I expect this mower will last several seasons with decent care. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx1VWTrayKBdCKAjzAcZ_Eg4dhHTae3LkN also recommend Also, I ran across the problem with it not starting the 2nd time I used it. There is a safety switch which is pushed in by the chute or mulching piece being attached to the deck. I took the cover off and it wouldn't start. Put it back on, no problem. It takes only a minute with 2 easily accessible wingnuts and no tools. This mower starts up first crank each time and it is a joy to use. It also mows in reverse by putting the key to the reverse area after starting and pushing in the triangular button. It will stay in reverse mode until you turn it off. All in all, for my homeowner needs, I really like this mower-and at 70 bucks a cut here in Miami, it's already more than 1/3 paid for itself in a month.
I have a 2010 BadBoy ZT6000 my grandson gave me from his yard business with a 27hp Kohler engine.. It was tired from lack of maintenance. I cleaned the carb changed spark plugs and all the filters., changed spindle and front wheel bearings, both worn out belts and an idler pulley. This machine is built like a sherman tank. Now it runs like a champ, never wanted a Z turn, but this is awesome, never going back to a rider mower. Oh yeah, I added an ammeter and tachometer for bling. I'm 76 years old and I enjoy mowing in comfort now....Al Scott
Still running the same craftsmen 48 inch cut yard mower for 28 years. I had to replace belt, bearings, tires, deck blade shafts, blades and regular maintaince on a regular basis. I also check the oil level before I start the motor. Take care of your equipment and it will run a long time. I also keep it under a shed out of the weather.
The Toro has a stamped deck and does great at (7mph) full speed mowing. I am just over 500 hours and no complaints. It does sit outside year round and no squeaking, corrosion or rusting anywhere.
@@nicholassmith4154 Yeah i get that. It is just ridiculously hard on everything from rubber hoses to all the metal components. Then you have the chance of a critter eating wires.
Ya base Timecutter has the stamped deck and the more expensive models have the fabricated deck. i've actually heard a few people say the stamped decks cut better due to the curved aerodynamics but the fabricated deck is going to last a lot longer
I've had 2 Cub Cadets over the last 15 years. The first one a 48'' and the second a 54''. No problems with either one. Just regular maintenance. My acreage is about 3 acres.
I have a timecutter z4235 with fr691 I'm starting my 12th cutting season and have literally only changed the oil and replaced the blades, I'm still on the original belt and have about 800hrs on the machine. Great mower
@@danc.2457 I’ve changed the belt, blades, deck bearings, battery, tires, throttle cable, air filter, fuel filter and engine oil/filter, all of which I consider routine maintenance or normal wear. I didn’t know that the transaxle fluid must be changed. What’s involved with that, what type fluid and how often?
@@JT_70 ... I hope with good maintenance my new Husq TX348XD will still be going strong at 800 hours too ... the TuffTorq K66 ELD transaxle in mine is easy enough to drain and refill with new fluid because there are 2 drain plugs and fill plugs ... not all transaxles are built with drain/fill plugs but imho they should be !!! ...
buying a zero turn without a fabricated deck is pointless. With how fast you can move around, the deck takes a beating. I had a troy built mustang, it ran and cut nice, but with a stamped deck, it was easy to dent, bend or twist the deck. My hustler raptor SD has the same hours my mustang did but the deck looks new besides the paint scrapes. 10 gauge deck, with 7 gauge around the spindles and the perimeter. I use my hustler for a lawn care business despite it being labeled a residential mower. with ZT 2800 hydros, kawa fr651v, and a fab deck, you can make some decent money with one. I might upgrade to a bad boy maverick HD in a couple years, as it is a more commercial mower that is available with a 42" deck.
Will definitely be getting a bad boy when my 1999 John Deere 345 quits out. It has an 18HP liquid cooled Kawasaki engine and it’s a great old garden tractor.
I purchased a Ferris years ago and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. The best thing it had on it was the Briggs motor and the grass chute. Sold it after 1 cutting season!
@@michaelbarnhardt8274 I didn't like the bouncing around...the suspension was not what I expected in a bumpy lawn. Air ride seat is 100x better. The deck would clog up in taller, dew-wet grass...summertime morning cutting in Louisiana is hard on a mower. My Grasshopper has been the BEST mower I have owned.
Bought my ZT Elite 60 in 27 horse Kohler Courage Pro in 2011 change my oil twice a season replace spindle, keep my blades sharpened and spindle bearings when needed , time to inspect mower pulley assemblies but other than that it's been a great mower! I mow 4 Acres twice a week right now it has 724 hours quite happy with it, as I'm getting older I need more suspension!
I have the mz magnum. It has most all the features mentioned above. They are amazing mowers and the kawasaki engine has plenty of power. The price wasn't bad at 4700.00
I got an Ariens (Gravely residential line) 52" ZTM for $3k. It has the 20" rear tires, fabricated deck, Box steel frame reinforced with 8 gauge steel, dial type height adjustment, and the 23hp Kawasaki FR691.
@@angel7806 It's my first ZTM so I don't have any experience to draw upon. Cuts GREAT! Use at 50% throttle so it's very quiet as well. No stopping power on damp grades, but I suspect that's with all ZTs.
@@billwhiteathome2080 i think for the price the ariens ikon is the best deal , i've owned several commercial mowers over the years and i would definitely buy an ikon for residential use
I have a bad boy pup mower that I bought in 2006, it's similar to a Maverick with 60 inch cut and it's been a solid mower for years, I have over 2400 hours on it ,other then change the oil thru the years and I had to replace the bearings in the deck when one goes out ,but other then that it's been a great mower and has never let me down, anytime I can get 16 years of trouble free mowing out of a mower I am sold .
Gravely ZTX-52 or orange painted (slightly cheaper price) at your local home depot the Ariens IKON X52in w/23 HP kawasaki motor should be number 1 for the money in my view. Have had my ZTX-52' i cut 2 acres every week with no issues. Lots of power and the deck is bulletproof
Good review, but my Scag Liberty Z blows all of these away. I paid 4K for it brand new. It has made me tons of money over the couple of years with very little maintenance, and a high quality cut you'd expect from a Scag!
I got my bad boy caterpillar diesel for 800$ I got that cheap because it “wouldn’t move” all it needed was a new hydraulic hose and then it was all good
I purchased an Aerins 60" deck and it was nearly Exactly the same as the Kubota. The Kubota was $10,000.00 and the Aerins was only $4000.00. The ONLY difference was the Kubota had 2 more H.P. more than the Aerins.
