Just wondering who has purchased a 0 turn mower from Kubota gas or diesel . What do you like or don’t like about it. I know every machine has their issues , just want a general idea of how you like your machine . Deere wants me to buy a machine and I told them I’ve got options before spring . Thanks
Pros and cons to Kubota 0 turn mowers
- Thread starter OlFerguson
- Start date
TheOldHokie
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
I dont own a ZTR but I think your question depends a lot on your budget.
I see lots of commercial landscaping companies in our area and very few have anything green on their trailers.
Red or yellow is probably the most popular color. Some brands sporting Kubota diesel engines.
Orange seems to be trailing green and usually owned by what looks like a one man operation.
Dan
On this farm all my big tractors are Green. I have the MX6000 and I really like it. I have owned a couple Green mowers and won't own any more. I am on my third Grasshopper Zero turn with Kubota engines in it and I really Grasshopper zero turns. My Bobcat skid loader has a Kubota engine in it. My side by side is a Kubota with a diesel engine. I like the Kubota diesel engines. Buddy runs a smaller lawn service and they run Kubota zero turns with diesel engines and really like them. Not a lot of Kubota dealers in my area so the big guys seem to run Scag, Exmark and some grasshoppers. Plenty of dealers.
I’ve had a ZG127 54” and now have a ZD331 60”. Both bought used.
What’s your intended use? Residential or commercial for a lawn business?
I had small issues with the ZG but nothing major, it just seemed like every year during the summer I would have to fix something small. Starter, a few spindle bearings, deck belt, crankshaft bolt kept coming out and dropping the PTO clutch.
I grease the ZD about every 10 hours, other than a full service when I bought it. Which I do on anything I buy used. The fuel usage on the ZD is great. The ZD is definitely overkill for my yard and I definitely couldn’t justify it to buy a similar model new so I found this one at a good price, it was listed for sale in January.
Commercial users especially that have multiple mowers tend to run the mowers until the warranty is up and trade them in. To have less down time with broken equipment and for tax purposes. I’ve seen on other forums there they are likely to swap brands biased on the service during that warranty period from a dealership more so the actual brand of equipment.
What’s your intended use? Residential or commercial for a lawn business?
I had small issues with the ZG but nothing major, it just seemed like every year during the summer I would have to fix something small. Starter, a few spindle bearings, deck belt, crankshaft bolt kept coming out and dropping the PTO clutch.
I grease the ZD about every 10 hours, other than a full service when I bought it. Which I do on anything I buy used. The fuel usage on the ZD is great. The ZD is definitely overkill for my yard and I definitely couldn’t justify it to buy a similar model new so I found this one at a good price, it was listed for sale in January.
Commercial users especially that have multiple mowers tend to run the mowers until the warranty is up and trade them in. To have less down time with broken equipment and for tax purposes. I’ve seen on other forums there they are likely to swap brands biased on the service during that warranty period from a dealership more so the actual brand of equipment.
RMS
Well-known member
Equipment
LX2610HSDC, RCR1260, PFL1242, LX2963, RB1684, WC-68,Flail Mower,Grapple, Z421
I bought a Z421 with a 60" deck this summer and have had no issues at all. It runs and cuts real nice. I like the ease of taking the spindle covers off for cleaning after each mow. Changing oil is easy, the filter is in a good spot. Additionally the battery is easy to get to for when I hook up my battery tender for the winter. The only mod I did was put on a Trac Seat. This saved me around $500 vs buying the Z422 (only difference being the suspension seat).
Bought the z422 with 60" deck this fall. Really like the mower. It has the Kawasaki engine which I wanted. Seat is very comfortable and it mows well. I love the easy clean up on top off
Sorry I fat figured the post early. Anyway top of deck clean up because the spindle covers easily remove. I also liked the 0% interest for 48. More money than I was going to spend on a mower but my Kubota tractor has been great and I really like the brand. So a z422 resides in my barn now
I bought a ZD326-60P new in 2010. Runs like a champ, solid built, good fuel economy. Unit is heavy at 1700lbs. Mower deck is HD fabricated and still no cracks or bends even after occasionally bumping rocks/trees.
