You’re going to love this mower!. I’ve had mine for over a year, zero issues, easy engine oil and filter change, The deck is a beast, I’ve mowed 5ft tall weeds, 1” thick saplings and some other unmentionables without issues on my 3 acres. This mower is built like a tank, fear nothing, it can take it. Happy Bad Boy Mowing!
@@honeybeehomesteading Excellent mower. I actually purchased the Elite Limited edition. It came with the 747 Kolher engine, a high back suspension seat, 60” deck, black out graphics and paint scheme. I never go Limited edition anything but pulled the trigger mainly for the deck and seat. Good luck with your mower brother!
Reverse issue. I just bought my Elite with a Kohler and 48" deck to replace my 25 year old Toro Zmaster. I am so used to the Toro handles and when I pulled back on my BB it hit me in the stomach. I'm 5‘10 215 lbs. Not too fat haha. I reversed the bolts, moved the sticks to the top hole only and cocked them out as much as possible. What I feel may be my biggest issue is a user error. I realized I can open the sticks up slightly to widen the handle gap and it gives me more room to pull the sticks back. I hope this made sense and can help someone. I look forward to many years of mowing with my Bad Boy
@@Kip4500 the next model up has adjustable handles ....a really nice feature. You will love the mower , it mows as fast as I want and has enough power to even do overgrown fields. I would recommend you buy genuine bb blades as they are really good. I ordered some aftermarket off of Amazon and had to send them back as they were curved and dull right out of the box. Thanks for commenting
I have a 2023 ZT Elite 54” Kawasaki engine………built like a tank…….. I installed the Bad Boy Adjustable Steering Handles on mine. It’s great if one is long legged or big belly….
I just bought the same mower zt elite 54, and noticed that it doest have reservoirs for the transaxels like others I've see.does yours have reservoirs? By the way i love this mower,and thanks for the info on the slow reverse.
No mine does not have them either. I was disappointed that they didn't. I am thinking of adding some. The nice thing about the reservoirs you can easily check to see if you are loosing fluid. Check your manual as it has instructions for filling both. I think I will add reservoirs to mine. If I do I will make a video on it.
I spoke with a parts supplier as I was going to add some reservoirs. He said the new transmissions have a internal reservoir and a external one is not needed.
@@Ty_299 you will not need to change out the hydraulic fluid until you hit 100 hours according to the manual. You change the filters at the same time. You have to remove 3 bolts to remove the filter guard. Remove the. Filter to drain the transmission. Spin on a new filter and replace the guard. You can then fill the transmission back up and go through the air purging procedure. Once you have done that you are good just putting the fill plug mounted on top back on. The good news is that you only have do do that at 100 hours and every 400 hrs after that. I would use full synthetic and good filters. Oil maintenance is a little screwy as Kohler has it at every 100 hrs and bad boy every 50 hrs after a initial change at 8 hours. I use full synthetic so I would be comfortable going 100 hours but I will change mine depending on how much I use it.
Thinking of getting one of these ZT Elites. Got a local place that has one with a Kawasaki for $6499, another place that's about a 45 minute drive has the same one for $5849, go figure. This place also has one with a Kohler 7000 for $5149 or close to that. You said you like the Kohler better than the Kawa? I will be using it for my home mainly, less than half acre. Thanks for the tip. Is there a way to adjust the handles forward any?
Yes I the 7000 pro is better than the fr series Kawasaki and has more HP to boot. The fs series Kawasaki is on par with the 7000 pro. Great mower you will really enjoy it.
Well there is price and HP and air filter design. The Kohler has allot more HP and a much better air filter system. That being said the Kawasaki is not junk. Kohler courage engines are absolute junk as are some Briggs. The fr series is the lowest grade engine Kawasaki sells but it is not junk. My previous mower had a Kohler command engine. I sold it with no issues and had 650 hours on it. If the mower it was on had been more capable that number would have much higher. With all motors good maintenance is key. Thank you for watching and commenting.