I have 40 year old Simplicity Allis Chalmers. Amazing! Still runs great. Original deck, engine, tires, joints, tranny, seat and bearings. The only thing I replaced are the blades, filters and belts. My neighbors have new John Deers made in China. All need repairs yearly. One needed new deck the 1st year.
@@ebaake I have an exmark with a 60” deck. I love it. But I do want to transfer to electric to take advantage of all the solar kw hours I’ve been banking. I bought their 2 stage snow blower and fell in love with the brand. Im concerned about longevity. I know my exmark can last me 20 years if I let it plus I get up to 13mph. I’ve got my eye on EGO. Im selling my trimmers, edgers and blowers this season to go ego. I don’t like pulling the string and all the drama that goes with it. Thanks for the follow up. :)
IMO the Ferris 400S is the BEST zero turn mower that money can buy ! Transmissions are servicible, Kawasaki engine, smooth hydros and steering, comfortable adjustable seat, servicible deck by lifting the floorplate, small turning radius and many more features make this the mower that you should seriously consider. I have one and I love it.
And they have nice decks which are quiet compared to those bad boys and the rest of the mowers in general my mx5050 has the kholer 7000 and the 2800 trans
I have the same one 200 hrs junk, solenoid went, starter switch went, today does not go forward or back was making a strange noise when hitting the accelerator .Checked it has a leak near the rear tire from the transmission which has no fluid.They make the Transmission so you can not maintenance them .Really junk.
I bought an old beat up toro timecutter ss5000 about five years ago from a guy at work. It's a work horse. I cut about 2.5 acres with it and it's still going great. I put a new carb on it and starter solenoid but that's it. I have a brand new exmark now too and my wife will only use the toro lol
My '21 Gravely HD60 was 5200$. 7ga deck, FR730, 8mph top speed. Punch-hole style deck height adjuster is superior imo, because that plastic dial crap can wear out and slip. Oh, my Gravely has the flip-up access to belts like the badboy also. Bonus: if you want to save 300$ the Ariens (Lowes) mower is the same except for the seat I think and a shorter warranty.
I have the Ariens, 60" with the kawasaki motor. I agree with you, they missed the mark with this one. I was looking at the bad boy in the #1 spot, and the one I bought had a better deck, motor, tire size and height selector. Oh well, to each their own.
I have a Toro Timecutter with a 24HP engine 54" deck Kohler engine I have had for 10 years with over 2000 engine hours. I changed the belts because I thought it might be time. I also had to put another solenoid on it. It still runs like a top never uses any oil. It's my sweetheart. I cut 1 1/2 acres every week. a creampuff
I Bought a Bad Ass Bad Boy ZT Elited Limitod Edition Black Deck Great Chair and gbetter than any mower i use but Those are $5,500.00 From Ace Hardware they sell More Ferris than anyone else in the USA by staying open on Sundays!!
Thank you for the in-depth look at these machines. I had a Toro Z4200 Timecutter for 12 years with a 19 HP Kohler Courage (single cylinder) series engine. I regularly mowed about an acre with it having only to replace the belt once, and of course, blades and oil/filter regularly. I finally blew a hole in the stamped steel deck, yet still sold it with the deck needing repaired (or replaced) for $450. I replaced it with the 75747, 42" Timecutter with MyRide suspension, 10 gauge fabricated steel deck, and a 22HP 7000 series Kohler V-twin. $3499. I wanted to point out your video states that the entry-level Timecutter has a fabricated steel deck, yet the video shows what it actually comes with- the stamped steel deck. The fabricated deck is available as an upgrade for about $100. While I think this mower (the one I bought) remains a residential, non-commercial grade machine, it could rank 4th or maybe even 3rd on your list. (You did point out Toro's variations in the Timecutter series.) I'm not sure why Toro doesn't include hour meters on these non-commercial machines, but I am mentioning it here. I installed one on my new machine before I used it for the first time. The MyRide suspension system does indeed take a little getting used to (less than one mowing for me) however, it is by far the best, most comfortable ride I've ever had while mowing. The SmartSpeed control will make the machine less "aggressive", something not mentioned in the video. The MyRide suspension does sacrifice the under-seat storage area you pointed out in your excellent video. Thank you again for taking the time to review these machines... and for those of you who have never owned a zero-turn mower; once you have one, you'll never go back.
Toro😡, I purchased the mx4200 in 2019, my first cut no problem, it went down hill from there. It started cutting out the second time I went to use it. I called my dealer they where very good in getting it in. Unfortunately it was in & out of there shop. Late summer they ended up putting a new whirring harness in her. Spring of 2020 😂😂 started her up no problem, until I tried to pull it out. Yep it died twice.😡. Again back in the shop she went mind you this was late April. It was not picked up until June. After several calls to toro. They replaced the arms and a switch, for witch I suggested a year before. Now in May 2021, I noticed oil leak. Turned out to be the transmission. It was picked up June 6th. I haven't seen her since. After calls in to toro & a large head ach. No replacement extremely disappointing in toro😣.
I thought about a Zero Turn but decided the Garden Tractor was much more versatile for me ... my 2021 Husqvarna TS 348 XD cost $3700. , has the Kawasaki FR730V , the Tuff Torq K66 locking differential transaxle which I can drain and change the hydraulic fluid on , 10 ga. fabricated deck (3 blades) , and 23" tires ... and ps., I like the sealed spindle bearings because they are easily serviceable , just pop the bearings out of the spindle , remove the inner seal , clean bearings and repack , and re-install the seal ... I think comparable Zero Turns are way over priced , and limited to faster cutting grass only ...
+10. I bought a troybilt tractor style mower from lowes 16 years ago with a B&S. Ive put blades, deck belts and batterys in it and changed its oil every season. So for a purchase price of $1500 its cost me less than $100/ year. To say that with some of these mowers itd take 25, 30, 40, 50 years of service?????? Just cant do it
@@DrDaddy-yg2ki ... I'm hoping my Garden Tractor will hold up a long time also ... I have some vegi gardens and intend to add another maybe 25' x 40' and expect the tractor functions of my Husq to do their job and save me much of the back work ... also will be adding a snow plow because I'm getting too old to dig out this long driveway anymore ... anyway I got ideas and plans for the Tractor/Mower , at present it's doing a big job mowing for me ...
