Desperate for help in KC--please don't mow me down!

[KCFilley]

Hi Folks,

I apologize to those who might be offended by a novice posting on your forum. I’m a single homeowner who knows nothing about equipment--just watch me try to add oil through a dip stick.

I have 26 acres of pasture with some woods. My trees are mainly oaks and a few low limbed evergreens. I’ve been mowing with a 36” Honda and my 40 HP JD with a brush hog. I have two very steep pond dams where I either back up with the JD or race down on the Honda. I drive a diesel one-ton and have diesel for my tractor so I prefer diesel.

I searched this forum for info on the Scag Sabre Tooth vs the Grasshopper Diesel G2 and found more options that has me even more confused. I found mowers I’ve never even heard of and don’t know if they are available in Kansas City. In my area I notice most of the commercial trailers are hauling Grasshoppers and an occasional Scag. What I’m gathering from my search of your site are few mentions of the Grasshoppers and mostly unfavorable mentions of the Scag.

From reading your posts, I searched and found an X-Mark dealer who I’ve asked to come look at my property first before recommending a machine. In our conversation he’s already recommending the Lazer XP diesel. He said a mid-mount will mow the dams better.

I tried a year old Grasshopper gasoline front mount that jerked when slowed to a certain speed. When I tried to go slow down a steep hill the GH started bunny hopping. According to the dealer the previous owner was a doctor who just traded it on a diesel. I was surprised that after only a year, it would have any problems so now I’m suspect of its longevity. On the other hand, I tried my girlfriend’s brand new, mid-mount Grasshopper and it seemed very tight and fast but I’m not sure it would do well on my steep pond dams. I had the constant feeling it would tip. It is almost half the price of the Lazer.

I spoke to someone today about a Walker. They have this rebate program where I would need to remember to turn in some sort of voucher every six months. If I remember to turn it in for three years, I would get back almost half the initial cost of the machine. I can’t even remember to get my license renewed so I’d be the first to forget this one and I won’t buy based on gimmicks.

I saw a Scag Sabre Tooth at a recent lawn show and it looked really sturdy but not as fine as the Grasshopper. It seemed a bit rough looking to me—the seat didn’t look as comfortable, etc. The Scag dealer is an hour away and wasn’t anxious to bring one out here and he didn’t have a brochure on the 2002 model. A local JD dealer had the Scag last year and told me it mowed circles around his ZTR Deere. My local feed/hardware store sells the Gravely but all they will do is allow me to drive it in their parking lot.

See, I’m judging this machine on the slickness of the exterior and that’s not what I want to do. I need reliability. I can’t easily load this sucker on my truck when it’s down. I have to beg someone to change a belt on the deck and then silently watch when I know they’re handling it too roughly.

I’m so ignorant of this and no matter how much I search and look, I don’t know the right questions to ask so I’m going to stick my neck out here and ask you guys who use them every day, which machine would you feel good about leaving with your mom or your sister--not your wife because you’d be there to look at any problems.

Please help me decide. This is a major, major expense for me. I’m willing to step up to the plate and spend the higher dollars to get something totally reliable. I want it to last and not give me problems and I want to mow those dams with no fear. Mowing is stress relief for me.

Thank you again.

Linda

P. S. I just went through this with a weed eater. I bought the biggest, most expensive Stihl I could find. It was a 120. After 30 minutes, I couldn't lift it. The second year it wouldn't start. I took it back to the dealer who gave me $100 off a new 85.

[captdevo]

i'm not sure of any Walker sales gimmicks, i'm a Walker dealer in Iowa and i've never heard of such a thing, and i know Bob Walker himself wouldn't condone such a thing.

in fact in my last dealers newsletter Bob Walker mentioned being straight forward to all customers.

on steep hillsides i have found nothing better than the Walker side discharge mower with a 52" deck and a/t tires.

if i was near, i would surely prove this to you.

contact your local Walker dealer and ask them to bring out a MTSD with a 26hp EFI (fuel injected) Kohler with a 52" deck and see for yourself.

i guarantee you'll be impressed with the comfort and stability of these machines.

