Zero Turn Recommendations

[JuncleJohn]

Contemplating buying a new machine. I mow 2+ acres and my older 48” Scag Tiger Cub (Commercial grade) with a 21 hp Kawasaki is starting to be less reliable. The Scag has been good, but just seeking opinions from those that mow a couple acres or more.

Dependability is most important.

John

 

[kabinenroller]

I have been using a Grasshopper for decades. Mine has a 23hp Kohler, grass catching attachment, and a hydraulic deck lift. With the deck out front it mows under trees easily.

 

[jade97]

Kubota

 

[Max93]

I recently bought a Gravely zt hd and I like it, but I have only used it 3 times. From what I could see, most brands at similar price points use many of the same engines and transaxle

 

[Hephaestus29]

Why not put a little money back into the scag?

 

[JeepYJ]

Deere Z9xx. Or Z7xx. I would choose the Kaw over the Kohler.

 

[mitusa]

I mow about 4 acres with a hustler Z. 60 inch deck and a 23 horse kawasaki.
The mower has around 650 hrs. I bought it from someone who didn't know what was wrong with it and let it sit for around 10 years. It's a 2000 model.
I put on new tires and repaired the problem.
It's been a real good deal for me!!
I also recommend the kawasaki engine!

 

[gizardlizard]

I love Ferris mowers with the Kawasaki motor as well. For the really big stuff, they use caterpillar engines.

 

[Firebrick43]

Scag is at the top of the heap.

I own a ferris and an exmark. I have spent quite a few hours on my elderly neighbors turf tiger 2 when he has heart spell (pretty much all last summer) and I maintain it for him. No way would I go from a Scag to a Ferris, Mid series grasshopper or gravely. An Exmark maybe. I am not complaining about the ferris as its an ok mower but it doesn't cut as well and the suspension makes engine maintenance a pain in the ****. And a suspension seat on a scag rides better than the Ferris wheel suspension.

The cut on an exmark is slightly better, especially if its wet. Both are heavy duty. They have different ideas about spindle design, the scag is very strong and greasable tapered rollers but large stones can bend the deck shell because the spindles themselves are so strong.

Exmark makes their housing out of aluminum and non greaseable bearings, treating them as a fusible link to break instead of bending the deck shell. If you live in a rock free yard I wouldnt worry about it..

Walker front mount mowers are really nice, the advantages like a grasshopper but built much heavier like a scag and without the abortion of wheel drives that grasshopper uses.

John deeres with the 7 iron decks are good as well.

Good dealer support located nearby is probably what to look for the most.

What is wrong with your scag?

If its an engine I would put a new one in. You have individual pumps and wheel motors on your scag?

 

[Firebrick43]

I love Ferris mowers with the Kawasaki motor as well. For the really big stuff, they use caterpillar engines.

Those yellow cat engines in them are perkins 400 series engines. Cat bought them over 2 decades ago and they are made in perkins plants and you can buy them in perkins white, perkins blue, or cat yellow with cat badges.

 

[CraigStu]

Just a counter point on engines. I only mow about an acre but 7 yrs ago I bought a Husqvarna tractor mower w/ 48" deck. I would have preferred a Kawasaki engine but the model I wanted had a Kohler. It has been 100% trouble free. Change the oil, oil filter, and air filter once/year and it just keeps on going.

 

[kingcobb]

Ive used 4 different zero turns. A cheap cub cadet, a bad boy, a gravely zthd, and my father in laws gravley pro. Gravelys are awesome is all I'll say. The zthd fir my budget but that pro is awesome. The bad boy had me breathing too much grass clippings vs the gravelys.

 

[Cheesy1]

I bought a used 2003 54” Exmark from a buddy retiring from mowing business back in 2010. 700 hours then. I mow a couple acres a week. I’ve beat the ever living **** out of it. Treated it like a bush hog in the brush. It just keeps going. I’ve replaced a spindle here and there, an idle pulley, ignition switch. But nothing on it can’t be easily repaired if broken.

I’d assume your Scag has to be the same. But never let that keep you from buying new, simply because “it’s time” and you want to.

My dad and uncle share a heavier built Bad Boy. Their houses are a few hundred yards from each other on same farm, each mow a couple acres. They’re 10 years in on it with no major issues with the mower. The Kohler engine itself is in for a rebuild at the moment, but mower is still solid.

 

[astrohip]

I have a Bad Boy with the Kawasaki engine. Going on 11 years now, and it's a workhorse. My exact model is no longer made, but from what I hear, they're still rock solid.

I've done nothing other than routine maintenance. Had a belt break once (the one that drives the blades). That's about it.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I bought a new Grasshopper 725 DT6 front deck mower new in 2014, with the Kubota diesel engine. 14 years later, 1,205 hours, the only breakdown happened last week, the front jackshaft bearing hanger broke and I ended up replacing both bearings and the shaft. I mow 3 and a half acres a week, sometimes about 6, and it has treated me very well.

 

[Overboost44]

Another vote for the JD Z7. I have a 60" with the 7iron deck from 2003. Got it from my brother for next to nothing. Change the oil and hydraulic fluid. Keep the fittings greased. My only problem was that the clutch went up. Got a replacement from Amazon. Can't remember the brand but it has been great ever since.

 

[usa#1]

I have a 60" Exmark Lazer Z and a 72" Scag Turf Tiger. Both are excellent commercial mowers. For 2 acres no question I would get a 72" mower. You will cut your mowing time significantly. The 72" Scag cuts and stripes great.

 

[JeepYJ]

For 2 acres no question I would get a 72" mower.

He needs to consider any gates or openings he needs to get through. Also storage space in garage of barn with a 72” deck is a lot more than a smaller size.