John Deere F680 vs. Lazer HP

[Green Mtn. Guy]

I'm needing some info on the 680 front mount z-track. Anyone use one of these machines? I'm a solo operater looking for one mower to go with my 21" Honda. How much better would the trimibility be compared to a Lazer HP? On uneven terain would the 48" deck cut cleaner than the 54" or the 52" on the Lazer HP? I have demoed a Lazer HP 48" 20hp. Not much offset. Sweet machine. Felt alittle scary on the hills. I live on Kauai so I can not test the JD F680 in person. Is it good on hills? My accounts are tightly landscaped with some hills and rolling terrain to flat open acreage. I mulch when ever I can. How does the 7 Iron deck mulch? Needing some opinions for the final purchase. :confused:

[Esby]

I can not speak on behalf of JD, but I can on Exmark. I own a unit like the one you are considering, Exmark Lazer Z HP 52", 23Kaw. I love this unit! Once you get more comfortable with it, you will realize that it can handle very steep grades and stick to them like glue. The 52" have plenty of off set and it's manuvurability makes trimming really close a sinch. I have used a 72" JD front mount and I can tell you that my Lazer will run circles around it in tight areas. Even if the deck sizes were the same I believe the Exmark is easier to manuvure. I'm an Exmark fan!

[65hoss]

I have the eXmark 52" HP also. The HP is designed for landscaped homes. It has a lower center of gravity to hold hills well. Its compact footprint means I can take it anywhere a w/b will go. Its about the same lenght. The trim side is great, you can get all the way up to anything.

The HP 52" is also faster. It has the same speed as the full size lazers. 9.5 mph.

[TJLC]

I just bought a 2002 Lazer HP 52" 23 Kohler. All I can say is the more I use it, the more I like it. I'm an Exmark fan all the way. Their customer sevice is second to none, in my opnion. If this new Lazer holds up as well as my Exmark Viking hydro 48" has, I will be very happy.

[TLS]

They're two totally different machines, but I would also suggest a 52" Lazer HP~!

You'll get into a lot tighter places with the Lazer HP compared to ANY front mount.

[johnhenry]

You wont believe the cut you get with the exmark. Top of the class. As far as deere is concern there are so many others to give thought to before buying deere

[horseman201]

What does the price run on the eXmark 52" HP?

[SpringValley]

I prefer the Deere. I own and F620 which was the predecessor to the F680. Deere now has an F687 which is a 23hp vs. the 20hp in the older model. I liked the front deck, you sit just in front of the motor so your weight plust the motor weight gives you great traction and the Deere has a lower center of gravity than any midmount mower out there (I think Hustler Super Z would be the closest competiton). BUT with commercial mowers, they all have one great aspects that everybody who owns one likes the best. It basically comes down to the dealer and the service that dealer can provide. My JD dealer is wonderful and I could not ask for a better dealer. IF your Exmark dealer can give you better service get the Exmark. Same with JD. I must also note that I have had no trouble whatsoever with my JD F620 since this current dealer took care of all the problems created from the original JD dealer I bought the mower off of. I do not even get equipment from any other dealer than my current dealer, Flock Implement in Rockville, IN.

Matt:blob3:

[EJK2352]

Lazer all the way. Ran JD's in the past and found that their customer service sucks!!! Exmark is the number 1 commercial mower manufacturer because they care about their customers and build a high quality product.:) ;) :) ED

[65hoss]

Originally posted by SpringValley
the Deere has a lower center of gravity than any midmount mower out there (I think Hustler Super Z would be the closest competiton).


Actually I don't think the JD has a lower center of gravity than a HP. Its kinda like being on a low rider.

http://www.exmark.com/images/largelazerZHP.jpg

[65hoss]

http://products.deere.com/Deere/Images/f680_52192_p.jpg

[Green Mtn. Guy]

Thanks for all the replies. I agree with 65hoss that the HP looks like a low rider. Why I'm intersted in the Deere is because I demoed a grasshopper 618 and kind of liked the front mount deck. Wasn't impressed by the machine though. I'm waiting for a Lazer HP 52" with the Kawi to come in so I can demo that machine. Bringing my check book. Any thoughts on the difference in cut between the 48" and the 52" on uneven ground. Is the 52" going to scalp more on the uneven terrain? I'm alittle worried about the lack of offset on the 48". The JD seems to be alittle bit of a mystery over here. No one at JD has even seen the f680 over here in Hawaii.

