I’ve never mowed a day in my life & just learned for the first time yesterday on a zero turn. Thanks for the great video. Feeling even more confident about it.
I've been watching alot of zero turn videos on TH-cam as I'm considering getting my first zero turn & hardly ever of any of the videos i watch do they talk about Safety & zero turns. I appreciate that from a consumer looking into buying there first zero turn
Nicely done. I'm 64 and learned that trick about mowing different directions when I was a kid. I used to make designs in the grass when I cut and change it up every couple weeks. Then I noticed lawns were getting prettier. I have a 13 yr old Cub SLT 1550 w/400 hrs on it. Can't wait for my first zero turn.
100% right. I have a Toro Timecutter - works a treat on large lawns. I've also used a garden tractor. Much slower, doesn't cut as wide or as well. Zero-turn is the way to go!
Love the videos! Note on your wobbly front tires: when the front tires wobble going forward it means you need to tighten the castle nut on the front spindles until they stop or almost stop wobbling at full speed. It is a sign the spindles aren’t tight enough. It’s in the Deere manual of my 717. Also keep them spindles greased! Happy cutting!
I'm glad someone said mow different directions I see so many landscapers that do their lawns the same way trying to get stripes...but they make a washboard out of the yard.
Track memory and seeding bare spots is something that alot of people don't know or realize happens or is possible. Very good job on the videos. Other than ease of maintenance, tightness of the contour cut is about the only thing you didn't cover. 12 years on these and like you I won't touch a conventional rider. I'll scythe it first. Again good job.
I am 78 years old and just traded my 19 year old LT155 John Deere lawn tractor for the little z335e zero turn. So far I really like the ease of operation, visibility, and maneuverability of the mower. Takes a little getting use to using the levers for an old guy, but I am sure after a few hours it will be fine. Thanks for the video. Nice work.
I have had no problems. IT works great. Starts right up and everything works like it is supposed to. I did have them make the mulch conversion to the deck before I bought it, and also add the foot lever to raise and lower the deck. I have about an acre to mow and I really like the way it works. So much easier to operate than my laws tractor was. Hope this helps.
I’ve had a 2006 JD 777 with a 72 inch, identical to yours since it was new, and it hasn’t failed in a horrible fashion. 540 hours, has cut 12 acres once or twice a week, and still runs strong. It is by far the most stable piece of equipment on hills. Yes, when that ROPS goes up, seatbelt on, when it comes down, seatbelt off.
I picked one up a month or so ago, by accident. Keep those blades sharp, it really makes a difference in cut quality, speed, and fuel consumption. The biggest difference I have found between conventional oil and synthetic is longevity and cleaning ability, if you disassemble an engine that has used synthetic it looks brand new.
Good vid Josh. I’m slowly developing more and more into grass that will need cutting. I’m thinking of doing exactly the same as you and getting a used zero turn. Thanks for the info.
I totally understand...I mow around 5 acres, I used to mow with a Murray 36 inch cut, took me close to 8 hours. I bought a Gravely 6'cut zero turn, now only takes me little over 2 hours to do. Thanks for the great vlogs.
I was recently in the market for a riding mower. Zero turn always caught my fancy. But the price range was way more than I was willing to pay. I have 2 acres with hills and up to this point have been using a push mower. I am of the age now, where it tires me out. A LOT, lol. I went with a 42 inch 18.5 HP riding mower for 1400 bucks. Does the trick for me.
Just recently found your channel and I'm really enjoying your videos. After 24 of marriage and living in the suburbs my wife and I are getting ready to purchase a little slice of Missouri farm land. The info on the zero turn mower, what to look for when buying a tractor, etc. are a great source of information. Keep up the great work!
in the early 70s i worked for J.I. Case in the experimental department, building prototype trenchers. i remember when Eaton came out with the ZERO TURN hydraulic drive. iam glad you talk about safety.
As for the front wheels wobbling at high speed check the castor bearings. Mine was doing the same thing. Now I'm replacing the bearings in the castor frame housing. They should not wobble at higher speeds. Just put a foot on the front tire and give it a few pushes. If you feel any clicking in your foot replace the bearings where the castor meets the main frame. My bearings were probably bad for a long time before I knew it.
Use the seat belt with the roll bar up at all times are primary rules especially in hilly areas. Do not cut too close. Once the grass is trained it looks lush and patterns beautifully. If its wet you WILL cut some divots regardless of how careful you are. Make sure pets and kids are not outside and that kids understand the dangers of trying to play around while you or someone else is cutting. Aerate, fertilize, seed in the fall using high quality seed, sorry I have not used Scotts since going to a local hardware and equipment company (Killians in Hickory NC) that caters to lawn care companies for sales and service. The guy turned me on to some seed that works great. One type for total sun the other for mixed sun and shade. Wow is all I can say. Are they more expensive? Yes but the relationship (which started in 2000) has helped me get expert advice on other issues I have faced and my small equipment is always fixed timely for a fair price. I too use full synthetic and change my oil based on hours not once a year. I also change the filter each time I change the oil which I do myself. Do not use a pressure washer except when the mower is extremely nasty. Use a blower to clean it after every use and store it out of the weather. Grease it often. Use an air tank to blow off the air filter after every 2nd use and change it to the manufacturers schedule. I had two acres to cut when I lived in Virginia and used a lawn tractor. It took me 4hrs to cut this yard which was very hilly. Went to a SCAG zero turn which cut my time to under 2 hrs easily and used half the gas and the cut was much nicer. I'm sold on zero turns...