Z242F owner. Make sure you dump the tire pressure in the front, you can even see in the dealers shots here, they have not and they are bulging in the center. This kills the front tires and if left unchecked traps grass between the tire and the casters. Apparently they are shipped this way and the dealers don't appear to be addressing it, in the video and when I got mine. The Kawasaki's have a flat tappet cam, use a good oil with a high zinc content. My seat switch failed.
@@Jimbobd421 I am very glad that I bought it at a place with a great service department. One month old and been in the shop twice. Just a dead cell in the battery and cylinoid. Probably the cylinoid was ruined by the bad battery. Hustler Raptor XD has a tiny little battery one of the new lithium batteries. Always a few bad ones get by but they made it good and that's what counts. Just residential use 1.5 acre yard with lots of obstacles.
Need help choosing the right mower. I have the lawn from hell that eats riding lawn mowers. Ground is not even, and the oak trees bring up roots and drops branches (yes, I pick up what i can, but I don't always see them in time). I have three acres, two in grass lawn and one in rough back pasture with trees. Need a mini bushhog.
A tractor and a bush hog would be a good choice, you could get a used one without a loader for a fair price. Also if you wanted to go fancy. You could get the altoz mower with an allterrain deck.
I have the Kohler KT725 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin 7000 series Engine in my tractor...the Kohler 7000 series engines are designed after the Kohler Command Pro Commercial Engine.. the Kawasaki is by no means better than Kohler
Well, go ahead and order a cam shaft and a governor gear! You'll probably need one or both at some point and if you've got the smart choke setup then go ahead and find a manual choke conversion, because that's going to fail. Or their head gaskets that fail but not to worry, kohler replaces them with way better than their own factory installed gaskets after their crappy ones fail.
I have the Husqvarna 242F featured on this list and I dung like it at all. I had an Arians at our last house and it felt so much better then the Husqvarna. I only have any 9 hours on it and I'm already looking to sell it and buy something else. My biggest complaint is that it only had 1 anti-scalp wheel on the deck. It's in the center so any sway on epithet side and you scalping the lawn
Much of this list is based on our personal experience with zero-turn mowers. I know that each of the mowers on this list will have a great chance of exceeding 1000-3000 hours. We have seen Ariens mowers come in used that are and typically the decks are in very bad condition. But the ariens arent bad mowers, they have a lot of great features for the price.
Have an Ariens that was purchased to replace the older/smaller Husqvarna we had. Been great the first few seasons and doesn’t look like it will be a problem anytime soon !
@@skipgumphrey9579 i absolutely love my ikon xd42 its been great i only have about 30 hours on it so far. Opted for the 22hp Kohler engine and glad I did
All the hustlers are heavy or heavier built now . Even the low end are closer to commercial built. hustler xd equal to the bad boy also has a panel to lift up to work on it . I have had my hustler sd for 6.5 years 600 hrs and never had a issue. Mine was 4000 dollars at the time and still are close in price. You get a kawasaki engine big tires tube frame all that . They also make big dawg mowers which are identical but there red. O and alll of them have all welded decks.
Thank you for the review. I owned the Ferris Witt the independent suspension and the 48” deck (I don’t remember the exact model). I sold it about 6 years ago. It was a great mower. However I had the maintenance folks out to our home over and over trying to stop stair step cutting. We couldn’t stop the uneven cutting on slightly sloped yard. The company rep finally said.... it must me the independent suspension on a slopped cutting angle. I could never figure it out. I’ve not heard anyone else worn the same issue.. would be interested to know if someone out there has had similar issues. I’ m back on the market for a zero turn. I have a small yard but now my aging neighbors and I’m a home builder and have to keep out lots mown at 6” or less height. I have a budget of $6500
I mowed with that mower for a commercial outfit for a few years. You have to keep your foot on the deck adjustment pedal and feather it a bit when you go on hillsides and/or uneven hilly areas. It bugged me too until I figured out that work around, then it cuts like it should. It does get killer on your knee after 8hrs of it though.
I have the same mower and had an issue with that at the beginning of the season. Turned out it was my tire pressure. But that was just my case. Best of luck.
@@jts4248 sadly ordered a John Deere. Was told it was in stock and would be delivered within 5 days…. 3 Months later no mower. Ended up with a interim mower from Hustler. It’s the tilt up deck and was pretty affordable $3800. Anyway love the tilt up deck. It’s actually very very helpful as I’m mowing empty lots that are not improved and have to swap blades daily and being able to pull a pin, push a bottom and hand the mower fold in two and have the deck vertical is amazing. HOWEVER !!!!! It is not a Deere. It not comfortable, it’s not smooth to operate (the controls are not balanced well). What is worse is maintenance on the belts requires about 30-40 min of disassembly. Also it is very very very difficult to level the deck. But it was 1/2 the price of the Deere and it does the job. The motor is a Kawasaki commercial. That being said, I sell my mowers every 3 years on depreciation schedule we use for our company tools. I think I’ll sell this mower this coming spring and order a deer once the 2022 are available to ship.
I beat the crap out of a encore Z52 mowing 60 rental units for 17 years when the motor blew I junked the mower due to lack of parts availability overall was a great mower
I've had the Bad Boy ZT-Elite 60" for over 4 years now. Didn't end up buying it from TS instead got it at a local tractor shop with better financing deal. You might check it out. It's been pretty rock solid for me and my yard is ruff.
I think the Spartans should be on this list, brother to the owner of the Bad Boys, but with a few features that are better, such as Parker direct drive hydraulics
There are tons of mowers out there with similar parts all on them. Once you start researching in depth. I don't know if the common buyer even realizes that their machine isn't that unique, and they argue about it. They are all the virtually the same at this mainstream level. I have a Deere 915 60" it was 6999$ on sale. Great video.
Got a 10 year old Zt series mower. Cut 2 1/2 acre lawn and a 6 acre pasture. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Getting ready to retire her and buy me a new one and sell old Faithful to a lucky owner. Original belts and blades and only thing not original is a rebuilt starter.
Hustler XD (this price Range), is a heck of a mower, and Hustler did a bang up job with these newer X Series. But you're still getting 2800 "Residential" Hydro's, No Suspension, and a somewhat less beefier frame and deck. I am a huge fan of Hustler, Scag, Kabota, and Ferris-But what Bad Boy has been able to bring to the table with that new "ZT Elite" is really something. They must be making like $5 bucks profit on each one.
