Exmark 36" belt vs. Quick 36 vs. Used???

[Watkinslawnservice]

I am going to buy a 36" mower this spring. I think I have narrowed down my choices. What would you guys do?

Exmark 36 belt drive- Nice mower, goor dealer service, probably a good mulcher, not hydro, about $2500.00

Quick 36- Hydro!, unknown, Jack D says it won't do a good job at mulching, no dealer support, good price $2300.00

Used equipment- who knows how long it will last, who knows if I will find a good deal in time for season, but could possibly get a full hydro or 2 belt drives at the price of these other units.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Especially from Jack D. I like your coments.

Dave

[AAffordable]

Check Ebay for great deals! We picked up a 36" Belt drive Scag almost New with very Low hours, electric start, electric PTO and it also came with skates for only $1350.

Just research what you are looking at this unit was baught for his son that was used for only one year, then he went to college and it went in garrage where it lived tell we picked it up. Very well maintained!!

[Mo Green]

If those were my only 3 choices, I would go with the Exmark. You said it yourself; good mower and good dealer support. What more could you ask for. But I think I would spend the few extra bucks and get the 36" Exmark Hydro.

[Scaper-S2k]

Why not go with the Quick36? You are saying they won't do something because ONE guy says they won't? One guy that hasn't used one, or even seen one? One guy out of the entire North American continent, not even living in the USA?


What if I told you the Exmark sucks? Or buying used is not good?

We can't even be sure Jack is male or female, 90 years old, or even in this biz. The same holds true for you, me and everyone else here.



So when only one guy tells me something bad about a brand, I don't put much stake in it without some TRUE knowledge of the equipment being discussed. Some hands on experience of that model, and comparing other brands. Without it, they are talking to the wind.


This is just my opinion.

[Jack D.]

Jack D. does not own, nor has he operated a Q36". However, Jack D. has used many mowers w/block off plates for mulching. The fact that the Q36" uses 3 unbaffled chambers means that the grass passing from chamber to chamber does not get cut finer before slamming into the block-off plate and leaving windrows. You are also unable to purchase wavy mulch blades for the Q36", which are far superior than the serrated or Gator blades in mulch mode that are currently avail. for the unit.

An eXmark 36" belt may not be quite as maneuverable as the Q36" but Jack D can guarantee that w/the fully baffled mulch kit, larger twin chambers and avail eXmark eXcalibur Mulch Blades, mulching ability will be far superior.

Ideally you will want a 36" Tracerhp.

Please note this pic shows the baffled mulch kit of a 36" deck but not the proper mulch blades. Below the proper mulch blades are pictured.

[blade2blade]

this is off subject, but who makes these kwik jacks in this pic? & which is better, kwik jack or the jungle jack? need an on-road jack, but didnt know if one was better than the other.thanks.

[Jack D.]

Mr. blade2blade, Kwick Jacks are avail. here.

http://www.ballard-inc.com/kwikjack.htm

As these Jacks can be attached to the mower they are more functional than a seperate unit. They are useful, not only for any under deck maint. on all types of Walks but especially for quick caster height adjusts on Fixed Deck units.

There may be 3 potential problems w/creating a baffled mulch kit for the current Q36" deck. First, the lack of front baffling, as w/the Toro SFS deck, means the mulch baffles would have to be more extensive; second, Jack D. is unsure of the depth of the Q36" deck but a mulch deck needs to be at least 5" deep; third, it is Jack D.'s experience that 3-smaller 12" isolated chambers, such as the Q36" would have, will not mulch as well as 2 larger 16" chambers due to the tip speed afforded longer blades.

Perhaps an entire new deck would be needed.

Regardless, should the Q36" prove itself in mulch mode either through a new deck or a proper kit, Jack D. believes this unit may well surpass the productivity and functionability of the traditional belt drives that incorperate modern mulching technology in their decks.

[work it]

From what I've seen the Better Quick 36 is a good mower. I've looked at them a couple times over the last year, but (as mentioned earlier) dealer support is very important to me. Same problem I had with Bad Boy mowers. They're well constructed, but hard to get parts for due to there being a lack of dealerships in my area. Another thing to take into consideration is the belt drive. I have a Bunton 48" belt drive and using it in wet conditions is impossible. Steep hills with a belt drive are also a challenge. IMHO I would look for a good deal on a hydro. Just a little something to take into consideration.

[Watkinslawnservice]

Thanks every one for your input. That is what makes this board such a usefull tool!

AAfordable- I have been checking e-bay and can not find anything even remotely close to me so that I could go and physically check it out. I saw that mower that you bought. I thought it was a pretty good deal too, but way too far away to be considered for me.

Mo Green- are there some other choices I should be considering?

Scaper- I understand what you are saying but unless I actually shell out the cash and buy a Q36 I will never have hands on experience with this unit. By then it may be too late if I don't like something about it. I am just looking for some insight and I remember Jack D's comments about the potential mulching problems with the Q36. I was just hopeing that he might comment about it and refresh my memory. If anyone has some real experience with these units I would love to hear about it and would take your comments more seriously than someone that has never used one but for now this is all I have to go by.

Jack D.- Are you male or female? Are you 90 yrs old? Are you in the biz?

[Mo Green]

I would look at every availible piece of equipment at all dealers in your area. Talk to the people there to see if you feel as though you can trust them. I'm in the market for a new walkbehind, myself. I've been to every dealer within 30 miles of my house. The more you look around, the more you notice things that make each brand of mower unique. Then it's easier for you to decide what is right for you.

[Jack D.]

Mr. Watkinslawnservice, please note that Mr. Skaper is yet another Lawn Jockey unable to realize the immense profits in mowing and forced to offer low rent landscape jobs to supplement mowing income. Had he listened to Jack D. many years ago, he may have been part of the exploding residential mowing market and burdened only with unlimited growth and profits. Instead he stagnates in the "lawn" maintenance of low end fast food joints such as Arby's and Popeye's.

[trkgrass]

My saying is, "don't knock it until you try it". I have owned and used alot of different brands of mower's in the last 15 plus years and I go out on a limb at times to find out what that or this mower is all about for myself instead of reading or listening to folks ramble on who never own or operated one. I have the Quick36 and IMO it is a quality mower for the cost. As far as dealer support, they are a phone call away to get parts or find out where you can take it to get fixed. The maintenance on the Quick36 is simple to do and maintain. Mowing - side discharging - no problems in wet grass using high lifts or gators. Mulching - no problems using gators, mulch plate - there is no dead space for the grass to stay, no trail of grass clippings. Bagging - I use the Accelerator grass catcher and it packs up tight using high lifts or gators. I have a few belt drives and this mower is alot easier to handle and turning it, takes very little effort. It works for me.

[KCM]

this is off subject, but who makes these kwik jacks in this pic? & which is better, kwik jack or the jungle jack? need an on-road jack, but didnt know if one was better than the other.thanks.

Just use the belt cover and stand it up so it props the deck up.

[Watkinslawnservice]

Thank you trkgrass. That is the kind of insight I was looking for on the quick 36. Maybe I should start a different thread about actual users of the Q36.

[RRS]

Thank you trkgrass. That is the kind of insight I was looking for on the quick 36. Maybe I should start a different thread about actual users of the Q36.

Use the search feature here on the forum to search for quick 36. You'll find posts from people that own one.