My papaw used a zero turn mower and I’ve moved with it let me tell you it’s hard to beat that zero turn mower the quick ways to turn with it it’s to good to pass up not to mention there one of the cheapest mowers on the market it’s a great tool to have
Hi Josh, I've been watching your video's for about 2 years now. I'm glad to see you finally got the old Massey Furg up and running, yep those tires looked really heavy. I tried to watch your video of the calf you lost but I couldn't stand to watch when that calf died at the water trough that day, so sad. Hopefully he went to Cow heaven. I just now watched this older video of you mowing your close to home grass on the zero turn. The wife and I back in 2019 bought this house which sits on an acre of land. Once moved in I purchased a Kubota zero turn to mow with. I truly enjoy its power and its performance but have a problem with turf damage when I make turns on the mower through out the lawn here. My neighbor hires a commercial crew to come out and mow her lawn when needed and they came out earlier today and I notice the two guy's running their zero turns were mowing really fast and were making turns really fast and I thought to myself how can they mow that fast on a zero turn and not mess up her lawn as I do mine. So I stopped one of the mower operator's and asked what is the secret to mowing on a zero turn and how can I not damage my turf, well his answer was to master the 3 point turn. And that is why I am posting this comment here. If you have knowledge of the 3 point turn for zero turns, it would be great to see an updated video here on youtube on this maneuver. God bless, stay safe and keep up the great work. I just learned how to hang a cattle gate, how freakin' awsome is that. Stay cool, David in Arkansas.
I finally quit trying to "zero turn" every corner and make smooth, longer corners to avoid tearing up grass. And I don't go round and round trees. I make a square around the tree and if there's anything left, I hit it with a grass trimmer.
I like the way you mowed your lawn close to your house where the grass is blown to the uncut grass in the first two trips around next to the house, but after that, you should mow the grass with the grass mowed being blown onto the area already mowed so you don't get all that grass up next to your house, and it is the way you are suppose to mow it to keep from stressing out your engine. I learned that many years ago as a teenager and mowing for other people, and never forgot that lesson. I have a John Deere and Cub Cadet zero turn mowers, and prefer using them over the Craftsman lawn tractor I also have.
Thanks Sidney...that's what I do most of the time...I even go one step further...cutting two runs around the outside, then moving out a bit leaving the strip with all the grass I blew into it...then on lap 4 go back around and hit this area so as not to work my mower too hard...hope that makes sense , you can see it in the video if you watch closely..thanks again for the tip buddy!
Thanks for mentioning the topography aspect. I have an acre of uneven hillside that's taking me way too long, 2 hrs on a 46" Toro rider + 45 mins of push trim. I'm about to get a used Snapper 60" Z-turn, but I'm a little concerned about scalping the bumps. I've started to fill them in an effort to flatten the terrain a bit, but being a hillside, erosion will do its thing.
Just bought me a Kubota 726X and I’m gonna take your advice and take it easy. 60 inch cut should do my 2 acres just fine. Great video Josh Thank You!!!
I am a lawn care professional but i am in Nevada a hour from vegas we have lots of desert here but we do have yards that are fields we flood irrigate, so i ordered a zero turn this week got a ariens ikon x 42, we usally use a john deere rider and craftsman riding mower but it been taking to much time so i hope i can save some time get though jobs quicker. But for me if i side discharged i would be fired from every job we must bag or mulch the clippings and some people get mad if we mulch. So I ordered a mulch kit foe the zero turn as well. Most grass here is Bermuda.
I bought one of these (Z930M) from a guy getting a divorce, he was using it to cut a small area in front of his business (way overkill). It only had about 450 hours on it and gave 5000.00 for it. He had just had a new battery and full service on it also, it's a great machine.
Good job on the video. I will share that I have the "home owner" model which is a 42" deck. I have had it for seven years and the only thing that went out was the magneto. He is correct about just keeping the oil changed and the blades sharp. If the thing won't start, but turns over, check the Magneto...cheap fix. Great mowers especially if not on a hill side.
We have some banks on our yard. I love our zero turn for the flat land but I prefer the tractor for the hills. I think the zero turn would do better on the hills if the front wheels would pivot like the tractor. We check the oil and grease spindles after every cutting.
You might want to think about Swisher pull behind mowers. Get one or two and pull them together behind whatever you want. Get 3 60in and you got your self 15 ft cutting width behind your tractor or gator. Heck even your truck. I bet your jd zero turn will pull at least one if not two.
Josh....back in the day I had the older Dixon ZTR that used the cone system to drive chains to the rear wheels.My cousin down in S Illinois turned me on to the idea.So in 1997....I purchased a 1983 Dixon with the 17 HP Kawasaki single.I went from taking 3 hrs.with a JD 212 tractor to cut my 3/4 acre to about 45 mins. with the Dixon.I had it for about 5 years......but the cones were needing way too much matainance and money.Unlike the new tech that uses hydrolic pumps to drive and steer....so I sold it in 03.# 479 here Josh....Stay Vigilant......Wooo
Josh I have used all different types of zero turn mowers from personal experience John deer is a great piece of equipment but for mowing as much property as you do I would choose a Grasshopper 60 inch with a 32 horse Vanguard engine. As far as tall grass and the thickness of your lawn I personally feel that the Grass hopper is my go to because the engine won't bog down and they leave a cleaner cut. I don't what height you set your mower deck on but I have found through years of experience the taller you mow the less weeds you have because the Grass over takes and chokes the weeds out. Just food for thought and just opinon. As far as a smooth ride the grammer adjustable air ride seat is the way to go best ride ever
This mower does good....no bogging down and I can mow as fast as I want as long as the blades are sharp....for what it cost to buy a new on...we'll be keeping this ol gal for a long time for sure!!
Scalping is ok if you have a bit of patients. Its the best way to take of the high spots. It doesn't take long for them to grow back and if you hit them hard enough they aren't high spots any more!!