The fr series is not the same as the fs or fx. You will find the fr on some of the cheapest mowers out there as it is the cheapest engine Kawasaki makes. The air cleaner system on the fr is inferior compared to the 7000 pro. The 7000 has been around and the base engine is the same and you get more HP. The 7000 pro is more on level with a fs series. My engine preference in order of the 2 brands would be. From best engines to worst Kawasaki fx, Kawasaki fs or Kohler 7000 pro Kawasaki fr and last and would never ever buy as they are complete junk Kohler courage.
@@honeybeehomesteading Why does Bad Boy charge an extra $600 for the Kawi. FR series over the Pro, if the Pro is better? I am looking at the ZT Elite as well. Usually when something costs extra it's supposed to be better. Also seems like this mower has gone up about a $1000 dollars since the previous years.
@@Romad1981I have no idea why they charge more for a engine with less HP and torque. The 26 HP of the Kohler is a beast and really does a great job in tall grass. The cost of steel has gone up a good bit and since bad boy uses lots of steel in their frames and deck may account for some of the price increase. I looked at other mowers with the same specs and could not find a cheaper mower with the same quality. Whatever engine you buy just change the oil after the initial 10 hrs to a full synthetic oil recommended by the manufacturer and the engine should last 2000 hrs plus.
Only thing the Kohler is better than the Kawasaki in is the price. This guy only has 4 hours on this machine. There are other videos out there that explain the differences
Just bought a ZT Elite and I’m still watching video’s 😂 thanks.
Thanks for watching. You will love the mower.
I pick up my new ZT Elite Saturday from the dealer, this is great information! Thanks!
It is a nice machine, you will really like it. I am mounting a light bar on mine today.
if you want to add a light bar here is how i did mine. th-cam.com/video/BXbsNDQJNEY/w-d-xo.html
You’re going to love this mower!. I’ve had mine for over a year, zero issues, easy engine oil and filter change, The deck is a beast, I’ve mowed 5ft tall weeds, 1” thick saplings and some other unmentionables without issues on my 3 acres. This mower is built like a tank, fear nothing, it can take it. Happy Bad Boy Mowing!
@@alroman164 I have about six hours on it now. I love the dial adjustment and it has plenty of hp to spar. I find it is easy on the gas as well.
@@honeybeehomesteading Excellent mower. I actually purchased the Elite Limited edition. It came with the 747 Kolher engine, a high back suspension seat, 60” deck, black out graphics and paint scheme. I never go Limited edition anything but pulled the trigger mainly for the deck and seat. Good luck with your mower brother!
Reverse issue. I just bought my Elite with a Kohler and 48" deck to replace my 25 year old Toro Zmaster. I am so used to the Toro handles and when I pulled back on my BB it hit me in the stomach. I'm 5‘10 215 lbs. Not too fat haha.
I reversed the bolts, moved the sticks to the top hole only and cocked them out as much as possible.
What I feel may be my biggest issue is a user error. I realized I can open the sticks up slightly to widen the handle gap and it gives me more room to pull the sticks back.
I hope this made sense and can help someone. I look forward to many years of mowing with my Bad Boy
@@Kip4500 the next model up has adjustable handles ....a really nice feature. You will love the mower , it mows as fast as I want and has enough power to even do overgrown fields. I would recommend you buy genuine bb blades as they are really good. I ordered some aftermarket off of Amazon and had to send them back as they were curved and dull right out of the box. Thanks for commenting
I have a 2023 ZT Elite 54” Kawasaki engine………built like a tank…….. I installed the Bad Boy Adjustable Steering Handles on mine. It’s great if one is long legged or big belly….
does your transmissions have internal or external reservoirs?
@@honeybeehomesteading They are internal
@@blackhorse2947 thanks that is good to know
@@honeybeehomesteading You’re very welcome …..have a great 4th of July…….🇺🇸
I just bought the same mower zt elite 54, and noticed that it doest have reservoirs for the transaxels like others I've see.does yours have reservoirs? By the way i love this mower,and thanks for the info on the slow reverse.
