Kubota, I'm Sorry ....

[TWO GUNS]

Kubota, I'm sorry, BUT ,

Time has come for my oldest son to make a purchase of a mower.
His two old mowers has just had it. John Deere & Snapper .....
He came to me and ask about what I thought about the Kubota mowers. He knows how much I like the Kubota equipment line, and knows how well the RTV is.

Well, living down here in the south, our grass hardly ever stops growing for very long, for it never really gets cold enough to shut it down growth.
And I personally know several companies that cut / landscape professionally.

So go where THEY use them all the time and see. And we did.

All companies we talked to have used both the commercial Kubota line, (gas and diesel ). And all companies has used commercial X-Mark line of mowers. And all companies has in the past, used others including John Deere, Husquarva, etc ....
but nothing compared to the use of the Kubota and X-Mark.
All said both mowers are good. Both cut great and handled pretty good.

Talking to the actual workers, they said about the same thing. That both mowers were great working tools, but the X-Mark controls seem to perform better. That conversation lead into almost of flip of the coin.

Then we test fired them. Both were SUPER mowers.

Then looking into warrany. Oh, Oh, Oh .....
Kubota .... 2 years
X-Mark ..... 4 years

Back to the people who run them again. Asked them about any problems with the manufacture warranty thing.
Spent a few nights looking way back at previous posting on this and other forums.

There you go into the heart of equipment companies. Just like we have seen and some have experienced here with Kubota.
They are good machines but when it comes to " being there when you need them" thing. Kubota has turned there backs on to many of their custumers. And that don't set well with me.
One company has went strictly X-Mark, sold all his Kubota units for reason of warranty, and the way Kubota treated them, not the dealers, but KUBOTA !!!!!
So you Kubota engineers, who snoopes these forums and read up on how customers feel, take this and let it sink in really good.


He just spent a chunk of money on a X-Mark. NOT because he didn't want a Kubota. He purchased the X-Mark for reason IF he had a problem, that company would stand behind him 100% !!!!

............. jamie ( two guns )
LOUISIANA ..... GOD'S COUNTRY !!!!

 

[Doc]

Good post Jamie.
In 2005 I was in the same predicament. I have 4 acres for a yard and another acre I mow 3/4 or so mile away at the back of our property which is our river lot. I needed something durable that could not only handle the mowing but handle the ride on the trails to get to and back from the river lot. I loved my Kubota Tractor (Grand L 3010) and wanted the Kubota ZTR offering. At the time it was prices in the 10 to 11k ballpark. Expensive for sure. So I then priced commercial offerings and much like what you found today, Exmark was number one in 2005. I did my online homework and was all set to get an Exmark. Then I found out the only local dealer who carried Exmark had dropped the brand. I later found out Exmark insisted on factory training for the techs who work on their equipment and this dealer was not willing to send his techs to that training. So he and Exmark parted ways.

I knew how important having a good dealer behind any major purchase so I looked some more and found Scag's ZTR was a close 2nd to Exmark. Exmark was the leader but Scag was not far behind. And I had two different Scag dealers with factory trained techs (yeah, I learned to ask that question when shopping). I bought the Scag for about 3k less than I could have bought the Kubota. It has been a great mowing machine for me. It is so heavy duty that it takes the beating my property gives it and just keeps on keeping on.

Mowing is a tough chore and sometimes to get the best solution we have to look outside the box. We can save money and get quality equipment and learn a whole lot in the process.

 

[muleman RIP]

Knew a groundskeeper for a huge cemetery and he said Skag was the toughest mower he ever ran. He mows all day long just about every day of the week in grass season.

 

[Peanut]

You might wanna look into that zturn mower that is made completly of stainless steel they from what I heard have a lifetime warannty on deck tranny an a god warranty on thier we bngines too

 

[Peanut]

Look into a dixie chopper mower you'll be very impressded.all stainless steel .go to youtube an do a search for dixie choppers.you'll want one for sure.damn. near cuts grass at 25mph

 

[pepr]

TwoGuns, I appreciate your Kubota loyalty; however, with the exception of the RTV which impresses me, I will likely not own anything else built by Kubota. First choice on a tractor will always be John Deere. Been saddling a Deere for close to 50 years. They're not a good as the older ones, but in my mind, still beat the competition especially with ease of use.

My next mower just might be a Walker mower built in Fort Collins, CO. Well worth the look.

I sure didn't know the Xmarks were a great mower.

 

[TWO GUNS]

I sure didn't know the Xmarks were a great mower.

I did not either, until I got to looking deep and seeing what professionals
were running. You should see this thing cut, it just amazes me.

The Scag zero was mentioned, they are also a good mower. I have not heard nothing but good out of Scags. We use them
here with our Sheriff's office, the convicts (trustees) on work release run them, 7 units. The other convicts clean road ditches on the chain gang with sling-blades, hoes, and bush blades.

 

[TWO GUNS]

First choice on a tractor will always be John Deere. Been saddling a Deere

I too, am a BIG John Deere fan when it comes to farm tractors. Always have.
Now we used to have a few International 1466's, They were some work horses back in it's day about 35 years ago. No cab, no air, flaming hot floor, no "good time radio".
There are many of them
still running in another parish down here about 45 miles from here. Last count I think they still had 29 1466's working in the sweet tater farm. The
old Int. 1466's also had a fast traveling gear, which tater farmers love. For after they fill cart, they can run fast down to the turn-row and unload into the big semi for transport.
Cost was just under $20,000 then .....

......... two guns

 

[pepr]

TwoGuns, spent several years on a IH 856. We never had a cab tractor until I left the home farm and got married. Dad purchased a new JD 6410 cab tractor in 1999. That tractor is my currently used tractor on my farm.

