How much HP? - Round 2... (New Mower Finally)

5829 Views 238 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Wye Oak Tree, 2 mo ago

Jashley73

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

I was going to post in the previous thread on "How much HP for a 60 mower" to close the loop, but I see it was finally locked. (Probably a good thing.)

I finally got to answer my own question. I guess my new answer is 37hp...

I Found a 2020 model, 61" Wright ZK on Facebook. 1,100 hours, fresh service, 37hp Vanguard EFI, with a grass flap. All for the price of...........

---- drumroll please ---

$5,950

It's going to be interesting getting used to this machine. I feel pretty awkward on it, but I hope it lives up to the hype - especially on hillside performance.

Wheel Tire Vehicle Automotive tire Tread

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Brucey

· #21 · 2 mo ago

There's no way a stander with turdsaver tread pattern is going to outperform a ztr with at101s.

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Derwood

· #22 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Like I mentioned before in another thread, my ztr was better on hills and slopes than the same brand Standers (and I love and prefer the standers). Some have said standers are better at holding hills. I’d disagree from my own experience (whatever that’s good for).

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #23 · 2 mo ago

2

And the very reason for buying this mower...

THIS hill...

First cut of the season today, and I took on the very reason for buying this mower.

Again, believing the hype about how standers are superior to ZTR's on hillsides.

This first picture shows the relative angle of this hill. About 21*.

Cloud Sky Plant Vehicle Tree

Now, my Lazer X-series with the AT101's will drive on this hillside, side-to-side all day long, as if it were on rails. In fact, I have another account with a hill that progresses up to about 26* before I turn uphill to escape.

But, it's trimming these areas that becomes a challenge.

Cloud Sky Plant Tire Vehicle

When trimming these mulched beds on the hillside, the danger comes when you start pointing downhill.

This is where the ZTR loses it. Once pointed downhill, I either have to drag the uphill/inside tire, and basically slide to make the turn, or just point downhill and hang on...

I will say, the ZK handled this slightly better than I remember the Lazer X doing.
I was able to point downhill with a lot of control. I could almost do a complete 360 on the 21* slope with pretty good authority.

I'm still going to invest in better tires for the ZK. Either AT101's or VersaTurf's. You can see in these photos how the tires are almost completely full of the clay soil. AT101's might not make a huge difference here, but are truly invaluable when you get into soppy wet mud, and the self-cleaning nature of the directional tires starts working in your favor.

There's other plusses & minuses to the stander as well. I'm going to give it some time, and I'll express those thoughts later.

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #24 · 2 mo ago

Derwood said:
Like I mentioned before in another thread, my ztr was better on hills and slopes than the same brand Standers (and I love and prefer the standers). Some have said standers are better at holding hills. I’d disagree from my own experience (whatever that’s good for).

Which mowers specifically?

Derwood

· #25 · 2 mo ago

61 Cheetahs were both better than my 61 Vride. 52 gen 1 holds better than the 61 gen 2 - super small sample, I know. Not sure how much better or worse a ZK is at holding hills than a Vride. I think they’re both fantastic machines.

Could be your ZK tires were worn too???

Glad you’re gonna stick with the ZK and give it a fair trial. I’m a huge fan of standing compared to sitting. I think you have a few years on me

so I’m anxious to hear what you think 20-30 hours from now

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #26 · 2 mo ago

The ZK's turdsaver's aren't new, but not trashed either. I'd say better than 50% life left.

I'm going to stick with it for a little bit. It's got some big shoes to fill though.

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Brucey

· #27 · 2 mo ago

The only posts I've seen where they claim a stander is better than a ztr on slopes is that you can "abandon ship" by simple stepping off versus a ztr where you are just along for the ride.

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #28 · 2 mo ago

Brucey said:
The only posts I've seen where they claim a stander is better than a ztr on slopes is that you can "abandon ship" by simple stepping off versus a ztr where you are just along for the ride.

My Exmark dealer is also the Wright dealer. Also Hustler. Been buying parts there for a couple years. They are all convinced that Stander's are superior in every way. Good people, but I've stayed suspicious. Even still.

J. Baker

· #29 · 2 mo ago

You have to get some different tires on that thing.

rippinryno

· #30 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Well you arent supposed to put the tires in the drink!

Are ya thinking about selling the stander now? If so I'd be interested. I need another good stander for some of my retention areas.

Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #31 · 2 mo ago

rippinryno said:
Well you arent supposed to put the tires in the drink!

Are ya thinking about selling the stander now? If so I'd be interested. I need another good stander for some of my retention areas.

Not yet. I'm going to try and give it a fair shake. Probably new tires, either AT101’s or VersaTurf's.

Plus, my wife hopped on it for a test drive, and did really well actually. Far better that several attempts on my Lazer. I think it has to do with the feel & sensitivity of the controls. Anyway, if we get into accounts where we use multiple mowers, this one might be "hers."

We'll see. Im going to give it some time before I make the call.

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rippinryno

· #32 · 2 mo ago

There's a learning curve from your lazer. Maybe you aren't comfortable on it yet like you are the old tried and true lazer. You might find as you continue to use it that it does better than you originally thought on hills. Just have to get used to it.

