no dealers

[Trouthead]

I want a commercial grade ZTR mower to take care of three acres of grass. The grass is a mix of rye and some bluegrass, that has access to unlimited water and very dry hot Wyoming summers. It does grow fast. The "lawn" was originally a cow pasture, so it is not normal lawn smooth, but it has been mowed by various lawn tractors for 25 years. Cost of a commerical grade zero turn is not the problem, finding a dealer is. We have a John Deere dealer 30 miles a way and a Toro Dealer 150 miles away. What I need is a mower that (1) doesn't break down much , hence the commercial grade, and one that has easy access to parts, i.e. fast factory direct part service. I figure going bigger and stronger will buy me less time in the seat and less problems with breakdown, but I need good part service. I can do the work or get it done locally but I need to be able to get parts.

Any ideas.

[Smalltimer1]

Is mowing all you are looking to do?

If so a JD with a 60" deck will work fine.

If you plan to do more than mow, maybe you should consider the JD X-series garden tractors or the JD 2210 sub-compact with the diesel engines and hydraulic lift and 62" deck.

[Redneckn]

I'd go with the Deere as well. Stay very far from the Toro.

[SHOWCASE LAWNS LLC]

Hmmm Easy To Work On? Commercial Grade....parts Are Easy To Get? Sounds Like An Exmark Lazer To Me. Toro Is Notorious For Oddball Breakdowns / Primadonna Dealerships. John Deere Parts And Service Is Expensive And In My Opinion The Units Themselves Are Overpriced . The Jd Ztrs Just Dont Have The Performance Of An Xmark Or A Hustler Super Z.........my Other Choice.

[Trouthead]

Mowing only, drive is too long and we get too much snow to move with a lawn tractor. My plowman uses a full ton Dodge Diesel. I want to spend less time mowing and more time fishing. Ease of getting parts i.e. no backorders in July for a breakdown is important.

[Redneckn]

If Deere is that close. I would still say go with the Deere. I don't know what it's like there, but here, Deere gets parts by 8am next day as long as order is in before 3pm. On most everything.
Sure, the mowers may be a little overpriced. The parts may be a little overpriced. But, both dealers I worked for back in Shreveport were $10-$15 and hour cheaper than any other shop in town.
We also sold Hustlers. They make a fine machine. But parts take a little time to get if dealer doesnt stock.. If you even have a dealer close by.

[dfischer]

Well, I gotta give you credit, you're certainly trying to find options. I'd never dream of a product that was 2 hours away for the nearest dealer.

Worried about parts and service? Find out how many dealers are in that 150 mile radius. I'll bet quite a few deere dealers.

I've yet to find a Deere owner that didn't like a speciality deere dealer product. There have been a few snoozers, but....

I'm was thinking it was deere vs hustler, but I wanted a smallish unit w/23" tires. It seems to me hustler doesn't have such a thing, while the 737 seems to fit the bill nicely. Not really any larger then the 727 with a equal sized deck, fast, and I like the idea of the formed 7 iron. I think it will flow better.

Of course, in your shoes I'e be thinking diesel...

[stumper1620]

I want a commercial grade ZTR mower to take care of three acres of grass. The grass is a mix of rye and some bluegrass, that has access to unlimited water and very dry hot Wyoming summers. It does grow fast. The "lawn" was originally a cow pasture, so it is not normal lawn smooth, but it has been mowed by various lawn tractors for 25 years. Cost of a commerical grade zero turn is not the problem, finding a dealer is. We have a John Deere dealer 30 miles a way and a Toro Dealer 150 miles away. What I need is a mower that (1) doesn't break down much , hence the commercial grade, and one that has easy access to parts, i.e. fast factory direct part service. I figure going bigger and stronger will buy me less time in the seat and less problems with breakdown, but I need good part service. I can do the work or get it done locally but I need to be able to get parts.

