Bobcat Mowers

[GLC]

Does anyone have any experience with these types of mowers? If so, what are the good points and the bad points about them? All info is appreciated!!


GLC

[kutnkru]

Here in NYS in our area they start out about $500 higher in price than the competiton for mowers of equal comparison in the walk behind category and it increases from there depending on traction unit and deck options.

The only real "downfall" I have found with them is that some units come with a narrow 6" front caster vs. the standard fatter 9". I think that these smaller casters would have a tendancy to rut the lawns during the rainy season easier than the smooth tires of the 9". Otherwise contractors love 'em or hate 'em, just like every other brand.

Hope this helps.
Kris

[lawnboyil]

i dont know about the noew ones, but we have a probbly mid 70's bobcat belt drive and its still running on i think the orginal engine. i hopes this helps some how

alex

[John DiMartino]

They are highly reguarded here,especially the ZT200 ZTR,it is about 1K cheaper than everything else around-and its built tougher too.The only downside I seen is the operators area is much more cramped than my Dixie choppers-but it was 3K cheaper-my DC is not worth 3K more than a Bobcat.maybe 500-1000 at the most.The ZT 200 is just as stable as the XW Dixie too,you sit lower in the chassis,so it doesnt have to be so wide to be stable.The W/b's are tough too,guys here run old ones,they still run and cut every day.I had some problems with 2 Ransomes greensmowers i bought about 5 yrs ago,but now Textron bought them and parts are easier to get and more reasonably priced.

[Grassman]

I've run Bobcat walkbehinds for 8yrs and they are VERY dependable and leave a great finish. The only negative I have about them is that the grips hurt my hands to use. I bought a ZT200 in Jan. and love it. It was almost $1200 cheaper than the DC of similar status. It may be a little slower than the DC but it too leaves a great finish and is built TOUGH. Russ

[GLC]

Any one have experience with the ZT200 series by bobcat? I am in the market for one and the dealer I am purchasing from sells scag, bobcat, cubcadet, and grasshopper. I want a midmount so I think I will go with the bobcat unless someone can give me a good reason to go with the Tiger Cub by Scag. I would love some info such as cut with the bobcat 200 series. Thanks for stopping by!

GLC

[SMB]

We love our Bob-Cat ZT219! It's our first ZTR, but it is tough and it cut our time in half over an old lawn tractor. I think that John DiMartino said it pretty well.

[mdb landscaping]

i asked my dealer about the difference between scag and bobcat. he said that the bobcat is a great machine, and the only thing that he thinks the scag has one up on it is,
that it only has two main support beams and the scag has three, and that the scag is a little easier machine to work on. i think youd be very safe buying a bobcat. theyve been out for a while and a lot of landscapers are using them.

[John DiMartino]

GLC,my cousin bought a brand new ZT200 late in the summer.I had just bought my 2000 Dixie chopper,so they were both brand new basically,both top of line.We switched off on each others and we tried to race them,here's what I thought.The dixie is faster,by about 1 or 2 mph at the most,the ransomes is built heavier all around,every part is rugged and well thought out.The ransomes seems small after riding the dixie,and its lower and easier to manuever around trees,the hydro's were about even as far as smoothness..The Ransomes was 3K less $ than the DC,to me the cut was about the same,I think the DC might cut a hair better on the flat,the Ransomes has more and better placed anti-scalp rollers though.My DC has the oil cooler,amsoil bypass filter,and stainless body work the ransomes doesnt,but those come at a 3K difference in price,thats quite a bit of change.We both have 25hp kohlers,his runs beautiful,quiet and smooth,but its gutless ,mine is course,noisey and a dog.The kohler in the DC seems to be working harder than in the ransomes-maybe blade tip speed being higher labors the engine more-but mine sounds strained ,his doesnt until its in thick grass,mine does as soon as you engage the blades and rev it up.

[rdh]

there is a guy that mows a place down the street from me that has a old .one looks like the first ztr made ,man it lays some cool stripes ,i had to pull over and watch this guy cut and see the name on that mower .for a ugly mower it left the best stripe around i would have loved to have it.ooops sorry guys i am half a sleep i was thinking bunton.

[Edited by rdh on 02-10-2001 at 02:58 AM]

[danlawnser]

has anyone used the bobcat z with the 52 inch with the 18 briggs vangard? My dealer will give me a great deal on one. I was just wondering if 18 horse power would be enough to push a 52 inch deck?

[Evan528]

I dont think it is enough power for spring growth! I have used a 52inch hydro walk behind with a 18 hp engine and thought it was adequate. A ztr is much heavyer and will also be carrying your weight! Go with at least a 23hp!

[Chopper Lover]

I used to run Bobcat's many years ago before I took my "vacation" from lawn work. (Both a green one, Ransomes, and an orange one that old timers should remember). I don't have one at the moment but I am browsing for a new walkbehind. I would highly recommend them as a dependable purchase.

I stopped by my local dealer the other day and inquired about a 48" Bobcat. He told me that next season the same company that owns Bobcat, Textron, will be releasing thier new Bunton's which will be the exact same mower as the Bobcat with the exception of some cosmetic differences. He also told me they will be a few hundred dollars cheaper.

Just something to think about.

Mark

[Hillbilly]

I bought a ZT223 before season started and have been very pleased. I haven't had the first problem out of mine yet.

A freind and I pair up and mow a 25 acre site. He has a Lazer 60" cut and 23 hp Kaw, My bobcat is also a 60" with a 23 hp Kaw. We put ours side by side in a field and my Bobcat matched the Lazer inch per inch in speed and quality of cut. I think you would be pleased in a Bobcat.

