Go BottomSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | Briguy
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7 Ohio 
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2007-04-22 141425
Hi guys,
i've got a question for you. Did or does John Deere make a zero turn lawn mower with a steering wheel ? I looked on the Deere site and saw the regular configuration looking mowers but this one is supposed to have the deck out front. A buddy said he saw a JD he thought looked brand new with a steering wheel and the mower out front that was zero turn and i want to see if he's right. Hope you can help.
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan 
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2007-04-22 141428
When I think of a true zero-turn I think of a machine with independently operated drive wheels that (key word) steer it also. For sake of arguement this would exclude walkbehinds with or w/o a stand-up or sit-down sulky. The machines you describe in my opinion aren't true zero-turns in that there is a separate "steering wheel" or "wheels" (think garden tractor) that are operated by the driver/operator. My neighbor has JD out-front mower with two rear wheel casters that don't steer it. Another neighbor has a JD "garden tractor-type" (lawn mower) that has four-wheel steering--not quite a zero-turn. Cub Cadet now offers a 4-whl steer model. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-04-23 141436
I don't know if they still offer it or not, but a couple of years back Deere had a ZTR mower that looked like a regular riding mower. The front wheels were actually swivelling castor wheels and it had a steering wheel which varied the fluid between the left & right side drive motors on the rear wheels.
It was a very pricey unit IMHO, and didn't seem to do anything any other mower couldn't.
I was told by the dealer who was showing it at a country fair that it was supposed to be aimed at converting 'traditional' mower buyers into ZTR buyers.
I have never seen any FMM (front mount mower) with a steering wheel instead of the usual controls, but I know if they had it on the unit I mentioned above, it is possible.
Are you sure he didn't see just a commercial FMM and mistake it for ZTR? They will, with the use of the independant steering brakes, turn almost zero radius.
See the link below.
Best of luck. ....
Link: Commercial FMM
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4299 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2007-04-23 141440
Briguy,
If I am not mistaken, I believe your friend may have been referring to the John Deere F525 and F735. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
| Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4299 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2007-04-23 141442
Did they look like either one of these? ....
Picture Link
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
| Briguy
Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 7 Ohio
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2007-04-24 141475
I think youve found the answer. It must have been one of the ones in the pic link. He said it was a JD and had the mower out front. Thanks for the quick response guys. I knew you'd have the answer. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | AnnBrush
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 463 Troy OH
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2007-04-24 141493
I guess there are not too many single handed mower operators out there - imagine trying to handle a ZTR with just one hand. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2007-04-24 141495
Actually, all of our ZTR's are quite simple to operate with one hand for the most part and I encourage the use of one-handed operation for the new operators.
Our commercial units have swivelling handles that will meet in the center directly in front of the operator, or off slightly to either side. With an average sized hand you can easily hold both handles in one hand, and still move one forward and the other back enough to make an average turn single-handed.
All too often the newer operators figure if it has ZTR it should be used every time, the result is more chewed up turf than nicely cut stuff.
IMHO, the whole need for ZTR is over-blown, a competant operator with a tight turning unit like the one Randy pointed out, or a Ferris ProCut will do as much in a day as any ZTR, and without nearly as much risk of doing damage.
Besides, most ZTR's are 4-wheelers, with little caster wheels out front and no way to hoist them or the deck high enough for things like climbing curbs.
Best of luck. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
 | kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2007-04-24 141497
Murf, now really what do you think about ZTR mowers? Don't hold back. I am LOL as I typed that. As a person who has one and really enjoys it and it has done a great job and it cuts a good bit of grass each week...I agree with all you have said about them not only in this thread but many others. They will destroy more grass than you can grow if you are not carefull. They are probably the least stable of all riding mowers on wet grass on slopes or slopes period. But used correctly they can be great. If not different story. Never riden an ATV, to me they are a lot alike...fast equals dangerous. But that is my opinion. kt ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
| januaryman
Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2 Centerville, IN
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2013-08-25 187933
John Deere has the sst16 that looks like a regular rider. It is equipped with spin steer so that you can turn in a zero radius like a regular zero turn mower. ....
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Add PhotoSteering Wheel on Zero turn
| charlieK
Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 137 kentucky
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2013-09-11 187976
can you elaborate on that "spin steer"? ....
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