These all seem to have they BIg Box store engines top end engines. Unfortunately, they are not the commercial grade size. I do seem to like the ZT Elite I wish it had a better engine though. People always bad mouth B&S engines which I have found very reliable. But I would never buy a Big Box store motor with a very small engine and transmission in a large mower. I am glad you mentioned the trannies in these most people do not. I notice most people selling mowers at local vendors order their mowers with the cheaper/smaller engines. Just saying be aware of the 726 CC engines and lower CC engines. I know B&S sells a 810 CC engine which I own which is there commercial engine on a MZ-61. I would never buy a Kohler engine.
neat, I was the 4k like. great video...about halfway through it...will watch rest at work. Appreciate the reviews. A lot of the reviews on here feel like commercials.
I have a Bad Boy Magnum 54'' Kawasaki FR651V . Its my first Zero turn mower it now has 85 hrs on it can you tell me about how long it will last me inder regular PM & what parts will start to go bad that i can look for . I keep it out of the weather on my back porch. Thanks for your help !! Daniel from central Mississippi
I’ve had the Husqvarna 42 inch zero turn and I now have the Toro Timecutter and the Toro cuts quite a bit faster than the Husky and mine has the Kohler 7000 22hp KT725
@@metalgoat9672 i would take a kohler too...have one on my 314 h wheel horse an a twin on my 18cfc simplicity no problems with them its what you get used to but kawasakis were breaking rods ,,but they may have fixed that
I expect this mower will last several seasons with decent care. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx1VWTrayKBdCKAjzAcZ_Eg4dhHTae3LkN also recommend Also, I ran across the problem with it not starting the 2nd time I used it. There is a safety switch which is pushed in by the chute or mulching piece being attached to the deck. I took the cover off and it wouldn't start. Put it back on, no problem. It takes only a minute with 2 easily accessible wingnuts and no tools. This mower starts up first crank each time and it is a joy to use. It also mows in reverse by putting the key to the reverse area after starting and pushing in the triangular button. It will stay in reverse mode until you turn it off. All in all, for my homeowner needs, I really like this mower-and at 70 bucks a cut here in Miami, it's already more than 1/3 paid for itself in a month.
I have a 2010 BadBoy ZT6000 my grandson gave me from his yard business with a 27hp Kohler engine.. It was tired from lack of maintenance. I cleaned the carb changed spark plugs and all the filters., changed spindle and front wheel bearings, both worn out belts and an idler pulley. This machine is built like a sherman tank. Now it runs like a champ, never wanted a Z turn, but this is awesome, never going back to a rider mower. Oh yeah, I added an ammeter and tachometer for bling. I'm 76 years old and I enjoy mowing in comfort now....Al Scott
Carol, you're the man, way to keep that badboy running strong!
Old Guy’s Rock
Still running the same craftsmen 48 inch cut yard mower for 28 years. I had to replace belt, bearings, tires, deck blade shafts, blades and regular maintaince on a regular basis. I also check the oil level before I start the motor. Take care of your equipment and it will run a long time. I also keep it under a shed out of the weather.
Great advice. 👍
I still have one too!
I got a 42” cub cadet that’s almost 60yrs old. Takes a bit of knowhow, but it still goes.
How much in time and materials has it cost to maintain it?
Your video was better than Pandora's Sleep Radio in putting me swiftly to sleep. Thx!
The Toro has a stamped deck and does great at (7mph) full speed mowing. I am just over 500 hours and no complaints. It does sit outside year round and no squeaking, corrosion or rusting anywhere.
Dumb to let it sit outside in the elements
@@aaronwade1940 my motorcycles an 42 ford pickup take my garage.
@@nicholassmith4154 Yeah i get that. It is just ridiculously hard on everything from rubber hoses to all the metal components. Then you have the chance of a critter eating wires.
Buy a small shed. Also good for rakes, shovels, toys, etc. Cleans up the garage some.
Ya base Timecutter has the stamped deck and the more expensive models have the fabricated deck. i've actually heard a few people say the stamped decks cut better due to the curved aerodynamics but the fabricated deck is going to last a lot longer
I had a mower break down so I rented my friend's Husqvarna... it took a 3 hour job and made it in to a 6 hour job
I see what you did there😂🤣
I have a 10 year old time cutter with 22.5 Kawasaki engine only thing I’ve done is change oil blade and mow!
I've had 2 Cub Cadets over the last 15 years. The first one a 48'' and the second a 54''. No problems with either one. Just
regular maintenance. My acreage is about 3 acres.
Going on 3 years with our 25 horse 60" cut Cubby and it's still cutting like the day we got it. I cut 7 of the 10 acres we have and have no problems
Cub ZT2 60” - $4199 - Kawasaki FR730v - 2800 hydros - large front wheels - super sturdy build - fabricated deck- headlights
That model should have 3100
Got a Bad Boy with a Kawasaki engine they are tough and just like any mower stuff will break and you will fix. Yes my next mower will be a BB
I have a timecutter z4235 with fr691 I'm starting my 12th cutting season and have literally only changed the oil and replaced the blades, I'm still on the original belt and have about 800hrs on the machine. Great mower
I have the same mower and same age but fewer hours. It’s been a great machine. It has a powerful 22hp Kawasaki V-twin.
Thank you for the insight.
You've never replaced the air filter or changed the trans-axle fluid ??? ...
@@danc.2457 I’ve changed the belt, blades, deck bearings, battery, tires, throttle cable, air filter, fuel filter and engine oil/filter, all of which I consider routine maintenance or normal wear. I didn’t know that the transaxle fluid must be changed. What’s involved with that, what type fluid and how often?
@@JT_70 ... I hope with good maintenance my new Husq TX348XD will still be going strong at 800 hours too ... the TuffTorq K66 ELD transaxle in mine is easy enough to drain and refill with new fluid because there are 2 drain plugs and fill plugs ... not all transaxles are built with drain/fill plugs but imho they should be !!! ...
