Encore Mowers

[SterlingLawn]

Looking to buy my first ZTR but on a budget. My dealer is offering me an Encore ZTR with a 25 horse liquid cooled engine with 60 hours on it for 6800.00 with full warranty. Any body have any feedback on mower itself and if this might be a reasonable deal?
Thanks for the help. Not familiar with this line.

[A1 Lawn@Landscapes]

I looked at one last week. It just seemed to be of a lesser quality than Skag, Exmark or Ferris. I cant remember anyone saying anything good about them. Seems like alot of $$$

[Esby]

I would run!! Can't say I have operated one myself, but I have seen them and I have seen their quality of cut....both look less than average. I would invest in an Exmark. Do it right the first time.

[summitgroundskeeping]

Look at a Gravely. They are tanks, cut great and are inexpensive as ZTRs go. Or look at Great Dane Chariots. I never cut with a chariot, but they are the most comfortable mower next to the Gravely that I've sat on b/c of how the controls are in between your legs, and I know for a fact that GDs cut perfect and the Chariot it built like a tank. Also with a lower center of gravilty it is dynamite on hills.

[WREBELMACHINE]

We have used there walk-behinds for years and have been very happy with them no major breakdowns and the cut is very good! I have seen several riders around but have no experience with them.

[lawnkid]

I don't even think about Encore anymore because their dealer in my area is so expensive and annoying. They also are a Great dane dealer. I told the guy once I wanted to demo a Surfer and he started on the paperwork already as soon as i left and I never even told him I was going to buy it. I told him I was just demoing out some equipment for next year maybe. Then he tells me to sell of my Scag and he'd hook me up with a used 17KAE52" Surfer with like over 700 hours on it for $5800. He said he woulsd just throw in a new hour meter and a new warranty. I just walked out when he wasn't looking!

[AielLandscaping]

i can't say anything in regards of quality of cut just yet, but i'm going to demo an encore 34" ztr in a few weeks. i posted a question on their website and within 4 hours they had a rep call me and set up a time to do the demo. the rep is going to make an 8 hour drive just to let me demo this thing and i told him i was just demoing right now and wouldn't be buying anything for some time. That seems like dynamite customer service to me.. but when i asked him about cut quality he said that the 34" machines biggest advantage over other brands is it can get through gates.. no emphasis on cut, stripe, or mulch like i'd asked about...oh well i'll find out soon enough..

[SterlingLawn]

Well I demo'd the encore prowler 61" with a 27 hp liquid cooled engine for the day today and put it through a variety of different scenarios and it passed every test except the long term reliabilty one of course. Fast, excellent cut quality even at higher speeds, holds a hill(was not a huge pitch though), comfortable with the suspension seat. Wife even striped like a champ with it and has never riden ZTR. Overall impressed. Will try a husler tomorrow and a chariot next week.

[MONTE]

I demoed one with the 31hp gas on it. It did a nice strip pattern but did do a lot of clumping in the early morning dew!

[rwleigh]

I have a 36" encore hydro great mower! I tried out there big prowler and did not really care for the machine.

[65hoss]

You couldn't give me another one. Piece of junk.

[eslawns]

I can't speak to their ZTR's, but I have a 6 year old WB that was the only mower in my trailer for 2 years, and has been my gate mower since. I can't say it's the best thing out there, but it makes a very nice cut, and has been fairly reliable. I heard enough bad comments on their equipment on this site that I decided to go another way when I got a Z.

[johnhenry]

There just plain junk no truer words spoken.They have improven there look but spindles are still junk.They are just as bad as a dixon

[odin]

junk

[65hoss]

Yes, spindles are junk and the cut sucks too. I used mine on friday and the finished look has NO comparison to the Lazer.

[eslawns]

The spindles are where my complaints lie also. IMO, this is because the housings are made of aluminum. My other mowers' spindles are made of cast iron, which is much stiffer.

[lawnjockey56]

i love all the guys who trash encores but never owned one. i have 2 skags a gravely a toro and my oldest mower is a 1993 encore 52 inch 22 hp kawasaki liquid cool. the spindles are the exact same ones skag uses. this mower is bulletproof and will mow through anything and still sees daily work. the only thing ive done in all the years ive owned it other than belts and batteries is last year i spent 700 bucks to rebuild the deck to new-and its an awesome mower.

[IN2MOWN]

I have used Encore for over a decade now and they have gotten better and better every year. Im buying a couple standers next year but will still keep the WBs on the trailer. I have a 36 with a 14 HP on it that is 12 years old, same spindles on it! I have a 48 with a 17 on it that has the same spindles and its 5 years old.

I have used their Z's but to be honest with you I dont like Z riders in the first place so I really cant comment to much but Ill say this. It went through some wet tall grass. Some of it over a foot tall. Not a problem. Like a knife through warm butter.

Anyone who calls Encore junk hasnt used one and if they say they have are not telling the truth.

[WREBELMACHINE]

Boy another old thread! But since I last posted on here the last time I now own some prowlers and they have been great!!!!!! My units are Prowler 72" diesels. They cut real well and strip exceptional. The ride is the thing that I am most impressed with and the articualting deck once you get use to it you cannot hardly drive another machine without it! As far as durabilty 1800+hrs and one yes one spindle bearing and one belt! If I had a complaint it would be I wished they cut higher! I did have a discharge issue but my dealer developed a baffle that solved it! It was a copy of the bladerunner baffle works very well. From what I understand Encore is going to add this baffle to the machine from the factory now! I am going to be buying some more machines in the spring and I am considering gas simply because the way I am going to trade out my equipment in the future gas is more economical! Getting caried away sorry!

[userdavid 1072]

I'm Looking To Buy 2004 Encore Ztr 60" 25 Hp 800 Hours On It , But I Can Find Any Info, Comments, Feed Backs On Those Anyone Knows?

[Cutting 4eva 21]

I have 3 Encores 2 32inch w/b and a 42inch Z mower. Love all of them never had any problems with them. My only complaint is my dealer is pretty far away. Probably will switch to exmark or toro next season.

[retrodog]

There is no way I would pay that much for a used mower. You can get a Bad Boy Pup brand new with a 31hp Big-Block Forced Air Kawasaki for $7295 with 0 hours. Check it out www.badboymowers.com

[T Total Lawncare]

i love all the guys who trash encores but never owned one. i have 2 skags a gravely a toro and my oldest mower is a 1993 encore 52 inch 22 hp kawasaki liquid cool. the spindles are the exact same ones skag uses. this mower is bulletproof and will mow through anything and still sees daily work. the only thing ive done in all the years ive owned it other than belts and batteries is last year i spent 700 bucks to rebuild the deck to new-and its an awesome mower.


Yep! Trashing non owned eqipment can be the norm on here at times. It helps some feel better about their purchases.

[MONTE]

I run the prowler mid cuts and they have been real good!

[F Y P M]

I have an older 36 encore not sure what year but I love the way it cuts only complaint is the pistol grips need adjusting. I use it as backup for the past 2 years.