ZTR Driving question

[Brucebotti]

You will find that in time that you will be making turns without giving it a thought and it will not take long. I can't count the number of hours I've put on ZTR's over the years but I can tell the hours really don't mean anything because or regardless of how many you have or how good you think you are you can still tear up the turf. The thing is there are so many things that determine how to maneuver or handle a Ztr like the conditions, Hills or slopes, is it dry, or wet, cutting height of grass, type of grass, are you mowing on sod, Bahia, Bermuda or some other type of grass all and more play a part in how to use your ZTR.

Thanks Ric,
As usual your advice is spot-on. I am trying get up to speed and avoid picking up any bad habits that may harm the lawn or the ZTR. I am having a lot of fun learning.
Bruce

 

[jekjr]

Another thing that is helpful or works for me anyway is if you are trying to cut at a continuous speed that is say about half speed, take one lever and set the speed and then use the other to make slight turns. You do this by moving it ahead a slightly to turn in to the other lever side and pulling it backwards a little to turn into its side. I do this a lot of times when I am cutting deep grass where I need to slow down to make a neater cut and when operating on really rough ground. More times tha. Not I will use the left lever to set the speed and the right one to then steer. I do it both ways though from time to time.

 

[Brucebotti]

Another thing that is helpful or works for me anyway is if you are trying to cut at a continuous speed that is say about half speed, take one lever and set the speed and then use the other to make slight turns. You do this by moving it ahead a slightly to turn in to the other lever side and pulling it backwards a little to turn into its side. I do this a lot of times when I am cutting deep grass where I need to slow down to make a neater cut and when operating on really rough ground. More times tha. Not I will use the left lever to set the speed and the right one to then steer. I do it both ways though from time to time.

Jekjr,
Thanks for the tips. I wish I could try them, but we have had a ridiculous amount of rain. I've had my mower for over two weeks and have only 3.0 hours on it.....
Bruce

 

[jekjr]

Jekjr,
Thanks for the tips. I wish I could try them, but we have had a ridiculous amount of rain. I've had my mower for over two weeks and have only 3.0 hours on it.....
Bruce

I wish you could send us a little of that rain. We got a little last week but we need some more or we are going to have customers that don't need us.

 

[Brucebotti]

I wish you could send us a little of that rain. We got a little last week but we need some more or we are going to have customers that don't need us.

I wish we could do that. We went from a major deficit to a major surplus in about two weeks....:confused2:

I hope the rain gods hear your prayer...:smile:
Bruce

 

[jekjr]

One more thing. Be very careful on down hill slopes. If you ever need to turn practice not allowing the wheel you are turning towards to start slipping. I try to slow the hydro on that side as much as possible and still keep it pulling slightly. If the wheel you are turning into starts to slip many times the machine will immediately go straight ahead at the speed of the wheel that should be on the outside of the turn. Then your reflex will be to pull back wards on the side you are turning towards and push forward on the side you are turning towards making the problem worse. The first time I encountered this I wound up jumping a curb and stopping in a parking lot.

 

[Mary Wilson]

One more thing. Be very careful on down hill slopes. If you ever need to turn practice not allowing the wheel you are turning towards to start slipping. I try to slow the hydro on that side as much as possible and still keep it pulling slightly. If the wheel you are turning into starts to slip many times the machine will immediately go straight ahead at the speed of the wheel that should be on the outside of the turn. Then your reflex will be to pull back wards on the side you are turning towards and push forward on the side you are turning towards making the problem worse. The first time I encountered this I wound up jumping a curb and stopping in a parking lot.

If you do the "Y" type turns that Scag recommends doesn't that do away with the advantages of that Z type mower. I can do the Y turns on my John Deere tractor, or am I missing something?

 

[exotion]

If you do the "Y" type turns that Scag recommends doesn't that do away with the advantages of that Z type mower. I can do the Y turns on my John Deere tractor, or am I missing something?

You don't have to stop switch gears and you can turn on a zero radius you have to stop turn one wheel backwards and one forwards

 

[Brucebotti]

You will find that in time that you will be making turns without giving it a thought and it will not take long. I can't count the number of hours I've put on ZTR's over the years but I can tell the hours really don't mean anything because or regardless of how many you have or how good you think you are you can still tear up the turf. The thing is there are so many things that determine how to maneuver or handle a Ztr like the conditions, Hills or slopes, is it dry, or wet, cutting height of grass, type of grass, are you mowing on sod, Bahia, Bermuda or some other type of grass all and more play a part in how to use your ZTR.

Ric,
I started this thread when I first got my ZTR, and had about .5 hours experience. I now have a whopping 8.2 hours of experience and your advice was spot-on. I am now making turns with very little thinking and everything feels much more natural. I have even graduated to using the high range on my Toro. The Y-turns are now much easier. In low range, reverse was extremely slow, especially uphill.

I can't believe I went this long without a ZTR. It is so much quicker, easier, leaves a much better cut, etc.

Bruce

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

...I can't believe I went this long without a ZTR. It is so much quicker, easier, leaves a much better cut, etc.

That's what everyone says...not that I would know! :laughing: