14:22 - JD incorporated soft start PTO to eliminate the need for throttling down/up on blade engagement. That's why you didn't feel the driveline shock, or the need to adjust the throttle.
The more I use my Z950M 72" the more I love it, after coming very disappointed from a gravely mower this was a great upgrade, It is by far the best mower I have ever had. I appreciate your video, corroborates my thinking on M vs R
John Deere sucks their parts are totally expensive you can't find them anywhere their garbage they're cut Is not even in the industry if you're not buying a toro or an X mark then you're not getting a great cut But if you think John Deere that great then you just keep read on running them and I'll keep laughing at you and taking on all the customers that don't like you're mow job
I have a Z950R with the 60". You are right about the push button lift. When you press it in, deck goes up. As long as you hold it, the deck will go all the way up and stay there while holding the button or up to about 20 seconds then it will go down even if you are still holding the button. I have found that when I want to feather it, I tap the button rather than a solid press and I can get a partial lift. For me I wanted the R for this hydraulic deck lift because I use the material collection system with dump from seat hopper in the spring/fall and side discharge the rest of the year. The Powerflow head with the impeller adds a lot of weight to the deck. With the foot lift versions (B/E/M) you have to adjust the assist springs on the deck lift mechanism to account for the additional weight. Don't have to mess with that on the R. I know most people that do commercial mowing don't want to mess with a collection system but this is my residential mower and I just dump leaves/clippings next to my compost pile and use my tractor/FEL to manage the pile. Overall I am happy with the machine, biggest complaint is the foot operated parking brake you pointed out which can be a PITA to release. I have had it for 2 years now and had a PTO Clutch go out. Seems strange for it to fail so soon. Covered under warranty as expected. I only have about 150 hrs on it though. Fuel is about 12 gallon capacity. You had the top of the line full suspension seat. So seat options only get worse from there. I have the same one but don't have anything to compare it to and I only cut for about 2 hrs once a week. As far as height of cut knob. Mine has slop like that but as you showed, you adjust it while the deck is lifted. When the deck is down it sits on flat spots on the gear, so it can't move and change the HOC. It may wiggle but not change any setting. I get what you are saying that when setting HOC it may be vague, but it seems to snap or click to settings in 1/4" increments. I have never had a problem dialing in a setting I know where I am at but have one issue. I have different blades (OEM and Gator G6) that I run and the profiles differ which can change my HOC by 1/2" from the setting on the knob. I would imagine this is the case with any mower though because it is a blade thing not a mower thing. I don't re-calibrate my HOC when changing blades, I just run it a bit higher or lower. Again, just doing my yard so I set it and pretty much leave it because I run G6 blades most of the time. Time will tell if I have issues with the gadgets. The button to kill the PTO just trips the safety interlock circuit. Sure the button could fail or a wire break but there isn't much to that feature. This is why you have to reset the PTO switch on the control panel to start the mower. Hydroaulic deck adds a lot of complexity compared to the foot lift versions. The R version also adds a few other things compared to the others. Cross porting on the drives for better cooling, higher top speed, different bend radius on the control arms. Though I think the M and R share the same top speed.
The height adjuster has that ease with twisting but it’s clear when you set to a certain height and the easiness to twist is just between the set height and the setting above and below it but it won’t change until you lift the deck, unlock it and then set it to a diff height and then lock it up again.
I have owned two 970r's, would own nothing else. The unit you are using does not have the optional seat. Makes a huge difference. If the steering handles fatigue your arms I'm shocked, I'm 65 years old & have no issues with that. I'm a very satisfied Deere owner.
We’ve have one 970r now, have had 2 others before. Run 2-Exmark 72” and 3-Scag Cheetah 2 (72”) now. Scag and Deere are far the best if you have to cut in damp or wet grass. Will be phasing out our last 2 Exmark’s to Scag or Deere’s. But will continue to use Turf Tracer’s for our walk behind’s.
I work with my older brother and we’re from Polk County Florida. Where there is not to many people who run John Deere’s around here. People mainly run Hustlers , Dixie Choppers and Toros. He has ran a Z920M with 1800 hours with no issues but routine maintenance. Now he runs a 652R it has 500 hours on it when no issues. I’m looking into purchasing a Z520R for my business I’m starting up when I turn 18 in October.
I agree with you in a lot cases with the the Deere. However that is supposed to be like Cadillac of mowers. Many creature comforts. . They’re very durable and if you have a good dealer you can’t go wrong. I have a 2004 Z757 with about 700 hours on it. Had it since new and it has never let me down. But mine is purpose built and and not tons of bells and whistles to break. I agree with you about the deck adjustment. I can “feather” the deck with my foot. My deck leveling system is Turn knob but made out of steel and tight. I do all the maintenance myself and it’s easy
Couldn't agree more about the all-or-nothing deck lift on the handle for the exact reason you mentioned. That alone makes the R-series a no-go for me. Bought a 960M. 7 Iron deck (not MOD) is awesome for tough NW PA Spring and Fall conditions. That deck gets more impressive the harder you work it.
With the John Deeres there are two different types of hydraulic lift: One that toggles the deck up and down and one where you have to hold the lever to raise it up and down... and when you let it go, it stops lifting. Never really understood the toggle thing. I know they have the different style on their x700 series... But those are not zero turn.
I purchase 2 Z 950M ZTrak with the 60 in.Deck and with the high end seat and Michelin tweel and I love em . Look at other brands and they were nice but looked cheap. The R is the only one has the hydraulic lift .
I have several John Deere mowers, and I definitely like being able to adjust the deck up and down with my foot, would not like the switch gadget ! My favorite mower is the 777, with a 72 inch liquid cool 29 horse Kawasaki, I put over 3000 hours and it’s still cuts as good as the day I bought it. Wish John Deere would bring that mower back !
Looks like a great machine but your right about the deck lift. Those features are great for home owners but not Commercial use. I want everything Mechanical a lot easy to fix in the field, unlike electrical. My dad taught me to hate John Deere (he was a ford/international guy lol) but it looks like its a machine to be reckoned with. Great (Quick) Review!
I’ve personally owned a John Deere like that one with the 60 inch deck. I was taught to use the heel to unlock it. The pto switch on the handle is nice however I never use it I feel that once the pto switch is engaged up the operator should be able to turn on and off the pto from the handle not just turn it off. And finally the deck lift button. It’s annoying like u said not to be able to adjust where it is suitable to mow. However over the years. I’ve leaned to push the button repeatedly like playing a video game- some thing fast where the deck usually stays in the middle. Other than that I’ve loved mine for about 500 hours on it I’ve only replaced the pto switch 3 times, the deck lift button once a throttle cable and some pulleys. But I’d say for going on 7.5 years of service the issues I’ve had I’d say was under 1000$.
I do the same. Tap the deck lift button to get a partial lift. With time you get the hang of it though I am sure it wears harder on the components. I don't like the parking brake. I have tried the heel method. The biggest thing that helps is wearing firm shoes. Not that I mow in flip flops but I do wear slip on shoes sometimes and it is more of a PITA with them than with work boots like I should be wearing. I would have liked the 72" but my trees are too close to each other. It is a tight squeeze with the 60" and the Powerflow head. The 60" is a step up from the 54" I ran on my X585.
Looked at a few mowers before I settled on my z915e with a 60 " deck. When I looked at other brands, like Husqvarna or Cub Cadet, they did not seem as sturdy and the seat was uncomfortable. I'm not a lawn care service, just a homeowner with 7 acres, but after 3 years and 70 hours, I can say that mower is a beast. Glad I opted to go to the dealership and get the real deal rather than Lowe's. I accidentally wrapped a rope with a metal hook attached under one of the blades. Unwrapped it and went right back to mowing. I've cut through foot tall grass and treated it like a brushhog. The bastard just keeps going. I think if I keep the deck clean and do routine maintenance, it'll last a few decades.
My neighbor has a Deere and I can push a mower faster than he drives it. I don't know why he mows that way unless he doesn't sharpen blades. I live in south Florida where it's sandier
SimpleLife 17 That’s a Koehler issue not Deere. I prefer the Kawasaki’s although I have seen them have issues too. The Briggs Vangaurd is a great engine too and built in America
Deere's are awesome man. The model they gave you is the premium "R" model which is feature loaded. The "E" for entry and "M" for mid line are the way to go. Everything is manual, less parts to break down.
Not simple...I'm pretty mechanically inclined brother...it isn't solid...I have no absolute confidence of the actual height. It's very loose and doesn't hard lock without play
Beach River Landscapes if you actually look the deck itself doesn’t move. If you ran it more than one day and checked your blade height every week you’d see it’s fine. To each their own I guess though. I’m not a JD fan boy nor ExMark or any brand for that matter. I think JD has a well built mower and with a JD dealer on every corner, it’s business friendly when I need something.
@@russellhopperton1907 I still have it. Been using it every day. No big deal, I just do not like their level system. It's ok to not like it. I just don't like how unsolid it is. Of course I lift the deck before adjusting. I understand how it locks to a certain level if you want etc...it's just too loose of a system
Looks like a great mower man but I do also see your issues with some bits. The 72s can scalp more because the deck is so wide but its something you have to get used to I guess.
Yes, I agree with you that foot control deck "feathering" is the way to go for humps in the yard, and also around uneven concrete edges of graves I mow around and over in several cemeteries every week. Nice review. Who manufactures the 35 hp engine on that?
We use the z930r and we love it we also use hustler fastrac and they r nice too but the john deere is the way too go we have a 54 inch z930r with bagger we would get 61 but it wouldn't fit on our trailers
Bashed the hell out of the mower in the politest way possible! Still, they sell cool standers imo. Nice of the rep to send you off with the loaner. Hopefully next week is 100% problem-free. Those are rare weeks, but they must happen sometime.
It’s never the actual mower you know what I mean? It’s which dealer will treat you the best with your warranty stuff. I’m a scag man too, but it’s all about the convenience and if the dealer will back you up with warranty work.
this is the best statement I have read yet it is all about the dealer and I have not found one worth a crap yet if you dont have 20 mowers to keep you going you might as well get out of the game I live in fl here and to get any dealer here to work on your stuff your 3 weeks out to even get in then if you need parts they have to order them so you like well I am out of a job as your customers dont give a crap they paid you get the job done or be gone your problems are not theres so end of my rant I use bad boy and love the mower its cut is great built like a tank but cant find a dealer worth a shit straight up fact
Yeah the R models on the sit downs have the hand control. If you get the M model it has the foot control. Great mowers but man the price is a bit wild.
We own 3 JD in our business. You have the R model or top of the line. We have a 930m, 920m and a 52" Stan on. The M model does not have all the fancy mods which R has. Everything is manual Which I feel makes it alot better. We have over 500 hrs on our 930m with no issues. One thing I would mention is buy the Kawasaki engine the Kohler is crap!
I have the 925m my nob is not loose like tht maybe its the hydraulic deck mine you lift by the foot pedal something is def wrong with tht nob I got the plain jane one too many things to break on tht one
So do you think this was just a gimmick/innovation or that there was an issue with the spring assist on that large of a deck. A 72” 7iron deck has got to be quite heavy.
They use spring assist on all of them no matter the deck size, even on the R versions with the hydraulic lift. I guess I worded that poorly. Think of the spring assist like that on a garage door. In the case of those of us running a collection system though, the weight of the deck changes if the powerflow is on there or not. That is where it is really nice to have the R and get that button. I can't imagine that your average person mowing commercially is going to use the deck lift that much where it is fatiguing to use a foot lift and as RBL pointed out, you have more control to feather the deck height a bit rather than resorting to tapping the button as I do. They sell a Z950M with a 72" deck so it isn't a requirement to have hydraulic lift to run that size deck. They just dial up the spring preload more compared to the 60". My 60" with the powerflow for the collection system probably weighs as much as a 72" deck. Maybe more as the powerflow is a big chunk of steel. So I would say it is just something to make them different than the rest of the market and one of the things to justify the additional $1800 of the R vs the M. The others being the control arm mounted PTO kill button, drive cross porting (better cooling on hills) and ergonomic control arms. It was the one big selling point for me to move to the R though because of how I use my machine. If I didn't go back and forth with the collection system I would have probably gone with a M or B/E.
I just left the John Deere dealer about a week ago and they wanted 14 grand for this same exact model with the tweels, I was getting ready to sacrifice my down payment on a house for it until this video dam bro, your comments on the deck leveling system has me concerned now
I've run John deer zero turns since 2006 snd i wont run anything else. Their 7 iron decks are stamped out with no welds to catch grass. Tve quality of cut is superior to any other
We're sorry to hear you feel that way Angel. Should you ever experience issues with your Scag mower please feel free to reach out, we're always here to help you and your dealer make your machine right.
Correction that things a MONSTER ..beast does not give it justice lol I can only speak about a LaZer Z and Walker z -turn mowers but I will add that John Deere push mowers self prop. Or not actually have the best Deck Design for capturing debris if you bag . You guys don't Serv. residential accounts anymore right just commercial accounts so yea def .agree with everything you said about that there and would not purchase one but I would def. buy a walker mower probably the best z turn mowers I can say by far for those that don't mulch their proper_ ties. I did see that walker makes a non collective model now which is freakn sweet.. can't beat a walker because they are the most comfortable in terms of 8-12hr daily usage .and that's mainly because the steering levers are short and slim walker is a one hand drive but everybody who ever road one knows there a reason for that and no that extra hand is not to smoke cigarettes but to have on throttle control because any IDIOT LoL could ride a zturn but very very few idiots LoL can do so withought tearing up the grass when they turn around and that's because we are supposed to cut throttle down before turning and I've seen ppl turn around on concrete ,sidewalks etc etc because they don't know ish about the equipment they are using and if u riding a exmark scag or any other zturn that's not a walker not gonna be able to do exactly what I said about throttling down..another beautiful fun thing a walker w a collective deck can do because the internal vacuum they have, is clogging your intake shute all the way up to the hopper and unclogging it is Probably the funnest thing you could experience by unclogging the deck intake w a rake and bumping the P.T.O untill it frees up and watching that grass shoot up 40_50 ft in the air is priceless and very therapeutic try it someday.. anyways have a good Friday sir and keep it 100% Safety First we will be seeing ya
I had a walker at one point. Did not do well with really tall and super think grass. I think they r a fine finish mower and you definitely cannot beat a Walker when it comes to cut quality. But I would not own one as my main and only mower. They r horrible with inclines. They r a fine wine no doubt. I'd consider getting another one just for the fine finish cut and leaf collection. They do have conveniences about them that r unique. I can turn full throttle without ripping turf daily and I train my guys to do the same. Itsnt so much about throttle it's more about the balance of power and sensitivity of the hydros when zero turning. I agree too though that mower throttle on turn around definitely is better to do. I can't honestly bash one single.mower company I think everyone makes a solid version of a mower. Just mostly becomes preference
Did you actually look at how the knob works for the height adjustment? The play is the the notches in the dial in-between the quarter inch increments. The auto deck lift thing system is only on the R models which nobody really has. The normal M models have an actual manual lift type system that in my opinion is far superior over the pin type system all the other mowers have.
Adam MotoLandscaping ok, well yeah man it's still very loose feeling and just didn't make u feel anything dropping a pin and know for sure where u r at
I’d sell that scag and get a gravely 460 or pro stance bud. You can’t afford not too. That back and forth to the shop shit , maybe maybe not get a loaner. You got the work? Invest in yourself and your business. You didn’t ask but your tips help me so thought I’d throw my 2cents. Good luck
My neighbor had that exact same mower then he rode on my Toro wanna know what someone else owns his John Deere now and he has a new Commercial Toro for his law lawn now smart people don't spend there money solely on a name John Deere should stay in the farming market where they belong not in the lawn care industry
Your right they are more money but in the long run they have way less break downs and way more reliable machines then other companies JD Toro and Exmark are the only machines used in my area and I have 4 970z with the twheels never a problem except the twheels if abused they rip and then the twheel will go off balance and then you have to replace them other then that they be one great zt. As well the deck leveling system I find really great better then any system on the market you just have to get used to working it. I will never go back to a foot petal system again love your vids keep em coming
Thanks for the review as I have been wanting to test the R model as I been having a lot of problems floating my deck with my foot due to an old injury. I didn't think you could float the deck which is a problem for me with the type of yards we me. I have been shopping new mowers and if you compare and JD cost about the same as other similar equipped mowers they right in the ball park with other mowers.
That's a machine that will put you out of business/break the bank in lawn industry......that's a just......a John Deere mower....something for the name
14:22 - JD incorporated soft start PTO to eliminate the need for throttling down/up on blade engagement. That's why you didn't feel the driveline shock, or the need to adjust the throttle.
The more I use my Z950M 72" the more I love it, after coming very disappointed from a gravely mower this was a great upgrade, It is by far the best mower I have ever had. I appreciate your video, corroborates my thinking on M vs R
john deere is the best
John Deere sucks their parts are totally expensive you can't find them anywhere their garbage they're cut Is not even in the industry if you're not buying a toro or an X mark then you're not getting a great cut But if you think John Deere that great then you just keep read on running them and I'll keep laughing at you and taking on all the customers that don't like you're mow job
I sold all 3 of my John Deere's about a month after a bought them and would never buy another one and they were brand new
I have a Z950R with the 60". You are right about the push button lift. When you press it in, deck goes up. As long as you hold it, the deck will go all the way up and stay there while holding the button or up to about 20 seconds then it will go down even if you are still holding the button. I have found that when I want to feather it, I tap the button rather than a solid press and I can get a partial lift. For me I wanted the R for this hydraulic deck lift because I use the material collection system with dump from seat hopper in the spring/fall and side discharge the rest of the year. The Powerflow head with the impeller adds a lot of weight to the deck. With the foot lift versions (B/E/M) you have to adjust the assist springs on the deck lift mechanism to account for the additional weight. Don't have to mess with that on the R. I know most people that do commercial mowing don't want to mess with a collection system but this is my residential mower and I just dump leaves/clippings next to my compost pile and use my tractor/FEL to manage the pile. Overall I am happy with the machine, biggest complaint is the foot operated parking brake you pointed out which can be a PITA to release. I have had it for 2 years now and had a PTO Clutch go out. Seems strange for it to fail so soon. Covered under warranty as expected. I only have about 150 hrs on it though. Fuel is about 12 gallon capacity. You had the top of the line full suspension seat. So seat options only get worse from there. I have the same one but don't have anything to compare it to and I only cut for about 2 hrs once a week. As far as height of cut knob. Mine has slop like that but as you showed, you adjust it while the deck is lifted. When the deck is down it sits on flat spots on the gear, so it can't move and change the HOC. It may wiggle but not change any setting. I get what you are saying that when setting HOC it may be vague, but it seems to snap or click to settings in 1/4" increments. I have never had a problem dialing in a setting I know where I am at but have one issue. I have different blades (OEM and Gator G6) that I run and the profiles differ which can change my HOC by 1/2" from the setting on the knob. I would imagine this is the case with any mower though because it is a blade thing not a mower thing. I don't re-calibrate my HOC when changing blades, I just run it a bit higher or lower. Again, just doing my yard so I set it and pretty much leave it because I run G6 blades most of the time. Time will tell if I have issues with the gadgets. The button to kill the PTO just trips the safety interlock circuit. Sure the button could fail or a wire break but there isn't much to that feature. This is why you have to reset the PTO switch on the control panel to start the mower. Hydroaulic deck adds a lot of complexity compared to the foot lift versions. The R version also adds a few other things compared to the others. Cross porting on the drives for better cooling, higher top speed, different bend radius on the control arms. Though I think the M and R share the same top speed.
