Best zero turn mower?

The new style I never used, the old grasshoppers had the extra wheels at the back, and some still do. I'm shure you could see daylight under the front wheels up hill if you give it the gas too hard. I have done this on my ingersol tractor with the front engine and a grass bagger adding weight on the back, must of pulled the wheels up at least a foot (or more) Enough to give you skid marks in the BVD's

AA130FIREMAN wrote:

Stephen in Soky wrote:Why does it keep needing spindles replaced?

I can't see replacing the spindles, new bearings and they should be good to go. My ingersol only had 1 grease zerk in the middle, that one is a common drive for all 3, and 1 noisy bearing, so get new bearings, pull out the inner seals, 2 on each quill, and drill a hole in the center of the spindle for a grease zerk. Good to go, as long as I feel like crawling under the deck

Mine (All 3) grease from the top. I have the front deck rather than the mid-mount. While I see where you're coming from on rebuilding, a complete spindle assembly was like $50, half an hour with air ratchets and I'm mowing again. I'm notoriously tightfisted and if it were a common occurence then I'd keep the old one and rebuild for a spare, but once or twice in nine years......I'll just buy a new one.

Three years ago I bought an Exmark lazer Z 60" with Kawasaki power plant. Can honestly say it's quality. 11 acres of grass, and after three years of mowing were happy with the Exmark purchase. No grease fitting on spindles with Triton deck. my .02

Stephen in Soky wrote:
Mine (All 3) grease from the top. I have the front deck rather than the mid-mount. While I see where you're coming from on rebuilding, a complete spindle assembly was like $50, half an hour with air ratchets and I'm mowing again. I'm notoriously tightfisted and if it were a common occurence then I'd keep the old one and rebuild for a spare, but once or twice in nine years......I'll just buy a new one.

The bearings from a bearing supply house could probably be had for $5-$7 a piece, more than likely the bottom one will go before the top, still $50 doesn't seem like alot for the complete set up. I still have more satisfaction if I can do the fix and save $$$ in the process.

Wow .... just did a search on eBay for a used zero turn. Lets just say they hold their value.

Guess my G110 will have to suffice.

SMITTY wrote:Wow .... just did a search on eBay for a used zero turn. Lets just say they hold their value.

yes, the good ones do hold their value. Their so friggen easy to rebuild, if need be.

I've had an MTD commercial grade 60" mower since 1999. I do all the maintenance myself; it's never had to go into the shop. The thing is a beast. I'll give a thumbs-up for MTD based on this, but I'm guessing the commercial mowers are very different from the residential mowers.

I can't wait till it's time to mow the lawn Just picked up a 2008 grasshopper 22 diesel with a 61" cut with 560 hours. Looking for a bagger with the metal hopper, and I may have a deal on a used one. The leaves will disappear into thin air

Own a scag 60" tiger cat very happy with the cut. Would not go on these steep hills with any junk mower.

Scag, Bad Boy, Hustler, Walker, Grass Hopper, Toro, Exmark, Gravely and Dixon, and a few others other with decent mowers.

Min 12cc pumps, 16 even better, 52+ deck, Greaseable spindles+++, 27Hp+ EFI engine++++. Auto deck, suspension++

Cant compare brandx low end with brandy high end have to look at features. Kawi and Kohler Engines will command higher prices.

If i had the extra $$$$ i would get the ventrac turbo diesel 8 wheel with articulating mowers and other attachments.
Rated for continous slope operation of up to 35 deg.

I have a Z950 John Deere with a 72" deck and 27hp Kawi. It is an absolute beast.

Rob R. wrote:I have a Z950 John Deere with a 72" deck and 27hp Kawi. It is an absolute beast.

Yep those too. Mulch on demand? 7 iron deck?

If money is no object and you have 100 acres heres the wam for you.

http://www.toro.com/en-us/sports-fields ... -5900-5910

Yes on the 7 iron, no on the mulch. It disperses the clippings so well I have no use for the mulch kit.

Did ventrac buy the steiner tractor company ? I myself used a grasshopper zero turn back in the 80's for a landscaper, before every one knew what a zero turn was. I really liked the grasshopper back then and knew that was what I was looking for. Guess it's a brand loyalty, but their are mostly all built alike.

If money is no object and you have 100 acres heres the wam for you.

http://www.toro.com/en-us/sports-fields ... -5900-5910

Or if you are a poor horse farmer and you have 35 acres of pasture to maintain you use a 1943 Farmall M with superpac bought at an auction 15 years ago for $900 with a 6' Bush Hog (a real one) thrown in for free that was at least 25 years old then and had not a scrap of paint on it then but no rust. No live PTO so it is tough to get going. Rarely serviced and zero what was that you have ???? No power steering so hold on over the bumps. Little areas a pre Torocrap WH Raider 10 - ahhh, love that old stuff. Let's compare mowing costs over a ten year period. All you spoiled young brats - hah.