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Bad Boy! 54 ZT Elite. 747 KOHLER. Bought in 20, No problems. Regular PM. Always starts, cuts and performs fantastic. 1 acre lot. NO Problems. Way cheaper than a Scag just as good if not better. Easy to maintain.
I have the same mower with the Kawasaki. Going on 3 years, never a problem, my dad has a bad boy commercial grade going on 10 plus years. Never a problem.
I have a magnum and it's a great mower. I love the ease of use. Also you can get bad boys for a little bit cheaper because they sell directly to the dealerships.
I bought a Gravely 6 years ago, the highest residential model. Only difference from Pro was air cleaner. Saved a thousand dollars. Same deck and engine and trans.
If your are willing to spend $5k or more then the Scag Liberty Z would be your best bet. Kawasaki engines are available and they all have service available transmissons
@@Mechanical_Mind Todays engines are checking out to all be pretty good motors, from the research i have done. But I guess, if your running a lawn care business then Kawasaki are proven
I saw that the Scag Liberty Z 48” deck doesn’t offer a Kawasaki but they offer the Scag SR series engine. Have you heard anything about this engine? Any recommendation?
Remember, Ariens owns Gravely, Toro owns Exmark, Briggs&Str owns Ferris and snapper, Stanley Black and Decker now owns Hustler and with the acquisition of MTD, now Cub Cadet, Troy Built, Craftsman, Rover, Yard Machines, Bolens, and Robomow mowers. John Deere, Bad Boy, Husqvarna, Scag, Bobcat, Kubota, Walker to my knowledge on sell under their own single brand.
I have a Bad Boy its 11 years old ive never had a breakdown with her they are built like a tank ! n im still running the original spindles on mine also just a solid buy..
I’m in the market for a residential zero turn, I pretty much decided on the bad boy zt elite, 48 inch, however, this afternoon I went to the local John Deere/Husqvarna dealer to take a look at what he had. I was completely unimpressed with the John Deere equipment that he had in stock. This wasn’t a big box store. this was where you would go to buy a tractor or a plow, and what I would consider to be a real John Deere piece of equipment. Nearly all of the John Deere mowers had stamped decks, the prices were fairly high, and the gentleman that came out to talk to me has very little knowledge of the equipment he was trying to sell me. I was really there to see the Husqvarna zero turns, but he didn’t have any in stock, and said his dealership was phasing them out due to a severe problem of obtaining replacement parts. I pretty much have my mind set on a bad boy anyway but like I said, wasn’t impressed with the big green box.
My local dealer only started carrying Bad Boy Zero Turn mowers. My old 20 year old Craftsman Lawn Tractor needed to be replaced. I always prefer buying local. The 42” Bad Boy Rambler was the obvious choice. It’s working out real good. I only have 9 hours on it. Very satisfied with my purchase.
My dad owned a landscaping n a repair shop for over 30 years just retired a few years ago when I was looking for a zero turn for our house 🏡 over n acre of grass he told me make sure it has a Kawasaki engine serviceable Hydro gears n a nice thick deck fabricated no stamp deck stay away from them don’t worry about the big names u just gonna pay more make sure u look 👀 for what I told u gotta listen 👂 to the OG 🤙🏽 ended up buying a cub cadet Ultima ZT2 54 🤣 went to buy n Xmart but was looking for what my dad said the ZT2 had everything he said to look for n the price the next mower to have everything he said was $1000 more no difference just name n different colors n design glad I bought it 4 seasons haven’t had any issues at all been working great hope it stays that way nice review on a lot of options out there 🤙🏽🏡
@@Mechanical_Mind Your video is great for people that don't have knowledge about mowers i was lucky for my dad lol gonna check out your vid got a sub brother 🤙🏽
@@TheyFearUAwakegive him a break. I went to Catholic school in the 1970s and hated it so much that I couldn’t learn. I’ve got bad grammer and punctuation too. He might’ve went to Catholic or some other toxic religious school too. Relax!
Thanks Joel! I've made some more videos comparing more brands. th-cam.com/video/a0TkSzqnCSc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=84jwXe5kf_e2eT_4 I'd also look at the Cub Cadet models too.
I have a Toro Timcutter zero turn 50 " deck with a Korler engine I have had since 2011 and only mechanical issue was I had to put on a cyclinoid. Still going strong.
I have a green Bobcat fast cat mower that has nearly 600 hours on it and other than blade sharpening, filter changes and oil changes it has been great to me. Doosan bought out Bobcat turf afew years ago and changed the colors from green to white but it looks similar to the one I have. The handle on mine looks just like the one in the video and still works just fine and hasn’t broken yet.
I’ve got a Toro Timecutter myride 54 inch deck. Had oil coming out of the dip stick last fall and made a spot above the hydro. Thought it was a hydro going bad. I did have the dip stick on tight. The replaced it so it will not leak. My hydro are not serviceable but Toro did make a hole in the frame that goes to the top of the hydro where you’d add fluid. After my warranty is over I’ll vacuum out the hydro fluid and fill it with the same amount I take out. I’ll use the Toro synthetic hydro fluid or Amsoil hydro fluid. I’ve got the Toro engine and I believe it’s built very well. My unit is 2 years old going on my last year of warranty. 15 hrs that’s all I got on it. We’ve had serious droughts the last 2 years. My yard is only a half acre. Got a very good deal on my Toro when I bought it because it was sitting in the dealer show room for a year. So it was a previous year’s model they said. The Myride is so worth the money. Very smooth just incredible.
Thanks for the nice videos. Very informative. So, I picked up the Bad Boy MX Magnum 54", Kohler. I only have 2.6 hours on it, but what an amazing improvement over my old John-Deere LT180 48". I bought it used 10 year ago. Yes, the deck was bent. Only good thing about it was the Kawasaki engine.
Have a badboy 54 zt elite. servicable drive. 27 kawasaki. replaced bearings on spindles after about 6 yrs. love it. its simplicty reminded me of a snapper.
I've had my scag freedom Z 48" for 13 years. 1900 hrs. Replaced belts once and a starter. If it ever comes to it. I'll replace the briggs when it blows. Still running strongl
Good video. I mow part time now and own a Exmark Radius S mower with my ride. 2019 model. I have owned Hustler(love), Scag, Bad Boy (blew Kawasaki 300 hrs), cub cadet, Bad Boy, and toro. Lots of nice mowers these days but 10 grand vs 6 grand there is a lot of difference.
Scags are great, but if you are impressed with the deck than you should check out the bad boy. Bad Boy has the hands down best build quality in the market.
My dad used to have a Yazoo ZT. With a steering wheel that turned the rear wheel like a forklift. It was all steel & cast iron. I bought a Cub cadet from Home Depot with a Kohler 22hp twin with LED headlights 4 years ago and it's been great. I keep it clean and run the blades until dry. No issues. $1,850+ tax then. Have about 3 acres to mow. I have ditches a banks and the Zero turns fight you on inclines even with a tight seatbelt. I can't see paying $4,000 or more for a lawn mower unless you are using it to make money.
So happy for that! That's how I think too! These people who had problems with zero turn from the big box store destroyed my will to buy from big box. I dont have much then 3.5k to spend on new zero turn. I have 2 acress. I dont know wich one to buy, and from where dealeship or big box. Best regards!
