ZTR for Motorcycle injured Homeowner ( 2006 Z-Force 44 )

[Re-Ignition]

:usflag: Hello all...

Prior to 08/10/2003 I was a very active triathlete working full time as a Police Officer... then on the above date I was hit by an on-coming vehicle. Split my pelvis and Triumph 955i SpeedTriple in half. The accident left me with a fused right knee, not much movement in my ankles, and numbness in my feet. I have to use two cains to walk. Everything else if fine.

So after a Year in the Hospital and year watching my kids screw up the lawn I've decided to purchase a rider. My lawn is only a 1/2 acre + a little bordering town land, I may do my parents lawn from time to time at 1 acre... that's about it. I have tons and tons of leaves too from a few very large Maples on the edges of the property.

My Front Yard is level and the back yard is level near the house and then gently slopes down to another level spot.
So with walking out of the question my Dad offered me his 1975 Dynamark which actually still runs but I can't operate foot pedals reliably on the left... none on the right. I was using a Honda WB prior to the accident but that's no longer an option.

...which brings me to the closest Servicing Power Equipment Dealer, they carry Toro, eXmark, and Cub Cadet.

The Toro Time-Cutter Z is too small for my legs (I'm 6'2") but the fused knee puts the back of my leg on top of the black foot rest with my foot hanging off the front of the frame. The Seat was all the way back too. The ZX was just as bad.

The eXmark Lazer Z CT is too expensive... looks bigger (and solid) the smallest is a 48" deck.

The Cub Cadet fits me just right... my right knee bends just enough to get my entire foot on the foot rest. The quality is up from the Home depot models and it has IZT over the ezt systems on the RZT 50 and Time-cutter. Plus the 2006 Z-Force 44 has the 20hp kohler command engine and some other upgrades over the big chain versions. Comes with a 2 Yr warranty and the dealer will extend bumper to bumper to 3 years if I purchase 2 annual services in advance.

This Cub dealer also warranties the drive train for life with annual services at $250 per year which I'm thinking about since so many people on this site seem dislike MTD/Cub, maybe justifiably so based on personal experience or a little hype.

There's an Ariens dealer about 40 minutes away... I have to check the leg room on thier ZTR. The Cub guy is 10 minutes away.

Lastly; Consumer reports rates the '05 Z-Force second to the 1st place snapper. The Toro was dead last and Ariens 2nd to last. Toro had the worst reliability rating but I know consumer reports may not be the best test source. I wish John Deere made a consumer ZTR.

I personally think the Z-Force 44 is over kill for a 1/2 acre... but I want to get back in the yard to help with the family work load, grass, leaves, just being outside...even if I'm done in 10 minutes. I don't mean to sound "leading" (towards Cub), but my physical challenges are limiting my choices... any additional advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[steve45]

Glad you survived!

I personally don't put much faith in Consumer Reports at all. They typically don't evaluate high-end equipment of any type.

That said, what kind of price range are you looking at?

[Re-Ignition]

Glad you survived!

I personally don't put much faith in Consumer Reports at all. They typically don't evaluate high-end equipment of any type.

That said, what kind of price range are you looking at?


Thanks. Originally $2500 - $3000, but my income tax return started to look a little better so I went up to $3500. A lot of money for 1/2 acre but it's more than just a lawn mower for me, it's a way back in the yard so I feel it's worth it.

I found a local Hustler dealer today and gave him a call... They won't have any '06's in for a couple of weeks. I'll have to try one for fit. If there's anyone out there using one that's relatively tall 6'1+ let me know. thanks all.

[Dixie Rob]

You defiantly do NOT want a Dixie Chopper. The deck raise/lower is controlled by your right foot!

Just a heads up buddy, and glad to hear things are getting better for ya!

[nmurph]

hey re-i,
sorry about the injury. that's why i no longer (well, very, very rarely) ride my dual purpose bike on the street. there are just too many careless drivers. i already have a plate and 14 screws in my leg/ankle from a racquetball injury that resulted in a dislocated foot.
as for the mower, i have a hustler mini fasttrak and i am 6'4". i have about the same size yard. the machine was a little tight for me, but the mower fit my needs so well, otherwise. i looked at homeowner models from cub, toro, dixon, snapper, etc....they all were snug. a simple fix for the hustler was to have the slots in the base that the seat attaches to, lengthened. this can add about 2-3" of additional seat travel. it is a simple job with a grinder. you could also drill 4 holes to move the seat backwards. there are also extensions available for the control sticks that will get them a few inches higher. they are about $40. i was going to buy a set until i figured out that i could do the grinding job, myself.
the mini fasttrak will fit your budget. hustler also makes a fasttrak. i'm not sure if the frame is any larger. the hustler homeowner's have the best warranty in the business. check them out closley!
email pj on the hustler forum. he is always willing to research things if he doesn't know the answer.

oops, i just noted the injury is to your right knee. the deck height adjustment is on the right side on most ztr mowers. one suggestion is to look at some of the homeowner mowers from dixon. some of their models raise and lower the deck with a hand control. my dad has had a dixon since 2000 and it has been trouble free. good luck and best wishes.
btw, that was an awfully nice bike that was destroyed.