Dave

[andyslawns]

For mowing steep inclines you are gonna want a mower woith a really low center of gravity, and the widest wheel base possible. I belive an exmark lazer Z or the Lazer hp have a real low center of gravity.

Something else you might want to consider is maybe like a great Dane or a Wright stander, becasue you can change the center of gravity by just shifting your weight. Just my 2 cents

[sheppard]

Dear KC,

Thought I would throw this in the mix for you to consider- if your a homeowner and counting your pennies, I'd recommend a Snapper WB w/ a belt drive. They are not the most expensive wb's on the market and they are simple to operate and service. I knew nothing about this business 9 months ago and I'm glad to have a Snapper- they make it very easy to get to something and work on it. They cut very well! For the amount you are going to use this I would look for price points as apposed to productivity.

Cordially,
Sheppard

[captdevo]

Linda,

Thanks for the call.

i inquired with Walker about the "rebate offer" they had no idea.

i did discover what the dealer is selling is a rebate offer through an outside insurance company to promote sales, whether it's Walker mowers, jet skis, or evan campers.

i guess they feel that this may promote sales.

this is not a Walker deal, you are not obligated to this either.

contact them or another dealer have them bring a Walker out for a demo.

My suggestion would be a Walker side discharge 26hp EFI with a 52" deck, and add the mulching kit, less the baffles.

this machine will surely impress you.

Hope this keeps you interested in trying out one.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call again.


Dave

[captdevo]

KCFilley,

BTW....Welcome to lawnsite.com!!

[mike payne]

You might be better of hiring the mowing out. Here is my email address cmwapayne@yahoo.com. Contact me and I will see about giving you a bid.

[corban]

He might be better off with a professional or YOU might be better off mowing his lot? Sounds to me like he would be just fine enjoying the maintanence of his own land.

[KCFilley]

Hi Again,

Thanks Dave for your help. If I can get a Walker out here, I think I should try it.

Mike, hiring the work done would certainly be easier and it may come to that. For now I love to mow and it's a great stress reliever. Besides, I really did read many of you guys' posts and I'm afraid I have too much dog and horse natural compost for you commercial guys to deal with. I, too, have to be religious about washing my tires and underneath the tractor. Ugh. The thought of that stuff on a new mower is enough to cause all of us to cry.

Thanks.

I'll keep checking all the replies and soaking 'em up like a sponge.

Linda

[gorrell]

Linda, are you indeed mowing all of these 26 acres, or are some of it something that could be outsourced to someone with a brushhog and maybe mowed 4 or 5 times a year? If that's the case, I seriously doubt if someone with a brushhog would mind a little dog and horse "residue" on their tires. If the slopes are indeed seriously steep, a 72" chopper will go "where others fear to tread". MHO................Lynn

[JOshua Gallerick]

I would look into a john deere 455 or the higher 4000 series mowers. hey are diesel engines and have decent speed to cover the flat ares and can handle the steep slopes of your dams without a problem. I would stay away from any type of ztr mower due to your steep pond dams.

[andyslawns]

Linda------check your PM

[awm]

u are right u didnt need that trimmer. i havnt looked it up but assume it was best commercial u could buy. now what do u do with this junk. send it to me il pay shipping and send u o 50 dollars or so. really just kidding. first clean air filter. u may need to have a dealer clean exhaust ports. next make a gallon of stihl mix . mix exactly 1 gal. of high octane w said mix and shake well.
forgot pull plug and clean it . run this mix all out until its gone.
now u should have a trimmer u can trade for whatever u decide u really want. hope this works,i do it to second hand tools all the time. most time it works. good luck . also id have to say u should go ahead an buy whatever tools u need for your place. it will be slow ,but u can learn as much as most of us here,and with your place u need to . again
stihl 50-1 an high test later now

[Cleve]

I noticed that Linda does prefer a diesel. Seems everyone is suggesting the Walker with the EFI gasoline. What is wrong with the Walker diesel? I have an older Walker (94') with the Kubota Diesel and am really pleased with it. Mine is only about 16 HP and is running the 42" GHS but the new diesels have more HP and should be even better.
I do question using a Walker on a slope though. Forget going sideways and you can only get the best grip going backwards up a steep slope. You will also have to get the low profile tire option to get the best traction even then. They do leave a great looking cut.
Cleve.

