually recommend the Kubota z421 for your application, check that model out with your others.
I handle Kubota and Exmark. I used to handle Grasshopper and Hustler as well, dropped them. I have had the majority of the big brand reps ask me to add their line, but, I have the only 2 brands I want.
I would put these mowers in the upper class: Kubota, Exmark, Scag, Grasshopper, Gravely, Hustler, Ferris.
Understand every brand will have different classes priced similiar across lines. From my experience, Kubota is the best value of all.
Radius E is a great mower, the 52" is $5999. It has a 24.5 HP Exmark engine and HG 2800 trans. Kubota counters with a Kommander S with 54 inch deck, 25 HP Kohler, HG 3100 trans, susp seat, led lights for $5499. Thats just one example. The more I talk the more confused I may make it for you. I ask every rep, let me see your specs and I compare Kubota vs theirs, the general response is yep Kubota makes a good mower. I would actually recommend the Kubota z421 for your application, check that model out with your others.
Kawasaki, Kohler, Briggs. Very few issues with Kaw or Kohler. Exmark engineers designed their engine about 6 years ago and it is chinese built. It has a 4 yr warranty and Exmark stands behind it. Its been a good engine, but, limited data. It started on the quest, then radius. It will be on the entire lineup sooner than later.
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