Difference bet 52" Lazer and 52" HP??

[jkr1]

Are there any major differences between the 52" Lazer Z and the 52" Lazer Z HP - both w/20HP Kohlers? I can get both for the same price, but not sure if one is better. I assume they are basically the same - just that the HP model is "slightly" smaller and maybe sits a little lower?

[65hoss]

HP has more trim side. Lower center of gravity means better hill holding ability. Shorter footprint means in closer areas. Same lenght as w/b. Higher resale with HP, heck they cost more to start with too.

[John Gamba]

Tryvantage hp Ultracut Fullsize Lazer

[jkr1]

Is there really a difference in cut between the TriVantage and UltraCut decks? Is one better than the other? Sounds like a marketing gimmick to me. Why would they make two different deck designs?

[65hoss]

Under some conditions the ultracut would be the better deck. It would move more material. I've never had a problem with the triavantage decks. If I could get the ultracut on an HP I would. I asked this question to eXmark, and the reason is the HP is lower so the deck doesn't work correctly under an HP.

You would be happy with either machine. Its just a choice you must make.

[John Gamba]

It's A FASTER Deck It Also Mulches Better And You Can Run Double Blades Very Easy. You Can Also get the 27hp kohler On The Full size Lazer 52 And Mow Or Mulch You But Off.

John

[River Hill]

I think the biggest downside to the Lazer 52" is it has no trimability. If Exmark would just give a Lazer HP with the Ultracut deck and maybe some more HorsePower it would be the ultimate machine.

[win1free]

Originally posted by 65hoss
Higher resale with HP, heck they cost more to start with too. [/B]

Which has the highest resale value? Which cost the most?
The eXmark dealers are saying the Lazer Z 52" & 60" w/27 KOH have the highest resale value.

Troy

[dvmcmrhp52]

Originally posted by jkr1
Is there really a difference in cut between the TriVantage and UltraCut decks? Is one better than the other? Sounds like a marketing gimmick to me. Why would they make two different deck designs?


Believe me there is a difference.
Side by side running a 52" 23 horse lazer HP versus a 60" 23 horse lazer, the 60" Lazer out cuts the 52" HP in heavy grass because of the deck.

very noticable difference.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Originally posted by 65hoss
HP has more trim side. Lower center of gravity means better hill holding ability. Shorter footprint means in closer areas. Same lenght as w/b.
Yeah, I'd agree from what little experience I had with them. I know I say this all the time. But I can't stress it enough... the closer the ratio between overall machine length and deck width the better. My machine is 4' wide and 6' long. What does that mean and why is it important? Maneuverability and productivity.

In tight places or accounts with a lot of perimeter areas that little machine will even dog a larger cut. Why? I can get in more places and what's more, I can actually turn around in them as well. As for the perimeter thing, well it just comes down to the fact that I spend less time running over the same patch of grass twice. I only have to turn one perimeter pass of 4' and I'm off and mowing because I can make my turns inside that single pass without missing grass. Think about it. On a property with a lot of perimeter, trim area and obstacles.... how many passes will I already have knocked out during the time you're making that extra round?

Yeah, the HP also has more trim on the left side which helps out. But it has none at all on the right side which matters if you are running a mulch kit or OCDC. I didn't like the offset deck design because of that and the fact you have to overlap the tire tracks on that side. I prefer a few inches of trim on each side myself....

[Envy Lawn Service]

Originally posted by John Gamba
It's A FASTER Deck It Also Mulches Better And You Can Run Double Blades Very Easy. You Can Also get the 27hp kohler On The Full size Lazer 52 And Mow Or Mulch You But Off.

John
For power junkies the 27/52 is very tempting. But when you take the 27/52 and the 27/60 and think of both setups having the same blade tip speed.... couldn't you just think about it like bicycles? What I mean is yes the 60" has 3 longer blades (taller tires) but the gear ration between the PTO and deck pulleys is closer. The 52" takes a higher ratio to get the same blade tip speed with the shorter blades (shorter tires). Maybe I'm dead wrong, but wouldn't the load on the engine be a lot closer than most would think?

This is why I contend that most 48" mowers on the market are under powered with 17-19 HP engines. They are easy to turn but under heavy cutting a 48" deck poses a lot of load on an engine. Back to bicycles... the 48" pulley gearing is like trying to keep up with a 10 speed mountain bike going up hill with a BMX.

[65hoss]

Originally posted by Envy Lawn Service

Yeah, the HP also has more trim on the left side which helps out. But it has none at all on the right side which matters if you are running a mulch kit or OCDC. I didn't like the offset deck design because of that and the fact you have to overlap the tire tracks on that side. I prefer a few inches of trim on each side myself....

It doesn't?

It would be nice if it were a little more overhang on that side, but it does have some. I use that as a trim side often.

[65hoss]

Originally posted by win1free
Which has the highest resale value? Which cost the most?
The eXmark dealers are saying the Lazer Z 52" & 60" w/27 KOH have the highest resale value.

Troy

Most years and dealers sell the 52" HP with kawi for around the same price as the 60" Lazer. You generally will not find the HP on a "special", but the full size regular Lazer you could. Over the last several years I could have bought a 60" Lazer for about $500 less than an HP.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Originally posted by Brians
I think the biggest downside to the Lazer 52" is it has no trimability.

Yep! Almost all 48" and 52" mowers are set up this way. I'll tell you why I think they are too. One reason.... MFG's try to cut production costs and engineering so they attempt to build a one size fit's all frame. Tire width and rim spacing only goes so far.

It's smart for the MFG's profit margin, but in the field it's just a stupid design IMHO.

jrk1,

I know what I am about to say is off the subject of what you asked, but I'm going to say it anyways. Unless a 52" is absolutely the biggest mower you can productively use without creating a bunch of trim work for yourself because you can't squeeze anything bigger..... then get a 60" and you will tahnk me later.

In the end, the extra money is really mearly trivial. If you buy the 52" knowing you could use a 60" you will soon realize the money diference is like pocket change you loose under the truck seat. After a while the 52" will actually cost you more production earnings than the small amount of extra inital expense.

In addition, the 60" has trim ability on both sides that will save you more time and physical labor.

[Envy Lawn Service]

Originally posted by 65hoss
It doesn't?

It would be nice if it were a little more overhang on that side, but it does have some. I use that as a trim side often.

Hey now, that don't look like the 52" HP demo. Come to think of it, a guy on here just bought a 48" HP and i remember commenting about the fact that it appeared to have some trim.

The 52" HP I was on had very little to no trim. On it, pretty much the front caster and rear tire were in line and the deck didn't stick out any. If I'm not mistaken it didn't even have an anti scalp roller on the right side because the right castor was so close to the very edge at discharge tunnel.

I believe all the stock at our eXmark dealers is considerably late models. The tanks don't even look like yours. Come to think of it, the dealer still has that 60" I was looking at a long time ago and even then it was dated. It was a 25 kolher, no canister filter. Both the 60" and the 52" hp have way smaller fuel caps....

For what he tried to sell them to me for.... he'll have them years more too!

Oh by the way.... looks like your little girl enjoys the mowers as much as mine does! :)

[grasssin]

yep the 48 does have some trim sides, I love it!

[terracare]

Exmark is doing stupid things with mowers now. Glad we got our hp and xp before rops and seatbelt

Todd

[Envy Lawn Service]

Grassin's new toy!
Yeah that's the 48" and the picture I was talking about!

Next time out I'll have to consider eXmark again. I like what I'm seeing of their new mowers. Now if I could just talk them into coverting to an identical baffle system, only adjustable like Toro and a completely bolt in type like what's on my Kees. But that's not a big deal, just and extra measure of versitility.

[win1free]

Originally posted by grasssin
yep the 48 does have some trim sides, I love it!

Grassin,

Why did you not get the 52"? The 52" has more trim and is only 4" wider? Why would anyone want the 48" over the 52"?

Troy

[win1free]

Originally posted by 65hoss
Most years and dealers sell the 52" HP with kawi for around the same price as the 60" Lazer. You generally will not find the HP on a "special", but the full size regular Lazer you could. Over the last several years I could have bought a 60" Lazer for about $500 less than an HP.

Around here, the HP 52" is about $800 to $1,000 less than the 60".

Troy

[65hoss]

Originally posted by win1free
Around here, the HP 52" is about $800 to $1,000 less than the 60".

Troy

Depends on motor types also.

[grasssin]

Did not get the 52 because it was only offered with a 23 kawi

This raised the price about $1000, maybe a little less, i really dont remeber precise numbers,

I was already stretching to buy this machine instead of a walkbehind, but decided to go with the 48, the trim sides on the 48 are great, with the mulch kit installed I took off the side discharge shoot.

The 21 kawi is more than enough to power through the toughest grass so I am very happy with my machine.

[grasssin]

plus I can get through gates, albeit just barely and I doubt I would be able to do it with another inch of trim on both sides!!