[Evan528]

Mark, there are several guys in the area who are still using that old orange bobcat to suppliment what there ztr cant get. IN the spring i bought a very old 48inch bobcat (one of the first green ones) and i love it. Its lighter than any commercial mower out there. If i have a 36 inch gate no problem...just tilt it on its side and pull it right through!They dont make em like they used too! ;)

[hustlers]

i have old bobcat 48 wb and it still works
like a charm , it is like a hydro but
it is a variable speed, so you get hydro
action for much cheaper.
They are also very lightweight and simple
LOOK FOR THE OLD WALKBEHINDS

[Grasshog]

Hope to help. I run two Bobcat ztr. One 48 one 52. Both
with 19 Hp Kaws. On the 48 its seems to be enough power, at
least enough to get through the day. On the 52, I"d give anything if I had just up graded to the 23hp. Both mowers where bought a year ago Sept 1st. Both have been back to the dealer at least three times.
July 1st I bought two exmarks. 60" 27hp kaw lq. I will own nothing else from now on. Great ride, Great cut.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

This thread is going to be closed for now.
Edited by Eric ELM

[HOWARD JONES]

Kutnkru, who has a 9" castor? Exmark and Toro have 13x6.50x6 and Scag shows 13x5x6. DC looks a little wider - but 9"?

[danlawnser]

thanks for the help. I kind of thought it wouldn't have the hp. I shall look alittle further. has anyone compared the cuts of the bobcat and the huster z's.

[Dave]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
[B]

Dependable: NOT

Built tough: NOT

I had 3 ZTR 200 61" and what POS's

Replaced Frames, caster Yolks, deck support arms, complete hydro system 2 times on all, Steering leavers broke off, and pto belt tensioner post wears out and is no fun to replace. Company support was horriable.

Great finish YES, but discharge is less than desierable.



No way! Not even close!



I was going to stay out of this ,but I changed my mine to to these comments,Lawngodfather,I believe you or your help should go to school on how to run equipment ,as you have broken everything that has been sold with the exception of exmark,do you get a commision on your posts you reply?For somebody who is thirty you must have alot of lawns or you like spending money on equipment,as you have bought more equipment on here than most people use in a career This is my second year selling bobcats ,to date 815 hourson the oldest zt223 one dampener@748 no other problems.another manufactuer says 450 hours are normal for dampeners to let go,13 otherszt218, zt219 through zt223,that I have sold , hours ranging from 125 to 690 hours ,few had pump pulleys loosening up and a zt218 had a wiring update to fix the hour meter,a few have had no problems,One had a coil problem with the engine.The 99 models had some problem with right front wheel wobble at high speed on the road but was corrected in 2000,documentation to show above.I believe they are built,as good as others,they use hydro coolers on all models so you can use a multigrade oil,others you are forced to use synthetic,and yes exmark makes a good unit but scroll over to there site and they are not perfect by anymeans,as with any company.I know you will make comment ,but when you can prove to me that the bobcats are as bad as you say they are ,then ill go look for another product to sell

[Green Care]

Bobcat all the way I run 2 all day everyday. 61 + 54

[Bunton Guy]

All this talk about bobcat ...what about bunton they are made from the same company and parts are all the same....just darker green ! I think they are even a bit cheaper.

[AVRECON]

I'm running a T-18B, this machine was made around 1980 or 82. I mow with it every day. Damn thing is built tough as a bulldozer.

[hustlers]

that hustler z will out cut anything but i wouldnt
let any employees use it because the speed
is dangerous

[Bunton Guy]

to fast ? I demoed a 61" Hustler Z...its was nice..I like that fludder valve that stops you from making those bad doughnut tears when turning. That is overlooked by many LCO's ....its speed though is the same as many mowers...not any faster than a dixie..and same for many other mowers.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Dave.

I'm sorry unforunaly I was your guinea pig for these mowers. There are a lot more problems that I had besides what were posted. All maintenance was done properly and on time, and not abused. Dealer did not stock parts for the mower and on and on.

The few good things I can say about it.

#1 Best mower to use with a Peco vac for leaf removal.

#2 Hill hugging is good.

#3Traction is good.

#4 Made a nice stripe.

#5 The dealer got me a part that has no part number. The PTO Idler deck post.

BTW most of the problems I had the mower was still under warrenty, But enought to make you mad were not under warrenty. They might have made it better or stronger. But would you go out and buy another mower that you had problems with. No thanks, not after being the guinea pig.

And YES I have a lot of lawns to mow.

And oh yeah I put around 1,300 hrs on a mower a year.

Tell who you work for to give me one to try and maby, just maby, I will change my mind about them.

And I have had a few other mowers that we used for their full life.

LGF:blob1:

[Bunton Guy]

This post dosent include you lawngodfather...alot of how these peices of equipment perform is due to how the owner treats it...yes people have heard this a million times. Yes there is also lemons in each batch. From my local dealership which I buy everthing and trust ..he told me that he has a problem with Textron who makes Bunton & bobcat that they have a bad habbit of putting 3-4 year old Kohler engines in brand new 2001 mowers...they did it before and they will do it again..and its comming in at a steady rate at his dealership old motors on new mowers. The problem with this is that the perticular older model motors that they are putting on new mowers had there problems that needed to be sorted out. The Ingnition was poor design, and a few other electircal parts were of poor design. They were costly repairs due to how long they take to find the exact problem. That is one flaw with Textron products. Other than that they are all quality products. As long as you can find a product that is popular everywhere Look in a landscaping magazine in California, new york and florida..if everyone is using Exmark and many other brands in that mag..then it must be holding up and must be quality.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Sorry that is my opion of the mower. Don't let it stop you from buying one.

LGF:blob1: