[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

Thank you. Can I PM you?

 

[MF231]

Thank you. Can I PM you?

Sure

 

[GreenforMe]

Briggs filed for bankruptcy? 1st I've heard of this as they own Ferris which is made right here in CNY (approx 35 miles east of Syracuse).

 

[RalphVa]

I've a Ryobi ZT480e that I really like. Since putting lugged tires on it, it's a lot more useful and safer. They're at Home Depot. Used to be $4,200. Probably closer to the $4,999 of the Ego that Lowes has now. These will do about 2 acres between charges. Will the Ego, you could probably have some extra batteries to use with it to extend the time. The Ryobi's are built in lead acid.

Up date on this. Ryobi is putting their cross cut blades on their ZTs now. They also have 80v models and ones at 30, 42 and 54 inches. The 54 inch one has a joy stick instead of the oars. These newer models have Nicad batteries rather than the lead acid ones in our ZT480e.

 

[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

The CFO got to try out a zero turn at the dealership and liked it, so we are just waiting for a z530r to land at the dealership. It was supposed to get there on the 15th but we're told that it should get there on the 24th now.

 

[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

Well, it's finally here. The truck brought it at 5pm tonight. Man, there is a learning curve to using one of these things. Tried to follow the fence line for a few hundred feet. Found myself see sawing the control levers and not doing a very good job of following the fence. I know I'll get better at it cause I can't get much worse.
Thank you for all of the input and suggestions. I think that the JD was the right choice for my needs.

 

[GreenforMe]

Well, it's finally here. The truck brought it at 5pm tonight. Man, there is a learning curve to using one of these things. Tried to follow the fence line for a few hundred feet. Found myself see sawing the control levers and not doing a very good job of following the fence. I know I'll get better at it cause I can't get much worse.
Thank you for all of the input and suggestions. I think that the JD was the right choice for my needs.

If it makes you feel any better, my neighbor who owns a landscaping/mowing/snow plowing biz let me work for him for a day when I was outta work and the fella I was with was told to let me use a ZT too. Well I had same exact results as yourself. LOL. Used it on 1 lawn only, then was given to use the stand on type mower----- much better results! Again, LOL. You WILL get better and congrats!!

 

[Gizmo2]

Tried to follow the fence line for a few hundred feet. Found myself see sawing the control levers and not doing a very good job of following the fence. I know I'll get better at it cause I can't get much worse.

I find a speed I like and mostly use only one control lever (right hand).

 

[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

I find a speed I like and mostly use only one control lever (right hand).

I'll try that out, thanks.

 

[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

Thanks Keith, tried your trick, it works pretty well. I have to say that I was doing better at operating at the end of the afternoon than I was in the beginning. There's hope after all..

 

[Gizmo2]

Thanks Keith, tried your trick, it works pretty well. I have to say that I was doing better at operating at the end of the afternoon than I was in the beginning. There's hope after all..

Next year this time you'll wonder how you managed without it.

 

[trav]

A long time ago I watched a video that said when learning to operate a zero turn mower to think of it like pushing a shopping cart. Also it's helpful to get out there and practice, drive around your yard for awhile before mowing.

 

[Gizmo2]

I find a speed I like and mostly use only one control lever (right hand).

Thanks Keith, tried your trick, it works pretty well. I have to say that I was doing better at operating at the end of the afternoon than I was in the beginning. There's hope after all..

I lied. I just got done doing four of our fence lines, I use the left hand for steering control and the right stays pretty much constant at the speed I like. Sorry about that.

 

[NotYourGrandfathersDeere]

Either way, it works. I'll try with the left hand this week and see how it goes. I'm going to try lowering the tire pressure a little bit too. It's a pretty nice machine, I almost forgot that I got it with the CFO in mind. It's a lot faster than the 1025r and I do believe that it will be the go to machine as soon as she gets used to it. Thanks again for all the input.