Zero turns suck on hilly ground or where there are ditches and creeks or in tight places where you can get stuck. If the grass is slightly wet on a steep slope you can end up sliding down sideways and turn over. You can get next to the edge of a creek and attempt a zero turn and end up in the creek. In addition to that there are multiple mechanical issues that can go wrong that are expensive to fix like hydraulic pumps for the steering that are always messing up rendering the mower useless. It might be fine in a highly managed and landscaped terrain like the suburbs and gated communities with large yards (that is why they are used by professional mowers to mow rich peoples yards). But for the average guy with a wild border and ruff landscape a tractor is best and cheaper to maintain. Also, the coaster wheels can slip or lock up sending the front end into the opposite direction that you want to go. This happened to me while turning around a gas meter and it broke a gas pipe sending gas into the air. Luckily the break was after the shut off valve.
Mark, Good point regarding the steering. I've priced the repair and it's not cheap. A buddy has a Husky that he wants to get rid of. Nit worth it to fix.
Nice mower would like to have one but I'm getting a Cub Cadet XT1 GT50, price is the main reason, zero turns cost more so I selected what I think should be an excellent tractor for the price, has the K58 trans, 25 hp probably a lot more mower than i need but rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I might pull a cart, but nothing major so I should be fine I just wish I had the extra grand for a zero turn they look like a lot of fun.
I have a John Deere zero turn and I just love it! I too will never go back to a regular rider even though I still have my X534, I'll take my Z425 any day. Love your channel and keep them videos coming!
I use a finishing mower behined my tractor for most of my mowing, does not beat you up to much and 54 cut ridding mower, But after watch your mower will have to thing about switching. Great info thanks.
I love my zero turn. I went with a cub cadet zero turn with a steering wheel. Cub cadet is the only company that makes a zero turn with steering wheel. Much safer on steep hills and you can drive with one hand.
toro has a steering wheel zero turn.....advice of do not buy it. my dad has one and its 3 years old. the sensors can not get wet nor the black control box under the seat. done had to replace the wiring harness 2 times and also the black electrical control box 2 times. once that black box gets wet or of wet grass touch any of the sensors, the mower will lock up. also grass can not get built up at the foot peddle since one of the safety switch is under the mower attached to the foot peddle or under where the steering rods to the front wheels where makes it hard to steer. only thing good about the mower is the engine of uses less fuel like a kawasaki does and of it rides good, and cut grass good.
I've never thought about getting one of those because you have to use both hands. I like my 1026R with a 60" belly mower. I agree about leaving the clippings on the lawn. Great video. Thank you.
I have a Husqvarna MT-Z61. Ii scare the you know what outta myself sometimes on it. First few mows I had white knuckles. I'm getting better with it. I feel like the cut isn't that great. Looks like it just pushes the grass down. I have it on the lowest cut and it doesn't seem like it cuts good. Thanks for the tips. I will be changing the way I cut around trees.
I am in the process of going from a rather large putt putt mower (27hp 54" deck Cub Cadet), that has taken me about an hour to 1.5 to mow my property, and it goes pretty fast, to a Kubota B3350 with a 60" MMM. While i think this will definitely be an improvement, i do see myself having a zero turn at some point. My logic told me to stay away from such a uni-tasker for now.
Thanks for the safety warning at the end. After I got mine my first thought was, wow, this is a powerful, fast, DANGEROUS machine. Love it, but there should be more safety warnings. Surprised rhere aren't.
Like the zero turn but 2016 got my property over acre so had to sell push mower and kayak got a garden tractor 54 inch cut also hook up attachments for the garden.like the chickens and goats makes me want some keep up vlog helps everyone that's farming or gardening
One thing about zero turns are they are not good on hills because if you're going sideways on a hill you really only have the two rear wheel holding you on that hill. Depending on the degree of the slope and if the grass is even slightly wet/slick you might be in for a slide or even a tumble down the hill.
Hi Josh have you heard of the Kavli blades they will make your mowing even faster. I have been trying to tell people about them. I bought three blades for my husqvarna that has a fabricated deck and this machine is useless. I put on these blades and I am cutting over 6foot grass with the finest mulch I have ever seen. Have a look at Something 2 look at on youtube good luck great video by the way.
I don't know if I missed or not, but, I don't get the open chute? Why not the mulching kit? Yes, you have to mow twice a week, but you don't have deal with the clippings. Close off the chute and mulch. You'll add nitrogen back in and the lawn will stay green.
Ok...so here's the science for ya...because I totally agree with you about clippings....the side chute on the mower broadcast the grass seed out...not down....if it broadcast the clippings downward then it wouldn't spread the clippings to areas that have poor growth. In other words if I ride over a bare spot and it mulches downward...then there are no clipping that fall on the bare spot...if I ride by the bare spot and broadcast clippings onto the area....well...now ya get me. So I prefer a side discharge deck to any other deck because it spreads the nitrogen rich clippings to areas that need it most....I can also work an area of thick grass and blow the clippings on to areas that are sparse....building the soil and thickening the lawn or pasture....check out my video "The Science of Grass" ....you'll love what we've done with our pastures
I'd love to be able to afford one, but I guess it's fortunate I don't currently need one. Good tips on maintenance, they do predominately run in the hot summer and suck up plenty of dust, enduring hard-use, the oil does need to be changed.
Zero turn mowers are excellent for relatively level yards like yours,but are very dangerous on hills. Here in the blue ridge mtns. of Va. few yards are flat,so it depends on your yard. Thanks for a great review!
I'd say that if you can take a riding mower over it the zero turn will do just fine...I too am in the foothills of the blue ridge....the issue with a zero turn is that it's a much bigger machine so ya gotta pay attention and not daydream while ya mow..I totally enjoy getting out there on the zero turn...and it save so much time! Especially on a big yard like this
Johnny Knockinrod I don't know about that. Zero turns are more likely to slide down a hill than tip over. Some of my hills I wouldn't even think about mowing with a lawn tractor.
I think most mowers have wheels to protect the deck from smacking the ground...but it wont protect it from a hump of dirt, curb or rock, lots of working the deck up and down on our newly cleared land areas...can't take that human element out of it...dodging sticks, rocks and gravel!
