Buying my first zero turn, looking for advice

[BoylermanCT]

Been doing tons of research on zero turn mowers on this site and others, and have visited all of the local dealers. I currently mow 4 acres with a 46" 2010 Craftsman tractor, two of the acres are typical lawn, and two are open field. It takes me 4 hours. A few weeks ago I borrowed my father-in-law's 54" Hustler Fastrack, and mowed everything in 2 hours. Decided I need to get one of my own!

My local dealers sell Scag, Husqvarna, Hustler and Simplicity. No local dealers for Dixie Chopper or Bad Boy. I would like to buy locally for the service, even though I could save a few hundred dollars via the internet. My max budget is $4800. I want to avoid the sealed EZT drives, and go with drives that are serviceable for longer life. I will put about 60 hours per year based on 2 hours mowing time.

Here are the finalists, in no particular order:
1. Hustler Raptor SD 54" - $3800, ZT2800 drives, 25 hp Kohler 7000 engine, 3 year warranty
2. Hustler Raptor SD 60" - $4300, ZT2800 drives, 26 hp Kohler 7000 engine 3 year warranty
3. Scag Liberty Z 52" - $4400, ZT2800 drives, 24 hp Kohler 7000 engine, 5 year warranty
4. Husqvarna MZ52 52" - $4400, ZT3100 drives, 23 hp Kawasaki FR engine, 3 year warranty
5. Husqvarna MZ61 61" - $4800, ZT3100 drives, 27 hp Briggs Endurance engine, 3 year warranty
6. Simplicity Courier 52" - $4000, ZT2800 drives, 25 hp Briggs, 3 year warranty

Each one has its own pros and cons:
Hustler has the best price and solid reputation
Husqvarna has commercial drives, larger rear tires and weigh 100 lbs more, reputation on M, MZT and PZ seem good, consumer models not as much
Scag has great reputation and longest warranty
Simplicity has more features like suspension, striper roller and cargo bed on back, but I can't find much on reliability / longevity

I would love to hear from anyone who owns one of the mowers I am considering. Thanks in advance.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Been doing tons of research on zero turn mowers on this site and others, and have visited all of the local dealers. I currently mow 4 acres with a 46" 2010 Craftsman tractor, two of the acres are typical lawn, and two are open field. It takes me 4 hours. A few weeks ago I borrowed my father-in-law's 54" Hustler Fastrack, and mowed everything in 2 hours. Decided I need to get one of my own!

My local dealers sell Scag, Husqvarna, Hustler and Simplicity. No local dealers for Dixie Chopper or Bad Boy. I would like to buy locally for the service, even though I could save a few hundred dollars via the internet. My max budget is $4800. I want to avoid the sealed EZT drives, and go with drives that are serviceable for longer life. I will put about 60 hours per year based on 2 hours mowing time.

Here are the finalists, in no particular order:
1. Hustler Raptor SD 54" - $3800, ZT2800 drives, 25 hp Kohler 7000 engine, 3 year warranty
2. Hustler Raptor SD 60" - $4300, ZT2800 drives, 26 hp Kohler 7000 engine 3 year warranty
3. Scag Liberty Z 52" - $4400, ZT2800 drives, 24 hp Kohler 7000 engine, 5 year warranty
4. Husqvarna MZ52 52" - $4400, ZT3100 drives, 23 hp Kawasaki FR engine, 3 year warranty
5. Husqvarna MZ61 61" - $4800, ZT3100 drives, 27 hp Briggs Endurance engine, 3 year warranty
6. Simplicity Courier 52" - $4000, ZT2800 drives, 25 hp Briggs, 3 year warranty

Each one has its own pros and cons:
Hustler has the best price and solid reputation
Husqvarna has commercial drives, larger rear tires and weigh 100 lbs more, reputation on M, MZT and PZ seem good, consumer models not as much
Scag has great reputation and longest warranty
Simplicity has more features like suspension, striper roller and cargo bed on back, but I can't find much on reliability / longevity

I would love to hear from anyone who owns one of the mowers I am considering. Thanks in advance.

4 or 5 out of that group just for the better hydros

 

[BlazNT]

Number 4 or 5 for the drives + I like Husqvarna.

 

[Ric]

4 or 5 out of that group just for the better hydros

If your using drives as a deciding factor that's a waste of time. The 2800 drives are Hydro Gears largest Residential unit and the 3100 is there entry level commercial drive. As far as drive motors and pumps they both run 10cc pumps and 16cc motors, both run a 1" axle. The 3100 is rated with 200 lb more GVWR (1200 vs 1000) and 1 mph difference in speed (8 vs 9) so basically there the same drive.

Personally with the problems Kohler is having with there 7000 series engine I'd stay away from anything that was running it and I wouldn't own a Briggs so I guess the leaves the number 4. The Husqvarna MZ52 52" - $4400, ZT3100 drives, 23 hp Kawasaki FR engine, 3 year warranty would be my choice and I'm not a Husqvarna fan. JMO

 

[Midniteoyl]

If your using drives as a deciding factor that's a waste of time. The 2800 drives are Hydro Gears largest Residential unit and the 3100 is there entry level commercial drive. As far as drive motors and pumps they both run 10cc pumps and 16cc motors, both run a 1" axle. The 3100 is rated with 200 lb more GVWR (1200 vs 1000) and 1 mph difference in speed (8 vs 9) so basically there the same drive.