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #33 · 2 mo ago

rippinryno said:
There's a learning curve from your lazer. Maybe you aren't comfortable on it yet like you are the old tried and true lazer. You might find as you continue to use it that it does better than you originally thought on hills. Just have to get used to it.

For sure, not as comfortable yet. Though, I can tell by the way it handles up, down, and zero-turns on that hill yesterday, that there is a marginal difference in hillside performance. Marginal. Not revolutionary as many suggest.

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MowDaddy

· #34 · 2 mo ago

Jashley73 said:
the danger comes when you start pointing downhill.

This is where the ZTR loses it. Once pointed downhill, I either have to drag the uphill/inside tire, and basically slide to make the turn, or just point downhill and hang on...

There is the problem ^^^^
Simple cure, never point down hill.

J. Baker

· #35 · 2 mo ago

Jashley73 said:
For sure, not as comfortable yet. Though, I can tell by the way it handles up, down, and zero-turns on that hill yesterday, that there is a marginal difference in hillside performance. Marginal. Not revolutionary as many suggest.

I will state again I’ve never ran a stander, but I’m no stranger to equipment. I don’t see how a machine that is set up just like a ZTR can hold a hill any better. Other than operator position, there’s really no difference. Center or gravity is similar, stance is similar (depending on machine size). I would say from an evaluation standpoint, the difference is mental. Guys feel more stable standing because they can lean over. I would say most get too focused on the feel of sitting on a ZTR (get scared) and don’t focus on operating it. On a stander, they lean over, lose the fear, and keep focused on operating the machine. I’m sure someone will say I can’t say anything unless I’ve run one, but I’ll just shrug and say “ok, whatever”. It has to be mental.

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Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #36 · 2 mo ago

MowDaddy said:
There is the problem ^^^^
Simple cure, never point down hill.

Go back and look at those pictures. Impossible to mow around those angled mulch beds without pointing downhill at some point.

Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #37 · 2 mo ago

J. Baker said:
I will state again I’ve never ran a stander, but I’m no stranger to equipment. I don’t see how a machine that is set up just like a ZTR can hold a hill any better. Other than operator position, there’s really no difference. Center or gravity is similar, stance is similar (depending on machine size). I would say from an evaluation standpoint, the difference is mental. Guys feel more stable standing because they can lean over. I would say most get too focused on the feel of sitting on a ZTR (get scared) and don’t focus on operating it. On a stander, they lean over, lose the fear, and keep focused on operating the machine. I’m sure someone will say I can’t say anything unless I’ve run one, but I’ll just shrug and say “ok, whatever”. It has to be mental.

I will say that most standers are shorter overall than Z's. Which often translates to less mass in front of the drive tires. On the Wright mowers, where the engine & pumps travel with the deck, their weight moves lower too, as the cut height gets shorter. The operator gets to shift their weight around too - lean over the drive tires, or hang your butt and one leg back off the platform.

All that adds up to something. Marginal improvement I believe, but if we're being fair, there is a slight positive difference.

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Derwood

· #38 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

I’m just more comfortable on one. And at the end of a long day, my body feels much better in terms of aches and pains, and overall fatigue (and I rode a Ferris 3100 for a while). I think sitters and standers both kinda suck on hills. So the difference is negligible for me personally. Slight inclines and slopes non factors for both imo. I do like the visibility I get standing, and I also like when the wind is blowing, I’m usually cleaner after. Definitely gotta duck more on a stander!

Other than that, it would probably take some sort of injury to get me back in a seat. My reasons for changing are purely based on comfort and fatigue. I’m pretty sure whatever I could do on my 61 cheetah, I can do on my 61 Vride (except for matching the sog of the Cheetah)

I think it’s great we have different options. I would never try to talk a guy into one though. I might suggest it in much the same way I’d suggest good whiskey over rail whiskey. But other than that, do what one likes right?

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rippinryno

· #39 · 2 mo ago

J. Baker said:
I will state again I’ve never ran a stander,

noted.

J. Baker said:
Other than operator position, there’s really no difference. Center or gravity is similar, stance is similar (depending on machine size). I would say from an evaluation standpoint, the difference is mental.

Similar might be a stretch. About the only similarity is that they have 2 seperate drive tires and front castors.

J. Baker said:
Guys feel more stable standing because they can lean over. I would say most get too focused on the feel of sitting on a ZTR (get scared) and don’t focus on operating it. On a stander, they lean over, lose the fear, and keep focused on operating the machine. I’m sure someone will say I can’t say anything unless I’ve run one, but I’ll just shrug and say “ok, whatever”. It has to be mental.

Well you can of course say it's mental and shrug it off, but you know experience is the best way to form an opinion.

Jashley73

Discussion Starter · #40 · 2 mo ago

I swear if you two ruin another thread over yet another pissing match, again, not only will I be ignoring you both, but I'll be doing more behind the scenes to make sure this stuff doesn't keep going on.

Please, for the sake of this forum, knock off the attacks & insults.

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