M has top speed of 10mph r has top speed of 12. Both I'd say are more than adequate when cutting
Love my Z930R! Best cut quality!
The height adjuster has that ease with twisting but it’s clear when you set to a certain height and the easiness to twist is just between the set height and the setting above and below it but it won’t change until you lift the deck, unlock it and then set it to a diff height and then lock it up again.
I have owned two 970r's, would own nothing else. The unit you are using does not have the optional seat. Makes a huge difference. If the steering handles fatigue your arms I'm shocked, I'm 65 years old & have no issues with that. I'm a very satisfied Deere owner.
Nice brother! I have tons do friends that breathe Deere Green man
We’ve have one 970r now, have had 2 others before. Run 2-Exmark 72” and 3-Scag Cheetah 2 (72”) now. Scag and Deere are far the best if you have to cut in damp or wet grass. Will be phasing out our last 2 Exmark’s to Scag or Deere’s. But will continue to use Turf Tracer’s for our walk behind’s.
I definitely agree that turf tracers are one of the best walk behinds ever made
7 Iron deck is awesome!
I work with my older brother and we’re from Polk County Florida. Where there is not to many people who run John Deere’s around here. People mainly run Hustlers , Dixie Choppers and Toros. He has ran a Z920M with 1800 hours with no issues but routine maintenance. Now he runs a 652R it has 500 hours on it when no issues. I’m looking into purchasing a Z520R for my business I’m starting up when I turn 18 in October.
Every other trailer here in Maryland has deeres on it
The deck leviling system with the button is another add on you can buy
So if not a deere guy what machines do you use?
Mainly Gravely and 2 Scags
I agree with you in a lot cases with the the Deere. However that is supposed to be like Cadillac of mowers. Many creature comforts. . They’re very durable and if you have a good dealer you can’t go wrong. I have a 2004 Z757 with about 700 hours on it. Had it since new and it has never let me down. But mine is purpose built and and not tons of bells and whistles to break. I agree with you about the deck adjustment. I can “feather” the deck with my foot. My deck leveling system is Turn knob but made out of steel and tight. I do all the maintenance myself and it’s easy
No doubt they're awesome machines it's just kind of a preference thing for sure
I hope your Hustler comes back and works good
Nice review! Thank you!
Couldn't agree more about the all-or-nothing deck lift on the handle for the exact reason you mentioned. That alone makes the R-series a no-go for me. Bought a 960M. 7 Iron deck (not MOD) is awesome for tough NW PA Spring and Fall conditions. That deck gets more impressive the harder you work it.
What did u think about the cut quality?
With the John Deeres there are two different types of hydraulic lift: One that toggles the deck up and down and one where you have to hold the lever to raise it up and down... and when you let it go, it stops lifting. Never really understood the toggle thing. I know they have the different style on their x700 series... But those are not zero turn.
Odd question, what sound track did you use at 04:20 thanks....
ckhallock88 crap I'll find out lol
I purchase 2 Z 950M ZTrak with the 60 in.Deck and with the high end seat and Michelin tweel and
I love em . Look at other brands and they were nice but looked cheap. The R is the only one has the hydraulic lift .
I think if they made it a return to center 3 position switch for the deck lift/lower it would be a heck of a lot nicer!👍
I have several John Deere mowers, and I definitely like being able to adjust the deck up and down with my foot, would not like the switch gadget ! My favorite mower is the 777, with a 72 inch liquid cool 29 horse Kawasaki, I put over 3000 hours and it’s still cuts as good as the day I bought it. Wish John Deere would bring that mower back !
Looks like a great machine but your right about the deck lift. Those features are great for home owners but not Commercial use. I want everything Mechanical a lot easy to fix in the field, unlike electrical. My dad taught me to hate John Deere (he was a ford/international guy lol) but it looks like its a machine to be reckoned with. Great (Quick) Review!
I want one!
I’ve use a z820a and the hight adjuster may have some play but the deck will stay put.
Danny Blaha How many hours
Tyler Corbin around 450
Danny Blaha What year model. I got a 2009 Z810A with 570 hours.
Tyler Corbin 2008
Danny Blaha As old as our mowers are vs the amount of hours commercial guys put on it just one year. Our mowers are just slightly used.😂
I’ve personally owned a John Deere like that one with the 60 inch deck. I was taught to use the heel to unlock it. The pto switch on the handle is nice however I never use it I feel that once the pto switch is engaged up the operator should be able to turn on and off the pto from the handle not just turn it off. And finally the deck lift button. It’s annoying like u said not to be able to adjust where it is suitable to mow. However over the years. I’ve leaned to push the button repeatedly like playing a video game- some thing fast where the deck usually stays in the middle. Other than that I’ve loved mine for about 500 hours on it I’ve only replaced the pto switch 3 times, the deck lift button once a throttle cable and some pulleys. But I’d say for going on 7.5 years of service the issues I’ve had I’d say was under 1000$.
