Diiesel or Not? [Archive] - LawnSite.com™ - Lawn Care & Landscaping Business Forum

MOturkey

02-07-2010, 07:53 AM

I'm planning on buying a new mower before the season starts to replace my oldest Gravely. I am considering trying one of the new Pro Turn models, but have some issues with the deck lift compared to the hydraulic system on the 260's I have been running for several years.

That brings me back to another 260, with which I've been quite satisfied. When talking to my dealer, he told me he "thinks" he ordered a diesel 260 because of a special promo they had if you bought so many mowers. He normally doesn't stock diesels because of the price difference. Anyway, he told me he could sell me the diesel for around $1,500 more than a gas model. I have never seriously considered a diesel before because of the tremendous difference in price on the Gravely's (around $2,800 the last time I inquired).

I'm thinking that for only $1,500 difference, that is the way I should go. If you could buy a diesel version of your favorite mower for that price difference, would you do so?

SouthSide Cutter

02-07-2010, 08:02 AM

Dont like them because of weight and cost. And I dont know why alot of people on here think they need all this big HP we have now. Just doesnt make much sense to me.

IntegrityGuy

02-07-2010, 08:10 AM

If you dont have a diesel truck theres no reason to buy a diesel mower. If you have a diesel truck it makes it easyer and less confusing when filling up truck and mower.

Diesel mowers dont always last longer than a gas. Its all maintance. A gas engine with proper maintence can last up to 2500hrs+. Diesel mowers engine can last longer but youll have the frame and deck, and all moving parts worn out before the engine dies. In a mower it is not neccesary because ill bet youll sell the mower before you get to 2500hrs

WREBELMACHINE

02-07-2010, 12:46 PM

Mo Turkey Are you going to the Spfd lawn and garden show?

Lehighlawnpros

02-07-2010, 04:12 PM

Hi Neill,

We run Grasshopper 700 series outfront mowers.

For nearly 15 years we used the Kubota liquid-cooled gas engines with excellent results
(five to seven thousand hours+ per machine and average 1 gallon per hour fuel consumption).

For the past 1 1/2 years we've been using a Grasshopper 722D diesel (liquid-cooled Kubota D-902 engine @22HP).
Currently at 2,300 hours with an average .6 gallon per hour fuel consumption, and running as good as new.

I prefer the diesel and would buy another.
There's actually less maintenance with no ignition system to maintain, and extended oil change intervals (500 hours+ with bypass filtration).

Power/torque is excellent (even for mulching thick/wet St. Augustine).

And assuming 1,000 hours a year, we're saving $1,100+ per year in fuel cost.

Not all diesels are as fuel efficient as the D-902 but you should still realize a significant advantage over any comparable gas engine.

CAG80

02-07-2010, 04:33 PM

Hi Neill,

We run Grasshopper 700 series outfront mowers.

For nearly 15 years we used the Kubota liquid-cooled gas engines with excellent results
(five to seven thousand hours+ per machine and average 1 gallon per hour fuel consumption).

For the past 1 1/2 years we've been using a Grasshopper 722D diesel (liquid-cooled Kubota D-902 engine @22HP).
Currently at 2,300 hours with an average .6 gallon per hour fuel consumption, and running as good as new.

I prefer the diesel and would buy another.
There's actually less maintenance with no ignition system to maintain, and extended oil change intervals (500 hours+ with bypass filtration).

Power/torque is excellent (even for mulching thick/wet St. Augustine).

And assuming 1,000 hours a year, we're saving $1,100+ per year in fuel cost.

Not all diesels are as fuel efficient as the D-902 but you should still realize a significant advantage over any comparable gas engine.

wow!!! .6 gph that is impressive..

SouthSide Cutter

02-07-2010, 05:09 PM

The weight of a diesel on a Grasshopper is not as bad as a midmount. I just think they are to heavy on a midmount. My 29DFI is also .6 gal a hr and gas is cheaper here. But if it wasnt and it didnt get as good of a hr rate it would take you almost 3 yrs to save enough to pay the diff for the diesel.

MOturkey

02-07-2010, 05:14 PM

Mo Turkey Are you going to the Spfd lawn and garden show?

I doubt if I do. Is it next week? I've only gone once, several years ago. I'm one of those people who doesn't get a whole lot of kick out of looking at stuff unless I am planning on buying it. :)

CAG80

02-07-2010, 05:25 PM

The weight of a diesel on a Grasshopper is not as bad as a midmount. I just think they are to heavy on a midmount. My 29DFI is also .6 gal a hr and gas is cheaper here. But if it wasnt and it didnt get as good of a hr rate it would take you almost 3 yrs to save enough to pay the diff for the diesel.

