Zero turn mower feature I don't remember anyone discussing
I know we've hard many zero turn discussion here, but I'm doing some research to probably get my first one and I'm seeing a feature i don't remember any of ya'll discussing in previous threads. Apparently this has been available for a few years now, but I saw several brands that offer models with tilt up mowers decks powered by a button this makes it tilt close to 90 degrees where you can replace blades, clean etc. without having to remove or jack-up the deck. Seems like a pretty cool feature as I'm getting older and I hate having to remove the deck on my current rider every year to replace blades and or remove things that get wrapped around the blades like baling twine, hoses etc. Anybody have any experience or thoughts on this feature or the brands "Big Dog" or "Hustler" zero turns?
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@Butchdog2 I have sloped areas that end at a drop off. I mow while backing down & then mow another (straighter) line while going back up.
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Kinda like UNCLE JOE says................buy an electric vehicle (for $60,000) and you hardly pay to drive it.
@Ruger4me..............don't worry about cutting your lawn. Sell your rural property and move into a city apt. or buy a condo with a ruling HMA.......they will maintain your property for you and you can sit back and sip margaritas............forget about the mower. Forget about the cost.
{green font on}
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LOL! I don't have what I'd call a "lawn" just a few acres around the house and barns that need cutting and are not used to produce hay... I guess I'd call it my yard, but definitely not a "lawn"
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pulsarnc: 30449749711515/comments/30449759142683
My yard is sandy . Mowing it is like using a sandblaster on the blades . Use 2 or 3 sets a year .
Same. Here in Oklahoma, I always wear the rear "lift edge" of the blade clear off while still retaining 75% of the cutting portion of the blade. I found by going to "Gator" blades it reduces the speed in which it does that slightly. I mow about 4 of my 10 highly wooded acres and since the switch, I get an extra mowing between blade changes. I am buying a ZTR either in the off season, or next spring.
One other thing regarding ZTR's, there are what some refer to as deck in front, and sit on deck. Sit on deck are shorter and more compact, but don't generally reach under overhanging trees and such. They most likely would also be incapable of tilt up deck. The deck in front type are longer in storage, but allow you to reach under overhanging brush, decks, etc. Plus, some have that flip up deck feature. One last thing to consider, at least if your yard is rough is chassis springs. That is often reserved for the higher end models, but you can find them with springs at every axle and then also on the seat which is generally the only place the cheaper ones have them. This is really nice in rougher yards or if you have back issues. For me, this is an absolute must on my next purchase. I'd like a rear discharge, but it is not critical.
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Ruger, never too old to learn something.
Us'in hill williams use the term when you head up or down hill and loose traction and go one way or the other, slick icy roads, grassy wet fields, muddy logging road and such. Brown shorts event.
Anyone willing to take a guess what j-hole means. Keep it clean please! Hint, has to do with logging.
286, how did you decide to mow up and down hill like you do?🤔
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@Butchdog2 Other wise, it's like the E ticket ride at a carnival. Even tho I stopped at the bottom, it was tricky to turn & not tear up the grass. Going across the slope, you have to go in high, expect to slide & come out low. I'm actually looking at adding side mirrors 🙃
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I have a woods commercial with electric height adjustment and yes it flips up. I wouldn't have a mower without a flip up deck. Like others have said we mow around 3-4 acres and my wife keeps it short so she mows lower and more often than most. 2-3 blade changes a year.
Woods and others have the front deck, some are mid deck(under the rider) but the better mid decks still have the option for flipping up like these...
I'm not going to comment much on mowers as I got sick of mowers breaking down so I basically went straight to the top and got a woods commercial for I believe $16,500. I tried a few other brands but did not have good luck out here on the farm. I'm sure there are lots of good options that will work for less than the woods, Woods doesn't even make zero turns anymore but I believe Grasshopper is pretty similar.
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@shootuadeal those are the two I'm thinking about, I got cash price quote from the local dealer yesterday, this was his response:
"The price would be $6749.35 taxes and all out the door. This would be the price on either Big Dog or Hustler. The Hustler will have a Kawasaki engine. The Big Dog will have the Kohler engine on it."
They both show MSRP of starting at $6199.00 and I guess the days of discounting below MSRP are gone... I replied with how much for equivalent models without the lift up feature and will see if it can be justified. After reading all these comments, I gave the suggestion to use my front loader on tractor with a chain a try yesterday to change the blades on my old rider, it worked and was easier than removing the deck, but still had to lay on the ground to swap out the blades... see pics:
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