Hustler or Ferris

I don't know about the JD with the wings, but the Toro has wings that can be lifted independently.  I think the hustler used to have a mower with wings as well.  The center deck can be configured to a narrower deck as 48" and the wings are smaller.  The center deck can be the only deck mowing while the other two are both riased. Or only one wing deck might be raised.  I have seen some Toros with center deck and only one wing deck.  The Toro we have for the town has several wing decks and the center is three small decks in V-alignment.  All of the decks are narrow, I think 30" per deck.  With so many small decks, a really nice cut is the result.  Those machines also can tilt the decks vertically exposing all of the blades for removal to sharpen. A nice and labor saving feature.

Right now, i don't know anybody else making the multi wing mowers other than Toro, but I'm sure they are out there (John Deere as stated above).
Tinker
 
Thanks again guys.

Have not mentioned Toro in my considerations as they have a terrible reputation in this area. I know of two ride ons that have caught fire from overheating in summer, and the decks on their zero turns are liable to quick rust out.

Am still considering my options, although Hustler is strong contender.

Further thoughts from FOG members are certainly welcome.

Update:
Just looked at latest Toro Aust website. Appears decks are now stronger, but spec range I am considering have followed Ferris with lower HP engines.

 

Headline

Eleven year old Australian Greenfield Mower starts first time after no use since last November. Mows all Sunday afternoon under a sunny winter sky.

Stephen will give it another mowing season (with fingers crossed).

Consequently pressure on Australian - United States trade deficit eases in the medium term, however pressure on Australian - German trade deficit may significantly increase over next 12 months.
 
Those "Under belly" tractor mowers a definitely more stable on hillsides than mid-mount "Z"s.  The problem tho, is they don't have much difference from lowest setting to the highest.  They are also slower than most of the Z's.

i had a Kubota that was configured as a tractor in reveres and the mowing deck, out in front (the big wheels in front, the steering wheels in back gave the tractor a lot of manuverability and able to mow brush as well as grass.  I could drive up to a clump of wild roses and raise the deck until it was over the center of the bush, lower and the bush was gone.  The tractor was just too heavy and too much swing behind me for mowing around intricit flower and shrub beds.  I traded it in on a Kubota tractor/loader and bought a couple of walk behind mowers for the lwans.  I did get a belly mounted mower for the tractor, but could not use it for field mowing as I had hoped.  i just could not raise the deck high enough.  I ended up with a brush hog on the back of the tractor.  Eventually, i got a Skag Tiger that has a deck mowing height from 1-1/2" (never set that low) to 6-1/2" fully raised.  that sucker goes thru anything that can be mowed with any lawn mower.  I have even cut thru brush up to 1" in diameter.  Of course brush can bend blades, so I put on already damaged blades for that work.
Tinker
 
Hi Tinker,

Thanks for all your responses to this post, I have certainly enjoyed your mowing adventures.

Stephen
 
Stephen, I just hope they were of help.  Sorry i have not had any experiences that could help you "Down Under" friends the most. My only experience with running a mower upside down (mentioned in an earlier post)was quite scary and uncomfortable.  [poke] ::)
Tinker
 
Tinker said:
Stephen, I just hope they were of help.  Sorry i have not had any experiences that could help you "Down Under" friends the most. My only experience with running a mower upside down (mentioned in an earlier post)was quite scary and uncomfortable.  [poke] ::)
Tinker
Click to expand...
  Yes, spinning blade down, Seat on Top IS a good motto to follow.  The other way around is too dangerous... [wink]
 
Tinker said:
Stephen, I just hope they were of help.  Sorry i have not had any experiences that could help you "Down Under" friends the most. My only experience with running a mower upside down (mentioned in an earlier post)was quite scary and uncomfortable.  [poke] ::)
Tinker
Click to expand...

If we were honest about it, Tinker always runs his mowers upside down, at least from Stephens vantage point [smile].( and vice versa)

Mike- A Made in Iowa Country Clipper owner
 
I often wonder how you guys do that.  Superglue on the tires must slow you down terribly.  [scratch chin]
Tinker
 
[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][size=13pt]

Last week after 1500hrs, the trusty Honda Twin in my Australian Greenfield Mower decided enough was enough.

From this thread you can see it has taken some time to consider its replacement. The two contenders first announced have been put aside. There have been some concern in the district that Hustlers have some difficulty with our Aussie longer grass because the shoot size somewhat restricts extraction of longer grass from the deck. As for Ferris, well yes the neighbours did replace theirs with another Ferris, but I was not impressed about the spectacular suspension and subsequent chassis failure of their first.  [eek]

Then with the devaluation of the Australian dollar against the U.S. this year, NA mowers have significantly increased in price.  [eek] [embarassed]

So I took delivery on Friday [AEST] of an Australian built COX Cruiser with 48inch deck and 24hp Briggs and Stratton Twin. The key feature of the deck is three discs with flick back blades. This allows some moderate impact without fracturing blades. The deck also has more reinforcement than either the Hustler or Ferris and the exhaust shoot is bigger than comparable Hustlers.

In its first two hours the mower has been in Capeweed, Onion and Rye as well as some unknown agricultural varieties; most at 5 to 10cm high. So far I am very impressed.
[size=18pt]
But apart from supporting Australian Manufacturing, there is the Tinker factor. It's Australian, so yes Tinker, it can defiantly mow upside down!  [smile] [big grin][size=8pt]
[member=550]Tinker[/member]

 

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Tinker said:
[thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [popcorn]
Tinker
Click to expand...
[size=13pt]
Mmm, Tinker glad you seem impressed. However  the PopCorn implies waiting for more!

Well I did bog it in the nature strip drain [semi rural properties] just on dusk. Yes Zero turns do bog! The same drain was a piece of cake on the Greenfield. Had to get the neighbour to help me get it out.  [embarassed]

[size=8pt][member=550]Tinker[/member]

___________________
If anyone want to read further on COX mowers, please read -

http://www.coxmowers.com.au/range/cruiser/
 
Untidy Shop said:
Tinker said:
[thumbs up] [thumbs up] [thumbs up] [popcorn]
Tinker
Click to expand...
[size=13pt]
Mmm, Tinker glad you seem impressed. However  the PopCorn implies waiting for more!

Well I did bog it in the nature strip drain [semi rural properties] just on dusk. Yes Zero turns do bog! The same drain was a piece of cake on the Greenfield. Had to get the neighbour to help me get it out.  [embarassed]

[size=8pt][member=550]Tinker[/member]

___________________
If anyone want to read further on COX mowers, please read -

http://www.coxmowers.com.au/range/cruiser/
Click to expand...

Of course i knew the popcorn would be necessary.  With a Z-Turn, another absolute necessity is to either have a 4x4 tractor with a good tow hitch, or a good friend with the same equipment.  especially when one lives Down Under and possibly Out Back  [poke]
Tinker
 
One of the downsides to living in Australia is the grass doesn't seem to stop growing in the winter, like it does in the UK.
  Just when you think you have a bit of free time to yourself, you have to go out in the garden and mess around with lawn mowers when you'd rather be messing around in the workshop!
 
DB10 said:
One of the downsides to living in Australia is the grass doesn't seem to stop growing in the winter, like it does in the UK.
  Just when you think you have a bit of free time to yourself, you have to go out in the garden and mess around with lawn mowers when you'd rather be messing around in the workshop!
Click to expand...

Why can't they genetically modify a type of grass that only grows to 2.5cm ?? [sad] Everything we eat is being messed with [mad]
 
DB10 said:
One of the downsides to living in Australia is the grass doesn't seem to stop growing in the winter, like it does in the UK.
  Just when you think you have a bit of free time to yourself, you have to go out in the garden and mess around with lawn mowers when you'd rather be messing around in the workshop!
Click to expand...
[size=13pt]
A less than helpful comment from 'Senior Management' this afternoon was - "I am so glad we bought this mower, it is so much faster and now you will have so much more time to do other projects around the house".  [eek]

If only all these other projects involved Festool, or even just working with wood!

