SCAG Turf Tiger with EFI, liquid cooled and air suspension seat- they are built like a tank

I love my Kubota 411. It's been great. Put the air ride seat on it and it's a dream to run.

Bad Reviews on Bad Boy zt's??

Just curious as I am about to sell a Scag 52" Freedom Z mower that I really like but want to get a mower with a 60" or slightly bigger cut-

I see quite a few negative comments on the Bad Boys- Is that every model, the lower end or ? What are most of the problems people have with them?

Ferris IS 5100Z with the 33.5hp Caterpillar engine if you want to really show off

gwellis said:

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I love my Kubota 411. It's been great. Put the air ride seat on it and it's a dream to run.

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I want to get this one day. Luckily my place is pretty flat and smooth. I think the mulching blade kit is probably coming first though.

schmellba99 said:

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gwellis said:

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I love my Kubota 411. It's been great. Put the air ride seat on it and it's a dream to run.

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I want to get this one day. Luckily my place is pretty flat and smooth. I think the mulching blade kit is probably coming first though.

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I would assume the Kubota mulching Kit is similar to Exmark's Kit. If it is, I found that it cuts down, no pun intended, on the mower's ability to shred through thick or tall grass.

I finally ditched mine because it slowed down the mow to get decent cuts and it would leave a line of clippings where it hit the plate blocking the discharge outlet.

03_Aggie said:

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schmellba99 said:

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gwellis said:

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I love my Kubota 411. It's been great. Put the air ride seat on it and it's a dream to run.

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I want to get this one day. Luckily my place is pretty flat and smooth. I think the mulching blade kit is probably coming first though.

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I would assume the Kubota mulching Kit is similar to Exmark's Kit. If it is, I found that it cuts down, no pun intended, on the mower's ability to shred through thick or tall grass.

I finally ditched mine because it slowed down the mow to get decent cuts and it would leave a line of clippings where it hit the plate blocking the discharge outlet.

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Good to know, and I'll keep that in mind. I rarely let my grass get too tall because of that very reason, though it does happen on occaison. I just dislike the side discharge on my Kubota, the angle is not far enough back IMO and I sometimes get covered in clippings when I make turns because of it. Slight annoyance.

I'm 2 years in, 140 hrs, on a Kubota Z421 60" Kawasaki with air ride. Easily handles my 5 acres. Very heavy gauge deck.

I'm very pleased. Not cheap.

Thanks for all of the feedback...but i went the cheap route. Shout out to a class of 09 buddy in Aledo who wanted to sell me a 2015 Toro 50" zero turn. Y'all wouldn't believe the price if I told ya. I think this same buddy of mine feels bad for selling me a golf cart a couple years ago. He and I have both since swore off electric golf carts.

This Toro model is a zero turn with a steering wheel. Think of the Forrest Gump mower. I told the wife I'm going to name the mower Jennaaaay. She may have shook her head is disgust but she did point out the steering wheel makes for easier beer consumption. I knew I married her for a reason.

Toros are good mowers. Most of them are as long as you do your maintenance, keep them clean and don't use them for purposes they weren't meant for.

I'm not as big on the welded versus stamped deck as others - there are actually advantages to a stamped deck IMO, and welding one is cheaper than stamping one. Most of the hype is marketing.

Biggest thing is engine maintenance. Change your oil every 50 hours, use ethanol free gas and keep your air filter clean and it should last a long time.

Yeah, I've just come to the conclusion that I'll be covered in dirt and grass whenever I mow. Now I actually just pull the discharge up and leave it wide open. Spread the grass much better.

What has been the issue with bad boys? Are these the newer ones or older models? I went to look at some the other day at WCT and they seemed to be good
Starting to second guess my desire for one now

For my fellow cheapskates, I have a 3 year old Toro ZT I bought at Home Depot. I think its 52" and it works fine..It has a seat with shock absorbers on it which I have found to be a very nice feature. I burn mostly ethanol free gas in it. Left it on a trickle charger the last few months and started it yesterday no problem. I replaced the drive belt once after running over a piece of rope and stalling it. I have used it pretty hard.

I've owned Kubota ZTs for many years. Current one is a 72" deck diesel version. Overkill for most but Kubota is reliable and never cheap. Use mine here on the farm and mow a bunch with it.

Know people who've purchased Huskivarna (sp ? ) and Bad Boy. Lots of problems.

03_Aggie said:

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Yeah, I've just come to the conclusion that I'll be covered in dirt and grass whenever I mow. Now I actually just pull the discharge up and leave it wide open. Spread the grass much better.

