[gcbailey]

Last year I purchased a Scag SWZT 52" to add to the fleet to replace a wearing out TT 52" X-Series. Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed in the Scag, the motor is more powerful than the Exmark but it seems like the hydros/wheel motors are much weaker. Those of you that have an X-Series TT know they are billy goats and they will drag a 300lb guy up any type of slope. The SWZT seems to struggle with me, 205lb, on level ground as well as sticking to side slopes. I love my V-Ride II's but so far have buyers remorse on this WB. Anyway... I've got 2 more Turf Tracer 52" X-series that are getting pretty worn out (2400+hours) and one is developing a hydro issue.

So for all that rambling I haven't kept up with the off patent re-color re-badged turf tracer wannabe mowers out there now. Do any of them compare with the Exmark? I have to have 52" that compliment where a Ventrac can go and stick to the side of hills without bogging down.

 

[Groomer]

new engine and some hydro work?
been running TT's for years, great mowers.

 

[HenryB]

Two other great options are the Ferris FW 35 or 45 as well as the Wright walk behind mower both every bit as good as the turf tracer probably better I agree the Scag SWZT does seem a little bit lightweight for commercial work. I think Scag could’ve done much better.

 

[gcbailey]

new engine and some hydro work?
been running TT's for years, great mowers.

I've been running them for 19+ years, just hate to throw $4k+ on parts for machines that are in need of total rebuilds.

 

[Hawkshot99]

I came from a Exmark Viking and have been running a Ferris Fw35 for about 5 yrs.
Reasons I like it over the exmark(both my viking, and the TT's I looked at when getting the ferris)

-Much more friendly hand controls. Didn't realize how hard I had to squeeze the ECS until I had the ferris.
-A bit more open of a deck, so better overall cutting conditions. On perfect lawns I'll still give the edge to the exmarks.
-Much easier to change deck heights. No pins, just turn a know up or down.
-Bigger engines.
-Much less $ for a comparable machine.

I have had no issues with my fw35 pulling my 300# self up hills on a sulky. The Fw45 has the next level of hydros from hydrogear. The scag swzt has hydrogear 2800's vs 3100 on the fw35, and 3400 on the fw45. The 2800 is the residential level of hydros from the hydrogear website.

The swtz mower makes no sense to me. They combined the residential deck, hydros, and engine to make a commercial machine.....I'd be very happy if they upgraded the components to commercial with the same design.

 

[Turf Chopper]

Last year I purchased a Scag SWZT 52" to add to the fleet to replace a wearing out TT 52" X-Series. Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed in the Scag, the motor is more powerful than the Exmark but it seems like the hydros/wheel motors are much weaker. Those of you that have an X-Series TT know they are billy goats and they will drag a 300lb guy up any type of slope. The SWZT seems to struggle with me, 205lb, on level ground as well as sticking to side slopes. I love my V-Ride II's but so far have buyers remorse on this WB. Anyway... I've got 2 more Turf Tracer 52" X-series that are getting pretty worn out (2400+hours) and one is developing a hydro issue.

So for all that rambling I haven't kept up with the off patent re-color re-badged turf tracer wannabe mowers out there now. Do any of them compare with the Exmark? I have to have 52" that compliment where a Ventrac can go and stick to the side of hills without bogging down.

I came from a Exmark Viking and have been running a Ferris Fw35 for about 5 yrs.
Reasons I like it over the exmark(both my viking, and the TT's I looked at when getting the ferris)

-Much more friendly hand controls. Didn't realize how hard I had to squeeze the ECS until I had the ferris.
-A bit more open of a deck, so better overall cutting conditions. On perfect lawns I'll still give the edge to the exmarks.
-Much easier to change deck heights. No pins, just turn a know up or down.
-Bigger engines.
-Much less $ for a comparable machine.

I have had no issues with my fw35 pulling my 300# self up hills on a sulky. The Fw45 has the next level of hydros from hydrogear. The scag swzt has hydrogear 2800's vs 3100 on the fw35, and 3400 on the fw45. The 2800 is the residential level of hydros from the hydrogear website.

The swtz mower makes no sense to me. They combined the residential deck, hydros, and engine to make a commercial machine.....I'd be very happy if they upgraded the components to commercial with the same design.