No mine does not have them either. I was disappointed that they didn't. I am thinking of adding some. The nice thing about the reservoirs you can easily check to see if you are loosing fluid. Check your manual as it has instructions for filling both. I think I will add reservoirs to mine. If I do I will make a video on it.
I spoke with a parts supplier as I was going to add some reservoirs. He said the new transmissions have a internal reservoir and a external one is not needed.
@@honeybeehomesteadingso how would one change out the hydraulic fluid at 75 hours
@@Ty_299 you will not need to change out the hydraulic fluid until you hit 100 hours according to the manual. You change the filters at the same time. You have to remove 3 bolts to remove the filter guard. Remove the. Filter to drain the transmission. Spin on a new filter and replace the guard. You can then fill the transmission back up and go through the air purging procedure. Once you have done that you are good just putting the fill plug mounted on top back on. The good news is that you only have do do that at 100 hours and every 400 hrs after that. I would use full synthetic and good filters. Oil maintenance is a little screwy as Kohler has it at every 100 hrs and bad boy every 50 hrs after a initial change at 8 hours. I use full synthetic so I would be comfortable going 100 hours but I will change mine depending on how much I use it.
Thinking of getting one of these ZT Elites. Got a local place that has one with a Kawasaki for $6499, another place that's about a 45 minute drive has the same one for $5849, go figure. This place also has one with a Kohler 7000 for $5149 or close to that. You said you like the Kohler better than the Kawa?
I will be using it for my home mainly, less than half acre.
Thanks for the tip. Is there a way to adjust the handles forward any?
Yes I the 7000 pro is better than the fr series Kawasaki and has more HP to boot. The fs series Kawasaki is on par with the 7000 pro. Great mower you will really enjoy it.
You can't adjust the handles on this model but you can adjust the seat. I am 6,3" and have no issues.
I have a new Elite. But when blades engaged I have a lot of vibration. Dealer has tightened the belts. - but no better
.
the blades are probably out of balance and were probably a manufacturing fluke. have the dealer install new blades, that should fix the problem
Well there is price and HP and air filter design. The Kohler has allot more HP and a much better air filter system. That being said the Kawasaki is not junk. Kohler courage engines are absolute junk as are some Briggs. The fr series is the lowest grade engine Kawasaki sells but it is not junk. My previous mower had a Kohler command engine. I sold it with no issues and had 650 hours on it. If the mower it was on had been more capable that number would have much higher. With all motors good maintenance is key. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Why do u like Kohler pro better than Kawasaki? The mechanics like Kawasaki over the Kohler. They say it lasts longer.
The fr series is not the same as the fs or fx. You will find the fr on some of the cheapest mowers out there as it is the cheapest engine Kawasaki makes. The air cleaner system on the fr is inferior compared to the 7000 pro. The 7000 has been around and the base engine is the same and you get more HP. The 7000 pro is more on level with a fs series. My engine preference in order of the 2 brands would be. From best engines to worst Kawasaki fx, Kawasaki fs or Kohler 7000 pro Kawasaki fr and last and would never ever buy as they are complete junk Kohler courage.
@@honeybeehomesteading Why does Bad Boy charge an extra $600 for the Kawi. FR series over the Pro, if the Pro is better? I am looking at the ZT Elite as well. Usually when something costs extra it's supposed to be better. Also seems like this mower has gone up about a $1000 dollars since the previous years.
@@Romad1981I have no idea why they charge more for a engine with less HP and torque. The 26 HP of the Kohler is a beast and really does a great job in tall grass. The cost of steel has gone up a good bit and since bad boy uses lots of steel in their frames and deck may account for some of the price increase. I looked at other mowers with the same specs and could not find a cheaper mower with the same quality. Whatever engine you buy just change the oil after the initial 10 hrs to a full synthetic oil recommended by the manufacturer and the engine should last 2000 hrs plus.
Only thing the Kohler is better than the Kawasaki in is the price. This guy only has 4 hours on this machine. There are other videos out there that explain the differences
@@frogman4life77 The Bad Boy with Kawi FR series, seems that people will prefer the Kohler Pro over the FR series not sure why.
24s come with the better tires than my 22