What you were calling an "odd" looking battery, was mostly likely a Lithium battery. They are better batteries in a few ways. They are much lighter, will hold a charge for 6 months to 1 year or even longer without a charge and need no maintenance. They will stay charged usually over winter without a maintainer. I switched over on my Kawasaki motorcycle and am well pleased. Now back to the mowers. Thanks for the great comparison video!
I have a 60HD Gravely that is about 11 years old with thousands of hours. I have replaced several spindles as there are no grease fittings and the flow channels underneath the deck are breaking loose. i do a lot of rough mowing on several yards and have gotten good service.
All the seats are made my seatking on most brands.. if you ever have a tear in the cover you can contact seatking and get the matching cover using you model number and it’s like a fraction of the cost of a new seat.
I had a few years working as a mower mechanic. Id say by far in our area the Toro was the best for reliability. We rarely got them in and were a dealer. The bad boys were okay but not quite the quality of Toro/Exmark(good customer service though on the dealer end). John deere tractors held up fairly well but saw our fair share probably because a lot of folks buy them at home depot. Walker isnt on your list but are high priced maintenance hogs and imo junk compared to the Toro version of the full time box bagger. Anything cub cadet is junk along with craftsman, troy bilt etc. All owned by MTD and just the cheapest of the cheap. Dixie chopper sucked and hard to get parts for. Dixon is out of business and junk. Gravely was down the road from us and talking with those guys they saw quite a few issues(one big one was spindle bearings on a specific year covered under warranty). Snapper was good. By the end of it I bought toro for my business(i also used them on a golf course for 6 years). They just seemed to be trouble free and heavy duty in construction.
Had a 1991 60” Dixie Chopper for a couple years, it cut well and fast but it had a terrible rough ride on my bumpy land, and severely under powered with the 22 hp Kohler. I decided get a used 2014 Scag Turf Tiger 26hp / 61”. I learned, don’t ever buy a used commercial ZTR, big mistake! After dumping a lot of $ into it, I cut my losses and traded it in on a brand new 2019 Turf TigerII 37hp EFI / 61”. Best mower I’ve used, nothing stops it. and you can cut at a relatively high speed with excellent results. The 26 hp EFI Kohler was underpowered on the first Turf Tiger, however the additional hp from the big block 37 hp Vanguard is a pleasure to use, but it’s a thirsty cat. The 12 gallon gas tank is a plus. Real nice machine if you can justify the cost.
No problem with the John Deere decks with the pockets at the blade spindles. Keep clean and dont leave your machine outdoors. Dry is the key. Round underside for smooth air flow is best compared to the flat right angled fabricated decks with all the welds. Oil change serviceable axle drives is most important⚠️ nice review
My JD Z445 had a really nice cut until I hit a root and bent the deck. In spite of my best attempts at repair it still cuts like shit. I'm going with a fab deck on my next mower.
Ive got the Bad Boy MZ Magnum 54". Its an awesome little beast. 26 hp kholer 7000 series, havent had any problems at all. Pretty heavy duty and easy to work on if needed (you wont have to work on this mower hardly ever).
I bought a John Deer S240 4 years ago and i have only 87 or so hours on it. I love it. The one thing is that the front tire tread wears pretty quick, I got a bald front tire. No issues mechanically. I do want to say I bought it at a dealer. I had a friend told me to go to the big box store and i did not like because they get the cheaper models. I wanted to have good knowledge staff and they been great.
I own a Gravely commercial zero turn and I haven't had much trouble with it. I did have to change out a spindle and the long belt. It has the Kawasaki motor and of course the serviceable wheel motors. I serviced the hydos myself and had to replace the short hoses from the tanks. Very easy to do. I went to the dealer yesterday and got a new belt and we talked about the new mowers with the self adjusting system for the belts and he said my setup makes the belt last longer because i have to adjust it myself. I have the twin tanks for longer run time.
Yes kawasaki motor and good transmission and heavy duty deck and solid frame . A friend of mine has a John that got about 130 hrs that got a broken frame because the frame is so thin it's about like one of them light weight camping cots and it broke in 2.places up by front right wheel and left side at the back of floors pan
I bought a John Deere Z355E three years ago, I've never had a problem with it. I took the front caps off of the front wheels at the top and looked at the bushings I have the steel type bearing bushings not the plastic type. I have never had any problems with my drive belt yet. I've never had any problems with my adjustments on my deck. Every time I get done mowing I clean it from top to bottom. I checked my air filter three times a year and changed the oil twice a year I maintain my blades two to three times a year. I live in a panhandle Florida where we do have sand and dirt. I've also only have 12.5 hours on (Z355E ) John Deere zero turn mower. I've got one other mower that I use off and on that is a Craftsman 2000 series It is well maintained the deck is completely fully rebuilt all deck bearings have been greased hand packed in all spindles. this is why my John Deere Z355E zero turn hours are lower on the John Deere . I maintain all my mowers top shape ‼️
I have a John Deere 525E. Just put the second set of Transaxles in it. First set at 3 years second set just before the 7 year warranty was up. Both covered by JD warranty and extended warranty so zero cost to me other than gas hauling it in. At 1997 hours not a cent spent on it. Still has the original belt. Warranty Talks.
Great video. The only issue I saw was that on the Bad Boy comparison to the Scag, they aren't equivalent models. Really the Scag lines up with the Bad Boy Avenger. The Avenger has serviceable transaxles.
Toro with the Kohler engine is the way to go. It’s fast & torquey. Scag, John, gravely, etc drive really slow compared to toro. I love the 36” & 30”. Very popular
All hydrostatic transmissions are SERVICEABLE. What they mean when they say it is filter change or sub zt2800. If you're doing a info video like this, you need to specify exactly which trans a model comes with, as in the badboy I think is a zt2200, which is a relatively higher end residential, whereas a zt2800 would be the entry level commercial/highest end residential. The real thing you're buying with any of them are those two trans.
2 takeaways: Yes, buy from a dealer. you'll get a more robust product than what hd and lowes has to offer and they actually work on the products they sell. Also I've had a good experience with scag so far. I have 130 hours on my libertyz and nothing has gone wrong in that time. I have changed the hydro fluid and filters once and did a few oil changes. I've added a donaldson filter set, qwuikchute and a suspension seat since owning it to make it more "commercial like". I've owned a toro timecutter with the stamped deck and you can tell the over all difference in quality. I wouldn't recommended banging a stamped deck mower off of objects because the deck or front casters wont hold up.
I have a 2006 Great Dane Chariot ZTR, 52” fabricated deck (original greasable spindles), 23 hp twin cylinder Kohler Command w/Pro air cleaner, grease fitting’s everywhere, and Hydro Gear serviceable drive motors. 8 gallon gas tank under seat (low center of gravity). 1142 # and built like a tank. NOT ONE MAJOR PROBLEM AT ALL!! The only problem with mine is that I have to replace the little rubber dust ejector on the air filter housing because it melts!! About 450 hrs on it. I only run ethanol-free gas and full synthetic oil changed each spring.
Good things ain't cheap and cheap things ain't good. Get a kawi with the 2 element air filter and keep oil & filter changed. Happy mowing for many years.