Machine goes very fast - will be too fast for some users who are lacking skills and reflexes and mechanical/operating good sense. Turf tear up is easy to do. Same with sliding on hills and wet grass. Can be very dusty to operate and I prefer to cut grass the day after it rains. Can be a rough ride on rough ground, I would not dream of operating without the seat belt. There will be a point when the machine is too fast for me and I will want something like a 4WD F-series as a replacement.
My only complaints were the suspension seat which I upgraded to air ride, and the turf tires which I upgraded to bar tires. Scalp wheels use plastic bearings which is a sucky design IMHO.
Breakdowns and failures in 14 years? I've replaced the scalp wheels twice and won't bother replacing them anymore. The brake safety switch was failing intermittently and was replaced. Seat slider lever made of sheet metal cracked due to fatigue and was re-welded. I broke the plastic side chute 2 years ago when temps were close to freezing and I clipped a rock. Mower belts and high lift blades are normal consumables. I have to replace my blades every year due to sandy soil blasting them paper thin. I do my maintenance as per the schedule and park indoors out of the elements.
I've seen this same year machine for sale used with higher hours at my local dealership recently for the same price I paid for it in 2010. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another K commercial mower.
Machine goes very fast - will be too fast for some users who are lacking skills and reflexes and mechanical/operating good sense. Turf tear up is easy to do. Same with sliding on hills and wet grass. Can be very dusty to operate and I prefer to cut grass the day after it rains. Can be a rough ride on rough ground, I would not dream of operating without the seat belt. There will be a point when the machine is too fast for me and I will want something like a 4WD F-series as a replacement.
My only complaints were the suspension seat which I upgraded to air ride, and the turf tires which I upgraded to bar tires. Scalp wheels use plastic bearings which is a sucky design IMHO.
Breakdowns and failures in 14 years? I've replaced the scalp wheels twice and won't bother replacing them anymore. The brake safety switch was failing intermittently and was replaced. Seat slider lever made of sheet metal cracked due to fatigue and was re-welded. I broke the plastic side chute 2 years ago when temps were close to freezing and I clipped a rock. Mower belts and high lift blades are normal consumables. I have to replace my blades every year due to sandy soil blasting them paper thin. I do my maintenance as per the schedule and park indoors out of the elements.
I've seen this same year machine for sale used with higher hours at my local dealership recently for the same price I paid for it in 2010. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another K commercial mower.
I recently bought a Z726 and it is a good mower. Fast, nice cut, and comfortable seat. Only things I don't like are 4 fixed wheels that make it ride terrible on my lawn that's not perfectly flat, bolts in the mower deck making it tough to scrape clean, and about 2gph fuel consumption. Does it do a good job, yes. Would I buy it again, probably not. I would look for something with either a pivoting front axle or suspension.
I have a ZD323-60 purchased in 2009 with 1600hrs. I agree with the Mikesters comments.
I have had to replace deck gearbox and spindles at 1200 hrs. Also replaced dynamo at 1500hrs. I mow in a very dusty environment and this dust contributed to the spindle and dynamo failures.
I have had no other mechanical problems.
I bought the Z232KW-42 as I only have about 1.5 acres that I can't cut with me Land Pride and can't get the wife to let me use it. Yes 42" is small but it's just what I need around the garden, pool, shed etc. I looked at other options, they all would work well for me but I am glad I got the Kawasaki engine. Very powerful and super efficient.
I saw a neighbor who just got the 48" version and he's happy with this too.
I saw a neighbor who just got the 48" version and he's happy with this too.
We bought a 54" Z422 this spring to cut our approx. 2.5 acres of grass (previously using the tractor and a 60" RFM) this shortened our cutting time from 4.5 hours (wife likes lots of trees) to 2 hours. There have been no issues with this new mower and the suspension seat is great. The only other zero turn experience was the in-laws 2 Husqvarnas, the newer one a 60" hi end residential/beginner commercial model. The wife and I both prefer the Kubota over it .