Any ideas.
Im on my second year with my deere 737, I love it, had one break down on one of my biggest accounts, called the dealer on my cell, told them what happened (mule belt tensioner pulley broke off) said come on in, by the time i got to my dealer he had pulled a new machine in and raped the part i needed off of it, he then informed me that the replacement part that was ordered is a improved cast iron part and that i would need to get the new one installed the next time i was in the area. they called the next day to let me know it was there. what great service. i wasn't there for 10 miniutes for my repairs nd was headed back to my customers lawn, oh ya, bought new blades and a set of spare belts while i was there.
i don't care what anybody says, deere service is tops!!

[Smalltimer1]

Hmmm Easy To Work On? Commercial Grade....parts Are Easy To Get? Sounds Like An Exmark Lazer To Me. Toro Is Notorious For Oddball Breakdowns / Primadonna Dealerships. John Deere Parts And Service Is Expensive And In My Opinion The Units Themselves Are Overpriced . The Jd Ztrs Just Dont Have The Performance Of An Xmark Or A Hustler Super Z.........my Other Choice.


Call Deere overpriced if you want, but 10 years down the line, that Deere will still be going, and parts will still be available, while that Exmark will be nickel and diming you to death, possibly sitting in your back lot or on the scrap metal pile because of not being able to find parts.

Just a piece of good info. JD guarantees to carry parts for EVERY piece of equipment made since Jan. 1, 1975. And they still carry 90% or so of parts for equipment made before 1975.

[Trouthead]

[QUOTE=dfischer]Well, I gotta give you credit, you're certainly trying to find options. I'd never dream of a product that was 2 hours away for the nearest dealer.


When you live in the middle of Wyoming, John Deer is the only game in town, and at that it is 30 miles away. No Honda dealership or VW dealership closer than 150, but anothe Deere outfit 129 and 80 miles away.

[mcwlandscaping]

Check the eXmark website for a dealer near you. They seem to have a very good parts program and all their mowers are really tough. Good Luck!

[True Cut Lawn Maintenance]

When your in the middle of farm and ranch country Deere is always the only game in town unless there is a small engine repair shop. I will be getting either a 727 or 757 next summer. There may be some downsides but you cant complain about having somthing break at 1:00 in the afternoon and having the part there when the dealer opens the next morning

[Trouthead]

I don't make a living with a mower, but when it breaks down I need it within a week or two. Right now I have been waiting on parts for a white for 8 weeks. Everything is on back order. I have the skill to do many repairs on my own but right now I need a full rebuild on a mower deck for a (cringe) White. Besides that it takes long hours to mow. I'd like to cut the mowing time down, and be able to call and get parts wihtin a couple weeks, without the "sorry they are on back order" I like the idea of a SCAG, or a Deere, but certainly there are other. Seems mostly the preference is like the Ford/Chevy/GMS/ Dodge preference. Please keep responding all info is good and all is helpfull.

[True Cut Lawn Maintenance]

i will recommend a Deere still

the reason they have the parts so fast is they have cut the Country into 8 "Regions" and each has a parts warehouse, rougley a million square feet each. If your regions warehouse doesnt have what you need ( only ran into that once with a combine, they will have it in 3-4 days)

if you want reliability, just go ask a farmer what brand he would buy, chances are 9 of 10 would say a John Deere

ive never owned or ran a ex mark but i have heard stories about parts being hard to come by at times, the scags are nice but seeing that the price difference is so little between them and Deere i would buy a Deere everytime

only reason i didnt get the deere is i didnt have enough money to afford one

[Smalltimer1]

The majority of Exmark dealers here are gone within a couple of years of opening or the dealer drops the line and picks up another--wonder why?? Doesn't say too much to me......

[Trouthead]

No Exmark, still open to Scag or Deere, Hustler, Lesco, maybe Ferris?

Any thoughts on Snapper. We do have a semi dealer for them.

[stumper1620]

No Exmark, still open to Scag or Deere, Hustler, Lesco, maybe Ferris?

Any thoughts on Snapper. We do have a semi dealer for them.
I recommend going and picking up a JD for a weekend demo. by mon. you won't want to bring it back. :D