Has anyone gone from a Lazer Z to something else...

[Lawn-Scapes]

and is happier? much happier? disappointed?

I've been unhappy with my Lazer (poor cut) and am ready to try something else...

[Esby]

Can't say I have. I started out with Exmark and have stayed with them. The cut is GREAT for me. I'm sure there are guys out there that have:D

[TJLC]

I have always used Exmark w/b's until I recently bought my 2001 Lazer Z Hp. I've only got about 35 hrs on the Lazer so I'm still trying to get used to it. I still like my w/b a little better so far because it will go where the Lazer won't but I think the more seat time I get on the Lazer, the more I'll like it, time will tell. I do like the idea of having both a w/b and a Z. I put the w/b where I don't feel comfortable with the Z.

[TLS]

I went from Cub Cadet ('68),to JD's (318's and F-935's) to SCAG's, to Dixie Chopper, and now to a LC 60" Lazer. Wish I would have started out with the Lazer, but back when I was with JD's the Lazer wasn't even invented yet! Each step I made, got better and better cut wise. I truley feel that the 60" Lazer is one of the BEST cutting decks out there, coupled with a very well engineered mower around it. Add the LC Kawi, and I'm in heaven!

A lot of things can cause diminished cut quality....From.....Worn tires, low inflation, improperly sharpened blades, wrong type blades, deck height, deck pitch, RPM's, grass type, time of year, etc, etc.

There is usually a problem with a mower that slowly cuts worse, and if you just default back to what came from the factory (settings included) you can return it back to peak performance.

TSG, just what is the major complaint? You have one of the best cutting mowers, not many can run with it, let alone surpass it!

What size, hp, year?

[Lawn-Scapes]

Thomas,

My complaint will soon show up in the Exmark forum...

To make a long story short as possible.. I have never been satisfied with the cut. I have taken it in to the shop a few times explaining this. It just will not cut all the grass with any blade. I'm not talking about stragglers either.. it's either strips or spots of uncut grass. I would be in heaven if it were only stragglers!

Everything always checks out (according to dealer).. pitch, psi, blades, clean deck, rpms (3750). I even replaced a slightly worn belt (375 hours old)...

It's one year old next week...580 hours.. 25 Kohler.. 60" deck

I don't want to go through the rest of this season double cutting every lawn like last year.

I'm hoping to get a rep to have a look..

[TLS]

What type/brand of blades are you using? This is often the BIGGEST contributer to cut quality. I've used many different blades over the years, and just little differences in design/type can make BIG differences in cut quality!

Big thing that I noticed in your post....(according to dealer) <--- That is an important statement! Did you PERSONALLY check these things, or are you just taking their word for it?

[Lawn-Scapes]

I checked it... they confirmed. We even checked for bent deck.

I went from solid foil high lift to gators to U notch right now.

[SLS]

When I took delivery of my new Lazer Z (60") last spring the deck was nowhere near correct...althought the dealer was supposed to have it all tweaked for me.

I grabbed the manual and did it my self and that thing leaves a beautiful cut. The only double cutting that occurs is when I incounter a lawn that is already too darn high or when it's been really wet.

I dont understand why your Lazer is not cutting properly but I hope that you and an Exmark rep and get it like it is supposed to be. Exmark is good about taking care of their customers...or so I have heard. So far (500 hrs) I haven't needed them for anything (knock on wood). :D

[MikeLT1Z28]

they take great care of us. i nearly drove them crazy with my little cutting problem on my metro. fred walked me thru everything to check and it was something I screwed up. anyway, while i was on the phone he had me check some other non cutting related stuff just to make sure everything was still in perfect adjustment. way above the call of duty if you ask me.

are you running a mulch kit or side discharging?

hope they get you fixed up, they really are great machines. i will hopefully have a lazer by the year's end.

[John Gamba]

tsg
What Are You Cutting at 3or 3.5 :confused:

[awm]

this question in itself speaks volumes
about the exmark lazer.

[rwleigh]

I know of several in this area that switched to dixie chopper. But I think it was a dealer service issue not the machine.