Not bad man
I do the same. Tap the deck lift button to get a partial lift. With time you get the hang of it though I am sure it wears harder on the components. I don't like the parking brake. I have tried the heel method. The biggest thing that helps is wearing firm shoes. Not that I mow in flip flops but I do wear slip on shoes sometimes and it is more of a PITA with them than with work boots like I should be wearing. I would have liked the 72" but my trees are too close to each other. It is a tight squeeze with the 60" and the Powerflow head. The 60" is a step up from the 54" I ran on my X585.
Beautiful videography. Looked like a John Deere commercial
Wow Paul thank u man!
Love the music. What sound track is that?
John Deere is the best
I have never been a John Deer guy but I know they have to be pretty good
Looked at a few mowers before I settled on my z915e with a 60 " deck. When I looked at other brands, like Husqvarna or Cub Cadet, they did not seem as sturdy and the seat was uncomfortable. I'm not a lawn care service, just a homeowner with 7 acres, but after 3 years and 70 hours, I can say that mower is a beast. Glad I opted to go to the dealership and get the real deal rather than Lowe's. I accidentally wrapped a rope with a metal hook attached under one of the blades. Unwrapped it and went right back to mowing. I've cut through foot tall grass and treated it like a brushhog. The bastard just keeps going. I think if I keep the deck clean and do routine maintenance, it'll last a few decades.
Congrats man. they make a mean machine for sure.
I looked under one and it is just the knob that seems loose the deck itself is super tight
Agreed on the fancy stuff is just more to breakdown. Give me older manual stuff lol
Robert Hornbuckle yessir!
My neighbor has a Deere and I can push a mower faster than he drives it. I don't know why he mows that way unless he doesn't sharpen blades. I live in south Florida where it's sandier
Got a 60in 915e thats in shop for 2nd time with 32hrs on it. Both times bent push rods Kohler curse i guess.
SimpleLife 17 That’s a Koehler issue not Deere. I prefer the Kawasaki’s although I have seen them have issues too. The Briggs Vangaurd is a great engine too and built in America
Deere's are awesome man. The model they gave you is the premium "R" model which is feature loaded. The "E" for entry and "M" for mid line are the way to go. Everything is manual, less parts to break down.
I have the 950m it's a great mower
Yes the E and M models r very good but what r u gonna do when have a condition that temporarily disables ur right leg
Love my 970r
The R models like that one are the only ones that have the fancy deck lift buttons. All the other models have a foot pedal to lift the deck
You put the arrow on the height you want. Pretty simple.
Not simple...I'm pretty mechanically inclined brother...it isn't solid...I have no absolute confidence of the actual height. It's very loose and doesn't hard lock without play
Beach River Landscapes if you actually look the deck itself doesn’t move. If you ran it more than one day and checked your blade height every week you’d see it’s fine. To each their own I guess though. I’m not a JD fan boy nor ExMark or any brand for that matter. I think JD has a well built mower and with a JD dealer on every corner, it’s business friendly when I need something.
@@russellhopperton1907 I still have it. Been using it every day. No big deal, I just do not like their level system. It's ok to not like it. I just don't like how unsolid it is. Of course I lift the deck before adjusting. I understand how it locks to a certain level if you want etc...it's just too loose of a system
Try the z930r with bagger
Love the instrumentals riding on the deer bro.
Looks like a great mower man but I do also see your issues with some bits. The 72s can scalp more because the deck is so wide but its something you have to get used to I guess.
If jd works on all the things you brought up it could be a great mower.
Agree
Yeah I figured it was a bent axle!! Glad you got that sorted out!
Thanks brother
My 2nd favorite machine
Hey brother, starting watching you about 2 weeks ago. Great job. Question. Our big HOA communities require rear discharge units. You?
Hey bro thanks for watching man! Ours don't require it either way but we have mulch kits on all of our mowers
Yes, I agree with you that foot control deck "feathering" is the way to go for humps in the yard, and also around uneven concrete edges of graves I mow around and over in several cemeteries every week. Nice review. Who manufactures the 35 hp engine on that?
Dave Allen Kawasaki
We use the z930r and we love it we also use hustler fastrac and they r nice too but the john deere is the way too go we have a 54 inch z930r with bagger we would get 61 but it wouldn't fit on our trailers
Bashed the hell out of the mower in the politest way possible! Still, they sell cool standers imo.
Nice of the rep to send you off with the loaner. Hopefully next week is 100% problem-free. Those are rare weeks, but they must happen sometime.
Lol not to bash brother and yeah their stand ons r good. Just like the Scag over it is all !
It’s never the actual mower you know what I mean? It’s which dealer will treat you the best with your warranty stuff.
I’m a scag man too, but it’s all about the convenience and if the dealer will back you up with warranty work.