Personally with the problems Kohler is having with there 7000 series engine I'd stay away from anything that was running it and I wouldn't own a Briggs so I guess the leaves the number 4. The Husqvarna MZ52 52" - $4400, ZT3100 drives, 23 hp Kawasaki FR engine, 3 year warranty would be my choice and I'm not a Husqvarna fan. JMO

Being only 1/2lb heaver but having 50ft/lbs more torque (350 vs 300) and the heavier max weight and speed means they are not the same though. And yes, on this list, the MZ52 with the Kaw engine would be my 1st choice, unless I was on a long hill or had a small pasture, then I would go with something with a larger engine. But I would still want commercial rated drives.

 

[BoylermanCT]

What are your thoughts on a 52" vs 61" deck. The Husky offers both. The bigger deck would obviously get the job down faster, especially since 2 acres of my 4 is an open field. It comes with a 24 hp 725cc Kawasaki FR engine or an 27 hp 810 cc Briggs engine. All my previous mowers have had Briggs engines, my current one has 500+ hours on it and all I've ever had to do is change the oil each season. I use Mobil 1. Obviously the bigger engine is the Briggs. I know the Kawasaki commercial engines are top rated, but the FR is not commercial, and I know they had issues last year of engines blowing in hot temps. I was told a change in oil from 30 to 40 was the fix. I wonder if that's why many manufacturer's are moving away from the FR engines to the Kohlers and Briggs. But back to the deck size, what are any advantages / disadvantages of a 52" deck vs a 61" deck from a cut / quality perspective.

 

[BlazNT]

I don't know how to explain this on here because of the complexity of it but I will try. Mowing with a smaller deck allows most people the ability to have a cleaner cut. You are able to read the terrain and follow it with out scalping the grass. It is very similar to reading the greens in golf. With a wider deck you may not be able to follow the terrain as easily. This really has a lot to do with how low you cut your grass as well. The lower to the ground the more likely you are to cut some dirt. I personally will not cut a lawn below 3 inches. I prefer to cut at 4 inches or higher. All grass has a sweet spot for height. When you mow it long enough and get the roots deep enough you can even increase the height of the grass to make it look even better. It takes around a year to get roots deeper and stronger to get it taller. I have and will turn down a customer that wants their lawn too low. I hope this make since to you.

 

[Ric]

What are your thoughts on a 52" vs 61" deck. The Husky offers both. The bigger deck would obviously get the job down faster, especially since 2 acres of my 4 is an open field. It comes with a 24 hp 725cc Kawasaki FR engine or an 27 hp 810 cc Briggs engine. All my previous mowers have had Briggs engines, my current one has 500+ hours on it and all I've ever had to do is change the oil each season. I use Mobil 1. Obviously the bigger engine is the Briggs. I know the Kawasaki commercial engines are top rated, but the FR is not commercial, and I know they had issues last year of engines blowing in hot temps. I was told a change in oil from 30 to 40 was the fix. I wonder if that's why many manufacturer's are moving away from the FR engines to the Kohlers and Briggs. But back to the deck size, what are any advantages / disadvantages of a 52" deck vs a 61" deck from a cut / quality perspective.

There's to many factors to take into account to say which size deck is going to do you or someone else the best job, things like the size and manufacturer of the mower and the deck will certainly matter but then again so does mowing speed and Blade tip speed and the type of blades used, all will play apart in what you are trying to achieve.
About the only advantage to a larger deck size would be time savings gain. The disadvantage is the cost in buying a bigger machine along with operating cost will be about twice as much. The larger deck will get the job done faster without a doubt. It can also get you a good quality cut. I cut Bahia with a 72" Gravely with a 31hp Kawasaki at the church and it has always left a nice looking lawn. It's also about 15 acres of cutting and takes both tanks of gas about 14 gal. I can use the 48" with a 20hp Kawasaki and do the job with half that amount of gas but takes me twice as long. So you can ask which way is better for you. Spend the money and go big or save with the smaller unit.

 

[DK35vince]

About the only advantage to a larger deck size would be time savings gain. The disadvantage is the cost in buying a bigger machine along with operating cost will be about twice as much. The larger deck will get the job done faster without a doubt. It can also get you a good quality cut. I cut Bahia with a 72" Gravely with a 31hp Kawasaki at the church and it has always left a nice looking lawn. It's also about 15 acres of cutting and takes both tanks of gas about 14 gal.

1 gallon per acre ??
You should have the thing looked at.
I thought my 35 HP Kawasaki, 72" was bad enough using 4 gallon to mow 8 acres.
Of course my previous 21 HP, 54" FasTrak would use close to the same amount since it took longer to mow it.