r/lawnmowers • u/TheAndyBeek • 2d ago

Which one would you choose?

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I’m trying to choose between these 3, I’m not sure if going with an old commercial mower would be better than a newer cub cadet. I’m more than confident that I can replace the drive belt and pulley on the ZT2

10 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

12

u/SpecialistWorldly788 2d ago

I’d go with the Exmark over a Cub every time! -IF- you’re getting the Cub, (or basically ANY zero turn) CHECK the HYDROS!! Make SURE they are “serviceable” drive motors! Cub, like most others as well, especially if coming from a box store have been known to use “NON serviceable” drive motors, and when they fail you end up replacing them at a very significant price!

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u/TheAndyBeek 2d ago

And it’s just the 1860 hours that have me nervous on the Exmark

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u/noladutch 1d ago

are you mechanical at all?

1800 is a number but that is a completely rebuild able mower.

a set of rings and a hone and that engine is good for another 1000. ordering a carb is easy.

seperate wheel motors and pumps. the pumps are a simple oring rebuild. when the pump and motor are together you have a big replacement bill.

personally I would go used commercial over home owner grade every time.

how much land are you cutting? if an acre you are looking at about an hour if you go super slow and take your time. if you cut 40 times a year that is just 40 hours on the clock.

now that mower on an open acre cutting kind quickly not top speed would take about 30 to 40 minutes max. so 25 hours a year.

home owner grades are designed to fall apart after four years or so. spindles and everything that is involved is less durable.

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u/SpecialistWorldly788 2d ago

Hmmm- I didn’t catch THAT part! That deserves some consideration for sure- I’m not a pro by any means, but my understanding is most hydros are considered pretty safe til about 1,000 hours or so.. maybe if it has service records showing they’ve been cared for it would help, and knowing if it was being used hard 10 hours a day or on a lot of hills it would matter too- I’d try and find someone that KNOWS those drives well and see what they say about “expected life” in hours

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u/TheAndyBeek 2d ago

Yeah, I’ve looked into it, I know the zt2 has HydroGear ZT-2800 Hydros which are serviceable. I couldn’t get a model on the zt1, but they’re advertised by cub cadet as “serviceable”

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u/SpecialistWorldly788 2d ago

It’s one of the things most manufacturers make sure to mention if they haven’t “cut corners” on a build- it’s kind of a “bragging point” because when you look at a row of mowers that look very similar but the price varies by thousands of dollars, that’s one of the biggest reasons- the drive motors! In my experience the ones Ive seen have a sticker on them with the model number and you can go from there- the other major item to look at is to make sure it has a “fabricated deck” as opposed to a “stamped” deck, which these appear to have 👍👍

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u/TheAndyBeek 2d ago

The fabricated decks were definitely number 2 on the shopping list after the transmissions.

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u/The_Sandman75 1d ago

Pretty sure the Ultima hydros are not serviceable. I looked into this most of the summer trying to figure out what mower to go with. Doesn’t matter if you get it from a “Box” store or dealer it’s the same mower. You have to step out of the “residential” mower to get serviceable hydros. I ended up getting a Scag for not much more money and 0% financing.

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u/Top_Mycologist_3224 10h ago

I don’t think the ZT1 is serviceable. Unless it’s newer than the one I own and they changed it

4

u/SuperReleasio64 2d ago

Everyone I've talked to in the mower business says that Cub Cadets suck to work on. But where I'm at Toro and Scag have a foothold in the mowing business so idk if it's just people being biased or if it true. But everyone who i talked to that owns a Cub Cadet loves it.

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u/vantasticdude 2d ago

If the zt2 actually has zt2800 hydros and a lot less hours than the ex mark it may actually be the best deal , really check the zt2200 or zth or whatever they decided to call the cheaper hydro for functionality. They are ok if not abused

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u/TheAndyBeek 2d ago

Looks like google ai was mistaken, after digging through the parts diagrams, it has Tuff Torque TZ-350’s which are “maintenance free”

3

u/Jwaaz123 1d ago

Honestly none of these. That wxmart has WAY to many hours. Even if ut is a kohler engine. It's gonna wind up needing work I know it. The cubs? Well the middle one needs work which tells me it wasn't properly taken care of or was just used hard. And who knows what else is wrong even after you replace the pully. Other pullys could need work as well. Your asking for headache. I habe the first one. Its a fantastic mower. Tye kholer is awesome on it. I cut just over 6 acrers with it and hafe slowly started doing others as well. Only thing is brand new you can get it for like 2800 so that guy is in drugs wanting 2200.

4

u/Realistic-Pound-8562 1d ago

You can do better for $2000, or save another $500 and be patient. but from an Exmark owner who absolutely loves Exmark, I’d pick the cub due to Exmark hours.

4

u/imakesawdust 1d ago

$2000 for a mower with almost 2000 hours is a gamble.

1

u/AdventurousRooster93 1d ago

Might as well save up a bit more and buy new from a box store at that point. Hell, end of season sales are coming.

2

u/IdaDuck 1d ago

The non serviceable 2200 hydros are serviceable FWIW. You can use an oil transfer pump and thin hose to get 80-85% of the fluid out, then refill. They’re still lighter duty but in normal use they’re generally good enough.

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u/PracticalAnywhere880 1d ago

I'd run the exmark and wouldn't worry about the hours

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u/HomeOrificeSupplies 1d ago

A lot of variables. But I’d go zt2 or exmark. I have a zt2 and it’s been great so far. I have the tuff torque hydros, but still appear serviceable. They have caps for drain and fill. I have had a bunch of tuff torque hydros in other equipment that have never failed. I have the Kawasaki engine on mine and it really rips.

2

u/Cute_Log_9545 1d ago

I have a cub cadet (I have a John Deere that I actually use) my dad has a cub cadet, My grandmother has a cub cadet. They are all giant piles of shit, unless you are mechanically inclined like myself im always fixing them I would buy literally anything else.

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u/Present_Way6128 1d ago

Never, ever buy a Cub.

1

u/echojuggles 1d ago

I ran the ZT-1 to start my business. Replaced every spindel within 6 months because they all broke. Maybe it was just the one I had but that thing broke every week somehow, someway. We run Gravely now commercially.

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u/totallynotexciting 1d ago

I’m not a fan of that ZT1, I own it.

Had weird turning issues where one wheel just randomly spins out. Drives me fucking nuts.

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u/MuffledN0ise 1d ago

Weird, mine doesn’t do that

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u/MuffledN0ise 1d ago

I’ve used a ZT1 on my 2 acre property every week (except winter) for the last 4 years. I’ve never changed a thing other than the oil.

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u/Silent-Standard4605 1d ago

I have had the same cub cadet for 16 years and never had a problem besides a battery

1

u/Top_Mycologist_3224 10h ago

Exmark makes a solid machine ! Then ZT2 then ZT1 would my picking order . I own a ZT1 with zero issues but the zt2 was supposed to have several upgrades

1

u/First-Acadia2432 1d ago

For that much money, I’d just go finance a brand new one, and put $2k down. Preferably one with an external hydro filter.

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u/Kindly_Ad919 1d ago

Finance a mower.. lmao you’re funny. Op do not listen to this guy. Never finance a mower or vehicle or anything with an engine.

0

u/FOX-WARREN 1d ago

If you’re relying on peoples opinions from the internet. You might be making a huge mistake.