Old video i know. But i have the john deere 997 diesel with 72 deck. Its alot quicker cutring for sure. Down side is the hills it can dig on the sides.
And I have been thinking is it ok to buy a zero turn... It takes 6-8 hours to mow. In May&June twice a week, later once a week. We will definitely go for a ZTrak or similar. Thank You for the video!
Love your videos! Super practical, real-world advice! Keep 'em coming! And yeah, the internet is full of trolls and people will argue over the color of the sky. Here's my constructive criticism -- when you're proactively "breaking one off" in a troll's a$$, use on-screen text, that way you can always stay in your natural (good) demeanor on-screen.
Don't forget on the safety tip , Pro Zero turns are almost all 1500 + lbs. Thats why I don't get one. Because I have to transport my mower 2 miles down to my mom's house to mow her lot after I do mine. I just don't want to load and unload a 1500 + lbs. machine on a super regular basis. I'll Keep my $ and lighter and more safe lawn tractor and work a little longer and harder.
Wish I had enough yard for riding or 0 turn I have a handy down self propelled mower. .17 of acre with house in middle. Takes about 15-20 min to push cut.
Stoney Ridge Farmer it was a 8 year old top of line toro electric start and wife parents not used in 5 years. They hire it out so it sat. We turned it up and works great.
The best mower out there is a Walker because the deck is out front and moves up and down with land. I don't have one but do have a Gravely which is and has been a great mower. I had an issue once where the Rops was up and a oak tree branch hanging down and the Rops caught the branch an me and the mower were leaving the ground, pretty scary
I am very happy with a 20 year old Simplicity Landlord DLX 18 HP Garden Tractor, but I had a little experience with a Simplicity Sunrunner. It had a 6 inch turning radius but the back end swung wide on tight turns ( rear wheel steering). Dad and I are resurrecting an old John Deere F620 with the dual rear caster wheels and a 54 inch deck. Should cut quicker than the Simplicity, but not sure of the learning curve for it.
Love that key west c_ck hat. I got the same one. if i buy a john deere z930m with 1000hrs and maintain per manual what usually goes bad and when. Its a fx motor.
An expert mechanic told me that synthetic on a high mileage engine can cause damage.The oil companies say it can not happen , But he said that he has seen it many times. High milage (or hours )you should use regular oil.
Jerome Cook synthetic oil on an engine that only ran conventional for 150,000 miles isn't a good idea! synthetic will loosen up leftover sludge and leak through the seals in some cases. if synthetic oil is used since new on a vehicle and it's continued to be used to 300,000 miles there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! synthetic oil will be fine for the life of an engine when it's always been routinely used.
I’ve never mowed a day in my life & just learned for the first time yesterday on a zero turn. Thanks for the great video. Feeling even more confident about it.
I love my Gravely Zero Turn Mower. It runs about 6 or 8 MPH. Also I'm paralyzed and it let's me take care of my yard.
I've been watching alot of zero turn videos on TH-cam as I'm considering getting my first zero turn & hardly ever of any of the videos i watch do they talk about Safety & zero turns. I appreciate that from a consumer looking into buying there first zero turn
Nicely done. I'm 64 and learned that trick about mowing different directions when I was a kid. I used to make designs in the grass when I cut and change it up every couple weeks. Then I noticed lawns were getting prettier. I have a 13 yr old Cub SLT 1550 w/400 hrs on it. Can't wait for my first zero turn.
100% right. I have a Toro Timecutter - works a treat on large lawns. I've also used a garden tractor. Much slower, doesn't cut as wide or as well. Zero-turn is the way to go!
Thank you for your knowledge on zero turn mowers. Just adding this ,get a mulch kit. Be blessed and a blessing Amen.
Love the videos! Note on your wobbly front tires: when the front tires wobble going forward it means you need to tighten the castle nut on the front spindles until they stop or almost stop wobbling at full speed. It is a sign the spindles aren’t tight enough. It’s in the Deere manual of my 717. Also keep them spindles greased! Happy cutting!
I'm glad someone said mow different directions I see so many landscapers that do their lawns the same way trying to get stripes...but they make a washboard out of the yard.
Track memory and seeding bare spots is something that alot of people don't know or realize happens or is possible. Very good job on the videos. Other than ease of maintenance, tightness of the contour cut is about the only thing you didn't cover. 12 years on these and like you I won't touch a conventional rider. I'll scythe it first. Again good job.
I am 78 years old and just traded my 19 year old LT155 John Deere lawn tractor for the little z335e zero turn. So far I really like the ease of operation, visibility, and maneuverability of the mower. Takes a little getting use to using the levers for an old guy, but I am sure after a few hours it will be fine. Thanks for the video. Nice work.
jim Kraft how is your Z335e John Deere? Do you have any leak, starting problems yet? I am planning to buy one. If you see this channel let me
know! 😅😂
I have had no problems. IT works great. Starts right up and everything works like it is supposed to. I did have them make the mulch conversion to the deck before I bought it, and also add the foot lever to raise and lower the deck. I have about an acre to mow and I really like the way it works. So much easier to operate than my laws tractor was. Hope this helps.
probably the best video iv seen on zero turns. thank you
I’ve had a 2006 JD 777 with a 72 inch, identical to yours since it was new, and it hasn’t failed in a horrible fashion. 540 hours, has cut 12 acres once or twice a week, and still runs strong. It is by far the most stable piece of equipment on hills. Yes, when that ROPS goes up, seatbelt on, when it comes down, seatbelt off.
I picked one up a month or so ago, by accident.
Keep those blades sharp, it really makes a difference in cut quality, speed, and fuel consumption.
The biggest difference I have found between conventional oil and synthetic is longevity and cleaning ability, if you disassemble an engine that has used synthetic it looks brand new.