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That is the biggest pain IMO. I've been looking at the grass gate designs thinking it may be worth it to get rid of the plastic discharge chute and go with one of those so i can open and close it whenever, plus it will make putting it in my little barn easier as it removes about 18" of width.

Would be nice if these things were rear discharge instead of side, but I haven't seen a single one that is. My Land Pride finish mower for my tractor was rear discharge and it seems like it would be useful on a ZTR.

Watch out for Kubota rear discharge decks that then suck the dirt right up into the radiator requiring more than regular cleanout. Not the best of designs.

I don't have a rear discharge deck, so no issues there. And my ZTR is an air cooled engine, no radiator anyway.

My Kubota is side discharge. Never seen a rear discharge.

I went with a grasshopper 48 inch deck this weekend. Looked at skag, Kubota, JD, and kiote. Grasshopper had the best pricing and got an additional 15% off for being a Texas Farm Bureau member.
Was very happy with the initial cut

J.D. c/o 05 said:

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As I google most of these recommendations I was thinking the exact same thing.

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Just get an Ariens or Gravely, same machine. Got mine at a local lawn nursery place and Paid $3000 cash. It's been great. Really perfect...

Guy I bought from also works on all lawnmowers abdhe said he works on hustlers more than any other. I would stay away from them and Bad Boy. If I wanted to spend a little more I would have gone with an Exmark or higher with Scag.

Following for future reference in a couple of years.

Was looking at Cub Cadet and Hustler, but will also look into Scag. Thanks for all the great info

Scag will be having their spring sale next week. I'm biting the bullet on a Tiger Cat. I bought a used Tiger Cub about 10 years ago and it has been an awesome machine but it is time to get a new one.

WheelinAg said:

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Anyone with a Scag want to sell be your couple year old mower and buy a new shiny one? I'm having problems buying a mower worth more than my truck

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I will be selling mine but it is more than a couple years old. It leaks some hydraulic fluid (added about three quarts through the last mowing season) but otherwise runs fine and cuts well. 48" with the 19 hp Kawasaki. Probably around a 2005 model.

Greeze06 said:

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I've got the gravely hd zt 52 with 25hp kawasaki and it is great.

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I've got the same.

I need a zero-turn, and I must say this thread didn't do anything to help me settle on a model...

I'm struggling with whether or not a $3k mower from a box store will suffice, or if I would be better served in the long run by spending $6k+ on something nicer. Kubota has always been what I thought I wanted, but now I'm not so sure...

HELP!

Edit to add: I'll be mowing around 4 acres of relatively flat hill-country land, lots of trees.

No problems on my 48" Scag Freedom Z for 7 yrs; mows 2 acres with lots of trees. If you have more open area, go with a bigger deck if you can. Wouldn't hesitate for another Scag.

AgEng06 said:

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I need a zero-turn, and I must say this thread didn't do anything to help me settle on a model...

I'm struggling with whether or not a $3k mower from a box store will suffice, or if I would be better served in the long run by spending $6k+ on something nicer. Kubota has always been what I thought I wanted, but now I'm not so sure...

HELP!

Edit to add: I'll be mowing around 4 acres of relatively flat hill-country land, lots of trees.

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Gravely has 20% off commercial models ending tomorrow. With 4 acres, I would be willing to spend a little more than an intro residential model that is $3k or so. The ProTurn Z is about the same price as the highest end residential ZT-HD model with the discount, at least based off of last year's prices. Haven't seen what this year's prices are yet. I was looking at the 48" ZT-HD last year so I checked the price on the ProTurn Z to see what the difference was and it's only $100-200 based on last year's prices. The 48" ProTurn Z wasn't listed in their flyer I have from last year so I am just guessing what the price would be on that. My lot is only two acres, but it is very rough, which is the main reason I want something a little more heavy duty. But with 4 acres, I'd probably go at least 54", unless you have a lot of tight spots where the 48" would fit but anything larger wouldn't.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I need to give my local dealer a call. I'm looking in the 50-60" range.

Grasshopper

I'll let ya know when our $3k TSC Cub ZTR 54" dies...bought in 2013, used for 2-3 acres (dependent on rainfall).

Seems as solid this year as when new. It does lack Zerk fittings on the blade hubs (dumb move by MTD).

Man, I hear ya. I'm usually the guy that doesn't mind paying more for a higher-quality product, but I'm having a hard time with this one. I always wonder how much of "get this expensive thing" is due to actual superiority or just due to "I spent a lot on this thing, so I want others to spend a lot too". I feel like I have been guilty of the latter before.

I guess I could buy two Cub Cadets for the price of a Gravely or Kubota, which are my front runners right now.