I’m in need of a new mower. Anyone have any thoughts on recent purchases, experiences, brand, motors? I’m looking at a Scag. I mow about 2 acres with approximately 25% on a 30 degree bank. I’ve decided to steer clear of a Cub Cadet and Deere, mostly because of pricing and past experience. If money wasn’t a factor, I’d go with a Ferris.
Thoughts on zero turn mowers
- Thread starter katonic
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Not recommending it because I know little about them at all but just going to mention that Lowes has a battery powered zero turn that is getting high reviews. I am shocked that they would come out with a zero turn that runs from batteries.
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My recommendation depends on where you live and what kind of neighbors you have. But these are your best two options:
What good is a mower is if doesn't turn? 
Lost my Mayor last year when he flipped a massive zero turn off a two foot creek embankment, flipping the machine, shattering his neck.
His accident reminded me of one I had 35 years, ago on a small Dixon zero-turn Was moving laterally on a 5-8 percent slope immediately beside a 90 percent slope, 4 feet deep. The front “dolly wheels” decided they wanted to turn directly into the 4 foot ditch. I had enough time to put my feet forward and found myself standing upright with the Dixon’s nose buried in the ditch, and the mower balanced behind me. I was in my early twenties, so I muscled the 300 pound machine out without flipping it, after turning it off and letting it cool.
Scottie Ernst of Stanford, Kentucky was not so lucky: the cities’ machine was huge, and he had the roll bar fastened down, allowing the machine to crush him when it flipped. Had the roll bar been properly in place, he might have been left with a scratch and a red face.
His accident reminded me of one I had 35 years, ago on a small Dixon zero-turn Was moving laterally on a 5-8 percent slope immediately beside a 90 percent slope, 4 feet deep. The front “dolly wheels” decided they wanted to turn directly into the 4 foot ditch. I had enough time to put my feet forward and found myself standing upright with the Dixon’s nose buried in the ditch, and the mower balanced behind me. I was in my early twenties, so I muscled the 300 pound machine out without flipping it, after turning it off and letting it cool.
Scottie Ernst of Stanford, Kentucky was not so lucky: the cities’ machine was huge, and he had the roll bar fastened down, allowing the machine to crush him when it flipped. Had the roll bar been properly in place, he might have been left with a scratch and a red face.
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The machine Scotty was on was that much or more.
Those little Dixon’s in the 80’s and 90’s were instructive: I own a TRACTOR style riding mower. Not fool proof, but more stable than zero-radius/turn machines.
Tell your story of wrecking your zero at the hardware store, and you’ll hear a half-dozen similar stories.
If your slope is entirely 2 % and under, you’re OK. Anymore than that and buyer, beware!!
A doctor in Somerset just ran over a bluff into Lake Cumberland while mowing his yard. They found the mower in the lake and found him a few days later.
Story here
Story here
We average over 10 deaths a year on zero turn mowers in the state of Kentucky. It's so tragic but unfortunately many of those deaths could have been avoided by not mowing in extremely steep hillsides, or next to ponds & rivers. More times than not, its found that the mower's rolls bar is not up and the user did not have a seatbelt on. I truly believe when that inner voice says I shouldn't be mowing here, you need to listen, but when mowing steep hillsides on a zero turn, always have the rollbar up and seatbelt on for the best chance of rollover survival. Be safe out there!
Where do you live in the state? Once I know, I can suggest some good dealers I know in your area you should go see.
My advice, always buy from a local servicing dealer. When that mower needs service or to be repaired, you want to have one that someone near you will happily fix and take care of for many years in the future. When looking at many of the higher end mowers, they are truly an investment.
Have one. Fast, fun to use. Do not not mow anywhere near a steep hillside or bank because it will turn and not stop till it gets to the bottom.
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Mowing sucks balls. I don’t understand people who enjoy it. It’s f-cked up
I bought a Scag today in Morehead. Thanks for the advice and caution. I’ve mowed yards since I was big enough to push but this is the first true zero turn I’ve owned. After mowing today, I can see how people get killed on them. They can really get you bent on a hill.
You’ll get comfortable with it. Still be cautious with steep hillsides because they have a mind of their own on them. It should handle a 30 degree hill no problem though.
Every time I mow I wonder how we can turn a scrawny grass into our GMO high yield corn but nobody can make a grass that stops growing at 3 inches tall.
The size of yard I've got means I need a zero turn mower. Like anything else, you've got to use a little intelligence while operating one. Don't do stupid things like trying to mow a mountain side. You can mow a slight incline. I do mine on a diagonal. Keep the ROPS up, wear a seat belt. If you flip, stay on it!! Much like operating a forklift. Also, wait until it's dry. Mowing in the morning is always a bad idea. Let the dew dry off.
These days, tractor style mowers aren't made very well. You'll probably get 2 or 3 seasons out of one, before you need serious work on them. Zero turn is where the market is headed.
These days, tractor style mowers aren't made very well. You'll probably get 2 or 3 seasons out of one, before you need serious work on them. Zero turn is where the market is headed.