Good vid Josh. I’m slowly developing more and more into grass that will need cutting. I’m thinking of doing exactly the same as you and getting a used zero turn. Thanks for the info.
I totally understand...I mow around 5 acres, I used to mow with a Murray 36 inch cut, took me close to 8 hours. I bought a Gravely 6'cut zero turn, now only takes me little over 2 hours to do. Thanks for the great vlogs.
Your welcome..yea the zero turn just makes it a pleasure to mow
Very nice overview. I value all you said about use and as a newby, all the safety use comments. Cheers at ya!
I was recently in the market for a riding mower. Zero turn always caught my fancy. But the price range was way more than I was willing to pay. I have 2 acres with hills and up to this point have been using a push mower. I am of the age now, where it tires me out. A LOT, lol. I went with a 42 inch 18.5 HP riding mower for 1400 bucks. Does the trick for me.
I am about to buy a Z-mower and watching you on your makes me feel better about doing it. you cut in reality that fits you and most common people.
Thanks Jeff...check out some of my recent zero turn vids...I think you;ll enjoy the info
A toro seat cover on a john deere mower. Isn't that illegal? haha. nice video!
mike34124 lol
I got a Toro seat on my Cub Cadet 60 tank. Hundred bucks.. mine was wore out. I hate it
L
Whatever fits ur butt!
The first thing I saw I was going to write a comment I’m glad you saw it also come on dude get a John Deere seat cover..
Just recently found your channel and I'm really enjoying your videos. After 24 of marriage and living in the suburbs my wife and I are getting ready to purchase a little slice of Missouri farm land. The info on the zero turn mower, what to look for when buying a tractor, etc. are a great source of information. Keep up the great work!
Welcome buddy glad to have ya!
in the early 70s i worked for J.I. Case in the experimental department, building prototype trenchers. i remember when Eaton came out with the ZERO TURN hydraulic drive. iam glad you talk about safety.
As for the front wheels wobbling at high speed check the castor bearings. Mine was doing the same thing. Now I'm replacing the bearings in the castor frame housing. They should not wobble at higher speeds. Just put a foot on the front tire and give it a few pushes. If you feel any clicking in your foot replace the bearings where the castor meets the main frame. My bearings were probably bad for a long time before I knew it.
Use the seat belt with the roll bar up at all times are primary rules especially in hilly areas. Do not cut too close. Once the grass is trained it looks lush and patterns beautifully. If its wet you WILL cut some divots regardless of how careful you are. Make sure pets and kids are not outside and that kids understand the dangers of trying to play around while you or someone else is cutting. Aerate, fertilize, seed in the fall using high quality seed, sorry I have not used Scotts since going to a local hardware and equipment company (Killians in Hickory NC) that caters to lawn care companies for sales and service. The guy turned me on to some seed that works great. One type for total sun the other for mixed sun and shade. Wow is all I can say. Are they more expensive? Yes but the relationship (which started in 2000) has helped me get expert advice on other issues I have faced and my small equipment is always fixed timely for a fair price. I too use full synthetic and change my oil based on hours not once a year. I also change the filter each time I change the oil which I do myself. Do not use a pressure washer except when the mower is extremely nasty. Use a blower to clean it after every use and store it out of the weather. Grease it often. Use an air tank to blow off the air filter after every 2nd use and change it to the manufacturers schedule. I had two acres to cut when I lived in Virginia and used a lawn tractor. It took me 4hrs to cut this yard which was very hilly. Went to a SCAG zero turn which cut my time to under 2 hrs easily and used half the gas and the cut was much nicer. I'm sold on zero turns...
Thank you very much for your video this is my dream lawn mower have a blessed day and thank you very much
My papaw used a zero turn mower and I’ve moved with it let me tell you it’s hard to beat that zero turn mower the quick ways to turn with it it’s to good to pass up not to mention there one of the cheapest mowers on the market it’s a great tool to have
Love the video, most importantly......love the Magpul shirt!
Hi Josh, I've been watching your video's for about 2 years now. I'm glad to see you finally got the old Massey Furg up and running, yep those tires looked really heavy. I tried to watch your video of the calf you lost but I couldn't stand to watch when that calf died at the water trough that day, so sad. Hopefully he went to Cow heaven. I just now watched this older video of you mowing your close to home grass on the zero turn. The wife and I back in 2019 bought this house which sits on an acre of land. Once moved in I purchased a Kubota zero turn to mow with. I truly enjoy its power and its performance but have a problem with turf damage when I make turns on the mower through out the lawn here. My neighbor hires a commercial crew to come out and mow her lawn when needed and they came out earlier today and I notice the two guy's running their zero turns were mowing really fast and were making turns really fast and I thought to myself how can they mow that fast on a zero turn and not mess up her lawn as I do mine. So I stopped one of the mower operator's and asked what is the secret to mowing on a zero turn and how can I not damage my turf, well his answer was to master the 3 point turn. And that is why I am posting this comment here. If you have knowledge of the 3 point turn for zero turns, it would be great to see an updated video here on youtube on this maneuver. God bless, stay safe and keep up the great work. I just learned how to hang a cattle gate, how freakin' awsome is that. Stay cool, David in Arkansas.
I finally quit trying to "zero turn" every corner and make smooth, longer corners to avoid tearing up grass. And I don't go round and round trees. I make a square around the tree and if there's anything left, I hit it with a grass trimmer.
I really like my Ferris Zero Turn Mover. Solid unit and still going strong after more than 10 years of solid use.
I like the way you mowed your lawn close to your house where the grass is blown to the uncut grass in the first two trips around next to the house, but after that, you should mow the grass with the grass mowed being blown onto the area already mowed so you don't get all that grass up next to your house, and it is the way you are suppose to mow it to keep from stressing out your engine. I learned that many years ago as a teenager and mowing for other people, and never forgot that lesson. I have a John Deere and Cub Cadet zero turn mowers, and prefer using them over the Craftsman lawn tractor I also have.
