ZTR mower selection (cub vs. hustler vs. exmark)

[sjz60]

I am interested in purchasing a commercial or commercial type mower for home use. Does anyone have any experience with the Cub Cadet Tank? I have been looking at these, along with Toro Timecutter, Hustler Fastrack, as well as other more expensive full commercial ZTR mowers (Lazer, Scag, Z/MiniZ, Etc).

I have a pretty good deal lined up on a M48 tank, but am concerned that 19HP Kawi is too small, and I have not heard too many good things about Cub Cadet lawn tractors as of late.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Scott]

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I don't have any experience with the Cub but I have some with the motor. That kawasaki is plenty enough to push that 48in around the yard a few hundred times. If you take care of that motor it'll take care of you. Do the routine maintenance, air filter, oil, lube, etc... and you should be ok if you're using that for only your yard, or your whole neighborhood.

[txmow]

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That mower should be plenty good enough for home owner use. kawasakis are good engines and should last a long time if well taken care of.

[sjz60]

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Thanks for the feedback. If I were in alone on this, I'd probably get the Hustler (and I still may do that). But a neighbor and I got a good price by offering to purchase two M48 Tanks with the fabricated deck/19HP Kawi's. Best price I have gotten out the door on the Fastrack is $4900 and change. M48 tank is $6148 out the door, but may wind up being less. Is it worth another grand for a full commercial mower?

Some things I am concerned with the Cub Cadet are:

MTD/Cub reputation, weight (980+ lbs for the M48 seems kinda heavy..turf concerns?), 19HP engine-I was hoping to get a 21HP, but it is not an option, deck design/cutting ability, non-full floating deck (deck not on chains). I am waiting for a demo of the tank before I make up my mind. I would purchase the hustler based on seeing it in person, and in my opinion it would cut/perform better than the TimecutterZ.

If I saw Cub Cadet Commercial Mowers all over the place around here, I would be less leary of it, but all I ever see are exmark, toro, bobcat, hustler, and some scag. I want to be able to cut my lawn 1-2x per week, quickly, with little or no need to double cut.

[lawrence stone]

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A 48" ZTR is a complete joke. The deck has like 2" offset vs. the drive tire.

While trimming your face is going be right up against any obstructions.

An old 52" Toro walk behind with a two-wheeled sulky would be a much better choice for it has a 14" deck offset vs. the drive tire.

My 62" walk behind has over 22" of offset and you will really appreciate this when you have to trim around some big pine trees.

If you are going to buy a ZTR get at least a 60" deck and buy a machine that has the most offset available.


"The Frugal Agronomist"

[GrassMaster]

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Hell Everybody:

I have to Agree on this one, Because the More Offset the Better. A Lot of the New Guys around here start out with the 21" Mower.

They all want to Reduce the Trimming Time as Much as Possible, So they are Running Right Next to the Edge of the Bed & No Matter How Good they are, How Slow they are, or What Sooner or Later they Run that Mower off the Edge of the Bed Thus Scalping it & Leaving the Good Old I Saved Time Triming Next to the Edge, Circle. This Causes them to Loose Accounts doing this.

Now if they had at Least a Little Bit of a Offset, (The More The Better) they Could Fly around those Edges Safely with out Scalping & Reducing their Trim Time to Nothing. Because the More the offset the Further they are From the Edge of the Bed. Just think about it?

Of Course if you Like Spending Extra Time & Skinning & Scalping don't Worry about it.

I Learned the Hard Way when I First Started & I Really Disliked the Mower because the one I had, Didn't have a Offset.

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[Scott]

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sjz60, you could save yourself alot of time and money and hire one of us to cut your yard on a weekly basis. You wouldn't have to worry about edging, trimming, or blowing the leaves, we offer all of that and with a <b><u>"Lawnservicing.com Special Discount"</b></u>, see Zack for details.

LS and Mr Admin might have thrown a monkey wrench into your plans. But a walk-behind with a velke/sulky could possibly be cheaper.
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>A complete joke? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote> I don't know about that since it's for your yard, and it's your money and you have to store that bad boy whether it's a 60in wb or a 48in ztr. LS has good info, you just have to disregard his personal opinions which are usually inputted in his initial sentence.

In case you don't know what a sulky is,
http://landscapermart.com/~landscap/cgi-bin/cart.cgi/4476000.html?id=x23M9IgY

[Maddog]

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This is my second year with a Tank. I run a 54" with the 23hp kawasaki and it has served me well so far. It has a nice cut and a floating deck. The dealer hear just sold a 48" with ony just over 100 hrs. for $4,000.00 and remainder of the warranty. I plan on adding another one next year.

[lawrence stone]

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There is one ZTR that might be acceptable in the world of Stone.

That is the compact toro model with the 52" mowing deck. If the mowing deck has close to an 8" deck offset that would put it in the same league (as far as trimming ability) as a 44" Toro walkbehind.

The 52" Toro deck is most desirable when mowing bluegrass. Excellent all around performer.

"The Frugal Agronomist"

[nohhousefire]

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An offset deck has good points and bad. Does make trimming easier on some things but if you have rolling ground with any type terrace effect they create a mowing nightmare and thats a fact jack.

[WLS]

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I have the cub tank M-60, have not had any problems with it now on its second year, stripes excellant. Also have a MTD Pro 48" hydro that too runs and cuts good. I got 77 clients that I cut on weekly basis so far they have held up. Will be adding another M-60 this winter. Heard a rumor Cub is coming out with a 72", and naturally bigger motor, possible water cooled or diesel.

Bernie

[Maddog]

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Bernie, the 2002 Tanks also have a redesigned hydro drive. I have the 2001 M54 (first year design). It cuts great and I have had alot of good comments from customers. I am planing on buying an additional Tank for next season.

[tweety]

hey there, not sure if your interested in a used mower, but i just sold my house, and my big yard... moving to a smaller house with a much smaller yard, and i wont be needing my m60 tank. looking for 5500, i think thats a fair price, cause it only has 76 hours on it. i think i bought it in 04 and it has the kawasaki 25hp it is a great machine ,and in great shape, so if your serious and can pick it up from akron ohio, let me know via email @ wlozier@neo.rr.com . or you can find it on ebay later this week or next.

[Woody]

What a frigging retard. He signs up just to try and pawn off his mower (once again we have a failure to comprehend what each FORUM is for), and tries to do so in a thread that is FOUR YEARS OLD!

Don't you think "sjz60" probably found the mower he was looking for BACK IN 2002, WHEN HE MADE THE POST!?!

This one really ranks up there, so I'll finish this with a famous quote....

"The only things infinite are the universe and human stupidity, and I am unsure about the former."