I worked for a municipal council here in the UK for 10 years and we only used three of the units on your list. I have only used Toro, Scag and Ariens. Toro is made to a price point. It is cheap to make, cheap to run and cheap to service. Minimal expensive parts to go wrong... But the quality is in that price point! It is also simple to service out on the job... Slipped belts were a bitch but you could fix them easy enough yourself without any problems. But they were fiddly to use... They did the job but you had to kinda fight them to do the job. Scag is more expensive but WAAAAAY more robust. They are built to last. We had Scags that were 15 years old and were HAMMERED but they kept on chugging! They were not cheap to replace parts but they didn't need them so often. The problem was that the equipment we used (32"/48" pedestrians) were badly designed. If you know what "Scag rash" is then you know why they are poorly designed! Ariens is "meh". Average along the lines. Average cost, average quality, average repair costs... But all the ones we used needed tweaking in-house. Nothing ever came "right"... Not a single piece of equipment we used was "Good" or "Nice to use". Not sure if you will ever cover them... But we also used Ferris. Expensive for what they are. Not cheap to run or service. Cheap on fuel though... VERY economical! Fun to use, very easy and not as tiring as ones you have to fight (I'm looking at you, Toro) A bitch to repair on site. SOOOOO overly complicated and over-engineered. I wonder if there is a difference between the US and UK stuff???
For the price you pay for entry level mowers, just get a used commercial for the same price may have to put a little work into it but it will be more reliable in the long run. I bought a used Exmark Lazer Z for $2700 needed some work an additional $1300 at the dealer it’s good to go. I wanted a pump and motor design so if something goes wrong with the transmission it can be rebuilt or pieces replaced cheaper than everything in one which can cost you $2000 and up.
Correct me if im wrong but the 2023 Gravely ZTX hydros are now serviceable, huge upgrade to the previous models. From Gravely's website "HYDRO-GEAR SERVICEABLE EZT TRANSAXLES Serviceable transaxles have optimized cooling to ensure smooth running for years to come. New service ports allow oil changes to"
Correct, the one in his video does not appear to be the newest model. It now has the new X-Factor 11-gauge fabricated deck , which also features metal covers over the spindles instead of the plastic one shown.
Great content; enjoyed the level of detail in these comparisons. Appreciate the efforts to put a video like this together. Looking forward to the Kub n Husq ZT video!
for the average homeowner the transmission is not a deal breaker because all the tranny's are built great for your average 1/2 to 1 acre mow job. For me its about the bearings lasting then cut quality and then having enough engine power for a great cut quality if the lawn gets to long. A lot of mowers are over built for the average lawn. Oh Ya, some sort of suspension or dampeners, like my Bad Boy Maverick has.
I know you couldnt have done all brands but World lawn diamond back is hands down best for you money. 4500 for 10 mile an hr forward 5 reverse 9.5 gallons all kawasaki engines
You might want to rework the part about the Bad Boy recommendation near the end of the video, there is a dual voice over...... gggrrrrr! BUT, you have shown me which one to buy and Why !! Thank you !
One thing that would be extremely attractive on a gas rider, if it had a quiet exhaust and quiet intake. When I replaced my shop air compressor, I bought one that is very quiet, soooooo much nicer.
There is a sub model of the EZT transmission that is serviceable with at least a drain plug (no filter though). So far I've only found it in the Gravely X
@@Mechanical_Mind ok wow. That's probably at least ten years for me, if not more. I can safely say I probably don't need them then. Thanks. The cub cadet zt1 52p keeps looking better and better.
I have a 2006 Great Dane Chariot ZTR, 52” fabricated deck (original greasable spindles), 23 hp twin cylinder Kohler Command w/Pro air cleaner, grease fitting’s everywhere, and Hydro Gear serviceable drive motors. 8 gallon gas tank under seat (low center of gravity). 1142 # and built like a tank. NOT ONE MAJOR PROBLEM AT ALL!! The only problem with mine is that I have to replace the little rubber dust ejector on the air filter housing because it melts!! About 450 hrs on it. I only run ethanol-free gas and full synthetic oil changed each spring.
Would love to see you review the time cutter. Looking at a 34 inch zero turn since I have a 42 inch gate. Very limited options for zero turns under 42 inches.
I bought it new in 2007. I personally think that the pro air cleaner setup, grease fittings everywhere (I don’t want anything with just bushings and plastic in the pivot points or bearings), fabricated 3/16 - 1/4” deck, and the serviceable hydros are what to look for when buying a mower. My hydros don’t have cooling fans on them like some comparisons that I’ve seen from other mowers (which bothered me), and the reservoir gets VERY HOT!, but called hydro gear co. and they said that they weren’t needed on those particular motors. I guess so. It’s been almost 20 years and still goes like it did when it was new.
Thin deck on the 42" John Deere but at least the 48" & 54" are 10ga stamped on the Z300 series. Should I add spindle reinforcement rings to my 48" John Deere Z330R's deck while it is still brand new or are those only for when it starts to wear out the mounting holes?
I have the 2022 Ariens Ikon XD 52 Limited Edition. It was only available last yr. and each dealership only got around 5 of them. The big chain stores didn't get any. I chose it over the Gravely only because my dealershop didn't have a Gravely with the Kawi motor. The Ilon had the motor and had some nice upgrades that the Gravely did not. They were the same price and as Ariens makes Gravely. Both are made at the same plant in WI. and other then the colors and badges are the same mower. So if you're looking at a Gravely, look at the Ariens as well you will get the dame mower just a little bit cheaper price. On anotjer mote. The 2023 Gravely and Ariens the gas fill cap is to gar forward on the side and prone to getting smacked by branches and otjer things. This will famage the gas tank and it will have to be replaced. $400+ for the tank. I feel this is a flaw and Ariens needs to address this problem. Nrw desing is nice over all on the 2023 models but tjat gas fill cap spot is just a bad design. I love my Ikon and it is very well made. I have no regrets. I would buy it again.
I find it hard to believe that its engine makes enough compression to need 93 octane. I would definitely recommend ethonal free. Here in FL 89 octane ethonal free is available at many gas stations. Depends on your area
One owner put it out their with his Ariens , a patented mowing blade seemed to be a good thing to hear from a dealer , a more critical examination was the blade had very little thickness for sharpening purposes , it was used for 2 days in a commercial setting and had found the blades for this new model was a failure point in which this part should be serviceable , in this case it was not only had limited sharpening material to work with but the blades end was failing with separation at the ends to further unbalancing its weight . If you have these type of antics going on , you can see theirs more concern for investors getting a return than the buyer of the product .
i have a john deere d140 from 2014, 2015 i cant remember, and i hate that mower, it just does not feel right. i would love a zero turn but have too many hills and uneven ground. the only one i did find for its replacement is the new cub cadet ultima ztxs4 steering zero turn mower. i do like the toro mowers but they are zero turn only, are Husqvarna mowers good? or even a Kubota riding mower?
