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I need a new zero turn mower

16 years ago

I normally don't post on this forum, but seeing there was a forum for lawn mowers, I decided to post my question. What is the best zero turn mower for about an acre lot? I have a small Ariens zero turn, but it is just not heavy duty enough. There is a culvert ditch in the front of the lot for drainage. So I need something to go up and down the ditch, maneuver around trees and garden beds. DH works all the time, or is traveling with his job, so I am the primary mower, and everything else. My dad was a lawn mower mechanic for years, but he's no longer here to give me advice.

I looked at a new Lawnboy with a Honda engine. I liked what I saw, but I want to know that I'm getting something dependable. It will get cleaned regularly and maintained. I just want something I don't have to haul in to the repair shop every other time I mow.

BTW, I'm also in need of a new weed eater. Anything better than a Stihl?

Sandy

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Comments (6)

tmajor
16 years ago
I've got a Woods .. heavy.
A friend has a Simplicity, which I thought looked pretty good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Simplicity ZTR
steve2ski
16 years ago
Look for a ZTR with a pivoting front axle for steep short dips etc. - For mowing ZTR is the way to go. You didn't give a expected price for the unit - light commerical will maxiumize dependability. Expect at least $4,500 to $6,000 for this type of mower.
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It would help to no what engine and name mower numbers on engine be helpful. There engine techs here that no more about engine than I do but carburator does have some passage stop up so having choke pull out cause engine pull more gas running rich flooding cause gas burn in muffler so be flame out exhaust. If under warranty take back if not find another shop take to if you paying bill. Make sure any gas cans are clean that you using this maybe sorse carburator problem keep gas can clean by keeping out rain and sun light in dry storeage as well mower in dry storage. Some cheap zero turn are a piece crap and cut only in good lawn grass less acre. There new but not so new problem with Eathnol gas causing early spring problem so add seafoam its gas additive to fuel tank the gas you buy now does not have eneff clean agent in gas. Friend ask if want to ride to dealer take his more back when got to dealer there was 3 other tractor delivered that day same problem gas cause carb problems we investigated to find this area has no gas without eathnol but some clam they do but not true. What real hurting is four stroke outboard engines they set not use over long period time.
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butterflymomok
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks tmajor and Steve for responding. I didn't know if I'd be taken seriously with a moniker like butterflymomok!

The pivoting front axle makes sense. The lawn itself isn't too difficult, but the ditch can be a major problem. When it has water in it, I can only negotiate going down so far and backing up which is taxing on my little mower. We've had a very wet summer this year, so the ditch has had water in it most of the time.

I didn't realize I'd have to spend so much, but I'll share the news with DH, and tell him I consulted the experts! Since he doesn't do the mowing, he hasn't realized how frustrating it has been not having the right equipment to handle the job.

Sandy
tmajor
16 years ago
I believe the Simplicitys (some models) have a two piece, pivoting, front axle, however my friend didn't seem to think it made much difference. ??

I think, all ZTRs are problematic backing up a hill, as they have a lot of weight out front and not so much over the drive wheels. I installed ag lug tires on mine ... backwards, so it would back up better. Filling the tires or adding rear weight, might help.
larso1
16 years ago
"I didn't realize I'd have to spend so much, but I'll share the news with DH, and tell him I consulted the experts!"

Sandy, it doesn't take an expert to recommend an upper level, commercial quality, mega-buck ztr for an acre of grass. Where the expert comes in is to be able to recommend a ztr that doesn't break the bank unnecessarily but still has good components and proven performance.......that's why I recommend a ztr JUST LIKE I HAVE.......a John Deere EZ-Trak 425 with 48C deck, $3999 out the door. OK, maybe I overstated my expert inference a little, and maybe I'm only half serious. But the other half is very serious about resisting overkill if it means the difference between getting one and not! LOL!

Bill
dubbym
16 years ago
I don't know a great deal about Lawnboy zero turn mowers but I can say that Honda makes a very good engine. My sister has a Lawnboy with a Honda engine and she loves it. It starts easy and runs smooth. She mows a little less than an acre and her lot is flat. She's had it a few years and it has been very dependable.

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