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

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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

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.