In 2016 I bought a new Bad Boy Outlaw XP 61” with the Kawasaki V-Twin engine. It’s accumulated 400 hrs. mowing my three acres and some of the neighbors similarly sized lots. Bought several sets of blades so I can change them out quickly and am following factory recommendations for maintenance. The only issue has been a blade clutch switch went out, which I easily replaced with a factory part. I recently had a chunk of wood get lodged in the main drive belt damaging it so I replaced it with a factory belt. As noted here, these critters are built like a tank. Heavy gauge steel everywhere, even the rear surround is made of this really thick steel. The mowers design makes it easy to keep clean and the twin 7 gallon gas tanks keeps me mowing for hours and hours. I did do a couple of modifications. I had the front caster tires solid filled. This not only prevents flats, it prevents those tires from easily “rolling” off the rim if you find yourself nose down in a ditch trying to get out. I also installed LED lighting to the front and to the front sides (pointed down to show me the deck) as I have taken to mowing a lot at night. It’s way cooler in the Texas summers, I can see the “lanes” much better than in daylight and my neighbors don’t care. I also installed a cover for the discharge chute named the “Advanced Chute System”. Its heavy construction compliments the mower, helps when mulching and can be engaged from the seat if you find yourself in a location where you don’t want to throw clippings into a pool, on a wall, road, driveway, etc. So yes, I’m very happy with this machine. 🫡
Does any one have any reviews on the Scag SR engine? I am looking at the 48” deck but am having a hard time finding any sort of review on this engine. Any reviews would be appreciated!
I’ve been told by a couple of guy’s who work on scag say, the scag engine is a predator engine made in china. Now I don’t know if that means anything bad or not. I prefer to buy American made products so I would probably choose the Kohler.
Some EZT 2200 transmissions have optional drain plugs. They are identified by the second digit in the model number. At least it's a little easier to swap the oil.
I liked my single cylinder 21 hp briggs I finally traded it in 13 years old no issues just wanted a new one lol I have a half acre all slope.i got the 22hp v twin now on my new jd and I don't like it it sucks gas compared to my other one and the engine is not a smooth running engine I like my stuff to sound good lol I had sent it back to jd and they said thats how it sounds.only thing I like it does have more power and wide back tires don't get stuck when the yard is damp
Bad boy zt elite. Serviceable transmission and Kawasaki motor. Not much more money to move up. I think those bb models compete more with the toro timecutters. Similar specs but better build quality.
If there is one riding lawn mower you would recommend that also has to work inclines and declines where the mower will not be level at all times what would it be? I just bought a property and will need to buy one soon. Your recommendation is appreciated, thank you.
Depends on what you are willing to spend. Riding Lawn tractors I really like the John Deere X300 series line up. Ive never driven a X300 that I didnt like. For Residential Zero turns: Under $5k = Bad Boy MZ magnum Over $5k = Scag Liberty Z (better transmissions) Over $10K you could get a commercial zero turn. I like John Deere for their warranty. Z930M with Michelin Tweels. Dealers will also have used commercial mower available. Commercial Standers: John Deere 636M is a little tank.
Watched this video multiple times and each segment again when I’m looking at that particular mower. I have a 1/2 acre and after watching this am leaning towards the Bad Boy Boy MZ Rambler 42. Thanks for great content. Let me know if there is anything else you think I should look at for under $4K.
I have been curious why most all reviews never include the Hustler and country clipper. Being that Hustler has been around since 1964. Country Clipper has been around for at least 15+ yeas.
I appreciate you honest review ; however I am not satisfied with what might be my best choice of Zero turn mower . ? 🤷♂️ Could you “ condense “ your “ recipe @ as to which mower might be a better choice ? 😉 I am more interested in how I could better preform maintenance/rebuild/self preformed rebuild and repair services preformed by myself ; I have considerable ability experience with mechanical repairs that I am capable of doing myself .?
The day I made this video, I had no intention of making any video at all. As I visted some of the dealerships that I sell my products to. I knew I wasn't going to be able to cover all the brands in this one video. I have made several more similar to this one since covering other brands. My personal recipe is : #1 deck quality. How thick is the deck and Welded/ Fabricated are better than stamped decks. #2 Engine. On Zero turns I prefer Kohler or Kawaskai. No EFI and no 1 cylinder engines. #3 Transmission size #4 Frame quality - Especially the frame holding the front caster arms. #5 other features like how easy is it to access the top of the deck for cleaning and maintenance, seat quality etc.
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Bad Boy! 54 ZT Elite. 747 KOHLER. Bought in 20, No problems. Regular PM.
Always starts, cuts and performs fantastic. 1 acre lot. NO Problems. Way cheaper than a Scag just as good if not better. Easy to maintain.
I have the same mower with the Kawasaki. Going on 3 years, never a problem, my dad has a bad boy commercial grade going on 10 plus years. Never a problem.
I have a magnum and it's a great mower. I love the ease of use. Also you can get bad boys for a little bit cheaper because they sell directly to the dealerships.
I bought a Gravely 6 years ago, the highest residential model. Only difference from Pro was air cleaner. Saved a thousand dollars. Same deck and engine and trans.
Kawasaki motor & serviceable transmission is a must for me when purchasing a riding mower
If your are willing to spend $5k or more then the Scag Liberty Z would be your best bet. Kawasaki engines are available and they all have service available transmissons
@@Mechanical_Mind Todays engines are checking out to all be pretty good motors, from the research i have done. But I guess, if your running a lawn care business then Kawasaki are proven
I’ve got the Bob cat 2000 love it!
@@albertmcfry6322 im looking into those, its between that and the acag freedom z
I saw that the Scag Liberty Z 48” deck doesn’t offer a Kawasaki but they offer the Scag SR series engine. Have you heard anything about this engine? Any recommendation?
Remember, Ariens owns Gravely, Toro owns Exmark, Briggs&Str owns Ferris and snapper, Stanley Black and Decker now owns Hustler and with the acquisition of MTD, now Cub Cadet, Troy Built, Craftsman, Rover, Yard Machines, Bolens, and Robomow mowers. John Deere, Bad Boy, Husqvarna, Scag, Bobcat, Kubota, Walker to my knowledge on sell under their own single brand.
Sounds like a serious Market Battle. I wish I bought shares from Stanley Black & Decker before they bought Craftsman a while back. lol
with nearly all the same parts they could all be made in the same factory
@@ccclc6159 Good point! lol
Love my gravely. Owned it 25 years and no problems ever!
I have a Bad Boy its 11 years old ive never had a breakdown with her they are built like a tank ! n im still running the original spindles on mine also just a solid buy..
From what I’ve seen and heard-the older models are better than the newer, value engineering models!
I’m in the market for a residential zero turn, I pretty much decided on the bad boy zt elite, 48 inch, however, this afternoon I went to the local John Deere/Husqvarna dealer to take a look at what he had. I was completely unimpressed with the John Deere equipment that he had in stock. This wasn’t a big box store. this was where you would go to buy a tractor or a plow, and what I would consider to be a real John Deere piece of equipment. Nearly all of the John Deere mowers had stamped decks, the prices were fairly high, and the gentleman that came out to talk to me has very little knowledge of the equipment he was trying to sell me. I was really there to see the Husqvarna zero turns, but he didn’t have any in stock, and said his dealership was phasing them out due to a severe problem of obtaining replacement parts. I pretty much have my mind set on a bad boy anyway but like I said, wasn’t impressed with the big green box.