[Southern Lawns]

Once I work to get to the top I hate going backwards!

[Shawn Burns]

TSG,
I had a Toro z 23 Kohler, 52" deck. I know it's not exactly the same machine, but i had the exact same problem with mine. When i sold it , it had about 170 hrs. on it. After going through the same procedures you have talked about, and pulling most of my hair out we finally(on accident) found the problem. It wound up being one of the pullys(sp) at the rear of the mower that makes the 90* bend going up to the deck clutch. It was about 1/8" to 1/4" too wide, letting the belt slip when it was placed under a load, thus causing "uneven cutting". The pully was a factory part, even had the correct number on it. I guess it was just made on a bad day! Anyway, after fixing that it cut great! It might be worth looking at.
Also, when changing that pully, we found the clutch to be a little"sticky" and replaced it as well

Shawn

[dhicks]

TSG: I have had the same problem with Toro on my Z-Master for two years this month. My dealer checked it and kept telling me everything is OK. However the Toro would not cut worth a hoot. Toro Co. finally called me earlier this year and made my dealer adjust the deck pitch to specs. It worked!

All I can say is that now the Toro really leaves a beautiful cut and no more double cutting. I do hope you get your problem resolved.

[Lawn-Scapes]

Shawn,

You bring up some interesting points. The last couple of days I have been wondering whether this mower is producing the proper blade speed... maybe a bad pulley or clutch slipping.

Hopefully I will get this worked out.

Thanks all

[TLS]

TSG,

I would take the advise of Terry at Exmark. As soon as you have a rain day, go to your dealer, and have a conference call with Terry, Fred, or Dustin, and YOUR dealers top mechanic. I have a funny feeling that this can be solved real quick with all your heads in it!

My guess's...

Blade type/how its sharpened/new or old.

Deck pitch is TOO much + (1/8" max)

Deck idler pulley frozen in place, making deck belt slip.

The grass this year has been rather odd. Maybe something to do with the mild winter or the drought. I'm noticing certain types of grass just dont like to stand up. They just lay down, the mower goes over, and 30 mins later it stands up and sticks its tounge out at ya!!! :rolleyes:

[Runner]

I know they will resolve it for you. I just hope it's soon. This sounds SO much like the same issues I was having with my mower. Rear idler adjustment (mule drive) is DEFinitely something to look into.

[steve225]

I just bought a lazer z 3 weeks ago cut like **** at 3.5" dealers were not muck help Terry at exmark helped me out.
problems were:: deck pitch/rake wasn't right at 1/8 inch
blade speed to slow raised rpm's to 3750 , solid foil excaliber blades. deck can't have over 1/4 " pitch if you do this and it doesn't help and the cut is that bad your belts are slipping somewhere

[jay warner]

I switched to WB's 3 years ago and never looked back. Talk about a better cut, we cut mostly bermuda and centipede, the Z's to me are just to heavy for these grasses. I've had a lot of locals ask me why we use so many WB's and all I tell them, is that they are cheaper. I'll let them figure out for themselves why they all have red marks in there centipede and yellow marks in there bermuda. (part of the marks come from running the same circle each cut) And believe it or not the stand up sulkies have cut down on back aches. Inside of 10 acres I'm all for WB's.

[GRASS PRO]

I switched from a lazer to a ferris because my frame broke on the lazer and they would not take care of it. However I do not really think that the ferris is a better machine. I do feel like the dixie chopper and the hustler are better mowers. Tomorrow I am suppose to demo a bladerunner, if I am impressed with it I post on it sometime tommorrow.

[TLS]

Thats something I've never heard of on a newer ZTR of any make.

I guess anythings possible. If I were going to brake any mowers frame, I rather it be a Lazer. Simply because it is replaceable with 12 bolts! Cant do that on a DC!

What year Lazer?

What size Cut?

Where did it break?

[GRASS PRO]

I bought it in 98 it was a year old model so I guess it was actually a 97 model.

60" 25hp

Frame broke were the bolts mount the front half and the back half together.

Also I am not the only one that this has happend to down here and exmark is not the only brand down here that the frame has broke on.