[KCFilley]

Gorrell,

I would guess 15 acres is pasture and I mow it monthly with my JD and brush hog. The rest is either woods or what I'm making into a yard.

Linda

[sunlawn]

Linda,
If your willing to pay the bucks for a great mower I would invest in a Dixie Chopper 72". It will hold almost any incline. Maybe you can check into the new mower Bladerunner. Ive heard lots of good things about it. Its similar to the Chopper, might even be less expensive. Good Luck!:angel:

[LES]

You really need to try a Dixie Chopper before you buy anything.
They will flat out mow circles around anything out there. Been there done that!

[semperfi41]

Linda Dixie Chopper is definetly one you need to check out. It has the diesel and is a very reliable machine that can go just about anywhere. I also agree on checking out the new American Bladerunner. Neat mower. It also has diesel engines too and can do everything the Dixie Chopper can and then some. There are dealers for both in KC. I can find out who the dealers are for you in a couple days. Semperfi41

[65hoss]

I am really wanting to know the amount of acreage you have for lawn. Don't include the woods. 5 acre lawn? 10 acre lawn? This makes a difference. Although a Walker may be a good mower, its to slow for the large areas to be done fast. You need the faster midmount. Midmounts are made for speed and open areas. That is were they excel. The eXmark Lazer 72" or (can't believe I'm going to say this) 72" Dixie Chopper, both would be stable on the hills and yet cut at fast speeds with awesome cutting at those higher speeds. If you want to demo a exmark I can probably get you someone to bring it to your home. Can't promise, but I would almost put money on it.

[khouse]

How much money are you willing to spend on the mower? It looks like you'll have about 10 acres of lawn? Will you settle for a gas engine? On inclines the mid mount is the way to go. Well I believe it's the only way to go. Don't be afraid of the Gravely 260Z with the 60 or 72 deck with the 25 Kawasaki. I assume your talking about Feldman's farm and home. I own one of the 72's. With a big yard like yours and it's probably rough also, don't buy a residential zero turn mower. I can point you to many commercial mower shops in the area if needed.

[glowman]

About 10 years ago i worked for a guy that had a mower called a dewezze i believe is the name. You could ride just about any incline. It was all hydraulic. and your center of gravity always remained in an upright position. We used it on alot of bypasses and bridges.

[KCFilley]

Hi Again,

65Hoss, I suspect no more than 6 acres truly to be mowed. Here is a link where you can see the acreage. What you don't see are about two acres this side of the driveway and maybe an acre out front.

There is also a pond dam not visable in any of these photos. This dam is about a 30 degree but there is fencing almost immediately at the base of the dam. Even the GH guy who brought out the used demo would not mow the dam.

The dam on the pond you see in the photo is 30-40 degrees. the pond is about 10' deep and I think the dam is probably 50'. I'm thinking entirely from memory here. The real fear is turning onto the dam from the bank and heading down that hill.

Thanks.

Linda

www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292027725

[65hoss]

I couldn't get any pics to come up.

You will want the widest mower possible for traction. Check out the eXmark web page. They have a mowing productivity chart that will tell you about how many acres per hour you can do. www.exmark.com/productivity.htm

Eric

[KCFilley]

From my computer my mouse over that web address causes imagestation to pop up and there are all the photos. Must be a Missouri thing.

I'll try posting one photo directly to this e-mail. I'd say what you see here is almost 1/3 to half what I mow.

Linda

[David Haggerty]

Going by the pictures of yours, and your description of the degree of slope, you could mow with a mid mount ZTR.
The mower in this catagory that is practically bullett proof is the big Dixie Chopper. They have a lighter built "Homeowner line" but you'll need the big 72" commercial diesel with the transmission oil coolers and all. You should probably also order the "Flex Deck" option to trim around the pond. It's not a gimick, but a very useful feature, especially on your yard.
Don't be concerned about not being very close to a dealer. It will never need to go there. It'll only need minor maintenance like oil and sharpening the blades which anyone could do.
These mowers have a very industrial appearance. You'll grow to appreciate it. It's an established design, tested over time. For your use it'll last virtually forever with no problems.