I really like BadBoy mowers. Also Scagg and Bobcat. I recently did a video showing the Kubota vs Bobcat ZT2000. I was very impressed with the Bobcat.
You paying for that green paint nowadays
My local dealer only started carrying Bad Boy Zero Turn mowers. My old 20 year old Craftsman Lawn Tractor needed to be replaced. I always prefer buying local. The 42” Bad Boy Rambler was the obvious choice. It’s working out real good. I only have 9 hours on it. Very satisfied with my purchase.
My dad owned a landscaping n a repair shop for over 30 years just retired a few years ago when I was looking for a zero turn for our house 🏡 over n acre of grass he told me make sure it has a Kawasaki engine serviceable Hydro gears n a nice thick deck fabricated no stamp deck stay away from them don’t worry about the big names u just gonna pay more make sure u look 👀 for what I told u gotta listen 👂 to the OG 🤙🏽 ended up buying a cub cadet Ultima ZT2 54 🤣 went to buy n Xmart but was looking for what my dad said the ZT2 had everything he said to look for n the price the next mower to have everything he said was $1000 more no difference just name n different colors n design glad I bought it 4 seasons haven’t had any issues at all been working great hope it stays that way nice review on a lot of options out there 🤙🏽🏡
Check out my most recent video th-cam.com/video/a0TkSzqnCSc/w-d-xo.html
I think you will like it! Thanks for watching and commenting 🍻
@@Mechanical_Mind Your video is great for people that don't have knowledge about mowers i was lucky for my dad lol gonna check out your vid got a sub brother 🤙🏽
Dude. There’s this thing, it’s called punctuation. You should totally try it sometime.
@@TheyFearUAwakegive him a break. I went to Catholic school in the 1970s and hated it so much that I couldn’t learn. I’ve got bad grammer and punctuation too. He might’ve went to Catholic or some other toxic religious school too. Relax!
Very nice video. I had my mind made up on a new John Deer and will end up purchasing the Bad Boy and/or Scag. Huge help, thank you.
Thanks Joel! I've made some more videos comparing more brands. th-cam.com/video/a0TkSzqnCSc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=84jwXe5kf_e2eT_4
I'd also look at the Cub Cadet models too.
I went with a gravely in2018 zt48hd and no prob as of today 370 hrs right now! Sounds like to me Bad Boy is your sponsor!!!
I have a Toro Timcutter zero turn 50 " deck with a Korler engine I have had since 2011 and only mechanical issue was I had to put on a cyclinoid. Still going strong.
I have a green Bobcat fast cat mower that has nearly 600 hours on it and other than blade sharpening, filter changes and oil changes it has been great to me. Doosan bought out Bobcat turf afew years ago and changed the colors from green to white but it looks similar to the one I have. The handle on mine looks just like the one in the video and still works just fine and hasn’t broken yet.
Thank you for doing all the research for me, I will have to get one once we close on our house.
Thank you so much for the Super Thanks donation!! Congratulations on the house.
I’ve got a Toro Timecutter myride 54 inch deck. Had oil coming out of the dip stick last fall and made a spot above the hydro. Thought it was a hydro going bad. I did have the dip stick on tight. The replaced it so it will not leak. My hydro are not serviceable but Toro did make a hole in the frame that goes to the top of the hydro where you’d add fluid. After my warranty is over I’ll vacuum out the hydro fluid and fill it with the same amount I take out. I’ll use the Toro synthetic hydro fluid or Amsoil hydro fluid.
I’ve got the Toro engine and I believe it’s built very well. My unit is 2 years old going on my last year of warranty. 15 hrs that’s all I got on it. We’ve had serious droughts the last 2 years. My yard is only a half acre. Got a very good deal on my Toro when I bought it because it was sitting in the dealer show room for a year. So it was a previous year’s model they said.
The Myride is so worth the money. Very smooth just incredible.
Thanks for the nice videos. Very informative. So, I picked up the Bad Boy MX Magnum 54", Kohler. I only have 2.6 hours on it, but what an amazing improvement over my old John-Deere LT180 48". I bought it used 10 year ago. Yes, the deck was bent. Only good thing about it was the Kawasaki engine.
I own a grasshopper, and it's been the best mower I've ever owned.
I like the grass hopper just don’t see many here in West Tennessee
Have a badboy 54 zt elite. servicable drive. 27 kawasaki. replaced bearings on spindles after about 6 yrs. love it. its simplicty reminded me of a snapper.
I've had my scag freedom Z 48" for 13 years. 1900 hrs. Replaced belts once and a starter. If it ever comes to it. I'll replace the briggs when it blows. Still running strongl
niccceeee
Good video. I mow part time now and own a Exmark Radius S mower with my ride. 2019 model. I have owned Hustler(love), Scag, Bad Boy (blew Kawasaki 300 hrs), cub cadet, Bad Boy, and toro. Lots of nice mowers these days but 10 grand vs 6 grand there is a lot of difference.
A commercial mower uses Scag equipment to mow a couple yards in my neighborhood really impressed with their decks.
Scags are great, but if you are impressed with the deck than you should check out the bad boy. Bad Boy has the hands down best build quality in the market.
My dad used to have a Yazoo ZT. With a steering wheel that turned the rear wheel like a forklift.
It was all steel & cast iron.
I bought a Cub cadet from Home Depot with a Kohler 22hp twin with LED headlights 4 years ago and it's been great.
I keep it clean and run the blades until dry. No issues.
$1,850+ tax then.
Have about 3 acres to mow.
I have ditches a banks and the Zero turns fight you on inclines even with a tight seatbelt.
I can't see paying $4,000 or more for a lawn mower unless you are using it to make money.
So happy for that! That's how I think too!
These people who had problems with zero turn from the big box store destroyed my will to buy from big box. I dont have much then 3.5k to spend on new zero turn. I have 2 acress. I dont know wich one to buy, and from where dealeship or big box. Best regards!
What you were calling an "odd" looking battery, was mostly likely a Lithium battery. They are better batteries in a few ways. They are much lighter, will hold a charge for 6 months to 1 year or even longer without a charge and need no maintenance. They will stay charged usually over winter without a maintainer. I switched over on my Kawasaki motorcycle and am well pleased. Now back to the mowers. Thanks for the great comparison video!
I have a 60HD Gravely that is about 11 years old with thousands of hours. I have replaced several spindles as there are no grease fittings and the flow channels underneath the deck are breaking loose. i do a lot of rough mowing on several yards and have gotten good service.
All the seats are made my seatking on most brands.. if you ever have a tear in the cover you can contact seatking and get the matching cover using you model number and it’s like a fraction of the cost of a new seat.
I had a few years working as a mower mechanic. Id say by far in our area the Toro was the best for reliability. We rarely got them in and were a dealer. The bad boys were okay but not quite the quality of Toro/Exmark(good customer service though on the dealer end). John deere tractors held up fairly well but saw our fair share probably because a lot of folks buy them at home depot. Walker isnt on your list but are high priced maintenance hogs and imo junk compared to the Toro version of the full time box bagger. Anything cub cadet is junk along with craftsman, troy bilt etc. All owned by MTD and just the cheapest of the cheap. Dixie chopper sucked and hard to get parts for. Dixon is out of business and junk. Gravely was down the road from us and talking with those guys they saw quite a few issues(one big one was spindle bearings on a specific year covered under warranty). Snapper was good. By the end of it I bought toro for my business(i also used them on a golf course for 6 years). They just seemed to be trouble free and heavy duty in construction.
keep in mind this is a mix of residential and commercial stuff. I forgot husqvarna and ariens. Ariens is alright, husky is junk.