Thanks Sidney...that's what I do most of the time...I even go one step further...cutting two runs around the outside, then moving out a bit leaving the strip with all the grass I blew into it...then on lap 4 go back around and hit this area so as not to work my mower too hard...hope that makes sense , you can see it in the video if you watch closely..thanks again for the tip buddy!
Man, never thought about the biomass thing! Thank you ! very informative video!
Thanks for mentioning the topography aspect. I have an acre of uneven hillside that's taking me way too long, 2 hrs on a 46" Toro rider + 45 mins of push trim. I'm about to get a used Snapper 60" Z-turn, but I'm a little concerned about scalping the bumps. I've started to fill them in an effort to flatten the terrain a bit, but being a hillside, erosion will do its thing.
Just bought me a Kubota 726X and I’m gonna take your advice and take it easy. 60 inch cut should do my 2 acres just fine. Great video Josh Thank You!!!
I am a lawn care professional but i am in Nevada a hour from vegas we have lots of desert here but we do have yards that are fields we flood irrigate, so i ordered a zero turn this week got a ariens ikon x 42, we usally use a john deere rider and craftsman riding mower but it been taking to much time so i hope i can save some time get though jobs quicker. But for me if i side discharged i would be fired from every job we must bag or mulch the clippings and some people get mad if we mulch. So I ordered a mulch kit foe the zero turn as well. Most grass here is Bermuda.
I bought one of these (Z930M) from a guy getting a divorce, he was using it to cut a small area in front of his business (way overkill). It only had about 450 hours on it and gave 5000.00 for it. He had just had a new battery and full service on it also, it's a great machine.
Good job on the video. I will share that I have the "home owner" model which is a 42" deck. I have had it for seven years and the only thing that went out was the magneto. He is correct about just keeping the oil changed and the blades sharp. If the thing won't start, but turns over, check the Magneto...cheap fix. Great mowers especially if not on a hill side.
We have some banks on our yard. I love our zero turn for the flat land but I prefer the tractor for the hills. I think the zero turn would do better on the hills if the front wheels would pivot like the tractor. We check the oil and grease spindles after every cutting.
You might want to think about Swisher pull behind mowers. Get one or two and pull them together behind whatever you want. Get 3 60in and you got your self 15 ft cutting width behind your tractor or gator. Heck even your truck. I bet your jd zero turn will pull at least one if not two.
Josh....back in the day I had the older Dixon ZTR that used the cone system to drive chains to the rear wheels.My cousin down in S Illinois turned me on to the idea.So in 1997....I purchased a 1983 Dixon with the 17 HP Kawasaki single.I went from taking 3 hrs.with a JD 212 tractor to cut my 3/4 acre to about 45 mins. with the Dixon.I had it for about 5 years......but the cones were needing way too much matainance and money.Unlike the new tech that uses hydrolic pumps to drive and steer....so I sold it in 03.# 479 here Josh....Stay Vigilant......Wooo
Josh I have used all different types of zero turn mowers from personal experience John deer is a great piece of equipment but for mowing as much property as you do I would choose a Grasshopper 60 inch with a 32 horse Vanguard engine. As far as tall grass and the thickness of your lawn I personally feel that the Grass hopper is my go to because the engine won't bog down and they leave a cleaner cut. I don't what height you set your mower deck on but I have found through years of experience the taller you mow the less weeds you have because the Grass over takes and chokes the weeds out. Just food for thought and just opinon. As far as a smooth ride the grammer adjustable air ride seat is the way to go best ride ever
This mower does good....no bogging down and I can mow as fast as I want as long as the blades are sharp....for what it cost to buy a new on...we'll be keeping this ol gal for a long time for sure!!
Got to love the zero turn mowers . We run a 54 and a 60 in hustler they are bad to the bone
Scalping is ok if you have a bit of patients. Its the best way to take of the high spots. It doesn't take long for them to grow back and if you hit them hard enough they aren't high spots any more!!
Zero turns suck on hilly ground or where there are ditches and creeks or in tight places where you can get stuck. If the grass is slightly wet on a steep slope you can end up sliding down sideways and turn over. You can get next to the edge of a creek and attempt a zero turn and end up in the creek. In addition to that there are multiple mechanical issues that can go wrong that are expensive to fix like hydraulic pumps for the steering that are always messing up rendering the mower useless. It might be fine in a highly managed and landscaped terrain like the suburbs and gated communities with large yards (that is why they are used by professional mowers to mow rich peoples yards). But for the average guy with a wild border and ruff landscape a tractor is best and cheaper to maintain.
Also, the coaster wheels can slip or lock up sending the front end into the opposite direction that you want to go. This happened to me while turning around a gas meter and it broke a gas pipe sending gas into the air. Luckily the break was after the shut off valve.
Mark, Good point regarding the steering. I've priced the repair and it's not cheap. A buddy has a Husky that he wants to get rid of. Nit worth it to fix.
Nice mower would like to have one but I'm getting a Cub Cadet XT1 GT50, price is the main reason, zero turns cost more so I selected what I think should be an excellent tractor for the price, has the K58 trans, 25 hp probably a lot more mower than i need but rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I might pull a cart, but nothing major so I should be fine I just wish I had the extra grand for a zero turn they look like a lot of fun.
Magpul T shirt. This guy is a natural on camera. Smooth.
lol...I'm chuckling and blushing
I have a John Deere zero turn and I just love it! I too will never go back to a regular rider even though I still have my X534, I'll take my Z425 any day. Love your channel and keep them videos coming!
I use a finishing mower behined my tractor for most of my mowing, does not beat you up to much and 54 cut ridding mower, But after watch your mower will have to thing about switching. Great info thanks.
Whenever you get ready to upgrade to a new mower you should check out Scag Turf Tiger 2. Amazing mower that runs like a champ.
