Frustrated ZTR Buyer

[maddmowerman]

Hey everyone....got an ole 89 Dixin 361ZTR 36" that after 25yrs has reached retirement. I've had it for 15yrs and rebuilt the transaxel 14 yrs ago and it has served me well, but now the pto and the motor are gonna need to be overhauled so time to upgrade. Now those of you not familiar with the old Dixons that had the friction drive transaxels..it's like owning an old MG or a Triumph TR3 you always had to tinker with it to keep it running right. So I decided that I was really gonna go crazy and buy a "Brand New" new one that has the hydrostaic drive system and some of the updates that the Dixon didn't have so I didn't have to costantly mess with it. Now I have less than an half acre to my yared but I have a rental next door that is 3/4 acre but were gonna sell that in a couple years when the wife retires. So my 2 goals were to stay with a 36" and one that has the offset deck that you can mow close to things and trim under bushes like my Dixon could. The Dixon deck protrudes about 4" on the left side and is really handy and saves a lot of week whacking.
So now after a month of doing the research in the 34 to 36 inch deck class there just isn't much to choose from...the only 36" ZTR on the internet I could find was the Hustler Raptor..then the Ariens zoom34. And no mfg's have a protuding deck till you go to the 44" and above. All the rest are center mounted and most the blade cut line is at least a 1/4 inside the outside tire track line.Then after going to the Hustler dealer to look at the 36" to see what would be involved in offsetting the deck a few inches..I was told that even though the internet website shows the specs for a 36" they don't make one that he was aware of at the time. So I looked at a 42" which seemed like a pretty good machine but just to big for areas in my yard.
So I"m still trying to figure out what to do here. Give up on the new and look for another 36" Dixon in better shape than mine or just get a cheap snaller tractor. Getting burned out.

 

[BlazNT]

Explain the deck off set. Because Dixon did not have a hydo drive it could be much closer to the ground. Lower center of gravity. Allowes for narrower mower frame. Deck could stick out. You are not going to find it anymore on that small of deck.

 

[mechanic mark]

Press on & keep looking, be sure and take them for a test drive operating all controls, you'll know when you find the right mower.

 

[maddmowerman]

This is an 89 friction drive trans axel..361ZTR, and it has a slightly narrower frame . But the deck is mounted almost straight accross which allows the left side to protrude 4" past the outside edge of the drive tire. All the newer ones are center mounted at an angle with a wider frame which keeps the cut line either even or just inside the track line of the outside edge of the drive tire. If you try to get the edge of the deck close to something round the tires will try to climb up on the brick or stone your trying to get close too on the 42" on down. If you look at a 46" you will see how the deck sticks out a few inches which allows your to mow close to something without the tire bouncing off it.
No one makes a 42" on down with this capability. The decks are completley kept within the edge of the tires.

 

[Elendil]

If you are set on going new, you may want to look at a stand behind mower. This will give you a front mount deck and they are available in a smaller deck size like you are looking for. What you are mowing (especially after the rental is sold) is ideal for a stand behind.

If you insist on a rider, you could look for something like a used JD F525. It has a front mount, offset deck that is great for trimming. Not sure where you are at in Illinois in relation to Morris, but I just traded an F525 in at the Kubota dealer that ran like a dream.

 

[Ric]

Hey everyone....got an ole 89 Dixin 361ZTR 36" that after 25yrs has reached retirement. I've had it for 15yrs and rebuilt the transaxel 14 yrs ago and it has served me well, but now the pto and the motor are gonna need to be overhauled so time to upgrade. Now those of you not familiar with the old Dixons that had the friction drive transaxels..it's like owning an old MG or a Triumph TR3 you always had to tinker with it to keep it running right. So I decided that I was really gonna go crazy and buy a "Brand New" new one that has the hydrostaic drive system and some of the updates that the Dixon didn't have so I didn't have to costantly mess with it. Now I have less than an half acre to my yared but I have a rental next door that is 3/4 acre but were gonna sell that in a couple years when the wife retires. So my 2 goals were to stay with a 36" and one that has the offset deck that you can mow close to things and trim under bushes like my Dixon could. The Dixon deck protrudes about 4" on the left side and is really handy and saves a lot of week whacking.
So now after a month of doing the research in the 34 to 36 inch deck class there just isn't much to choose from...the only 36" ZTR on the internet I could find was the Hustler Raptor..then the Ariens zoom34. And no mfg's have a protuding deck till you go to the 44" and above. All the rest are center mounted and most the blade cut line is at least a 1/4 inside the outside tire track line.Then after going to the Hustler dealer to look at the 36" to see what would be involved in offsetting the deck a few inches..I was told that even though the internet website shows the specs for a 36" they don't make one that he was aware of at the time. So I looked at a 42" which seemed like a pretty good machine but just to big for areas in my yard.
So I"m still trying to figure out what to do here. Give up on the new and look for another 36" Dixon in better shape than mine or just get a cheap snaller tractor. Getting burned out.

A 34 to 36" ztr with an off set mower deck is going to be hard to find. Have you considered maybe a mower with a front mounted deck like a Walker, GrassHopper something of that nature. I use a Toro Grandstand 36" cut for getting up under trees and trimming closer to things it works real well. With less than half an acre you may want to try something like one of the 30" self propelled push mowers like The Exmark, Turf-Master or Time-Master mowers as an option.