Z Rider converts to WB

[jones]

Asking for a friend who does apt. complexes about the DR Converta Mower. This is a commercial 48 dual hydro floating Z rider with a 17 twin Kohler that converts without tools in seconds to a WB. I know DR is generally homeowner stuff but he says DR claims this is commercial grade and they have LCO's backing them up. According to DR you just press one lever to convert to WB. Anyone seen, heard about or used one?

[Grassman]

Sounds alot like the Rich Manufacturing mower. Is it made by them for DR? Russ

[jnjnlc]

I just found this link. It looks like the Rich mower I have seen in the past. The deck seems to be a little different. Not sure if the deck is strong enough. Take a look.

countryhomeproducts (http://www2.countryhomeproducts.com)

[CSRA Landscaping]

You guys test it out and let me know how it goes. :D

[Jusmowin]

I demoed this mower last year, and was not very impressed with the machine. The hydro units were not very good and the control panel that moves from front to rear makes the machine very long and hard to steer in the walk behind mode. If it was my money,I would spend it on a 44 or 48 ztr that will go any where that machine will go and then some. Just my 2 cents worth.

[jones]

jusmowin,
You demoed the DR or the Rich?

[awm]

sound like a lot of work went into it but if i had it id never use the walkbehind, i dont think.

[Jusmowin]

Jones, I demoed the Rich mower a year ago, and saw the DR mowwer at a trade show this winter and they are basicly the same mower except the deck. I still would go with a Z rider of quality If it was my money.

[Premo Services]

I know two lco that have the rich convertible mowers, the first time I saw one I thought it was a good idea. Of the two lco`s with them, one has his setting on the trailer all the time, and when I see the other one, he is working on it all the time while his helper uses a walkbehind to mow the lawns. I think it would be a lot of money to spend if it didn`t work out, might be better with a ztr.

[Eric ELM]

I'm surprised Davis TLC hasn't replied to this. That was his main mower when he joined Lawnsite. I know he had a lot of trouble with it and had to have some welding done on it plus he had other problems. He now has a DC ZTR and I think he is going to use the Rich for applications.

[Davis TLC]

The idea is a good one but unfornuately it is not a very reliable piece of equipment. I have had numerous problems with mine, the biggest of which is the frame cracking at the welds by the front wheels. As Eric said up until last year this was my main mower, but no more, it was just too unreliable for me to be able to add more customers. Last year I purchased a DC XW2500 to replace it as my main mower. I still have the Rich and I have one property that has a steep bank in front of the house which I will be using it to mow once I get it running again:angry:, seems that I'm gonna have to do a carb rebuild on it.

Factory support was very poor on this unit. Two dealers started carrying the mowers here but dropped them after having trouble getting support from the factory. And one dealer that still carries the mower is 30 miles away and doesn't get in any hurry to get your mower up and going when you need it. In fact on one issue I had with the mower he was telling the factory a different story on what was wrong with the frame cracking than what was happening, I talked to the factory myself but they were on the side of the dealer on his story. I have not been back to this dealer since.

I would not buy a mower like this again. I would not buy any mower that didn't have a proven track record of reliability. Evidently Rich isn't selling too many of them since they are selling them as the "DR Converta Mower" now. They might work alright for a homeowner who isn't using it 5 or 6 days a week, 8 - 12 hrs a day, but for a commercial mower they just don't hold up.

[lawrence stone]

The Rich mower has to the funkyest piece of lawn equpment ever made.

My question is how hot does your azz and legs get while sitting right on top the of engine?

[Lawn DOG]

One of the local LCO's had one. The gas tank burst and he got severly burned. :blob2:

He had to retire and is still in litigation over this. I don't know if it was the rich but it was a convertiable wb