Nice thanks for the advice buddy
I love my zero turn. I went with a cub cadet zero turn with a steering wheel. Cub cadet is the only company that makes a zero turn with steering wheel. Much safer on steep hills and you can drive with one hand.
toro has a steering wheel zero turn.....advice of do not buy it. my dad has one and its 3 years old. the sensors can not get wet nor the black control box under the seat. done had to replace the wiring harness 2 times and also the black electrical control box 2 times. once that black box gets wet or of wet grass touch any of the sensors, the mower will lock up. also grass can not get built up at the foot peddle since one of the safety switch is under the mower attached to the foot peddle or under where the steering rods to the front wheels where makes it hard to steer. only thing good about the mower is the engine of uses less fuel like a kawasaki does and of it rides good, and cut grass good.
Glad to see your channel is growing fast! Keep up the great work. Almost at 10k
Thanks buddy
We just gotta keep talking up his channel with others.
Thanks for the advice. I've been contemplating a zero turn. Thumb up.
I cut 6 huge commerical accounts. Safety always 1st. Always be aware of your surroundings. The Deere Zeros are incredible machines. Be safe.
I've never thought about getting one of those because you have to use both hands. I like my 1026R with a 60" belly mower. I agree about leaving the clippings on the lawn. Great video. Thank you.
Both hands on the mower isnt bad..just have to stop to take a drink of water
I farm and have a fencing and agricultural contract business here in sunny Scotland......I love watching your videos keep it up 👍
That is awesome!
I have a Husqvarna MT-Z61. Ii scare the you know what outta myself sometimes on it. First few mows I had white knuckles. I'm getting better with it. I feel like the cut isn't that great. Looks like it just pushes the grass down. I have it on the lowest cut and it doesn't seem like it cuts good. Thanks for the tips. I will be changing the way I cut around trees.
I am in the process of going from a rather large putt putt mower (27hp 54" deck Cub Cadet), that has taken me about an hour to 1.5 to mow my property, and it goes pretty fast, to a Kubota B3350 with a 60" MMM. While i think this will definitely be an improvement, i do see myself having a zero turn at some point. My logic told me to stay away from such a uni-tasker for now.
Thanks for the safety warning at the end. After I got mine my first thought was, wow, this is a powerful, fast, DANGEROUS machine. Love it, but there should be more safety warnings. Surprised rhere aren't.
I bought a Ferris 3200z this year I mow 7 acres at some points and it so nice I’ll never mow with anything else then a zero turn
Like the zero turn but 2016 got my property over acre so had to sell push mower and kayak got a garden tractor 54 inch cut also hook up attachments for the garden.like the chickens and goats makes me want some keep up vlog helps everyone that's farming or gardening
I had lawn tractor before zero turn. Faster and better cut around objects with zero turnv. Will never go back. I too have little over acre.
One thing about zero turns are they are not good on hills because if you're going sideways on a hill you really only have the two rear wheel holding you on that hill. Depending on the degree of the slope and if the grass is even slightly wet/slick you might be in for a slide or even a tumble down the hill.
Thanks so much for showing us the ropes. I know I can always look your videos up for good direction and great tips for our new farm adventure.
After oil, lube, lube, lube any and all fittings! Once one is done, you will never not lube again. Great video
the KUBOTA ZD's has gas and diesel optional shaft driven decks wich you can mow,plow snow,snowblowing and yard clean ups
whick kubota can you throw a snowblower on? As far as I can tell on the website the ZD1000, ZD1200, and ZD1500 don't have a snowblower attachment.
accully its a 54'' snowblower from the the F series mowers accully same hook up
A plus imfo this guy gives all he says on this video is perfect advice tks for the video
Thanks Tommy
Hi Josh have you heard of the Kavli blades they will make your mowing even faster. I have been trying to tell people about them. I bought three blades for my husqvarna that has a fabricated deck and this machine is useless. I put on these blades and I am cutting over 6foot grass with the finest mulch I have ever seen. Have a look at Something 2 look at on youtube good luck great video by the way.
Love the zero turn too I Definitely won’t go back to a normal garden lawn mower
Great vid! Good thoughts! Thanks for taking time to post.
I don't know if I missed or not, but, I don't get the open chute? Why not the mulching kit? Yes, you have to mow twice a week, but you don't have deal with the clippings. Close off the chute and mulch. You'll add nitrogen back in and the lawn will stay green.
Ok...so here's the science for ya...because I totally agree with you about clippings....the side chute on the mower broadcast the grass seed out...not down....if it broadcast the clippings downward then it wouldn't spread the clippings to areas that have poor growth. In other words if I ride over a bare spot and it mulches downward...then there are no clipping that fall on the bare spot...if I ride by the bare spot and broadcast clippings onto the area....well...now ya get me. So I prefer a side discharge deck to any other deck because it spreads the nitrogen rich clippings to areas that need it most....I can also work an area of thick grass and blow the clippings on to areas that are sparse....building the soil and thickening the lawn or pasture....check out my video "The Science of Grass" ....you'll love what we've done with our pastures
@@StoneyRidgeFarmer COOL!!!
I'd love to be able to afford one, but I guess it's fortunate I don't currently need one. Good tips on maintenance, they do predominately run in the hot summer and suck up plenty of dust, enduring hard-use, the oil does need to be changed.
Yes, full synthetic oil. Use it in ALL my engines, even my 38 year old Ariens 11 hp Briggs Stratton engine, still going strong.
Nice!
Going to look at a z345 today , I currently cut my grass and horse arena with a push mower which takes 4-5 hours , cant wait to get one
Zero turn mowers are excellent for relatively level yards like yours,but are very dangerous on hills. Here in the blue ridge mtns. of Va. few yards are flat,so it depends on your yard. Thanks for a great review!
