Hoosier Bullets

Zero turn mowers

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    Brandon

    Brandon

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    11   0   0
    Jun 28, 2010
    8,268
    113
    SE Indy
    lovemachine said:
    The John Deere I was looking at has a Kawasaki too.
    Click to expand...
    This is my experience:
    Hustler, 2007 with Kawasaki v twin, 48" deck, 3 blades, I did the maintenance on it from 2007 to 2017 and once or twice from then to now. (@Family members now).

    Easy to service transmissions , with filters on each, easy to access oil filter and valve for oil changes.

    Only replaced belts, plugs and fuel filters as well as blades.

    Last count it had 9XX hours.

    JD S240 tractor style mower
    Bought new in '17?

    Has JD engine, believe that is a brigs? Feels under powered, very sensitive to the gas in it, spudders if the gas is more than a couple weeks old. Has only 2 blades, boggs down easily, doesn't cut nearly as nice as the hustler.

    Since is a tractor design, the oil changing isnt comparable however on the transmission there is no serviceable filter.

    Ive seen the fluid go in the hustler and what it comes out as. A filter would be nice.

    I think that is about as much as I can compare the 2 fairly given one is a ztr and the other isnt.
     
    Bugzilla

    Bugzilla

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Apr 14, 2021
    4,199
    113
    DeMotte
    HoughMade said:
    I'm not a zero-turn guy, but I am a Kawasaki small engine guy. Just traded in my 27 year old, 2,500 hour lawn tractor with a Kawasaki for a much newer lawn tractor with a Kawasaki.
    Click to expand...
    After getting a JD425 (used) with the Kawasaki soft cam engine that failed a few years later I try to avoid Kawasaki engines. Although that was a one time quality issue, getting stuck with the cost is what ticked me off.
     
    ghuns

    ghuns

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Nov 22, 2011
    9,452
    113
    Bugzilla said:
    After getting a JD425 (used) with the Kawasaki soft cam engine that failed a few years later I try to avoid Kawasaki engines. Although that was a one time quality issue, getting stuck with the cost is what ticked me off.
    Click to expand...
    My 445 is about to turn 2600 hours.

    I have replaced the oil pump gear and the head gaskets, back around 1800-2000 hours.
     
    stevezx2

    stevezx2

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 21, 2018
    45
    33
    Hartford City
    INP8riot said:
    Well, I pulled the trigger today on a new Ferris ISX 800 with a 60" deck. It will be perfect for my 2 acres. I test rode it there and their field was quite rough. The suspension seat and suspension ride greatly tamed it!
    Click to expand...

    I don't think you'll be disappointed with the ferris. I service a lot of mowers for people and the one ferris I've done was one of the most heavy built mowers I've seen. It was also about the fastest I've used and with the full suspension and suspension seat you could actually mow at full speed.
     
    stevezx2

    stevezx2

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Dec 21, 2018
    45
    33
    Hartford City
    lovemachine said:
    I’m currently in the market for a new zero turn as well. Been looking at a John Deere and a Hustler.
    Click to expand...
    I'm a big fan of Hustler, my last 2 have been Hustlers and they are great. But Hustler was recently purchased by Stanley Black and Decker, much like craftsman was.. I'd be weary of declining build quality in the future.

    I've never been a John Deere fan. A lot of their mowers are built my AYP and are the same as many lower end mower (Husqvarna) just with a different color paint.

    If I were going to purchase a new mower now I'd look pretty hard at what Gravely has to offer. They seem well built and haven't gotten too badly priced yet. Depending on how large you want to go, another heavy built one that might be a little more expensive would be a Kubota.
     
    INP8riot

    INP8riot

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 17, 2023
    428
    93
    Rockville
    stevezx2 said:
    I don't think you'll be disappointed with the ferris. I service a lot of mowers for people and the one ferris I've done was one of the most heavy built mowers I've seen. It was also about the fastest I've used and with the full suspension and suspension seat you could actually mow at full speed.
    Click to expand...
    I'm very glad to hear that! I did get to cut my grass last Friday. As you stated I was dang near at full speed and I was thinking there's no way I'm getting a good cut! The grass is pretty dry so it did cut good. I might have to be conscious of that when its nice and lush in the spring and slow it down. I also like the fact they have greasable spindles. I know it is debateable sealed vs greasable, but I want to be able to get fresh grease in there!

    I was able to cut my grass in 1 hour when it was taking me over double that. Given the picture below for comparison, it is no wonder why! I took the deck off the Husqvarna and it is now for towing the sprayer and yard sweeper for the pine needles.

    20240907_144411.jpg
     
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    INP8riot

    INP8riot

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 17, 2023
    428
    93
    Rockville
    stevezx2 said:
    I'm a big fan of Hustler, my last 2 have been Hustlers and they are great. But Hustler was recently purchased by Stanley Black and Decker, much like craftsman was.. I'd be weary of declining build quality in the future.

    I've never been a John Deere fan. A lot of their mowers are built my AYP and are the same as many lower end mower (Husqvarna) just with a different color paint.

    If I were going to purchase a new mower now I'd look pretty hard at what Gravely has to offer. They seem well built and haven't gotten too badly priced yet. Depending on how large you want to go, another heavy built one that might be a little more expensive would be a Kubota.
    Click to expand...
    Kubota was my #2 choice and it only lost because of the suspension. Had it been apples to apples, it may have won. The dealers closest to me had Ferris, Bad Boy, Kubota, Dixie Chopper and Stihl (which I hear is made at the Ferris facility).
     
    Mij

    Mij

    Permaplinker
    Site Supporter
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    1   0   0
    May 22, 2022
    7,002
    113
    In the corn and beans
    INP8riot said:
    Kubota was my #2 choice and it only lost because of the suspension. Had it been apples to apples, it may have won. The dealers closest to me had Ferris, Bad Boy, Kubota, Dixie Chopper and Stihl (which I hear is made at the Ferris facility).
    Click to expand...
    Nice, and like I said up thread, heads up on those low tree branches. Those ROPS bars are unforgiving as ****. :lmfao:
     
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