Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Boat Engines, Flood Control, & Census.

I had that issue myself, it does take far more 'learning'' then a sit on ZT. I'd also suggest a big arse yard with nothing expensive to accidentally mow over.

 

I let my neighbor try my ZT at an idle with the blades off.
He hit his bird feeder - the only thing in his yard.

 

Lol... It happens.

My wife said: how hard could it be. All you do is sit there & ride around in squares & circles.

Yup she hit the side of the house, skinned several trees & put it in the ditch...... All b4 she completed 1 pass.

Tht was the end of her on my stuff.

Mowed a little between rains this morning. Had to. It was too wet/muddy...... But her Bassett hound won't pee in the grass if it's high enough to hit her scooter. So she pees on driveway instead. Not having that!!

 

I could see that happening with my wife when we were married. She drove a simplicity 728 up a 100 ft tall oak tree after I went in the house for a second. I told her not to use it because she had a bad track record of riding/driving things other then an actual vehicle but she had to prove me wrong. She didn't.........

She was ok as the rear of it dug into the ground and the drive wheels lost traction or it would have probably fell over onto her. Wouldn't have gone well for her....

But.....she never asked to mow the lawn again.

 

Might snag this cheap riding mower for an engine swap. 24hp craftsman, might not be too hard to swap onto the Ferris. Gotta find out shaft size.

It’s a hydro rider too, so can probably sell the parts off too when I’m done with it.

 

That should great to power the Ferris. I had to make my own exhaust manifold. The original Kaw had a single entrance into the muffler. The Briggs have a wider distance between the heads, so I just welded in a pipe coupler.

 

Just finished up the lawn. To the road it goes!

 

Awesome, I’m just waiting to hear back from the seller. Hopefully I can get my hands on it. Fabricating the muffler won’t be an issue, i dont mind a bit of cutting and welding.

Damn that Toro looks fantastic!

edit: also missed a running Scag Turf Tiger liquid cooled for $300 today. Damn work got in the way on a project I couldn’t leave.

 

Just curious how much on average do you think you put into each ZT and how much do you sell them for?

 

I like to top out around $1300 invested. Machine + parts.

I'm asking $3700 for this one. I'll most likely get $3300. If not, I'll definitely sell it next spring.

I can't give you an average.

The last one I did, I paid $550. Put $6 in a part and sold it for $3k.

I wish I knew what I had in time. I'm guessing 8 hours on some and 25 on others. It veries.

I actually prefer buying and fixing them in the off season. I have time put them thru their paces to make sure they are ready. People call me and ask when my next one is going to be done during the spring and I can't be sure they are perfectly done.

 

Damn thats good money, nice that you make sure to test them thoroughly before selling.

 

Mower related- any suggestions on a suspension seat that won’t break the bank, or at minimum a suspension seat base I can slap on?

I see the bases under $200 on Amazon. reviews seem decent.

 

I can't offer any info, except they sure help with sudden bumps.

If you hit a bump at speed that you were unaware of, it can really mess up your back if you don't have a suspension seat.

Keep us informed if you grab this one.

 

I will honestly say that the suspension/air seat I got on my Kubota was the best upgrade you can get. From what I could figure out, pretty much every commercial mower manufacturer [esp ZT's] use pretty much the same one, usually, even the seat material is very close to each other between manufacturers.

However, some ZT's ride far better then others, some have actual suspensions while others have a design that ''floats'' better, my front mount grasshopper rides WAY better then my Kubota does, without the seat on the Kubota, it would ride like a radio flyer wagon.

 

this is the big thing on ZTs or any mower. does your mower have any type of suspension? or are YOU the suspension.

a good Grammar suspension seat is always nice. i put them on everything that didnt come with a suspension seat. make sure to get the for/aft isolator version so that the bucking doesnt wear ya out.

these high end new ZTs with a real suspension (ferris, torro, Wright) are just miles above the back breakers.

absolutely loved my Hustlers for 20yrs+! but the beating they gave me is the reason im now on the ZXT with floating operator station.
it had got to where id ride for 2-3hrs & then couldnt stand when getting off the Hustlers. now i mow 2-3hrs & can still walk or weedeat after on this suspension station.

this is a great seat at a decent price with just a little shopping. https://usa.grammer.com/seating-solutions/turf-care-seating/msg65-series.html

i dont do the air pump version on mowers.... but heres a vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9rHwRCwRYI

 

Oh for sure, my brother runs a side business mowing grass and has an awesome big block Ferris with four wheel suspension and a suspension seat. It’s like riding a pillow around my yard even at full speed, which is ridiculous. One day I’ll buy one that’ll last me basically forever as a home owner. For now an add-on suspension seat will do.

Exactly, see above regarding my brothers Ferris. (He actually has three of them, all with four wheel suspension, but I think only two with suspension seats)

Mine has front suspension only, it’s an ‘06 Ferris IS1000z

I’ll check out the Grammer seat, I’m not looking to spend a fortune on this old mower, just make it a bit more comfy for my bumpy yard.

I’ll let you all know what I decide, but it’ll be after I get the Ferris back to near 100%.

 

Check out this thread. It was my 1st experience with ANY zero turn.

Sure looks a lot like your Ferris.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/kodittens-zt-mower-guided-ramblings-shop-journal.596562/

 

I’m reading it now, it does look similar, looks like mine is a bit wider stance. But the front suspension design isn’t far off.

wish I could find a predator vertical, they don’t seem to make them anymore.

 

I believe that one I did was 50"?

 

Close enough, mine’s 52”.

edit: this is the suspension base I’ve decided on. Once the Ferris is back up and going 100%, I’ll slap one of these on. Possibly see if there are any deals for Prime Day.

TRAC SEATS Seat Suspension Kit For Snapper Pro Ferris Cub Cadet Big Dog Yazoo Grasshopper Scag Walker Ariens Simplicity Country Clipper Zero Turn Mower - - 1 Year Warranty

$180 TRAC SEATS Seat Suspension Kit For Snapper Pro Ferris Cub Cadet Big Dog Yazoo Grasshopper Scag Walker Ariens Simplicity Country Clipper Zero Turn Mower - - 1 Year Warranty

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GZH3YH2