[Re-Ignition]

You defiantly do NOT want a Dixie Chopper. The deck raise/lower is controlled by your right foot!

Just a heads up buddy, and glad to hear things are getting better for ya!


Thanks. I mentioned that to my wife about another brand (Hustler?) with a similar set up. She said that she or one of the kids could set the deck for me... which is an option. Ultimately the best situation is mower I could use all the features without assistance, but if we find something real nice that may require a little help I may consider it. Real nice at the right price.

[moss2940]

I have a Hustler now, it is a nice mower.
What I was going to mention was a Snapper that I owned before the Hustler.
It was not a commercial grade machine by any measure. But it might be something to consider. It had a joystick for steering control and the height adjustment was a lever under the seat.
I mowed a one acre lot with it for 3 years and it never gave me any trouble.
The advantage for you might be it is wide open as far as where your legs are placed and the deck adjustment was easy and did not require using your legs. I am 6'4", it had plenty of leg room.
I think they make a commercial grade version of it also. Another brand that uses the joy stick is Country Clipper.
You may not like either of them but an alternative for you to think about and look at.
Randy

[Re-Ignition]

Thanks Moss... I didn't see the joystick version on the snapper website, but the prices seem "OK". A wide-open foot rest area sounds nice.

-It's great to hear from some taller guys using these machines. I think even if my right knee wasn't limited to 30 deg. bend +/-... some of these ZTR's would still be tight.

Connecticut got 7" of snow last night so I'm about six weeks or so away from my first cut.

[lawnmaniac883]

The foot operated deck lift is not a bad thing, being a commercial user we use it all the time but a homeowner could set it one time and never touch it again...just a thought.

[Re-Ignition]

The foot operated deck lift is not a bad thing, being a commercial user we use it all the time but a homeowner could set it one time and never touch it again...just a thought.


Thanks... I think thats the way I'm going to go. I tried it this past saturday standing up and it was't bad at all. Looks like I may get the Fastrak... drill some new holes and put the seat allll the way back.

[BSDeality]

Re-Ignition, just wondering where in CT are you? whatever you do go with a dealer who will support the machine.

[Pittsburgh Panther]

Re-ignition,

I owned a z-force 44 when they first came out. If you are going to cut only 1/2 acre with it should be alright but understand this it will only be able to handle cutting grass nothing else. I used mine on about 2 acre lot and the mower would not of lasted me more than 3 to 5 years. I also replaced both tranny motors in the wheels. I put close to 150 hrs on it in two years. I decided to trade it in for a heavier duty tractor. I ended up going with the CT 48". I love it but it might be a little over kill for you. If you are only going to use it for cutting grass and your lot is pretty level, Z force will be a great mower for you for many years. It will probably only take you about 15 to 30 minutes to cut your lawn.

[Re-Ignition]

Re-Ignition, just wondering where in CT are you? whatever you do go with a dealer who will support the machine.

Hamden, CT... The dealer is Power Equipment Source (The) LLC, Very nice family owned Hustler Dealer. The offered to make all kinds of modifications to make sure I was comfortable.

[fishinpa]

Hamden, CT... The dealer is Power Equipment Source (The) LLC, Very nice family owned Hustler Dealer. The offered to make all kinds of modifications to make sure I was comfortable.

Okay, so it's been about a week now... did you buy the Hustler, something else, or are you still at an indecision?

Just curious?

[Re-Ignition]

Okay, so it's been about a week now... did you buy the Hustler, something else, or are you still at an indecision?

Just curious?

Yeah it's been about a month since my first post... Since that time I've done a lot of research.

Like any homeowner that comes on lawnsite looking for a little info to help make an "educated" decision (on an expensive purchase) you find that what you originally thought was good... may, or may not be good.

I've never had a Cub Cadet... The name has a good reputation built mostly by International Harvester so I've got nothing bad to say about the brand. I/We have to rely on the experience of others for information.

What I've learned is all brands have faults, but MTD seems to bring on the most confusion for a new buyer. Some people are very happy with their CC MTD purchase, but plenty of people (owners, mechanics, dealers) seem to distrust the brand.

If you read lawn mower forum posts for a month or so you'll find negative posts for all brands... "my eXmark stinks", my Scag won't start", etc... Cub Cadet seems to get the most negative comments of any mower/tractor/ZTR brand- which pisses off loyal CC owners so they flame trying to defend the brand and it never ends.:dizzy: I'm not finding that with other brands.

Having said that, the Jury is still out on Cub Cadet (for me), data inconclusive. After work today I'm going to the Hustler dealer, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the 18/44 FasTrak with the Honda engine. The dealer drilled some new holes in the seat pan to put the seat all the way back and added the spring kit so I should be able to fit. I also like the Ferris IS1500Z or Simplicity version(s). I'll keep you posted.

[Re-Ignition]

After all that... I got the FasTrak. :drinkup: So there's no sense in discussing Hustler in a Cub Cadet Z-Force post (Original post). I'll mention a few details and the minor modifications in another post.