The most helpful info I have read and what I have been looking for as I try pick a machine. Thanks for this.
Thanks for the experience and advice!
notice u didn’t mention Scag
Had a 1991 60” Dixie Chopper for a couple years, it cut well and fast but it had a terrible rough ride on my bumpy land, and severely under powered with the 22 hp Kohler. I decided get a used 2014 Scag Turf Tiger 26hp / 61”. I learned, don’t ever buy a used commercial ZTR, big mistake! After dumping a lot of $ into it, I cut my losses and traded it in on a brand new 2019 Turf TigerII 37hp EFI / 61”. Best mower I’ve used, nothing stops it. and you can cut at a relatively high speed with excellent results. The 26 hp EFI Kohler was underpowered on the first Turf Tiger, however the additional hp from the big block 37 hp Vanguard is a pleasure to use, but it’s a thirsty cat. The 12 gallon gas tank is a plus. Real nice machine if you can justify the cost.
No problem with the John Deere decks with the pockets at the blade spindles. Keep clean and dont leave your machine outdoors. Dry is the key. Round underside for smooth air flow is best compared to the flat right angled fabricated decks with all the welds. Oil change serviceable axle drives is most important⚠️ nice review
My JD Z445 had a really nice cut until I hit a root and bent the deck. In spite of my best attempts at repair it still cuts like shit. I'm going with a fab deck on my next mower.
Ive got the Bad Boy MZ Magnum 54". Its an awesome little beast. 26 hp kholer 7000 series, havent had any problems at all. Pretty heavy duty and easy to work on if needed (you wont have to work on this mower hardly ever).
Your photo of 2 blades being out of alignment on a stamped deck was eye opening.
I bought a John Deer S240 4 years ago and i have only 87 or so hours on it. I love it. The one thing is that the front tire tread wears pretty quick, I got a bald front tire. No issues mechanically. I do want to say I bought it at a dealer. I had a friend told me to go to the big box store and i did not like because they get the cheaper models. I wanted to have good knowledge staff and they been great.
I own a Gravely commercial zero turn and I haven't had much trouble with it. I did have to change out a spindle and the long belt. It has the Kawasaki motor and of course the serviceable wheel motors. I serviced the hydos myself and had to replace the short hoses from the tanks. Very easy to do. I went to the dealer yesterday and got a new belt and we talked about the new mowers with the self adjusting system for the belts and he said my setup makes the belt last longer because i have to adjust it myself. I have the twin tanks for longer run time.
Yes kawasaki motor and good transmission and heavy duty deck and solid frame . A friend of mine has a John that got about 130 hrs that got a broken frame because the frame is so thin it's about like one of them light weight camping cots and it broke in 2.places up by front right wheel and left side at the back of floors pan
I bought a John Deere Z355E three years ago, I've never had a problem with it. I took the front caps off of the front wheels at the top and looked at the bushings I have the steel type bearing bushings not the plastic type. I have never had any problems with my drive belt yet. I've never had any problems with my adjustments on my deck. Every time I get done mowing I clean it from top to bottom. I checked my air filter three times a year and changed the oil twice a year I maintain my blades two to three times a year. I live in a panhandle Florida where we do have sand and dirt. I've also only have 12.5 hours on (Z355E ) John Deere zero turn mower. I've got one other mower that I use off and on that is a Craftsman 2000 series It is well maintained the deck is completely fully rebuilt all deck bearings have been greased hand packed in all spindles. this is why my John Deere Z355E zero turn hours are lower on the John Deere . I maintain all my mowers top shape ‼️
I have a John Deere 525E. Just put the second set of Transaxles in it. First set at 3 years second set just before the 7 year warranty was up. Both covered by JD warranty and extended warranty so zero cost to me other than gas hauling it in. At 1997 hours not a cent spent on it. Still has the original belt. Warranty Talks.
Forgot I put blades on it.
Great video. The only issue I saw was that on the Bad Boy comparison to the Scag, they aren't equivalent models. Really the Scag lines up with the Bad Boy Avenger. The Avenger has serviceable transaxles.
None of these compares to scag lol
@@mattkemp5765ride quality alone puts bad boy above… explain…
@@mattkemp5765you are right, the Bad Boy build quality is far more superb so you shouldn’t compare the 2
Toro with the Kohler engine is the way to go. It’s fast & torquey. Scag, John, gravely, etc drive really slow compared to toro. I love the 36” & 30”. Very popular
I've been around all 3 but you can't get me away from country clipper and the joystick! By far the most comfortable to run and easy to service!
All hydrostatic transmissions are SERVICEABLE. What they mean when they say it is filter change or sub zt2800. If you're doing a info video like this, you need to specify exactly which trans a model comes with, as in the badboy I think is a zt2200, which is a relatively higher end residential, whereas a zt2800 would be the entry level commercial/highest end residential. The real thing you're buying with any of them are those two trans.
Wich residental zero turn for 3.5k$ you suggest?
In the sea of meny good and bad comment's, I dont anymore what model and where to buy.
2 takeaways: Yes, buy from a dealer. you'll get a more robust product than what hd and lowes has to offer and they actually work on the products they sell. Also I've had a good experience with scag so far. I have 130 hours on my libertyz and nothing has gone wrong in that time. I have changed the hydro fluid and filters once and did a few oil changes. I've added a donaldson filter set, qwuikchute and a suspension seat since owning it to make it more "commercial like". I've owned a toro timecutter with the stamped deck and you can tell the over all difference in quality. I wouldn't recommended banging a stamped deck mower off of objects because the deck or front casters wont hold up.
I have a 2003 52 in bobcat has almost 300 hours it’s a beast has dual tanks also.
I have a 2006 Great Dane Chariot ZTR, 52” fabricated deck (original greasable spindles), 23 hp twin cylinder Kohler Command w/Pro air cleaner, grease fitting’s everywhere, and Hydro Gear serviceable drive motors. 8 gallon gas tank under seat (low center of gravity). 1142 # and built like a tank. NOT ONE MAJOR PROBLEM AT ALL!! The only problem with mine is that I have to replace the little rubber dust ejector on the air filter housing because it melts!! About 450 hrs on it. I only run ethanol-free gas and full synthetic oil changed each spring.
Good things ain't cheap and cheap things ain't good.
Get a kawi with the 2 element air filter and keep oil & filter changed. Happy mowing for many years.
Gravely X is serviceable its tye smaller 2200 series 1.2 qts . The XL has servicable 2800 series 5qts
I worked for a municipal council here in the UK for 10 years and we only used three of the units on your list.
I have only used Toro, Scag and Ariens.
Toro is made to a price point.
It is cheap to make, cheap to run and cheap to service. Minimal expensive parts to go wrong... But the quality is in that price point!
