Hustler or Ferris

[Tinker]

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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]

Q

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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.
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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]

@ Untidy Shop I looked up COX "Z"turn mowers on internet. (I had to turn my computer upside down  :)
From what i can see, you made a great choice.  That machine must weigh tons.  The deck skirt is 8mm thick.  I did not have a deck built that strong even on my old brush hogs.  I also like the idea of the swinging blades suspended on a flat disc.  That is somewhat like our flail mowers.  The blades can hit rocks and stumps (stumps do far more damage than rocks) and just swing back with no hangup or breakage.

Another great feature:

uote from COX spec advertisement.>>>When you have finished mowing, all you have to do is just snap on a standard hose fitting and the underside of your deck will be cleared of accumulated grass clippings.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=13pt]Looks like you have done some follow up research Tinker.

Yes it was the deck construction and the discs with flick back blades that sold me. The washing feature was a bonus but my dealer told me to let the mower cool for two hours before using it. I have used it once so far.

Our property was once a small part of a large dairy farm, and from time to time the old Greenfield mower was a bit of an 'archeologist' finding bits of fencing wire, star pickets and broken fence posts [which could 'suddenly'  emerge with soil movement], bricks, bottles and the odd rock. So when looking for a new mower an ability to at least attempt to survive such incidents was something I was looking for.

So far, apart from the bogging previously mentioned, we have only hit a shallow tree root. Forgot it was there in the long grass.  [eek]

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

 

[Tinker]

I am surprised more mowers don't have that disk and floppy blades feature, at least as an option.  Every one of my old brush hogs had the same.  with my 61" Skag Z, i mow my best lawns to tall field grasses where i can discover hidden rocks to brush up to about 1".  all with the same "flat" blades.  I would very definitely have gone for the extra plate with swinging blades as an alternative to the grooming blades used most of the time.

I like the thickness of the deck skirt, but I am sure it can be quite a jolt when running into a hidden stump.  I think all kinds of frame parts can get buggered up where with my thin 7ga (not 7mm) skirt allows for bending to be straighter with torch and a little bit of weld to only the deck parts. 
Tinker
Tinker

 

[Stephen B]

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[size=14pt]Last winter I discovered that my Zero turn, like most, could not handle the wetter areas of our property. Nor did it really like really tall grass. This added to some 'tight' areas and a need to tow implements led me to recently supplement the Zero Turns capabilities with a COX 4000 series Lawn Tractor. This machine has a 16hp Honda Twin and Live Drive. The deck is 32inch with one disc and two flick back blades. This desk is designed for rough area mowing. Although available with Hydro drive,  I chose the live drive because it handles wet and tall grass conditions better and also is better suited to towing. As to why another COX? Look at the image of the steering/front axle assembly [lower right of image collection]. [smile]  Oh and this machine, except for the engine, is Aussie made.

Last evening it did some gentle mowing as I want to be kind during the first few hours.  [big grin]

Ref:http://www.coxmowers.com.au/stockman-4000-range/
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[member=550]Tinker[/member]  [member=13058]Kev[/member]

 

[leakyroof]

[attachimg=1]

[size=13pt]Last winter I discovered that my Zero turn, like most, could not handle the wetter areas of our property. Nor did it really like really tall grass. This added to some 'tight' areas and a need to tow implements led me to recently supplement the Zero Turns capabilities with a COX 4000 series Lawn Tractor. This machine has a 16hp Honda Twin and Live Drive. The deck is 32inch with one disc and two flick back blades. This desk is designed for rough area mowing. Although available with Hydro drive,  I chose the live drive because it handles wet and tall grass conditions better and also is better suited to towing. As to why another COX? Look at the image of the steering/front axle assembly [lower right of image collection]. [smile]  Oh and this machine, except for the engine, is Aussie made.

Last evening it did some gentle mowing as I want to be kind during the first few hours.  [big grin]

Ref:http://www.coxmowers.com.au/stockman-4000-range/
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[member=550]Tinker[/member]  [member=13058]Kev[/member]

. Interesting reading on the COX brand.

 

[Tinker]

[member=19746]Untidy Shop[/member]
I'm glad you went with the Honda engine.  In my experience, if the Honda won't start, I am doing something wrong. i'm not so sure about going to the tractor type as opposed to the Z turn.  I am not sure those small back wheels will handle the "bogs" any better than you Z turn.  Is the deck removable for changing/harpening blades? OR>>>  Do you have to tip the entire machine? If so, you might put your Festoys to work advantageously in building a ramp or deck so you can safely work underneath the machine for such mainenance chores.

I am sure your mowing hours will be closer to your original mower than the hours mowing with your Z turn.

I think you just like shiney new maches to play around with :

Tinker

 

[Stephen B]

Thanks for your thoughts [member=550]Tinker[/member]. The idea of a perminant ramp or a small reinforced wall to which I can attach the trailer ramps is a good idea. As I said this mower is for the rough areas and towing shredder and spray. 80% of actual mowing will still  be by the Zero turn, I am just seeking to lesson the amount if brushcutter wirk.

First 'adventure' today, or rather act of stupidity and consequent self embarrassment.

Mowing an area furthest away from the mower shed  when engine cuts out. Look at the fuel tank sight gauge. A little fuel showing, but none the less I trudge up to the mower shed  to retrieve a fuel can. Back and the tank full, but no ignition. I check the foot switch. Not loose. [Think I might get that changed to a toggle switch on the dash though?] Try to start again. No luck. After repeating this cycle several more times, as well as picking at other leads; it's a long push across the paddock and up a long rise  to the mower shed, cursing the manufacturer and the dealers pre delivery checks with every step.

Well before I push it up on the trailer, I better check the manual. Might have missed something. Yep!  The mower will not start unless the cutter disk is disengaged!!  [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed]  [mad]

 

[Tinker]

Well before I push it up on the trailer, I better check the manual. Might have missed something. Yep!  The mower will not start unless the cutter disk is disengaged!!  [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed] [embarassed]  [mad]

We call that an "idiot swich". Don't even ask how i know about them. 

I have a friend who does all of my tree work, takedowns and climbing as well.  He bought an older mower that was pre idiot switch. His blades jammed.  got off the mower with machine still running.  reached under the deck to free the blades.  as debris came free, blades decided to rotate again.  He was lucky escaping with only the back of his hand skinned.  When he was looking for a mower for his son to do neighborhood mowing, I did suggest that he get one with all the idiot switches working as he had an idiot for a teacher.

I chopped my own fingers by mounting a PTO shaft wrong end forward and trying to make an adjustment "on the fly".  Not good.  I have thought many times that Saw Stop is a lot of nonsense and then I realize it is right in line with idiot switches on tractors and mowers.  I have never fed my fingers into a saw, but I have managed a few near misses with mowers and other farm equipment.  I used to disconnect all of the idiot switches whn the first came out.  The engineers have gotten smart and the designs now include impossible to disconnect those switches and start the machine. An occasional inconvenience, but once we get used to them, they seem like a great idea.

Let us know when you learn how to run both machines at once.
Tinker