I have the Husqvarna z 242 you have pictured. came with kawasaki fr651v. I paid 2800 for it and its been flawless so far in the 3 years i have had it.
buying a zero turn without a fabricated deck is pointless. With how fast you can move around, the deck takes a beating. I had a troy built mustang, it ran and cut nice, but with a stamped deck, it was easy to dent, bend or twist the deck. My hustler raptor SD has the same hours my mustang did but the deck looks new besides the paint scrapes. 10 gauge deck, with 7 gauge around the spindles and the perimeter. I use my hustler for a lawn care business despite it being labeled a residential mower. with ZT 2800 hydros, kawa fr651v, and a fab deck, you can make some decent money with one. I might upgrade to a bad boy maverick HD in a couple years, as it is a more commercial mower that is available with a 42" deck.
Will definitely be getting a bad boy when my 1999 John Deere 345 quits out. It has an 18HP liquid cooled Kawasaki engine and it’s a great old garden tractor.
I purchased a Ferris years ago and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. The best thing it had on it was the Briggs motor and the grass chute. Sold it after 1 cutting season!
What didn't you like about it ? Going to buy the ferris 400s next week.
@@michaelbarnhardt8274 I didn't like the bouncing around...the suspension was not what I expected in a bumpy lawn. Air ride seat is 100x better. The deck would clog up in taller, dew-wet grass...summertime morning cutting in Louisiana is hard on a mower. My Grasshopper has been the BEST mower I have owned.
Bought my ZT Elite 60 in 27 horse Kohler Courage Pro in 2011 change my oil twice a season replace spindle, keep my blades sharpened and spindle bearings when needed , time to inspect mower pulley assemblies but other than that it's been a great mower! I mow 4 Acres twice a week right now it has 724 hours quite happy with it, as I'm getting older I need more suspension!
I have the mz magnum. It has most all the features mentioned above. They are amazing mowers and the kawasaki engine has plenty of power. The price wasn't bad at 4700.00
I got an Ariens (Gravely residential line) 52" ZTM for $3k. It has the 20" rear tires, fabricated deck, Box steel frame reinforced with 8 gauge steel, dial type height adjustment, and the 23hp Kawasaki FR691.
How is it?
@@angel7806 It's my first ZTM so I don't have any experience to draw upon. Cuts GREAT! Use at 50% throttle so it's very quiet as well. No stopping power on damp grades, but I suspect that's with all ZTs.
@@billwhiteathome2080 i think for the price the ariens ikon is the best deal , i've owned several commercial mowers over the years and i would definitely buy an ikon for residential use
I have a Ariens Ikon paid $3000 for it and it's been fantastic it's a high quality mower .
@@billwhiteathome2080 50% throttle is bad for the eng.
I’m a homeowner with a 5.6 acre lot. I think the ZT Elite will be perfect for me! Thanks for the help
Gravely ZT HD. Pro-sumer grade for $5k. Great warranty, built very similar to the proturns
Do you have any thoughts or videos on the 2022 Hustler raptor x?
Help please. Have 6 acres with lots of pine cones. What should I buy that will grind up the cones? Thanks
I have the TimeCutter 24.5 HP with the MyRide Suspension. Hands down the best 1,000 I spent for my spine. The mower is a beast on my uneven land.
If you have the money a stand-on is God's gift to back problems.
50 inch? Does it leave burn spots if you stop too long in the grass? Thinking of getting one.
I have a bad boy pup mower that I bought in 2006, it's similar to a Maverick with 60 inch cut and it's been a solid mower for years, I have over 2400 hours on it ,other then change the oil thru the years and I had to replace the bearings in the deck when one goes out ,but other then that it's been a great mower and has never let me down, anytime I can get 16 years of trouble free mowing out of a mower I am sold .
Gravely ZTX-52 or orange painted (slightly cheaper price) at your local home depot the Ariens IKON X52in w/23 HP kawasaki motor should be number 1 for the money in my view. Have had my ZTX-52' i cut 2 acres every week with no issues. Lots of power and the deck is bulletproof
Good review, but my Scag Liberty Z blows all of these away. I paid 4K for it brand new. It has made me tons of money over the couple of years with very little maintenance, and a high quality cut you'd expect from a Scag!
Looking at a liberty z 42inch. It has a 22hp Briggs pxi, not sure about that engine tho, can’t find much info on it.
I got my bad boy caterpillar diesel for 800$ I got that cheap because it “wouldn’t move” all it needed was a new hydraulic hose and then it was all good
I purchased an Aerins 60" deck and it was nearly Exactly the same as the Kubota. The Kubota was $10,000.00 and the Aerins was only $4000.00. The ONLY difference was the Kubota had 2 more H.P. more than the Aerins.
Commercial vs Residential... Night and day
Anybody who’s spent longer than 2-3 hrs cutting grass will appreciate the seat suspension. Toro Time Cutter My Ride
I have 40 year old Simplicity Allis Chalmers. Amazing! Still runs great. Original deck, engine, tires, joints, tranny, seat and bearings. The only thing I replaced are the blades, filters and belts. My neighbors have new John Deers made in China. All need repairs yearly. One needed new deck the 1st year.
I have the EGO Z6. Excellent zero turn. No gas, no oil, no problem.
No problem with the batteries? How long have you had it?
@@lison973 I bought it in April 2021. Used it all Summer. Zero issues with batteries. I mow then swap the batteries out to use the trimmer and blower
@@ebaake I have an exmark with a 60” deck. I love it. But I do want to transfer to electric to take advantage of all the solar kw hours I’ve been banking. I bought their 2 stage snow blower and fell in love with the brand. Im concerned about longevity. I know my exmark can last me 20 years if I let it plus I get up to 13mph. I’ve got my eye on EGO. Im selling my trimmers, edgers and blowers this season to go ego. I don’t like pulling the string and all the drama that goes with it. Thanks for the follow up. :)
IMO the Ferris 400S is the BEST zero turn mower that money can buy ! Transmissions are servicible, Kawasaki engine, smooth hydros and steering, comfortable adjustable seat, servicible deck by lifting the floorplate, small turning radius and many more features make this the mower that you should seriously consider. I have one and I love it.
I have a commercial grade Kubota zero turn mower. It is one bad boy!
There is a few more options from toro in this price range that are much much better than the one shown in this video
And they have nice decks which are quiet compared to those bad boys and the rest of the mowers in general my mx5050 has the kholer 7000 and the 2800 trans
The ZT Elite was a steal at $4700, but it's now $5700 with the Kohler 7000 motor and $6400 with the Kawi motor.