Scag made the SWZT to be an entry level commercial mower, a cost effective machine for small timers and those starting out.

10 or so years ago scag made the SWZU mower, very comparable to the exmark TT. it had the same heavy-duty components as the fixed deck SWZ but with a floating deck. their commercial V+ deck at that.

according to scag, and ive asked them myself, there wasnt much demand for it so it was discontinued. it was a very good mower and are very quick sellers when you see them on marketplace, but i guess landscapers at the time didnt like the price.

the SWZ, even though it has a fixed deck, will cut better, last longer, will hold a hill way better, while being a lighter machine.


OP how come you arent looking at getting another turf tracer? you seem to have been happy with them. are you just curious about other brands?

 

[Ridin' Green]

Scag made the SWZT to be an entry level commercial mower, a cost effective machine for small timers and those starting out.

10 or so years ago scag made the SWZU mower, very comparable to the exmark TT. it had the same heavy-duty components as the fixed deck SWZ but with a floating deck. their commercial V+ deck at that.

according to scag, and ive asked them myself, there wasnt much demand for it so it was discontinued. it was a very good mower and are very quick sellers when you see them on marketplace, but i guess landscapers at the time didnt like the price.

the SWZ, even though it has a fixed deck, will cut better, last longer, will hold a hill way better, while being a lighter machine.


OP how come you arent looking at getting another turf tracer? you seem to have been happy with them. are you just curious about other brands?

No offense as I know you mean well, but you are quite young (nothing wrong with that either, nor with being eager) and pretty new here. You really need to learn who some of these guys are and what their background/experience in this industry is.

 

[Turf Chopper]

No offense

none taken! just curious why OP is looking at other brands instead of a new TT

 

[gcbailey]

none taken! just curious why OP is looking at other brands instead of a new TT

Availability in my area and as I said seeing since it's "off patent" if any other company has improved on it.

We were an exmark shop exclusively for 15 years, still run 5 of them but I've added 4 V-Ride II in the past few years and after the Starris fiasco I've been less than impressed with what exmark has put out considering what they are asking. Granted I know inflation is real...

I didn't say I wouldn't get another one but like I said above we were an exmark exclusive shop and never even looked at other brands but I've learned to never say never.

 

[Turf Chopper]

Availability in my area and as I said seeing since it's "off patent" if any other company has improved on it.

We were an exmark shop exclusively for 15 years, still run 5 of them but I've added 4 V-Ride II in the past few years and after the Starris fiasco I've been less than impressed with what exmark has put out considering what they are asking. Granted I know inflation is real...

I didn't say I wouldn't get another one but like I said above we were an exmark exclusive shop and never even looked at other brands but I've learned to never say never.

yeah most people werent too happy with the staris... which is why exmark partnered with wright on their new stander.

despite the steeper price, the turf tracers are still good machines as far as i know. i myself might look into getting one next season, likely. itd be my first new commercial mower purchase(i buy most mowers used). was also curious if you had any experience with the S series and how it compares to the X series? only thing putting me off about the turf tracers is the relatively slow speed, my SWZs are about 3/4 mile faster than the X series tracer. probably not that noticeable, though.

I absolutely love the vrides, we have 2 in my landscaping shop at my school, all though the older one only has 250 or so hours on it. very comfortable machines and hold hills very well, how old are yours? you have any major issues with them? we havnt run them long enough to run into anything major.

 

[Jashley73]

yeah most people werent too happy with the staris... which is why exmark partnered with wright on their new stander.

Wait, what...? eXmark partnered with Wright on the Vertex? First I'm hearing about this...

 

[Turf Chopper]

Wait, what...? eXmark partnered with Wright on the Vertex? First I'm hearing about this...

I believe they bought a copy of the blueprints of the stander X or something like that from wright.

looking at the vertex, itd be a lawsuit if exmark and wright didnt have some sort of deal. 😂

ill try to find more info on it, but thats what i heard.

 

[Ridin' Green]

Wait, what...? eXmark partnered with Wright on the Vertex? First I'm hearing about this...

This article says it reminds the author of a Wright, but I didn't see anywhere that mentioned that it was a collaboration with them-

https://lawngrowth.com/exmark-vertex-s-series-stand-on-mower-review/

Bet the electric version sells like hotcakes at that price!

