Dixie Chopper

[Pro-Lawn]

Just ordered my Dixie Chopper today, turning in the Lazer Z for the Chop. I hope it performs as well as what i think its going to. If you do the double blade, do you really need to drape the chains, to get a good stripe out of this Unit ??

Eric Goodwin
Pro-LawnCare.com

[John DiMartino]

No you do not need the chains to get a good stripe,single or double blades dont make much of a difference as far as striping goes,you do not need the striping chains,they do help a tiny bit, though.I can hardly tell the difference with my striping kit.

[turfguy]

ok maybe a dumb question but........are dixon and dixie chopper made by the same company???

[HOMER]

NO

[LeoS818]

We did just the opposite. Traded the choppers for lazers.

[Pro-Lawn]

Dixie stripes way better than the LAZERs . why would you switch??

[TLS]

Pro-Lawn,
Striping isn't the big picture here. I have never had a mower that didn't stripe. All the way back to my 1968 Cub Cadet 125, I laid stripes back then just fine.

Factory support, cut quality, build quality, and the overall quality of engineering are what seperates todays mowers.

I'm with LeoS818, I traded a Chopper and moved UP to a Lazer. There are many views as to comparing these two machines. I personally think they are both decent machines, but it was like night and day coming from a Chopper to my Lazer.

Reasons...

Excellent Cut quality.
Superior Design.
Fit and finish.
Modern overall design (not circa 1985)
Engineering (overall).
1/4" deck height of cut changes.
Foot lift returns deck back to set height properly.
Better Deck to tire trim offset.
Dampened control levers.
Fully padded control levers.
Smooth front caster tires (ribs tear when they swivel).
Mobil-1 Hydro fluid.
Front trim ability (no bumper in the way!)
Greasless spindles.
Bushings or machined housings on all moving parts (not just welded D rings to wear out!)
Safer, functional Operator presence controls.
Electric PTO clutch.
Way larger fuel capacity (6 vs. 11 gal)
No more indoor/outdoor carpet!!!

These are just some of the strong parts that steered me from Choppers to Lazer. Other things included hydro pump/motor failure, T-box seal, Kohler 25hp (Not Chopper related).

Overall, like I said, there is nothing deadly wrong with Choppers, just that I feel the better machine is the Lazer.

Will I ever go back to Dixie?
In a few years when its time to trade in the Lazer, I'll look at ALL mowers that have a local good dealership. If Dixie does some drastic changes in the above areas, I may consider them again. Until then, its Lazer for me!

[Pro-Lawn]

Hey , they all sound like good points. I guess i will halft to run Dixie for a while to find out if i should go back to exmark. Not sure , like you said , they are both good mowers. Guess it was time for me to change. Got tired of BIG RED. hehe Hey have a good one this year. Good luck to everyone.


Eric Goodwin
Pro-LawnCare.com

[LeoS818]

Thanks TLS. Stripes are not important to me. I think the best looking lawns are the ones that you cant see that a mower has been on them. I mow a lot of hilly places. Havent put a lot of hours on the Lazers yet , but they feel more stable on the hillsides. Not only larger fuel tanks, they seem to use less fuel per hour. 25hp kolher vs 27 hp water cooled kaw. Alunimun housing on the spindles. Alunimun removes the heat better than cast. True the cast is stronger. The bearings in our choppers were sealed anyway. Dont really think that greasing them did much good. Much better mulching system on the lazers. I do miss the Boss II tires. The choppers were good machines. Both are great machines. But I do think weve made a set up.

[Eric ELM]

Originally posted by TLS
Way larger fuel capacity (6 vs. 11 gal)

News Flash ;)

2002 60" Choppers hold 10 gallons.
2002 72" Choppers hold 14 gallons.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Eric ELM


News Flash ;)

2002 60" Choppers hold 10 gallons.
2002 72" Choppers hold 14 gallons.

That's all?

Come on Eric I thought you would have wrote more than that.

They have made some drastic improvments, but as it goes "in time we shall see".

Also I don't understand how you can't get a stripe out of a mower?

[Pro-Lawn]

Hey Eric Elm. Im a big fan of your work. Keep it up. Im a spripe fan. I think the chopper will do me right. I tried with the lazers they did ok . Just not as well as a chop will.

Eric Goodwin
Pro-LawnCare.com

[LAWNGODFATHER]

How do you figure?

[TLS]

Originally posted by Eric ELM


News Flash ;)

2002 60" Choppers hold 10 gallons.
2002 72" Choppers hold 14 gallons.



Yeah, I know they are bigger now, but in 1997 they were only 6 gals. Even when I bought the Lazer in 2000, the Choppers still had 3 gas caps/tanks to achieve 9 gals.. :rolleyes:

Not bad, Eric (Mr. Dixie Chopper) only commented on one of my reasons for leaving Choppers. These are all valid reasons that need attention, but as usual Dixie Chopper is taking an "If its not broke dont fix it" approach. This approach is why I left Dixie Chopper and went to Exmark.

They finally came out with an equal lift deck, bigger tanks, lower seat height. Things all done too late in my book! The world moves lightning fast these days, a company needs to respond lightning fast to survive.

UGGH.....Its like a blizzard outside right now!!! Maybe some salting action tonite if I'm lucky!!

[captdevo]

what dixie did ya trade for? what kinda price?

[Pro-Lawn]

I just took on a big cemetary job. The biggest deck i could go with was the 50 in. So i got the FlatRunner Dixie. Got 4 G out of my Lazer Z .

[TLS]

What size/HP was your old Lazer? The FlatLANDER is a fast mower, my old 60" was a Flatlander. WARNING: ...Flatlanders life expectancy when used on hills is severely diminished! Been there done that! Just watch it!

Good Luck, and report back on which you like best!

[Richard Martin]

TLS wrote:
............................
I traded a Chopper and moved UP to a Lazer. There are many views as to comparing these two machines. I personally think they are both decent machines,

These are all valid reasons that need attention, but as usual Dixie Chopper is taking an "If its not broke dont fix it" approach. This approach is why I left Dixie Chopper and went to Exmark.

The world moves lightning fast these days, a company needs to respond lightning fast to survive.
............................

Actually about 50% of the complaints that you have with Dixie have been addressed since 1997. Dixie Chopper can actually make running changes faster than Exmark (and do, the 25 Kaw was available on the Dixie last year, Exmark didn't introduce it until this year) because of the hand built nature of the Dixie vs. the computerized built nature of the Exmark which requires software changes in order to change anything. And why did it take Exmark so long to figure out that heavy duty filters make an engine last longer?

The other 50% of your complaints are more of a personal preference than a complaint. For example, why does the Dixie need fully padded control levers or dampeners? With Dixie's VTC (Velvet Touch Controls) system these are not needed and would just be an added expense both on initial purchase and as a item that needs to be replaced when it wears out. And I would much rather have a manual clutch vs. electric clutch. With Dixie's manual clutch there is a 80 cent bushing to replace when and if it wears out (it shouldn't if you grease it regularly). When the electric clutch goes out plan on spending way more than 80 cents.

The Dixie does have greaseable cast iron spindles vs. the Exmark's non-greaseable aluminum spindles. If you had a choice of which spindle to have when you hit that cast iron sewer cleanout which would you really rather have? And do know the real reason that Exmark uses sealed spindles? Because they were replacing greaseable spindles too often under warranty. And do you know why they were replacing greaseable spindles so often? Only because people seem to have trouble reading the maintenance manual included with every mower and they kept over greasing the spindles. If you go to the Exmark Forum and look back about a year ago it was explained there. Greaseable spindles that are greased at the proper intervals with the correct grease will long outlast a sealed spindle.

You don't like the indoor/outdoor carpet? Fine, take it off and for under 20 bucks you can buy some non-skid material to replace it with.

Mobil 1 vs. VTC oil. Big deal, they're both synthetic blends. The oil in the Chopper is good for at least 2,000 hours and some people never change it with no adverse affects. Just ask Eric. The Dixie hydro filters (read that as 2 filters on a Dixie, Exmark only has one) only need to be changed every 500 hours as opposed to Exmarks 250 hour limit.

I could go on and on but what's the point.

[captdevo]

but....if they are more appealing to the eyes they are better built, aren't they?....lol

[Richard Martin]

Right Capt Devo...;)

BTW, I did buff out the stainless on my Dixie over the winter and this bad boy looks every bit as good as any mower out there. Steve from SJR Lawncare (a member here) saw it. Ask him how it looks.

[TLS]

Ok, OK, O.K. .....

Revised, Current up-to-date list of Dixie's shortcomings:

Fit and Finish: If I could have doucmented how many times I cut my hands on sharp edges/bad weld splatter you would be amazed. Everything is smooth on a Lazer.

1/4" vs 5/8" cutting height increments: This will take an entire "re-think" by Dixie to fix this. No, the little adjusting block does not make up for this.

Foot Deck lift: Dixie had a complicated foot deck lift from the beginning, THEN, they made it MORE complicated with the anti bounce lever....On
the Lazer it is only the lift mechinism, and it returns to the set height instantly after you let off the pedal.