[MWS LAWN]

I own a F-620 also. For hills I would go with the Deere. I talked to the Exmark Rep. last week at an Exmark Dealer Day. The Rep. said the HP was lighter than the bigger exmark ztr's, therfore was not able to maintain it on very high hills. He was also a rep. for walker (front mount mower also). He said the front mount mowers could stay on hills better than mid-mounts, I believed him because I have demoed some mid-mounts where I take my deere and I slid straight to the bottom, very scary! I'm not putting down exmark or anything, I just think you would be more comfortable with the deere. I've had very little problems with Deere. It's going into the 4th season of commercial mowing, I love it. Like I said nothing wrong with exmark. The Turf Tracer HP 52' cut is going to be my next mower.

[walker-talker]

I test drove the JD a couple of years ago and did not like steering. It was a bit loose making it hard to control over bumpy terrain. I went with a Walker with no regrets!

MATT

[Esby]

When comparing the 48" and the 52" you will find that they both are going to scalp the same amount, which is VERY little. The extra four inches is well worth the money as you get a wider swath(obviously), but you also get a machine that is ofset more for easier trimming. Another fellow LCO in my area has a 48" and he wishes he would have bought the 52 for those reasons, but he still loves his machine. Go with the 52", you wont regret it.

[visions landscape]

I looked and demo the JD about two years ago . Did not really do anything for me. One thing I hate about the JD is buying parts, to much I think We have a JD F1145 and when it goes donw I hate to have to replace the parts , and JD is being phased out in our operation and going all WALKER

[awm]

its my opinion that with front wts. the lazer can mow hills about as good as any .

[65hoss]

Scalping on my 52" hasn't been an issue. I set the anti-scalp wheels and not a problem. I don't really think you get into much of an issue on that subject until you get into the 72" decks. Most people don't find a problem with a 60" deck.

[HOMER]

I've had fewer problems with my 72 than the 48" and 50" I own. Hard to make it scalp.

I don't own a Lazer or a Deere so I'll limit my comments.:D

[marc]

I have run jd for 20 years. My last jd purchase was two years ago. I had purchased a f680 and a m665. I loved the m665 but hated the f680. Not good on hills and had several hydrostatic problems with the pumps.I ended up trading them in on two toro's ztr. So far it has worked out well. If you are going to buy a jd, I recommend the m series, not the 680-just my opion. If you want to know more info about my experiences with the F680,feel free to contact me. I wil say that jd did pick up the majority of the repair bill out of warranty for the hydro problems.

[Green Mtn. Guy]

Thanks for all the info. I'm thinking I'm going to get the 52" Lazer HP. We don't have too many options over here on the outer Islands. Marc, did you get the Toro that is like the Lazer HP? Thanks for the F680 reply, good to hear from someone that owned one. How are your Toro's on hills? Anyone know if adding weights to the front make a difference like awm suggests?

[TLS]

I dont know what awm was talking about, but weights on the front casters will not help on hills, but actually hinder its hillside abilities. The Lazer HP has a much different (lower) center of gravity, and different weight distribution than a regular fullsize Lazer.

Front weights will make it want to pull/slide down hills frontward, out of control! Maybe awm has wheelie problems with his standard 52" Lazer (older model) which has a lighter deck and smaller casters (among other things) which would cause the front end to be a little light while going UP a hill. He may feel the need for weights on his.

Bottom line, Get the 52" Lazer HP and rack up lots of happy mowing hours!

[awm]

tls u answered your own statement . front wts. are a great help in mowing hills on a lazer.anything that is so steep that normal front end wt doesnt hold it down.ive learned something i didnt know, if the hp isnt the same. not owning one ,i cant really address that question.later now

[marc]

Grn mtn Guy- I bought two efi 62 in ztr toro z masters. Alot more comfortable to run than the jd, but jd has made some changes. The toros do great on hills. Like any hill you just have to be extremely careful, no matter what you are using. I hope your new mower works out for you.