Vertex V-Series Electric Stand-On Mower

Exmark’s Vertex V-Series battery-powered electric stand-on mower is ready for any job, regardless of sound ordinances or zero-engine exhaust emission mandates.

www.exmark.com

 

[Turf Chopper]

This article says it reminds the author of a Wright, but I didn't see anywhere that mentioned that it was a collaboration with them-

https://lawngrowth.com/exmark-vertex-s-series-stand-on-mower-review/

Bet the electric version sells like hotcakes at that price!

Vertex V-Series Electric Stand-On Mower

Exmark’s Vertex V-Series battery-powered electric stand-on mower is ready for any job, regardless of sound ordinances or zero-engine exhaust emission mandates.

www.exmark.com

christ imagine how many lawns youd have to mow to make 45 grand back.... after taxes and "assembly" thats prob gonna be their price.


i couldnt find anything on a deal or partnership... ill send wright a DM on instagram, they respond very quickly.

but after comparing specs, despite small differences everything is exactly the same as a stander X, just different paint, deck, and slightly smaller wheel motors.

they definitely have some sort of deal going, likely because exmark crashed and burned when they tried designing their own stander.

 

[gcbailey]

We've had a few 48" S-series TT but the X-series is night and day difference. a 52" X-series can fit in 99.999% of places a 48" can, but the heavier (beefier) frame, wider stance, larger pumps/motors make an easy choice in choosing the X over the S.

 

[Turf Chopper]

We've had a few 48" S-series TT but the X-series is night and day difference. a 52" X-series can fit in 99.999% of places a 48" can, but the heavier (beefier) frame, wider stance, larger pumps/motors make an easy choice in choosing the X over the S.

do you also see any difference in cut quality between the series 3 deck seen on the tracer s vs the series 4 on the X?

 

[gcbailey]

It's like most exmark decks, awesome in ideal conditions and one drop of water in the grass clumps for days.

 

[sjessen]

It's like most exmark decks, awesome in ideal conditions and one drop of water in the grass clumps for days.

I bought new Vertex last year. It doesn't clump as bad as my other Exmarks. Not sure why.

 

[Jashley73]

I bought new Vertex last year. It doesn't clump as bad as my other Exmarks. Not sure why.

I've been wondering about what style blade is best to combat this. Curious if a lower-lift blade would help prevent clumping.

I know that a higher lift blade will obviously create more vacuum. However, the Ultracut decks are so tightly baffled, that vacuum isn't really a problem for them.

I ran G5 Gator blades all last year, but I'm game for trying whatever come this spring. My unscientific, anecdotal experience is that the G5's process longer clippings better, and ultimately give a little finer dispersion. But, this may not help all that much in wet conditions. My smaller, nicer yards, I would typically double-cut anyway if clumping is an issue.



Alternatively, I wonder if keeping the G5's, and/or high-lift blades, but at a reduced throttle wouldn't help with clumping too. I know that the G5's will create a lot of blowout in dryer conditions. If I throttle back 10-15%, the blowout goes away.

Lots of variables to think about.

 

[sjessen]

I've been wondering about what style blade is best to combat this. Curious if a lower-lift blade would help prevent clumping.

I know that a higher lift blade will obviously create more vacuum. However, the Ultracut decks are so tightly baffled, that vacuum isn't really a problem for them.

I ran G5 Gator blades all last year, but I'm game for trying whatever come this spring. My unscientific, anecdotal experience is that the G5's process longer clippings better, and ultimately give a little finer dispersion. But, this may not help all that much in wet conditions. My smaller, nicer yards, I would typically double-cut anyway if clumping is an issue.



Alternatively, I wonder if keeping the G5's, and/or high-lift blades, but at a reduced throttle wouldn't help with clumping too. I know that the G5's will create a lot of blowout in dryer conditions. If I throttle back 10-15%, the blowout goes away.

Lots of variables to think about.

Taking out the turbo baffle helps, the one at the discharge. I bought a baffle from Red magic that "seemed" to help some.

Exmark has added a feature to some of the Lazers allowing one to tweak the deck rake. I'm guessing more rake equals less clumping.

Lowering the rpms does help too.