I'd say that if you can take a riding mower over it the zero turn will do just fine...I too am in the foothills of the blue ridge....the issue with a zero turn is that it's a much bigger machine so ya gotta pay attention and not daydream while ya mow..I totally enjoy getting out there on the zero turn...and it save so much time! Especially on a big yard like this
Johnny Knockinrod I don't know about that. Zero turns are more likely to slide down a hill than tip over. Some of my hills I wouldn't even think about mowing with a lawn tractor.
I love my zero turn. I couldn't go back to a tractor either. Actually it's nimble enough I hardly have to do much trim work.
I just picked up a used Ferris zero turn, I'm very eager to use it!! Glad to have the roll bar and seat belt on it for safety for sure.
Some lawn mowers like simplicity, have mower decks that have wheels that always touch the ground. Keeping the deck from scraping the ground.
I think most mowers have wheels to protect the deck from smacking the ground...but it wont protect it from a hump of dirt, curb or rock, lots of working the deck up and down on our newly cleared land areas...can't take that human element out of it...dodging sticks, rocks and gravel!
Old video i know. But i have the john deere 997 diesel with 72 deck. Its alot quicker cutring for sure. Down side is the hills it can dig on the sides.
Yea...I'm thinking bout a 72" but it may be too big for hilly areas...my yard is pretty level for the most part considering it's on a slope
Good video!........I always enjoy your videos!........The farm is looking good!
Thanks buddy
And I have been thinking is it ok to buy a zero turn... It takes 6-8 hours to mow. In May&June twice a week, later once a week. We will definitely go for a ZTrak or similar. Thank You for the video!
Thanks....before you get one....stay tuned to the channel! We're doing some more zero turn vids soon...and I have a $1000 off coupon code for them!!
Great presentation! Thanks for the INFO.
I bought a Gravely 54 ZTR Mower and I will NEVER go back to those little Lawn Tractors. What used to take me 6 hours now takes about 2 1/2 hours.
No better mower than a good zero turn 👍👍
Love your videos! Super practical, real-world advice! Keep 'em coming! And yeah, the internet is full of trolls and people will argue over the color of the sky. Here's my constructive criticism -- when you're proactively "breaking one off" in a troll's a$$, use on-screen text, that way you can always stay in your natural (good) demeanor on-screen.
Just got my 2020 ariens ikon 52 cant wait to use it
Nice video, I just ordered a Husqvarna Z254F today and hope it will do for me. Cheers
Cool! Good luck...consumer grade models aren't without problems...not as bulletproof as these commercial models...you'll be happy you did it!
Don't forget on the safety tip , Pro Zero turns are almost all 1500 + lbs. Thats why I don't get one. Because I have to transport my mower 2 miles down to my mom's house to mow her lot after I do mine. I just don't want to load and unload a 1500 + lbs. machine on a super regular basis. I'll Keep my $ and lighter and more safe lawn tractor and work a little longer and harder.
Run for the hills Buddy! That thing is mowing again...
Wish I had enough yard for riding or 0 turn I have a handy down self propelled mower. .17 of acre with house in middle. Takes about 15-20 min to push cut.
Nothing wrong with that Ralph
Stoney Ridge Farmer it was a 8 year old top of line toro electric start and wife parents not used in 5 years. They hire it out so it sat. We turned it up and works great.
Been using a Cub Cadet zero turn since 2006 but it’s about to bite the bullet so I’ve considered getting a Hustler Raptor SDX.
Hi..... Thank you 🏡🎥👍👍👍
The best mower out there is a Walker because the deck is out front and moves up and down with land. I don't have one but do have a Gravely which is and has been a great mower. I had an issue once where the Rops was up and a oak tree branch hanging down and the Rops caught the branch an me and the mower were leaving the ground, pretty scary
Yea you gotta watch the ROPS (roll over protection system or roll bar) it will snag a guy wire in a heartbeat too
if your gonna need a big mower you should look at Hustler they have a 114" cut if I remember right.
Now thats a mower!
justin beene 104' cut but its way under powered
Is that a real thing even
@@philg1416 We mow commercial only and own 4 104" supers...yes...100 k worth of the junk. Switching to Toro.
@@mattyork7269 lol Toro? Best of luck.
I like to see your house, hinges on the outside of the door? How many break ins do you have? Excellent video and a good sounding voice!
I mow with a 55' farmall cub and that 8hp is a killer. Mowing is a half day job
Love my John Deere Z665!! I'll never go back to a conventional mower.....
Amen...it makes mowing fun!
I am very happy with a 20 year old Simplicity Landlord DLX 18 HP Garden Tractor, but I had a little experience with a Simplicity Sunrunner. It had a 6 inch turning radius but the back end swung wide on tight turns ( rear wheel steering). Dad and I are resurrecting an old John Deere F620 with the dual rear caster wheels and a 54 inch deck. Should cut quicker than the Simplicity, but not sure of the learning curve for it.
Cool! Sounds fun!
Love that key west c_ck hat. I got the same one. if i buy a john deere z930m with 1000hrs and maintain per manual what usually goes bad and when. Its a fx motor.
Thanks for the tips, never have an opportunity to operate one of those.
Go try one out you'll love it
An expert mechanic told me that synthetic on a high mileage engine can cause damage.The oil companies say it can not happen , But he said that he has seen it many times. High milage (or hours )you should use regular oil.
Jerome Cook synthetic oil on an engine that only ran conventional for 150,000 miles isn't a good idea! synthetic will loosen up leftover sludge and leak through the seals in some cases.
if synthetic oil is used since new on a vehicle and it's continued to be used to 300,000 miles there's absolutely nothing wrong with that!
synthetic oil will be fine for the life of an engine when it's always been routinely used.
I wonder if you can get the deck higher than what is normal? Here in Hawaii we have to deal with rocks.
He's not lying lol I have flipped my mower at a PNC Bank in Lancaster Ohio mowing a hill there