Shane Yelvington yessir 💯 on that
this is the best statement I have read yet it is all about the dealer and I have not found one worth a crap yet if you dont have 20 mowers to keep you going you might as well get out of the game I live in fl here and to get any dealer here to work on your stuff your 3 weeks out to even get in then if you need parts they have to order them so you like well I am out of a job as your customers dont give a crap they paid you get the job done or be gone your problems are not theres so end of my rant I use bad boy and love the mower its cut is great built like a tank but cant find a dealer worth a shit straight up fact
Yeah the R models on the sit downs have the hand control. If you get the M model it has the foot control. Great mowers but man the price is a bit wild.
Southern Style Lawn Care $13k
We own 3 JD in our business. You have the R model or top of the line. We have a 930m, 920m and a 52" Stan on. The M model does not have all the fancy mods which R has. Everything is manual Which I feel makes it alot better. We have over 500 hrs on our 930m with no issues. One thing I would mention is buy the Kawasaki engine the Kohler is crap!
I have the Kohler 35 on my scag so far it's been great inly 490hrs but no hiccups man fingers crossed!!
probably a briggs 35 not kohler
@@beachriverlandscapes
My Kohler engine has been rock solid.
Good vid bro!
Nathan Leonard thanks brother !
I like John Deere the best
Ignore the people around you when your filming and they should catch on to what you are doing, if not they don't get much so don't worry.
Just clicked on the video and it looks like a good video.
Aaron Cover thanks man
Keep up the great video content. If you could please change one thing, I would prefer not to hear as much language as I am 15.
I have the 925m my nob is not loose like tht maybe its the hydraulic deck mine you lift by the foot pedal something is def wrong with tht nob I got the plain jane one too many things to break on tht one
Check out Spartan and Altoz Trax mowers.
the scag cheetah wanted straight pipes man!
Outerspaces landscape hahahaha
I have 2 z950r and will not have any other mower.
bro its great for what its intended for, just doesnt really work on our properties the way id like
lifting 72" deck by foot might be a challenge idk
LTD Lawn Service I mean u have a point there
They use spring assist to help with the weight of the deck on foot lift versions.
So do you think this was just a gimmick/innovation or that there was an issue with the spring assist on that large of a deck. A 72” 7iron deck has got to be quite heavy.
They use spring assist on all of them no matter the deck size, even on the R versions with the hydraulic lift. I guess I worded that poorly. Think of the spring assist like that on a garage door. In the case of those of us running a collection system though, the weight of the deck changes if the powerflow is on there or not. That is where it is really nice to have the R and get that button. I can't imagine that your average person mowing commercially is going to use the deck lift that much where it is fatiguing to use a foot lift and as RBL pointed out, you have more control to feather the deck height a bit rather than resorting to tapping the button as I do. They sell a Z950M with a 72" deck so it isn't a requirement to have hydraulic lift to run that size deck. They just dial up the spring preload more compared to the 60". My 60" with the powerflow for the collection system probably weighs as much as a 72" deck. Maybe more as the powerflow is a big chunk of steel. So I would say it is just something to make them different than the rest of the market and one of the things to justify the additional $1800 of the R vs the M. The others being the control arm mounted PTO kill button, drive cross porting (better cooling on hills) and ergonomic control arms. It was the one big selling point for me to move to the R though because of how I use my machine. If I didn't go back and forth with the collection system I would have probably gone with a M or B/E.
I def think the assist is AWESOME I just don't like that it's up or down and can't be controlled between
With the throttle up and down with the blades...You no longer have to do that on John Deere, they say engage throttle up and disengage throttle up
Dude that hustler and trailer problems. This yr. Damn.. I ride with foot on deck lift over every hill top ..
I just left the John Deere dealer about a week ago and they wanted 14 grand for this same exact model with the tweels, I was getting ready to sacrifice my down payment on a house for it until this video dam bro, your comments on the deck leveling system has me concerned now
Are you tweelin?
jordan kane lol
I've run John deer zero turns since 2006 snd i wont run anything else. Their 7 iron decks are stamped out with no welds to catch grass. Tve quality of cut is superior to any other
Maybe okay for an owner/ operator but not to give to the guys.
Yet a deer will give exmark a run for its money! I say it’s John deer or Altoz
Wright is the way to go trust me. If not ask saving lawncare. Scag customer service is garbage.
Angel Medina I can say I've had good luck so far with Scag CS
We're sorry to hear you feel that way Angel. Should you ever experience issues with your Scag mower please feel free to reach out, we're always here to help you and your dealer make your machine right.