I feel your pain, brother. Organic eggs were a steal at $2.50, but now their $5.00 and that ruffles my feathers.
Or even the Spartan RZ which the next step up from the RZ-C. Both are under $5,000
I got a Cub Cadet zt1 50 just today and it seemed to do very well on my 1.5 acres.
L 👀king to get zt2, See 60 inch , want 50
I have the same one 200 hrs junk, solenoid went, starter switch went, today does not go forward or back was making a strange noise when hitting the accelerator .Checked it has a leak near the rear tire from the transmission which has no fluid.They make the Transmission so you can not maintenance them .Really junk.
@@scarletgonzales840 hope I don't end that way. Too much money to be spent on trash.
I have a 50 inch 24 hp Kawasaki that's 11years old and only had to replace a bering on the mower deck . Great zero turn mower !!!!
I bought an old beat up toro timecutter ss5000 about five years ago from a guy at work. It's a work horse. I cut about 2.5 acres with it and it's still going great. I put a new carb on it and starter solenoid but that's it. I have a brand new exmark now too and my wife will only use the toro lol
My '21 Gravely HD60 was 5200$. 7ga deck, FR730, 8mph top speed. Punch-hole style deck height adjuster is superior imo, because that plastic dial crap can wear out and slip. Oh, my Gravely has the flip-up access to belts like the badboy also. Bonus: if you want to save 300$ the Ariens (Lowes) mower is the same except for the seat I think and a shorter warranty.
I have the Ariens, 60" with the kawasaki motor. I agree with you, they missed the mark with this one. I was looking at the bad boy in the #1 spot, and the one I bought had a better deck, motor, tire size and height selector. Oh well, to each their own.
Gravely HD's run a 10ga thick deck.
I can’t believe Spartan didn’t make the list. That’s what I have and have been very happy with it.
Really should have featured the Timecutter 50 because of the much better manufactured deck and still under 4k (it was 3300 last year)
I have a Toro Timecutter with a 24HP engine 54" deck Kohler engine I have had for 10 years with over 2000 engine hours. I changed the belts because I thought it might be time. I also had to put another solenoid on it. It still runs like a top never uses any oil. It's my sweetheart. I cut 1 1/2 acres every week. a creampuff
I just bought a timecutter with Kawasaki engine with my-ride system and 54” deck for 4,100.00 this video is bull we know it
I Bought a Bad Ass Bad Boy ZT Elited Limitod Edition Black Deck Great Chair and gbetter than any mower i use but Those are $5,500.00 From Ace Hardware they sell More Ferris than anyone else in the USA by staying open on Sundays!!
Thank you for the in-depth look at these machines. I had a Toro Z4200 Timecutter for 12 years with a 19 HP Kohler Courage (single cylinder) series engine. I regularly mowed about an acre with it having only to replace the belt once, and of course, blades and oil/filter regularly. I finally blew a hole in the stamped steel deck, yet still sold it with the deck needing repaired (or replaced) for $450. I replaced it with the 75747, 42" Timecutter with MyRide suspension, 10 gauge fabricated steel deck, and a 22HP 7000 series Kohler V-twin. $3499. I wanted to point out your video states that the entry-level Timecutter has a fabricated steel deck, yet the video shows what it actually comes with- the stamped steel deck. The fabricated deck is available as an upgrade for about $100. While I think this mower (the one I bought) remains a residential, non-commercial grade machine, it could rank 4th or maybe even 3rd on your list. (You did point out Toro's variations in the Timecutter series.) I'm not sure why Toro doesn't include hour meters on these non-commercial machines, but I am mentioning it here. I installed one on my new machine before I used it for the first time. The MyRide suspension system does indeed take a little getting used to (less than one mowing for me) however, it is by far the best, most comfortable ride I've ever had while mowing. The SmartSpeed control will make the machine less "aggressive", something not mentioned in the video. The MyRide suspension does sacrifice the under-seat storage area you pointed out in your excellent video. Thank you again for taking the time to review these machines... and for those of you who have never owned a zero-turn mower; once you have one, you'll never go back.
I love MyRide Suspension 50" Toro
Z turn mowers are great for most yards, but not all yards are created equal. Test ride before you decide! They do save time, get stuck easy though.
75747 on my short list. How’s the 22hp Kohler treating you?
I am totally happy with Kohler
Own a 36 Zero Turn Scag Liberty Z with the mulch kit ! Loving my SCAG !
Toro😡, I purchased the mx4200 in 2019, my first cut no problem, it went down hill from there. It started cutting out the second time I went to use it. I called my dealer they where very good in getting it in. Unfortunately it was in & out of there shop. Late summer they ended up putting a new whirring harness in her. Spring of 2020 😂😂 started her up no problem, until I tried to pull it out. Yep it died twice.😡. Again back in the shop she went mind you this was late April. It was not picked up until June. After several calls to toro. They replaced the arms and a switch, for witch I suggested a year before. Now in May 2021, I noticed oil leak. Turned out to be the transmission. It was picked up June 6th. I haven't seen her since. After calls in to toro & a large head ach. No replacement extremely disappointing in toro😣.
I thought about a Zero Turn but decided the Garden Tractor was much more versatile for me ... my 2021 Husqvarna TS 348 XD cost $3700. , has the Kawasaki FR730V , the Tuff Torq K66 locking differential transaxle which I can drain and change the hydraulic fluid on , 10 ga. fabricated deck (3 blades) , and 23" tires ... and ps., I like the sealed spindle bearings because they are easily serviceable , just pop the bearings out of the spindle , remove the inner seal , clean bearings and repack , and re-install the seal ... I think comparable Zero Turns are way over priced , and limited to faster cutting grass only ...
+10. I bought a troybilt tractor style mower from lowes 16 years ago with a B&S. Ive put blades, deck belts and batterys in it and changed its oil every season. So for a purchase price of $1500 its cost me less than $100/ year. To say that with some of these mowers itd take 25, 30, 40, 50 years of service?????? Just cant do it
@@DrDaddy-yg2ki ... I'm hoping my Garden Tractor will hold up a long time also ... I have some vegi gardens and intend to add another maybe 25' x 40' and expect the tractor functions of my Husq to do their job and save me much of the back work ... also will be adding a snow plow because I'm getting too old to dig out this long driveway anymore ... anyway I got ideas and plans for the Tractor/Mower , at present it's doing a big job mowing for me ...
the World Lawn Diamondback 52" can be had under $5k. Full commercial warranty and commercial zt-3200 hydros, kawasaki power
how does the ZTX6 CUB CADET and the lower end CUB CADET PRO measure up?
Z242F owner. Make sure you dump the tire pressure in the front, you can even see in the dealers shots here, they have not and they are bulging in the center. This kills the front tires and if left unchecked traps grass between the tire and the casters. Apparently they are shipped this way and the dealers don't appear to be addressing it, in the video and when I got mine. The Kawasaki's have a flat tappet cam, use a good oil with a high zinc content. My seat switch failed.
I'll keep my Hustler thank you.
Only real service providers in my area is the reason.
Not a bad reason!
Those Hustlers are awesome as well. Raptor and X one anyway
@@Jimbobd421 I am very glad that I bought it at a place with a great service department. One month old and been in the shop twice. Just a dead cell in the battery and cylinoid. Probably the cylinoid was ruined by the bad battery. Hustler Raptor XD has a tiny little battery one of the new lithium batteries. Always a few bad ones get by but they made it good and that's what counts. Just residential use 1.5 acre yard with lots of obstacles.
Bad boy avenger it is. Thanks for posting.
Need help choosing the right mower. I have the lawn from hell that eats riding lawn mowers. Ground is not even, and the oak trees bring up roots and drops branches (yes, I pick up what i can, but I don't always see them in time). I have three acres, two in grass lawn and one in rough back pasture with trees. Need a mini bushhog.
A tractor and a bush hog would be a good choice, you could get a used one without a loader for a fair price. Also if you wanted to go fancy. You could get the altoz mower with an allterrain deck.
Hey, whish is the small machine that i can perform the work driving , i have a small yard
I have the Kohler KT725 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin 7000 series Engine in my tractor...the Kohler 7000 series engines are designed after the Kohler Command Pro Commercial Engine.. the Kawasaki is by no means better than Kohler
Keep smoking that stuff sir..
Well, go ahead and order a cam shaft and a governor gear! You'll probably need one or both at some point and if you've got the smart choke setup then go ahead and find a manual choke conversion, because that's going to fail. Or their head gaskets that fail but not to worry, kohler replaces them with way better than their own factory installed gaskets after their crappy ones fail.
Fuel consumption & noise?
The bad boy is the only one made in USA , the local mower guru says they require quite a bit of maintenance but he recommended the cub cadet
True Dat Big Bro!
I have the Husqvarna 242F featured on this list and I dung like it at all. I had an Arians at our last house and it felt so much better then the Husqvarna. I only have any 9 hours on it and I'm already looking to sell it and buy something else. My biggest complaint is that it only had 1 anti-scalp wheel on the deck. It's in the center so any sway on epithet side and you scalping the lawn
Nice list but really surprised no Ariens models made it like the apex or XD for instance well within this price range
Much of this list is based on our personal experience with zero-turn mowers. I know that each of the mowers on this list will have a great chance of exceeding 1000-3000 hours. We have seen Ariens mowers come in used that are and typically the decks are in very bad condition. But the ariens arent bad mowers, they have a lot of great features for the price.
Have an Ariens that was purchased to replace the older/smaller Husqvarna we had. Been great the first few seasons and doesn’t look like it will be a problem anytime soon !
@@skipgumphrey9579 i absolutely love my ikon xd42 its been great i only have about 30 hours on it so far. Opted for the 22hp Kohler engine and glad I did
How about Scag Liberty Z ??
I have a cub cadet ZT2 50 and I love it
All the hustlers are heavy or heavier built now . Even the low end are closer to commercial built. hustler xd equal to the bad boy also has a panel to lift up to work on it . I have had my hustler sd for 6.5 years 600 hrs and never had a issue. Mine was 4000 dollars at the time and still are close in price. You get a kawasaki engine big tires tube frame all that . They also make big dawg mowers which are identical but there red. O and alll of them have all welded decks.
love my Bad Boy ZT Elite
Can't complain about mine either
Hustler Rapter XL 300 hrs or 3 years . full warranty. Kawasaki engine 3999.00.
Thank you for the review. I owned the Ferris Witt the independent suspension and the 48” deck (I don’t remember the exact model). I sold it about 6 years ago. It was a great mower. However I had the maintenance folks out to our home over and over trying to stop stair step cutting. We couldn’t stop the uneven cutting on slightly sloped yard. The company rep finally said.... it must me the independent suspension on a slopped cutting angle. I could never figure it out.
I’ve not heard anyone else worn the same issue.. would be interested to know if someone out there has had similar issues.
I’ m back on the market for a zero turn. I have a small yard but now my aging neighbors and I’m a home builder and have to keep out lots mown at 6” or less height.
I have a budget of $6500
I mowed with that mower for a commercial outfit for a few years. You have to keep your foot on the deck adjustment pedal and feather it a bit when you go on hillsides and/or uneven hilly areas. It bugged me too until I figured out that work around, then it cuts like it should. It does get killer on your knee after 8hrs of it though.
I have the same mower and had an issue with that at the beginning of the season. Turned out it was my tire pressure. But that was just my case. Best of luck.
I have the same issues! I HATE my Ferris with a PASSION!
Go with John deer love it
@@jts4248 sadly ordered a John Deere. Was told it was in stock and would be delivered within 5 days…. 3 Months later no mower. Ended up with a interim mower from Hustler. It’s the tilt up deck and was pretty affordable $3800. Anyway love the tilt up deck. It’s actually very very helpful as I’m mowing empty lots that are not improved and have to swap blades daily and being able to pull a pin, push a bottom and hand the mower fold in two and have the deck vertical is amazing. HOWEVER !!!!! It is not a Deere. It not comfortable, it’s not smooth to operate (the controls are not balanced well). What is worse is maintenance on the belts requires about 30-40 min of disassembly. Also it is very very very difficult to level the deck.
But it was 1/2 the price of the Deere and it does the job. The motor is a Kawasaki commercial.
That being said, I sell my mowers every 3 years on depreciation schedule we use for our company tools. I think I’ll sell this mower this coming spring and order a deer once the 2022 are available to ship.
I purchased an Encore 52. The last 7 months, this machine has showed it's toughness. Surprised it wasn't mentioned here. Comes in at $4500. :-)
I'll give it a look
I beat the crap out of a encore Z52 mowing 60 rental units for 17 years when the motor blew I junked the mower due to lack of parts availability overall was a great mower
Encore is owned by Worldlawn. I have no interest in funding the CCP.
You should look into the exmark radius series base model 44 inch. I just got one and the base price right now is 4700$.
I love my radius. I bought the 60" x series and it's an absolute beast
@@JonsDailyHustle got mine last year 60 in. best money I ever spent, I mow 5 +A.
@@sledrelics I mow commercially and absolutely love it
Exmark’s are made by Toro.
@@JT_70 same umbrella different product.
look at the SPARTAN mower.
Scag Liberty Z
Just got mine yesterday... fantastic mower!
How do they perform on slopes& hills?
I checked out the torro at my local tractor supply the amount of plastic parts worries me.
I've had the Bad Boy ZT-Elite 60" for over 4 years now. Didn't end up buying it from TS instead got it at a local tractor shop with better financing deal. You might check it out. It's been pretty rock solid for me and my yard is ruff.
@@MrSovrin How's the suspension
@@johnleon2594 not the best suspension if you've got a bad back and a ruff yard, but the mower itself has been pretty solid.
Spartan should have definitely been placed on this list. 7 guage deck on all models etc way better built than most on this list.
Also start at 7k
Not true. Starts at $3499
@@foxracing16 where
@@Imprisoned1995 the whole RZ series. RZ-C, RZ, RZ pro and RZ HD. Every dealer
@@foxracing16 Looking at the RZ-C 54" 25hp Briggs to do my 1.5 acres. I think Bad Boy was created by Spartan founder as well
I think the Spartans should be on this list, brother to the owner of the Bad Boys, but with a few features that are better, such as Parker direct drive hydraulics
Yes! Spartans are much better! And less $
Thanks for the video
The avenger looks sporty lol
Ariens Apex 60, its $4999, smaller decks run few hundred less, 48 is the smallest I believe and I think its like $4200
I love the John deer it's a dam good mower
@@randycraft3166 I don't go by color I go by what will last me a long time and john deer is a dam good machine. Reliable,dependable
The only thing I don't like on my Cubcadet ZT2 52 inch is the conector at botom of discharge deck.
Do you recommend any bad boy dealer in there San Antonio - New Braunfels area.
visit badbomowers.com to find a dealer near you. You can also give us a call at (405)604-5454
No cub cadet ZT1 or ZT2?
The pulley design on the Bad boy looks cheap compared to Scag Library Z.
Which would be best for brush? My property hasnt had care in 5 years. No cutting a lot of underbrush
You need to hire someone with a forestry mulcher.
There are tons of mowers out there with similar parts all on them. Once you start researching in depth. I don't know if the common buyer even realizes that their machine isn't that unique, and they argue about it. They are all the virtually the same at this mainstream level. I have a Deere 915 60" it was 6999$ on sale. Great video.
I like my Ferris ISX 2200 61 inch mower.
Thoughts on Cub Cadet ZTS series for 2022.
I think the exmark quest series should be on this list. It seems like they are slightly better Toro Time Cutters with a much improved deck
The Exmark Quest is made by Toro.
My Ferris 400s come with 3100 hydro drives.
10 gauge steel is 10 gauge steel whether its Stamped or fabricated decks I personally like Stamped decks over fabricated
Have you looked at the spartan mowers
Got a 10 year old Zt series mower. Cut 2 1/2 acre lawn and a 6 acre pasture. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Getting ready to retire her and buy me a new one and sell old Faithful to a lucky owner. Original belts and blades and only thing not original is a rebuilt starter.
what do think about the zt elite vs the gravley hd
what about the hustler X 2021 all new design hands down best deal and 3 yr warranty or 300 hrs
I got a Raptor SDX last year, and I love it. I will never have anything else, unless I upgrade to a Super Z or a HyperDrive
Hustler XD (this price Range), is a heck of a mower, and Hustler did a bang up job with these newer X Series. But you're still getting 2800 "Residential" Hydro's, No Suspension, and a somewhat less beefier frame and deck. I am a huge fan of Hustler, Scag, Kabota, and Ferris-But what Bad Boy has been able to bring to the table with that new "ZT Elite" is really something. They must be making like $5 bucks profit on each one.
@@Chris.Donley any thoughts about which one would cut a barn field best
the Hustler Raptor starts at $4,000 and Id take that over all 5 of those
Raptor starts at like 3299
These all seem to have they BIg Box store engines top end engines. Unfortunately, they are not the commercial grade size. I do seem to like the ZT Elite I wish it had a better engine though. People always bad mouth B&S engines which I have found very reliable. But I would never buy a Big Box store motor with a very small engine and transmission in a large mower. I am glad you mentioned the trannies in these most people do not.
I notice most people selling mowers at local vendors order their mowers with the cheaper/smaller engines. Just saying be aware of the 726 CC engines and lower CC engines. I know B&S sells a 810 CC engine which I own which is there commercial engine on a MZ-61. I would never buy a Kohler engine.
neat, I was the 4k like.
great video...about halfway through it...will watch rest at work.
Appreciate the reviews. A lot of the reviews on here feel like commercials.
I have a Bad Boy Magnum 54'' Kawasaki FR651V . Its my first Zero turn mower it now has 85 hrs on it can you tell me about how long it will last me inder regular PM & what parts will start to go bad that i can look for . I keep it out of the weather on my back porch. Thanks for your help !!
Daniel from central Mississippi
I’ve had the Husqvarna 42 inch zero turn and I now have the Toro Timecutter and the Toro cuts quite a bit faster than the Husky and mine has the Kohler 7000 22hp KT725
I great man once said. "I wanna go fast".
Lol
Does the exhaust leave burn marks in you grass if you stop too long? Thinking about getting one.
@@realreviews3118 neither the Husky nor the Time Cutter left burn marks from the exhaust
Of course I never sat still very long either…lol
Thoughts on the Kubota Kommander line?
I have the z48, but upgraded to the Kohler engine which you can choose Briggs and Stratton, kawasaki, or Kohler
You had a chance to get a Kawasaki engine but chose a Kohler? I don't think I have ever heard anyone say that before. Interesting.
@@metalgoat9672 i would take a kohler too...have one on my 314 h wheel horse an a twin on my 18cfc simplicity no problems with them its what you get used to but kawasakis were breaking rods ,,but they may have fixed that