[size=8pt][member=42735]DB10[/member]
 
DB10 said:
One of the downsides to living in Australia is the grass doesn't seem to stop growing in the winter, like it does in the UK.
  Just when you think you have a bit of free time to yourself, you have to go out in the garden and mess around with lawn mowers when you'd rather be messing around in the workshop!
Click to expand...

Many moons ago, I had a customer who habitually paid his bill  >>>  6 months or more after the fact.  I had gotten tired of his great habit.  The first snow of the winter (summer to you guys who walk upside down [scratch chin]) was a very wet 12" deep.  his driveway was somewhat dangerous to plow, let alone drive up and down.  I decided this was a good time to get a point across, soooo..... i did not plow his driveway. 

About daybreak, i was just getting home and sitting down to breakfast when the phone rang.  My late paying "friend" was at the otter end of the line and asked, "did you forget to plow my driveway?"

"No"

"Well when are you going to plow it?"

"I'll tell you what Mr (fill in the blank).  This year we are starting a really great service."

After a short pause, a very sarcastic,  "what is this great service?"

For those customers who like to pay for sno plowing in July or August (and he was usually later than that) we are going to plow in July or August.  The best part of that is that it is much easier on our equipment and we don't tear up driveways by dropping the plows too low.  We can do the plowing in the daytime so we don't wake people up.  we don't have to carry extra shovels in case we get stuck and we can leave our tire chains in storage.  We also have a deal for those who like to pay for lawn mowing services in February (July is summer and February is just the opposite for you guys who live Down Under) we are going to mow in february so we don't get all sweaty and wear ourselves out swatting mosquitos. This is going to be a really great deal."

from that point on, i no longer plowed his driveway or mowed his lawn.  Not even, as he requested, "... for old times sake?"

I have used other fun type arguments when a customer habitually complains. But I won't get into them here.
Tinker

 
Tinker said:
DB10 said:
One of the downsides to living in Australia is the grass doesn't seem to stop growing in the winter, like it does in the UK.
  Just when you think you have a bit of free time to yourself, you have to go out in the garden and mess around with lawn mowers when you'd rather be messing around in the workshop!
Click to expand...

Many moons ago, I had a customer who habitually paid his bill  >>>  6 months or more after the fact.  I had gotten tired of his great habit.  The first snow of the winter (summer to you guys who walk upside down [scratch chin]) was a very wet 12" deep.  his driveway was somewhat dangerous to plow, let alone drive up and down.  I decided this was a good time to get a point across, soooo..... i did not plow his driveway. 

About daybreak, i was just getting home and sitting down to breakfast when the phone rang.  My late paying "friend" was at the otter end of the line and asked, "did you forget to plow my driveway?"

"No"

"Well when are you going to plow it?"

"I'll tell you what Mr (fill in the blank).  This year we are starting a really great service."

After a short pause, a very sarcastic,  "what is this great service?"

For those customers who like to pay for sno plowing in July or August (and he was usually later than that) we are going to plow in July or August.  The best part of that is that it is much easier on our equipment and we don't tear up driveways by dropping the plows too low.  We can do the plowing in the daytime so we don't wake people up.  we don't have to carry extra shovels in case we get stuck and we can leave our tire chains in storage.  We also have a deal for those who like to pay for lawn mowing services in February (July is summer and February is just the opposite for you guys who live Down Under) we are going to mow in february so we don't get all sweaty and wear ourselves out swatting mosquitos. This is going to be a really great deal."

from that point on, i no longer plowed his driveway or mowed his lawn.  Not even, as he requested, "... for old times sake?"

I have used other fun type arguments when a customer habitually complains. But I won't get into them here.
Tinker
Click to expand...

[big grin]

Sometimes people just need put in their place.  It is so much fun too.
 
[size=13pt]
COX just been picked up by the Dealer for its first service. What was previously a 16-18 hr mow (never in one go) was completed in 7.2 engine hours.

Only work I requested was slight adjustment to left steering arm.

Am I  [smile] [smile] - ing, you bet.

[member=550]Tinker[/member] [member=13058]Kev[/member]
 
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