 

[TWO GUNS]

spent several years on a IH 856. (QUOTE]

The 856 was a very strong tractor !!!!

..... two guns

 

[Heatwave]

I have a Kubota ZD21 zero-turn mower with 60" cutting deck. Bought it new in 2002. I mow 3 acres of very rough land every week, early-April through mid-October. Nothing has ever needed to be repaired ... nothing has failed. I change the lubes and filters at the end of each mowing season. It's a 3-cylinder diesel and is very economical to operate ... uses far less fuel than the gasoline-powered mowers I formerly owned. I consider myself fortunate to have the Kubota mower.

 

[TWO GUNS]

I have a Kubota ZD21 zero-turn mower *Nothing has ever needed to be repaired * I change the lubes and filters at the end I consider myself fortunate to have the Kubota mower.

I have a close friend that has a Kubota zero with diesel engine. It's a beast of a machine. He also, has had it awhile, and never has ANY troubles. Good machines !!!!

.......... two guns

 

[TWO GUNS]

While we are on the "mower" subject.

Do anybody up there change tires out on the rear of their zero ?
Many down here do, and some is making it "part of the deal" when
purchase is made.

As we all know, the zero mowers are only good for hard ground.
Any dew on the ground, or tight turns in grass, we spin and
burn, kill, put stripes in our yards.

Change 'em out, you will be glad you did !!!!
" GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING WITH MEAT ON IT "

The OEM tires that came on our Zero Turn mower that I purchased four years ago. Damn thing would spin with NO wet-ness on the ground.

 

[bczoom]

OK, since we're talking ZTR's, I guess I can chime in with my thoughts and experience.
I've been driving mine for 9 years...

As many of you know, I live in a hilly area. Like the RTV, I insisted that a demo be brought out so I can try it in my conditions.
- Brought in a Dixie Chopper. FAIL. Couldn't hold a hill at all.
- Brought in a Scag. Fail, but better then the Dixie Chopper.

Neighbor was buying a tractor and mentioned the guy sells ZTR's as well. I told him to throw one on the truck and bring it along for a demo. He did.

Never paid attention to that brand until it arrived for the demo.

We unloaded and I started mowing. Holy Crap! This thing did amazing. It could handle any hill I threw at it. Nice mowing job. Plenty of power and speed.

Alas, a Country Clipper Charger was the mower for me. A couple things that are (or were) different from others at the time.
- Joystick control. Much easier on the arm(s) and allows the other arm to be free for moving low-hanging branches or enjoying your beverage.
- Flip up deck. Handy for cleaning (which isn't much once you put Fluid Film in there).
- Pivoting front axle. Keeps all 4 on the ground.

With the 12" wide tires, traction is very good. It does slide some going down a wet hill but I'd be afraid of any more traction as it'll tear up the lawn.

 

[Doc]

Interesting Jamie. I have considered changing out the tires on mine as I saw the more agressive tires on some of the landscape trailers as the drove around town. I'm to cheap and have put up with the turf for now.

I had troubles with the leaving a mark one year and finally figured out it was in part due to low tire pressure. I added air and was able to turn without leaving a scuf mark.

I was going to post a pic of my Scag to show the tire pattern but I can't find one. Maybe later.

 

[bczoom]

I had troubles with the leaving a mark one year and finally figured out it was in part due to low tire pressure. I added air and was able to turn without leaving a scuf mark.

The biggest thing I found was to never pivot on a tire. If you're making a U-turn, one tire should be rolling forward while the other is rolling backward. If one is turning and the other isn't, you're going to scuff where that tire isn't rolling. That would be really ugly with more aggressive tires.

 

[bordercollie]

I use a Kubota ZD28 The ROPS folds but the lower arm brackets for it sticks out just perfect for grabbing mailboxes and tree limbs. Yes, I know all about it for more than one experience ... It also holds the screen on the radiator but I am thinking of removing it... I can come up with a compensation for that... It is a real pain and I have never mowed with the rops up anyway because of all the low limbs around here.
So many safety gadgets, I put parking brake on ,fold out arms ,sit on set , disengage mower deck. hold my breath after letting the glow plugs go for a short count and she will crank.. If the safety switches are working right. Had to "do some work on mine" as the mower started cutting out even after changing out both fuel filters (has 2). The seat switch is up in the upholstery. And the lever ones are real hard to get to and are basically little copper like contact s. Sorta like on the old distributor caps.
Mowing the roadway is creepy because sometimes the sinkholes on the ditch bank can do the slip/slide . I have been there too.Got the RTV in 4 wd L and my sis to drive it and out I came..thanks to the RTV. bordercollie

 

[TWO GUNS]

chime .

- Pivoting front axle. Keeps all 4 on the ground.

I would bet that is a BIG PLUS on a Zero !!!

........ two guns

 

[Peanut]

My snapper has a pivoting front axle works great

 

[TWO GUNS]

The biggest thing I found was to never pivot on a tire. QUOTE]

bczoom,

You would die laughing at some people who run a zero turn.
They think they are running a Phantom F-4 long range supersonic fighter-bomber. Making sweeps dropping bomb pods in Cambodia. Never in my life, have I seen grown men act like they do when they get a going on one of these machines. IT'S JUST A LAWN MOWER ....
They will make a run, fly around the house and dodge the pecan and oak trees, looking back at them after they make a pass as if they made it with "No Problem". They will come flying in, stop, run into the house, grab a water and bail back on and take off again. Zipping back and forth like something from Top Gun. I'm sorry, them people crack me up >>>>

......... two guns