I didnt think the efi /dfi got that kind of gph.. When I demoed the efi I thought I was at 1gph.

SouthSide Cutter

02-07-2010, 05:29 PM

That what it said on a chart when I bought it and I didnt believe it either but thats what it figures up at the end of the day. It uses half the fuel my 21Kaw uses.

keepoffthegrass

02-07-2010, 05:48 PM

Depends on hours of use. Our mowers get 35 hours of use weekly, large area cutting like parks and bualevards.

Toro 27hp diesel - .5 gal/hr
toro 27hp liquid cooled gas - 1 gal/hr
deere 31hp diesel -.8gal/hr but cuts at mach 10 speed

These may help you by calculating fuel consumption per day/week/year than your break even point

the bigger ones with liquid cooled gas engines i have heard have a life expectancy of about 4500hrs while the diesels are said to be around 6000hrs
many of us sell far before that anyways.

last but not least, resale value.

ahh, and the diesels get through thick wet grass very easily!

:weightlifter::weightlifter::weightlifter: :drinkup:

GO DIESEL! just make sure your dealer has a smallengine tech with diesel knowledge and experience

MOturkey

02-07-2010, 10:18 PM

According to Gravely specs on their website, still showing the 2009 models by the way, the weight of the 260H with the 27 diesel is EXACTLY the same as the air-cooled 27 Kawasaki, 1170 pounds, which I have on my 2009.

So, there goes the argument against the diesel being too heavy, if those specs are correct, which I assume them to be.

doubleedge

02-07-2010, 11:05 PM

Over 2000 hours, the diesel will pay for itself by decreasing fuel consumption. However, you will have to go to 2 different pumps at the gas station.

ecoguy

02-08-2010, 01:34 AM

Hey Leighlawn. I've been looking all over for a decent diesel mower. Do you know of any good WB's?

mcw615

02-08-2010, 10:46 AM

Hey Leighlawn. I've been looking all over for a decent diesel mower. Do you know of any good WB's?

I am not sure where you are located, but I have two 2008 Toro 25hp Kubota diesel mowers for sale. They are both in excellent condition and look like new. One with 115 hours with a striping kit ($400 kit just bought) the other has close to 90 hours. Both mowers were upgraded to the suspension seats ($500 a seat) I paid $12,000 a piece for them not including upgrades, originally $13k but they went down to $12k each for buying two. I thought my company was going in the maintenance direction and the diesels would be a great investment, the last two years we took off in landscape/hardscape/irrigation design installs. Last year I decided to kill the lawn care/mowing crew and offer only property maintenance and now servicing mostly high-end res. and small to medium commercials, so the diesels aren't bringing in the return as I anticipated since I later decided to get rid of 100% just mowing and not putting the hours on them as we were our previous mowers. If you put 30 or so hours on them a week they will easily pay for themself with your savings of fuel, and maintenance. I am selling them both for $9200 a piece/firm just to try and get rid of them. My toro dealer said they are easily worth $10k for excellent condition, and all maintenance was performed with logs. My dealer offered me $9k a piece for them to turn around and put a $10k plus price tag on them, but I am just offering to sell them privately first to give someone a great deal and make just a couple extra hundred bucks, win-win situation. PM me if your interested. They still have an existing warranty.

ecoguy

02-08-2010, 02:45 PM

Thanks mcw615, but I'm all the way up in Canada so its probably not practical. I'm also looking for a smaller WB.

Lehighlawnpros

02-08-2010, 05:50 PM

Hi Ecoguy,
I'm not very knowledgeable about WB's, but I don't recall ever seeing one that was diesel powered.

rcslawncare

02-08-2010, 08:33 PM

Have never heard of a diesel walk behind, but in sure it has been done aftermarket, not sure of production.

SouthSide Cutter

02-08-2010, 09:59 PM

According to Gravely specs on their website, still showing the 2009 models by the way, the weight of the 260H with the 27 diesel is EXACTLY the same as the air-cooled 27 Kawasaki, 1170 pounds, which I have on my 2009.

So, there goes the argument against the diesel being too heavy, if those specs are correct, which I assume them to be.

I had a 445 JD traded for a 455 the only diff was 55 was diesel and the 45 was a Kaw. The diesel was so heavy it would not back up a bank without wheel weights and the 45 would. And it wouldnt cut out the front tire tracks at speed either. Dont know abou yours but every diesel Ive seen weights alot more than a gas.

gtmorgan89

02-09-2010, 12:11 AM

I just purchased my first diesel mower. I have to say its a beast. The main reason I wanted one was because of the larger hydro pumps. The thing will absolutely fly.