Bad Boy Maverick vs Spartan RZ-HD

BlakeC

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I'm looking at a 54" in both the Bad Boy Maverick & Spartan RZ-HD.
I can get them both for basically the same price(Spartan is $250 more otd)

I'm trying to read and compare all of the specs and getting overwhelmed.

We have a VERY rough clay yard with THICK grass, so I have been looking at the Bad Boy because it has full front/rear suspension.

BUT, I started reading about the drives and that's where I got hung up.
Spartan has "Parker HTE Transaxles - 10cc Drive Motors"
Bad Boy has "3200 Hydro-Gear® 10cc Integrated Transaxle"
-Is one better than the other?
-Im not familiar with the drive types so I don't know what I don't know

Here are links:
Spartan - https://spartanmowers.com/rz-hd/
Bad Boy - https://badboymowers.com/zero-turn-mowers/residential/maverick-lawn-mower

Any advice is very appreciated!
 

MParr

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I would go with the Bad Boy. The reason is because it has a keyed ignition switch.
 

BlakeC

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I would go with the Bad Boy. The reason is because it has a keyed ignition switch.
Good point! I hadn't even thought of that. Not really a deciding factor for me tho lol
 

bertsmobile1

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Good point! I hadn't even thought of that. Not really a deciding factor for me tho lol
Spartan have not had any problems with the switch unlike Husqvarna but check the price of a replacement.
Just put a second one into a Husqvarna in less than 1 month
So that is over $ 1000 ( aus ) the customer has forked out on a mower with less than 200 hours on it .
No one in Oz can test the switch and from what I have been reading the same applies to the USA.

Similar problem with a Z-master, it's new module worked for 10 minutes then packed it in, so in this case it will stay bypassed
Same story , no one in OZ can test the Toro module either .
Have hear the same applies to Scags interlock module as well .
 

BlakeC

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Spartan have not had any problems with the switch unlike Husqvarna but check the price of a replacement.
Just put a second one into a Husqvarna in less than 1 month
So that is over $ 1000 ( aus ) the customer has forked out on a mower with less than 200 hours on it .
No one in Oz can test the switch and from what I have been reading the same applies to the USA.

Similar problem with a Z-master, it's new module worked for 10 minutes then packed it in, so in this case it will stay bypassed
Same story , no one in OZ can test the Toro module either .
Have hear the same applies to Scags interlock module as well .
True, it's just something else that could go wrong, but I'm curious about the drives.

Spartan has "Parker HTE Transaxles - 10cc Drive Motors"
Bad Boy has "3200 Hydro-Gear® 10cc Integrated Transaxle"
-Is one better than the other?
 

hlw49

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We sell mowers with both hydros in them not having any problems with either one.
 

BlakeC

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We sell mowers with both hydros in them not having any problems with either one.
that's good to know!
is there a difference in either of them? is one heavier duty or higher end than the other?
 

MParr

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that's good to know!
is there a difference in either of them? is one heavier duty or higher end than the other?
Both are light duty commercial units. The Hydro-Gear has a tad more torque. The Hydro-Gear uses a readily available HG52114 transmission filter.
I would still pick the Bad Boy over the Spartan.
One of the original Bad Boy partners split from Bad Boy and started Spartan. Spartan was very recently acquired by Toro.
 
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hlw49

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The Parker HTE Transaxle uses their own HT1000 oil with change intervals of 1000 hours. It is around the $30.00 to $40.00 a quart range. It holds around 1.5 quarts per hydro. Where as the 3200 Hydro-Gear uses 20W-50 engine oil at around $10.00 a quart and change intervals at 75 hours on the first change and then 500 hours after that. It holds around 2.25 quarts per hydro. The parker has a cartridge filter and the hydro-gear has an external screw on filter.
 

MParr

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The Parker HTE Transaxle uses their own HT1000 oil with change intervals of 1000 hours. It is around the $30.00 to $40.00 a quart range. It holds around 1.5 quarts per hydro. Where as the 3200 Hydro-Gear uses 20W-50 engine oil at around $10.00 a quart and change intervals at 75 hours on the first change and then 500 hours after that. It holds around 2.25 quarts per hydro. The parker has a cartridge filter and the hydro-gear has an external screw on filter.
There are other acceptable oils but, the change intervals vary.
From Parker Service Manual:
• To insure maximum HTE/HTJ Series transmission performance and life, use a Parker qualified oil. HTE/HTJ Series transmissions come factory filled with Parker HT-1000 transmission oil. Oil change intervals depend on the type of oil used. Always change the filter when changing the oil.
Qualified Oils Number of hours
Parker HT-1000TM (P/N 406030) 1U.S. Gal. (3.8L) 1000 Castrol Syntec 5W50 500 Amsoil AW ISO 68 500 Shell TTF-SB 500 Other* 250
*Must be premium grade synthetic based engine oil with a minimum viscosity grade of 15W40

Another reason to pick the Bad Boy.
 
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