Here's something else you will need. "Worktunes" They're comfortatable, inexpensive, sound great, and they protect your hearing.
http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/html/Peltor.htm#worktunes

I operate all Toro Commercial equipment myself. But I wouldn't necessairily recommend it to you for your lawn.

Here's a picture of the lawn I mentioned. It has a very steep dam to the left of the picture. It's not very apparent in this picture, but you might see the little white grardrail posts on the top. It's at least a 45 degree slope on the front of the dam. I have to mow it with my Toro 4 wheel drive front deck mower. You shouldn't need that.

I hope this helps.

[awm]

linda,real pretty place exmark hustler ,dixie toro and others all make good machines . specialy exmark :) . pleas get a 60 inch or better ztr. u got other ways to spend your time than mow . i would suspect. . be aware that an ztr takes a little time to get the hang of ,then u never go back. also on most midmounts u pull up hills an back down . they do most any mowable hill . do not start down hills going forward.some times u need to put wt. on the front end. last take your time learning this stuff an good luck.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

I'm a fan of Kubota tractors, but very loyal to my Lazers!
Anyway, if the steep grades really bother you, I recently have tried out a mower by Kubota that actually tilts either left or right! This thing looks wild and has a VERY wide stance. I'll be at that dealership today and I'll get more info on it to post tonight.

Scott

[Live2ride]

Gotta throw in my .02. Your getting alot of good advice here, but have you thought of planting some native grasses that won't require mowing in some of those areas?? Or, getting rid of those Dobbies and investing in some sheep?? j/k. good luck...

[Live2ride]

any fish in that water??

[parkwest]

Originally posted by KCFilley
I’m a single homeowner who knows nothing about....


Shouldn't this be in the homeowner forum??

Try this link for hillside mowing

http://www.hustlerturfequipment.com/

[AVRECON]

Awsome place you have there! I* would opt for a Toro bat wing. Or one of these
http://www.toro.com/golf/mower/rough/gm455/455.html

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by parkwest
Shouldn't this be in the homeowner forum??
Would you ask questions pertaining to pricing your operation there??? I know I wouldnt -LOL!!!

I think that by asking what OUR "recommendations" for equipment are she posted correctly.

Just my .02

[parkwest]

Originally posted by kutnkru

Would you ask questions pertaining to pricing your operation there??? I know I wouldnt -LOL!!!

I would if I was a homeowner asking for assistance.

By definition wouldn't a homeowner ask for assistance in the homeowner assistance forum?

[1MajorTom]

Let's see if I can put this to rest.

Parkwest is correct. Awhile ago, Chuck did make mention that he noticed and liked the fact that questions that were placed in the wrong forums were being relocated. At the time of his comment, I believe, not 100% certain, but I believe it was Lonestar (Alan) that was doing a good part of the relocating. Since Chuck made that comment, I too try to relocate the majority of misplaced posts. Sometimes I do not get them all, and every once in awhile some slip thru. Relocating the majority helps keep organization.

Linda though should be commended. Before posting in any forum, she sent me a rather lengthy PM explaining her situation to me and and asking first if she could post her question on the commercial forum where she believed all the pros normally visited first. She was polite, sincere, and she showed that she respected the forum which I really liked. So of course, I PM'd her back and told her to go ahead and place her question in the commercial forum. I wish all members could be as considerate as her.

I hope now we can continue on with the purpose of this thread, because Linda wants to get down to business and buy a mowing machine!!! :D

[Esby]

If I were you, and was willing to invest a chunck of money into something that is going to last a long time, I wouldn't think twice about buying an Exmark. If you like diesel engines, and who doesnt'-get an Exmark Lazer Z XP with the 27hp Daihatsu Diesel engine. It comes in either a 60" or 72" deck. I demoed one last year before I bought a Lazer with a gas engine and really loved the power of the diesel. It will cut down your mowing time extensively. Good luck

Check it out online at http://www.exmark.com/LazerZXP.htm

[parkwest]

That makes perfect sense now that you explained it. You two gals got together and rewrote the rules. (I don't know how to put a smiley face here. If I did this is where I would put it.)