It is also simple to service out on the job... Slipped belts were a bitch but you could fix them easy enough yourself without any problems.
But they were fiddly to use... They did the job but you had to kinda fight them to do the job.
Scag is more expensive but WAAAAAY more robust.
They are built to last. We had Scags that were 15 years old and were HAMMERED but they kept on chugging!
They were not cheap to replace parts but they didn't need them so often.
The problem was that the equipment we used (32"/48" pedestrians) were badly designed.
If you know what "Scag rash" is then you know why they are poorly designed!
Ariens is "meh".
Average along the lines.
Average cost, average quality, average repair costs... But all the ones we used needed tweaking in-house.
Nothing ever came "right"... Not a single piece of equipment we used was "Good" or "Nice to use".
Not sure if you will ever cover them... But we also used Ferris.
Expensive for what they are. Not cheap to run or service.
Cheap on fuel though... VERY economical!
Fun to use, very easy and not as tiring as ones you have to fight (I'm looking at you, Toro)
A bitch to repair on site. SOOOOO overly complicated and over-engineered.
I wonder if there is a difference between the US and UK stuff???
For the price you pay for entry level mowers, just get a used commercial for the same price may have to put a little work into it but it will be more reliable in the long run. I bought a used Exmark Lazer Z for $2700 needed some work an additional $1300 at the dealer it’s good to go. I wanted a pump and motor design so if something goes wrong with the transmission it can be rebuilt or pieces replaced cheaper than everything in one which can cost you $2000 and up.
Correct me if im wrong but the 2023 Gravely ZTX hydros are now serviceable, huge upgrade to the previous models. From Gravely's website "HYDRO-GEAR SERVICEABLE EZT TRANSAXLES Serviceable transaxles have optimized cooling to ensure smooth running for years to come. New service ports allow oil changes to"
Correct, the one in his video does not appear to be the newest model. It now has the new X-Factor 11-gauge fabricated deck , which also features metal covers over the spindles instead of the plastic one shown.
Great content; enjoyed the level of detail in these comparisons. Appreciate the efforts to put a video like this together. Looking forward to the Kub n Husq ZT video!
Great looking mowers farshure
for the average homeowner the transmission is not a deal breaker because all the tranny's are built great for your average 1/2 to 1 acre mow job. For me its about the bearings lasting then cut quality and then having enough engine power for a great cut quality if the lawn gets to long. A lot of mowers are over built for the average lawn. Oh Ya, some sort of suspension or dampeners, like my Bad Boy Maverick has.
I know you couldnt have done all brands but World lawn diamond back is hands down best for you money. 4500 for 10 mile an hr forward 5 reverse 9.5 gallons all kawasaki engines
I would put a 6" high 1/4" flat plate section to raise the height of the back bumper to protect the carburetor.
Have you done a full review on the Bobcat ZT2000 & ZT3000 yet? Interested to hear your thoughts.
You might want to rework the part about the Bad Boy recommendation near the end of the video, there is a dual voice over...... gggrrrrr! BUT, you have shown me which one to buy and Why !! Thank you !
The shop that I use to deal with had residential gravely z.t.r mower that was painted Black and red
One thing that would be extremely attractive on a gas rider, if it had a quiet exhaust and quiet intake. When I replaced my shop air compressor, I bought one that is very quiet, soooooo much nicer.
There is a sub model of the EZT transmission that is serviceable with at least a drain plug (no filter though). So far I've only found it in the Gravely X
Thanks for sharing that and thanks for watching
@@Mechanical_MindHow often would a homeowner with less than 1 acre need to service a hydro transmission?
@mhess427 on the John Deere Ztrak 900s JD recommended the hydros oil and filter to be changed at 600 hours
@@Mechanical_Mind ok wow. That's probably at least ten years for me, if not more. I can safely say I probably don't need them then. Thanks. The cub cadet zt1 52p keeps looking better and better.
I’ve had an Exmark 44” phaser since 2008
I have a 2006 Great Dane Chariot ZTR, 52” fabricated deck (original greasable spindles), 23 hp twin cylinder Kohler Command w/Pro air cleaner, grease fitting’s everywhere, and Hydro Gear serviceable drive motors. 8 gallon gas tank under seat (low center of gravity). 1142 # and built like a tank. NOT ONE MAJOR PROBLEM AT ALL!! The only problem with mine is that I have to replace the little rubber dust ejector on the air filter housing because it melts!! About 450 hrs on it. I only run ethanol-free gas and full synthetic oil changed each spring.
man you killed it. Great video.
Would love to see you review the time cutter. Looking at a 34 inch zero turn since I have a 42 inch gate. Very limited options for zero turns under 42 inches.
I bought it new in 2007. I personally think that the pro air cleaner setup, grease fittings everywhere (I don’t want anything with just bushings and plastic in the pivot points or bearings), fabricated 3/16 - 1/4” deck, and the serviceable hydros are what to look for when buying a mower. My hydros don’t have cooling fans on them like some comparisons that I’ve seen from other mowers (which bothered me), and the reservoir gets VERY HOT!, but called hydro gear co. and they said that they weren’t needed on those particular motors. I guess so. It’s been almost 20 years and still goes like it did when it was new.
It would help if you specified what brand of zero turn you’re talking about here lol
I don’t know about any years before 23 but the 2023 gravely does have serviceable transmissions
Great video keep them coming!
Thank you Jerry for your continued support! I do appreciate it
You've got to compare the gravely zt HD to what you were looking at for the others.
Exactly what I was lookin for
A couple brands I’d like to see talked about are Simplicity and Ferris. Really enjoying the channel. Thanks for the vids. Subbed 👍🏻
I want to do Ferris and Hustler next. Then get into the lawn tractors vs zero turns. Them cover the higher priced zero turns.
@@Mechanical_Mind Great. I’ll be looking for those videos sir👍🏻🇺🇸
Thin deck on the 42" John Deere but at least the 48" & 54" are 10ga stamped on the Z300 series. Should I add spindle reinforcement rings to my 48" John Deere Z330R's deck while it is still brand new or are those only for when it starts to wear out the mounting holes?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the gravely made the trans serviceable on the new 2023 ztx model now.
Im not sure on that honestly. You may be right
Yes they did.
I have the 2022 Ariens Ikon XD 52 Limited Edition. It was only available last yr. and each dealership only got around 5 of them. The big chain stores didn't get any. I chose it over the Gravely only because my dealershop didn't have a Gravely with the Kawi motor. The Ilon had the motor and had some nice upgrades that the Gravely did not. They were the same price and as Ariens makes Gravely. Both are made at the same plant in WI. and other then the colors and badges are the same mower. So if you're looking at a Gravely, look at the Ariens as well you will get the dame mower just a little bit cheaper price.
On anotjer mote. The 2023 Gravely and Ariens the gas fill cap is to gar forward on the side and prone to getting smacked by branches and otjer things. This will famage the gas tank and it will have to be replaced. $400+ for the tank. I feel this is a flaw and Ariens needs to address this problem. Nrw desing is nice over all on the 2023 models but tjat gas fill cap spot is just a bad design. I love my Ikon and it is very well made. I have no regrets. I would buy it again.