ScagPowerEquipment that^^^ @scagmowers
David my scag cheetah is sick as hell
I’d love to own a scag mower and I will one day! My husqvarna is ok for now but I look foward to it being a back up mower 😂
Correction that things a MONSTER ..beast does not give it justice lol I can only speak about a LaZer Z and Walker z -turn mowers but I will add that John Deere push mowers self prop. Or not actually have the best Deck Design for capturing debris if you bag . You guys don't Serv. residential accounts anymore right just commercial accounts so yea def .agree with everything you said about that there and would not purchase one but I would def. buy a walker mower probably the best z turn mowers I can say by far for those that don't mulch their proper_ ties. I did see that walker makes a non collective model now which is freakn sweet.. can't beat a walker because they are the most comfortable in terms of 8-12hr daily usage .and that's mainly because the steering levers are short and slim walker is a one hand drive but everybody who ever road one knows there a reason for that and no that extra hand is not to smoke cigarettes but to have on throttle control because any IDIOT LoL could ride a zturn but very very few idiots LoL can do so withought tearing up the grass when they turn around and that's because we are supposed to cut throttle down before turning and I've seen ppl turn around on concrete ,sidewalks etc etc because they don't know ish about the equipment they are using and if u riding a exmark scag or any other zturn that's not a walker not gonna be able to do exactly what I said about throttling down..another beautiful fun thing a walker w a collective deck can do because the internal vacuum they have, is clogging your intake shute all the way up to the hopper and unclogging it is Probably the funnest thing you could experience by unclogging the deck intake w a rake and bumping the P.T.O untill it frees up and watching that grass shoot up 40_50 ft in the air is priceless and very therapeutic try it someday.. anyways have a good Friday sir and keep it 100% Safety First we will be seeing ya
I had a walker at one point. Did not do well with really tall and super think grass. I think they r a fine finish mower and you definitely cannot beat a Walker when it comes to cut quality. But I would not own one as my main and only mower. They r horrible with inclines. They r a fine wine no doubt. I'd consider getting another one just for the fine finish cut and leaf collection. They do have conveniences about them that r unique. I can turn full throttle without ripping turf daily and I train my guys to do the same. Itsnt so much about throttle it's more about the balance of power and sensitivity of the hydros when zero turning. I agree too though that mower throttle on turn around definitely is better to do. I can't honestly bash one single.mower company I think everyone makes a solid version of a mower. Just mostly becomes preference
That's what you get when a company that also builds heavy ag and construction equipment builds a lawn mower lmfao
Did you actually look at how the knob works for the height adjustment? The play is the the notches in the dial in-between the quarter inch increments. The auto deck lift thing system is only on the R models which nobody really has. The normal M models have an actual manual lift type system that in my opinion is far superior over the pin type system all the other mowers have.
Adam MotoLandscaping ok, well yeah man it's still very loose feeling and just didn't make u feel anything dropping a pin and know for sure where u r at
That's all I got to say about that
I notice John Deere gets a lot of shit lol I kinda like John Deere I just don’t see many lawn care companies using it 🤷🏿♂️
Bro just my opinion lol a lot of guys I know love JD brother?
Can’t afford them lol
I demoed one Friday I told them just what you said about it
Norman Clevenger II nice!
Convienence package
I’d sell that scag and get a gravely 460 or pro stance bud. You can’t afford not too. That back and forth to the shop shit , maybe maybe not get a loaner. You got the work? Invest in yourself and your business. You didn’t ask but your tips help me so thought I’d throw my 2cents. Good luck
Your Mower is in the shop and your knocking a John Deere. LOL. Save your money and then you can afford a z970 that don;t breakdown.
Lolol oh ok 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I can't afford any mower I want...hahahahahahahaha
I can't stand JD bro. You can have em:):) *freedom*
My neighbor had that exact same mower then he rode on my Toro wanna know what someone else owns his John Deere now and he has a new Commercial Toro for his law lawn now smart people don't spend there money solely on a name John Deere should stay in the farming market where they belong not in the lawn care industry
Overpriced, all mowers in this category cost as much as fucking cars.. I mean c'mon..
John Deere way over priced.
Yeah this machine retails for $15, 000 that's insane
Your right they are more money but in the long run they have way less break downs and way more reliable machines then other companies JD Toro and Exmark are the only machines used in my area and I have 4 970z with the twheels never a problem except the twheels if abused they rip and then the twheel will go off balance and then you have to replace them other then that they be one great zt. As well the deck leveling system I find really great better then any system on the market you just have to get used to working it. I will never go back to a foot petal system again love your vids keep em coming
Thanks for the review as I have been wanting to test the R model as I been having a lot of problems floating my deck with my foot due to an old injury. I didn't think you could float the deck which is a problem for me with the type of yards we me. I have been shopping new mowers and if you compare and JD cost about the same as other similar equipped mowers they right in the ball park with other mowers.
Too much shit to break bro. Not a fan of Deere anyways. Thanks for the vid. Keep on trucking brother.
Dustin Price thanks D!
That's a machine that will put you out of business/break the bank in lawn industry......that's a just......a John Deere mower....something for the name
Spit or swallow lol Dude
Rufus LC lolol Leah said that was crude !
Jd is so overrated. And I talking about Jack Daniel's
Et's lawn service hahahaha
John deere is underrated
Jd they are they are pretty good but I like scag and I’m about to switch to a wright I think