[1MajorTom]

Parkwest:
Would you like a lesson in smilies? ;)

[parkwest]

Ma'am, I've been getting them lessons my whole life. They just don't seem take to me.

[mower]

Now I know I don't post much here. However I see no problem with this thread in this forum. She is looking to buy a commercial machine. If the question was about how to change the oil in a 21" crapsman mower I would say it doesn't belong here. Since this is a serious question about a serious machine I don't see why it doesn't belong in the commercial lawancare forum. This is my $.02 except it doesn't have to do with the mower.

Good luck with your purchase. As mentioned before it looks like a flex deck would help in your situation but that doesn't mean you have to get the dixie. Also nice place ya got there. It seems members would love to mow your lawn and I can't blame em.

[Mr.Ziffel]

Hi Linda,
Beautiful place you have there. I spent a few years working at the Ford plant in Claycomo and sometimes I miss the area [but not Ford's!].

I have a fairly similar situation to you except I'm quite handy and not single. I have a 40 acre horse farm north of Seattle and consider myself a commercial operator except I have only one client - my wife!

I don't mow all 40 acres, as we rotate pastures for grazing and in heavy growth season a neighboring dairy farmer mows 20+ of our acres for silage. That still leaves me with at least 7+ acres and oftentimes more, of lawn/groomed pasture area that needs to be mowed as often as twice a week.

My first year I used a bush hog [looked like c**p] and a 72" John Deere 935 front mower which bounced around quite a bit so the cut didn't look too good. I had two different dealers bring me a Scag Turf Tiger and an Exmark Lazer, one right after the other and I mowed half of our most visible lawn/pasture area with each to compare quality of cut, etc. I chose the 60" LazerZ with 27HP liquid cooled Kawasaki hands down. Worked great all season and in fact I just completed my first mowing of the new season yesterday. Yes, our grass grows all year long and yes, it does rain every day out here!

Now for the different point of view. I also needed a loader tractor to handle the various farm chores and in fact have a 60HP International that came with the place. But I needed something my wife could use so chose a MasseyFerguson 1235 hydrostatic tractor with loader and a Woods 72" pull behind grooming mower. This gives a fantastic cut on my rougher pastures which I think beat up the Exmark too bad.

I suggest that you consider a compact utility tractor with a pull behind grooming mower first and then step up to the nice finish mower such as the Exmark, Dixie, etc. You will get a lot more use around the farm with it and the loader and other attachments are quite useful such as a landscape rake to groom your gravel drive, a box scraper to level things, the loader to clean up horse s**t, move hay bales, etc. If you get the hydro drive with loader you can easily run it back and forth without complicated shifting and get a lot of work done around the place. Pay attention to deck size [bigger is better for volume mowing] and configuration. My Woods is rear discharge and leaves a really nice swath, but of course not as nice as the Exmark which I use on all highly visible areas.

Good luck to you.
Will M>

[Fivestar]

:confused: No need to be confused. Buy an exmark 60 or 72 in. deck mid mount. Diesel is good! Just make sure it`s in a exmark!!!
My Lazer Z 23 hp gas burner 60in. does steep hills real well.
It`s SWEET!!!!!!

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by 1MajorTom
... I wish all members could be as considerate as her. ...Whatever -LOL!!! :rolleyes:

[Shawn Burns]

I think , if i were in your shoes i would have to look at the hustler line. Their Z line features a lifetime warranty on the frame, which means alot when mowing rough conditions. They also have the "Hustler Hog", a 48" bush hog, and also have the "Hillsider", which may be more than you want to spend but would be ideal for rough slopes.

[parkwest]

Well I think every brand has been mentioned at least once.

Linda in KC should have a very clear picture of what equipment to get now. Hope this thread has helped.LOL

For the amount of area and steepness, I would look at the Hustler Hillsider 6400.

Linda, let us know what you decided.