Bobcat is made in Louisville KY in the former Burton factory
My new scag mower's manual says to use 93 octane and non ethanol ⁉️ Is this type gasoline available ⁉️
I find it hard to believe that its engine makes enough compression to need 93 octane. I would definitely recommend ethonal free. Here in FL 89 octane ethonal free is available at many gas stations. Depends on your area
One owner put it out their with his Ariens , a patented mowing blade seemed to be a good thing to hear from a dealer , a more critical examination was the blade had very little thickness for sharpening purposes , it was used for 2 days in a commercial setting and had found the blades for this new model was a failure point in which this part should be serviceable , in this case it was not only had limited sharpening material to work with but the blades end was failing with separation at the ends to further unbalancing its weight . If you have these type of antics going on , you can see theirs more concern for investors getting a return than the buyer of the product .
i have a john deere d140 from 2014, 2015 i cant remember, and i hate that mower, it just does not feel right. i would love a zero turn but have too many hills and uneven ground. the only one i did find for its replacement is the new cub cadet ultima ztxs4 steering zero turn mower. i do like the toro mowers but they are zero turn only, are Husqvarna mowers good? or even a Kubota riding mower?
200 series gravely life time deck warranty. Including labor. For as long as you have it.
Thats pretty good
I just bought me a hustler fas trek 54 inch zero turn. The thing is a warhorse.
I never had a John deere that cut level
So witch one would you bye and put a bagger on thanks for all the information
Ariens & Gravely are the same mower now. Toro and Exmark are also the same.
I would like to have seen the Husqvarna z242F included in this review, but it was a good video
I noticed a distinct lack of front pivot axle. I have hilly and uneven terrain.
In 2016 I bought a new Bad Boy Outlaw XP 61” with the Kawasaki V-Twin engine. It’s accumulated 400 hrs. mowing my three acres and some of the neighbors similarly sized lots. Bought several sets of blades so I can change them out quickly and am following factory recommendations for maintenance. The only issue has been a blade clutch switch went out, which I easily replaced with a factory part. I recently had a chunk of wood get lodged in the main drive belt damaging it so I replaced it with a factory belt. As noted here, these critters are built like a tank. Heavy gauge steel everywhere, even the rear surround is made of this really thick steel. The mowers design makes it easy to keep clean and the twin 7 gallon gas tanks keeps me mowing for hours and hours. I did do a couple of modifications. I had the front caster tires solid filled. This not only prevents flats, it prevents those tires from easily “rolling” off the rim if you find yourself nose down in a ditch trying to get out. I also installed LED lighting to the front and to the front sides (pointed down to show me the deck) as I have taken to mowing a lot at night. It’s way cooler in the Texas summers, I can see the “lanes” much better than in daylight and my neighbors don’t care. I also installed a cover for the discharge chute named the “Advanced Chute System”. Its heavy construction compliments the mower, helps when mulching and can be engaged from the seat if you find yourself in a location where you don’t want to throw clippings into a pool, on a wall, road, driveway, etc. So yes, I’m very happy with this machine. 🫡
Does any one have any reviews on the Scag SR engine? I am looking at the 48” deck but am having a hard time finding any sort of review on this engine. Any reviews would be appreciated!
Good, Thx
I’ve been told by a couple of guy’s who work on scag say, the scag engine is a predator engine made in china. Now I don’t know if that means anything bad or not. I prefer to buy American made products so I would probably choose the Kohler.
The gravely now has drain plugs in the hydros
Could I put those new caster wheel bearings and tires on my z335e ?
I dont think you could. That new frame looked like it had a bigger diameter than the year models that used the plastic bushings.
Good review and comparison, but have not actually used any of them...
Nope, I just repair them. Mechanic, not a landscaper.
Some EZT 2200 transmissions have optional drain plugs. They are identified by the second digit in the model number. At least it's a little easier to swap the oil.
I liked my single cylinder 21 hp briggs I finally traded it in 13 years old no issues just wanted a new one lol I have a half acre all slope.i got the 22hp v twin now on my new jd and I don't like it it sucks gas compared to my other one and the engine is not a smooth running engine I like my stuff to sound good lol I had sent it back to jd and they said thats how it sounds.only thing I like it does have more power and wide back tires don't get stuck when the yard is damp
Hydrogear zt 2200 has an option for being serviced
Bad boy zt elite. Serviceable transmission and Kawasaki motor. Not much more money to move up. I think those bb models compete more with the toro timecutters. Similar specs but better build quality.
Do you ever use calipers to measure deck thicknesses or just take a guess?
Also keep in mind is the different warranties on these mowers
If there is one riding lawn mower you would recommend that also has to work inclines and declines where the mower will not be level at all times what would it be? I just bought a property and will need to buy one soon. Your recommendation is appreciated, thank you.
Depends on what you are willing to spend. Riding Lawn tractors I really like the John Deere X300 series line up. Ive never driven a X300 that I didnt like.
For Residential Zero turns:
Under $5k = Bad Boy MZ magnum
Over $5k = Scag Liberty Z (better transmissions)
Over $10K you could get a commercial zero turn. I like John Deere for their warranty. Z930M with Michelin Tweels.
Dealers will also have used commercial mower available.
Commercial Standers:
John Deere 636M is a little tank.
Husqvarna z350 or z380
Scag Simply the Best
They are nice machines.
8K for a mower and 90K for a pickup
Folks you’ll are nuts, fix what you have and a new motor plus misc stuff makes Sense
8k? Mine was 14 lol
@@robbiehensley2843 that's not something to be proud of lol..
@@matthewm3912 It is when it pays itself off the first summer.
Watched this video multiple times and each segment again when I’m looking at that particular mower. I have a 1/2 acre and after watching this am leaning towards the Bad Boy Boy MZ Rambler 42. Thanks for great content. Let me know if there is anything else you think I should look at for under $4K.
For 2023, they switched to a Briggs single cylinder, which removed it from my list.
@@the_tigwhat do you think about husqvarna 254f special edition. Lowe’s has it for $400 off
I have been curious why most all reviews never include the Hustler and country clipper. Being that Hustler has been around since 1964. Country Clipper has been around for at least 15+ yeas.
Good stuff. Thank you. 👍
Thank you for watching! 🍻
I appreciate you honest review ; however I am not satisfied with what might be my best choice of Zero turn mower . ? 🤷♂️
Could you “ condense “ your “ recipe @ as to which mower might be a better choice ? 😉
I am more interested in how I could better preform maintenance/rebuild/self preformed rebuild and repair services preformed by myself ; I have considerable ability experience with mechanical repairs that I am capable of doing myself .?
The day I made this video, I had no intention of making any video at all. As I visted some of the dealerships that I sell my products to. I knew I wasn't going to be able to cover all the brands in this one video. I have made several more similar to this one since covering other brands.
My personal recipe is :
#1 deck quality. How thick is the deck and Welded/ Fabricated are better than stamped decks.
#2 Engine. On Zero turns I prefer Kohler or Kawaskai. No EFI and no 1 cylinder engines.
#3 Transmission size
#4 Frame quality - Especially the frame holding the front caster arms.
#5 other features like how easy is it to access the top of the deck for cleaning and maintenance, seat quality etc.