Deck to Tire trim offset: The wheel base on the Dixie is simply TOO wide. Offset on the Lazer is better and makes a BIG difference around tree rings.

Front Trim Ability: The Dixie has always had a Bumper. This prevents you from mowing right up to a sign or pole between the front casters.

Operator Presence: The Dixie operator presence consists of a seat switch. Cant even start the engine without sitting on the seat. Lazer lets you start it and let it warm up without being on the seat. Prevents you from going with the parking brake on too!

Bushings vs. D rings: The Dixie is full of welded D rings supporting 1/2" rods for deck lift hardware and deck mounting. Those wear out and things get REAL loose over time. Lazer has grease fittings on their mounting BLOCKS and extensive use of replaceable bushings. Not just a bolt through a peice of metal on a Dixie.

Web Page: Not that this matters all that much, but Dixies website is a total disgrace to a decent mower. It is just as useless as their......

Owners Manual: This is a total disregard of safety, proper maninenance, and company pride. Unless they changed them recently, they still contain information on the Kohler Magnum!!!! For the most part, its one manual for ALL their units! There used to be a Diesel Supplement for the Diesels when they first came out. Exmarks manuals are beautifully designed, and include parts and service guides. There's even a link on their WEBSITE to download a manual!

Indoor outdoor carpet: This was just a joke. I actually liked it, but everybody always busts on it!


As for what spindle I'd rather have when hitting a sewer pipe? The cheapest, because both will be destroyed. Dixie spindle shafts are smaller in diameter than Lazers.

but....if they are more appealing to the eyes they are better built, aren't they?....lol

Who said that? I do feel that the Lazer is more eye appealing. Even when I was Mr. Dixie Chopper, I did think they were pretty darn ugly. Oh well
:rolleyes:

[gorrell]

Eric, if you haven't made the deal yet, I'd strongly recommend you get the 60" unit over the 50". I've mowed cemeteries for a lot of years and I've never found one that a 60" unit wouldn't out perform a 50", not to mention the trade in value of a 60" machine over that of a 50" unit. No one(or very few)want 50" machines now. MHO...............Lynn

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Richard Martin
Actually about 50% of the complaints that you have with Dixie have been addressed since 1997. Dixie Chopper can actually make running changes faster than Exmark (and do, the 25 Kaw was available on the Dixie last year, Exmark didn't introduce it until this year) because of the hand built nature of the Dixie vs. the computerized built nature of the Exmark which requires software changes in order to change anything. And why did it take Exmark so long to figure out that heavy duty filters make an engine last longer?

Mobil 1 vs. VTC oil. Big deal, they're both synthetic blends. The oil in the Chopper is good for at least 2,000 hours and some people never change it with no adverse affects. Just ask Eric. The Dixie hydro filters (read that as 2 filters on a Dixie, Exmark only has one) only need to be changed every 500 hours as opposed to Exmarks 250 hour limit.

Kaw has been available on Exmark atleast in '98. I know because I did not want one mine when I bought it.

Exmark first filter change at 250 next one every 500 hours. Personaly I don't see why at even 500 hours because it looks so clean when you change it.

Come on Richard get those fact's straight.:D

[awm]

oh boy,now if owners of all the other ztrs in turf this month ,
will kick in . we can have the longest thread in history.
im a lazer owner an its good machine.that i can be sure of.
better than ,mabe, mabe not ,but it suits me now.

[Richard Martin]

LAWNGODFATHER,
I clearly said "and do, the 25 Kaw was available on the Dixie last year, Exmark didn't introduce it until this year". I didn't Kaw engines weren't available on Exmarks, I have one. I said the 25 wasn't available until this year.

One of my best friends has a 23 Kaw 60" that he bought in June of last year and the owners manual says to change the hydro filters at 250 hours and then to change them yearly. It doesn't say anything about 500 hours after the first change. So we were both wrong.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

I had the choice in '98 for Kohler or Kaw 25hp.

Now yearly is different than 500 hour's isn't it?

I guess we were both incorrect.:D

I guess I change mine at 500 hours out of habit, no wonder it is so clean.:cool:

[Richard Martin]

You know, I find it really hard to believe that you could have had a choice of an engine that wasn't even available until 2001.

Please read this thread before posting anything else about a 25 Kaw equiped Lazer Z in 1998.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=15677

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Maybe it was the 23hp.

Anyways I didn't want it.

[Pro-Lawn]

The size i needed was the 50 in deck , 23 HP kohler. And yes the terrain ill be mowing is pretty hilly. I hope it lasts at least 2 years for me.


Eric Goodwin
Pro-Lawncare.com