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 | DupontCar
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5 Westernl New York 
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2004-05-11 85817
I am looking for suggestions on buying a tractor. I have a SABRE by JD now 15hp, 46" cut, but want to upgrade. I have a small mowing business with lawns that are small(1/4 acre with lots of obstacles) and a couple that are about an acre or slightly more and wide open. I have been debating what route to go. My Sabre has done a nice job, but I am putting lots of work on a mower that was not built for it.
I have considered a John Deere x595. But the pricing on the Kubota BX2230 and JD 2210 is better, and they appear to be better tractors. I am concerned that size wise(with the ROPS especially) that the latter two may be 2 large for my smaller lawns, although perfect for the larger ones. I also could utilize a snowblower, so I have looked past the zero turn mowers for that reason. Any input would be appreciated.
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 | itsgottobegreen
Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 329 Mt. Airy, MD
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2004-05-11 85818
Look at a grass hopper, woods mowing machine, bush hog out front ztr, or a walker mower. All are out front mowers, so you can take the decks off and put on a snow blower or snow plow. I cut grass for a living. A lawn tractor is embrassing to use in my area. You have to have a ztr, since people want the strips in their lawns. The grass hopper is a good choice for med to large, the walker is the best you can buy, good for small lawns with GHS and large with side discharge. Also could look at out front rear steer mower. ....
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| DupontCar
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5 Westernl New York
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2004-05-12 85833
Thank you for the input. If I purchased a stand alone snowblower, what is your opinion of the mid deck models vs. the front mounted mowers(advantages + disadvantages)?
Why do these style mowers do a better job of "stripping" a lawn for the golf course look?
I appreciate the input from someone in the lawn care business. ....
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| itsgottobegreen
Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 329 Mt. Airy, MD
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2004-05-12 85867
I would look at a wright stander or sentar www.wrightmfg.com. They combined the out front trimming with the compactness of a mid mount. They also can mow a 45 degree angle hill. I have these mowers and i love them. The out fronts cost more. Midmounts have poor trimming ablity and don't do well on hills. The Sriping is better do the way the decks are built, faster tip speed, and stripping kits. The kits are rollers, chains or rubber strips. The also are faster in ground speed and turn on a dime. ....
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| DupontCar
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5 Westernl New York
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2004-05-12 85899
I dont have any local dealers for the brands you mentioned. What is your opinion of the kubota ZT mower. I have a dealer 2 miles away? Also have a local John Deere, Cub Cadet and a Jazee. Any better than the other? Why do these style mowers have better "stripping" than a conventional tractor?
Thanks for help.... ....
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 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee 
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2004-05-12 85903
Rather than a LT/GT or CUT; I would strongly suggest a John Deere F687 or a 777 with a 757 being the 2nd choice to the 777. The F687 is an odd looking duck but it is pure made for lawn mowing with LOTS of triming a and obstacle manuever capability in mind. I am considering one for myself. Another choice that is a lot smaller but still very capable would be the F525. It is no longer in production but if you look around you can find them for around $1,800 used in good shape. That is what I am currently using and I cut about 8 to 10 acres total with it. Has a real nice PA540a kawasaki aircooled engine with unitized hydrostatic drive. It is kind of an odd looking duck too (3 wheeler with 1 rear steering wheel & 48 inch front mowing deck). ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2004-05-12 85905
Kubota's new mini Z's are something to compare the rest of the industry too. It's probably the first time that I have seen that Kubota might have gone into a already active market. They have learned well from the current market place to build a couple of nice zero turns with features the others don't offer. ....
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| DupontCar
Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 5 Westernl New York
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2004-05-13 85929
Art,
I am new to the board but from reading past threads understand your a Kubota dealer. Have you been selling many Kubota Zturns? Have you had positive customer feedback on them?
What features on the Kubota line make them stand out from the competition? Also, I know you dont give price quotes out, but is there any range in pricing you could post to give me a ballpark of price. Seems many of the reputable zturns are $6-$8k. Thanks for all the input, much appreciated.
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| itsgottobegreen
Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 329 Mt. Airy, MD
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2004-05-13 85998
Just be prepared to spend $6000 at a mimimum. Then go up from there on a price. If you were close to MD, i have a friend with a 721D grass hopper w/52" deck, 61" deck, 72" deck, hydraulic lift, 15 cu ft vac/catcher. He used different size decks on different lawns. It had 2400 hours, but thats only 1/3 of its designed life span. I think he wanted $7500 for it. That combo new would be $20,000. ....
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| stevenc
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 190 North Carolina
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2004-05-13 86012
Tarheel Tractor,a sponsor of this room is a Grasshopper dealer ....
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