Bought a cub cadet for my farm has worked pretty well. I have 10 acres all flat here in FL bit it’s broken up so I can just knock it out in sections. Gonna suck when rainy season hits here soon as I’m only out there once a week or so. Will have to get an actual tractor at some point with a brush hog I imagine.
I have a JD d130 tractor style for 13 years, still going strong, don’t even use any oil. I have replaced both spindles, belts, steering gears on it. Did the work myself. Residential use only.
And your mower is 13 years old. Those were built better. The new stuff, specifically Cub Cadets, like you'll see at Home Depot, are not good machines. I make a small fortune each summer replacing push rods, welding decks, etc on these newer ones. I tell people to go find an older one that's in good shape.
I had a cub cadet with shaft drive before the JD and it was a piece of junk.
Aren't the lower end John Deere's (and maybe Cub) not actually made by them but by the cheaper mower company (can't think of the name now) up around Cleveland? The models that are sold in Lowes, etc?
I have a Husquavarna 52 inch deck that's about 6-8 years old. All my land is flat but I do mow 5-6 acres on a regular basis (weekly or twice a week our actual yard that is 1-1.5 acre, and a couple fields about every other week that are 4-5 acres). It's been solid with only some minor maintenance....belt, solenoid, starter. But I need to start looking for a new mower. Had a zero before this one but I didn't care much for it. Only had it for about a year and maybe I just didn't get use to it.
I have an Ever Ride. Have had it for 12 years and I really like it. It's a 66 inch cut, but they don't make them anymore. It was made in the USA, Nebraska I think! The first day I mowed with it I was going around the clothes line pole and it reared up on it's hind legs. I kept looking down and I couldn't see what caused it, but after one more time doing it I realized it was the roll bar catching on the cross piece. Felt sort of dumb, but at least no one was watching!
MTD. Yep, they own the Cub Cadet brand. Along with many others (Troy Bilt, Bolens, etc). The John Deere stuff is a bit tricky. I know MTD made some parts for them, don't know about full-out manufacturing the entire Deere mowers at Lowe's. Toro is one that contracts it's tractor style mowers out to MTD for manufacturing.
Husqvarna is under the Electrolux umbrella. They've ruined some good brands, too, like RedMax, Jonesered.
Mowing solution
I was gonna get a mower deck for my Kubota tractor, but they are stupid expensive. $2k for the deck alone, on a slow tipsy tractor. I went cheap with an Arien On in XD 52. $2500 on clearance. Made/owned by Gravely. Only issue in 2 years is popping front tires off, but my land is rough. Its got the residential spindles up front, so narrow tires. I just put a tube in to fix that issue. I didn't want any bells and whistles, just wanted to cut 3 acres. Take 30-45 mins now.
Something else you can do on those front tires, is to over-inflate them just a bit. I've had the same thing happen on some mowers.
Those cubs really aren't worth hauling home. Some folks say different, each to their own. I mean I work on them for extra cash, I know.
As both a Deere and Cub Cadet dealer, the "box store" Deere and Cub lawn tractors aren't made by the same manufacture. Deere is at a Deere plant and Cub at the MTD plant in Martinsville Tennessee.
Both companies make "box store" , lower quality, lower cost mowers, and they also make high quality, dealer only models that cost more, but are much better built.
If you have anything more than a half acre and want to buy something that's going to last 15-20 years like the older Cubs and Deeres, avoid buying a unit as a mass retailer as its cheaped up quite a bit to hit price points.
Both companies make "box store" , lower quality, lower cost mowers, and they also make high quality, dealer only models that cost more, but are much better built.
If you have anything more than a half acre and want to buy something that's going to last 15-20 years like the older Cubs and Deeres, avoid buying a unit as a mass retailer as its cheaped up quite a bit to hit price points.
I agree with most of that. I'd go so far as to say, any tractor style mowers at retail chains aren't very good, these days. Personally, I'm not much on Cub Cadets of any variety. Big box or dealer. My buddy at Jacobi wishes they'd stop carrying them.
Well, Jacobi Sales is one of the oldest and largest Cub dealers in the US. That day will never come.
Cub XT2 series (Dealer exclusive) has a Kawasaki Engine, the same one used in the Deere X300 lineup. Has the exact same Tuff Torq Transmission as Deere has, has a similar welded one piece frame with cast iron front end, and has a fabricated, welded deck to Deere's stamped deck. Never have any issues with the hundreds we sell, it's always the XT1 that is the same unit the box stores sell.
The biggest issues we see is normally poor setup at the box store whos selling them. They never grease anything, do a poor job of checking the oil, decks are normally not level, it's just always something. What I will at least say about the Deeres sold at Lowes is that Deere pays us to go to 7 area Lowes to set them up properly and make sure they are in correct working order before they are sold. So even if you buy a Deere from Lowes, you atleast should know its ready to go and has been set up by a local dealer to ensure everything is right.