This day I’ll introduce you about Swisher Z-Max ZT2660B 60-Inch 26 HP Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) from amazon website you can see now
BuZZ from Customer Shopping
An excellent value in a near commercial ZTR
Updated 4/17/2008 after 1.5 months of actual use:
After years of very costly and sometimes frustrating lawn service experiences, I decided I would start doing my lawn again after 17 years. However, I wanted to spend as little time as possible in the process, and started looking for a ZTR to conserve time.
I received the Swisher ZTR2660B model in January. It is difficult to comprehend it is not a true ‘commercial class’ mower. Yes, the engine is a B&S ELS series and the deck is 11 gauge vs the 7 gauge (or better) decks out there, but it is a comparatively minor trade off for the homeowner who maintains his/her equipment. I definitely will, and expect this mower will last quite some time. Some may say the above features cheapen the unit, but when the +/- $4k cost is compared to the $7-8.5K for similarly equipped commercial units, it makes a compelling argument to give it a try. That said, I can’t complain.
Setup was quite easy. After un-crating the mower, just connect the hand bars, connect the battery, check the oil (it was in there) and add the fuel (be sure to open the fuel valves on each tank). It then roars to life! If you are unfamiliar with a ZTR (I was), it takes some practice, but once that’s behind you, the lawn cutting process will take far less time.
The unit is very substantial in every way. The Eaton hydros work well (though a bit twitchy) and the speed is more than adequate. The frame is heavy (the unit is 910 lbs) and the construction is quite good. The deck is ‘massive’ and makes light work out of a large mowing assignment. The 11 gauge metal does not present issues regarding durability since it is fabricated and far better than stamped decks. At this price point it is superior. The manual deck lift works well and is very easy to adjust.
The retailer bent over backwards to satisfy me on this transaction. My unit’s battery failed immediately but was replaced without any hassle. A second battery then failed attributed to a bad voltage regulator / rectifier. They repaired it all with a smile – and quickly.
The unit is very powerful and creates a huge draft under the deck. The mower tracks straight as an arrow. Cut quality is very good (and even) and the mower is capable of very precise movements once you get the ‘hang of it’. My 1.25 acre property has many trees and is still completed in around 40 minutes.
I have hooked up a Cyclone Rake system to this ZTR. I worried that the rear ‘bumper’ could not handle the torsional stresses involved in a ‘non pivoting’ hitch setup but have not had any issues to date. The combined strengths of each unit cuts and vacuums the property very effectively. However, using this configuration requires a fair amount of engine power. The Swisher easily delivers on this. In fact, the combined length of the configuration is 12ft, and the total weight (when the ‘Rake’ hopper is loaded) approaches 1500-1550 lbs. (910 for the ZTR unit – 600 in ‘Rake’ hardware and grass/leaf debris. Aside from it feeling a bit unwieldy, the mower handles the stresses involved and never bogs down.
The overall feedback of other Swisher owners is good. I intentionally made contact with a local Swisher repair service and he confirmed they rarely have issues. Of note, he said the Gator blades do a thorough job provided the grass is not too long. If it is, he recommends doing multiple passes on the lawn surface (lowering the deck each time) to avert any clumping. I also made contact with Swisher customer service two times and they answered calls quickly and were informed and responsive. My experience with them I’d rate an ‘A’. I have since bought a second set of blades and drive belt. The cost was reasonable and the materials were received quickly.
Drawbacks – Though an excellent product, its not perfect. I found a few things to point out:
1) The control bars do not meet when operating, and therefore two hand operation is a must, even in straightaways. That means one will have a tricky time moving low hanging branches out of the way or taking a sip of something from time to time without a full stop.
2) The battery placement is difficult to get to, but is accessible if you lay on the ground. Surprisingly, there is a tray under the operators seat which appears to be designed to hold the battery. It would be a far better placement to simplify operator access when necessary. I may configure the machine with a second battery since I now have a backup. I recommend setting up a trickle charge circuit as is done with motorcycles to assure battery health in periods of non-use.
3) Oil changes require the use of a plastic tube (supplied – but a bit short) to drain the crankcase. It’s difficult to access and Swisher should have placed a drain whole in the engine cradle so the oils could drain vertically instead of horizontally. It’s an ineffective setup.
4) The tires are good but I have found them to easily slip on soft ground which then places ruts on the lawn surface. One needs to be careful to avoid this since it can make a real mess of things.
5) The flat paint tends to collect far more dust than a gloss painted surface.
6) The lack of a cup holder is more an annoyance than anything else.
The real test is durability and reliability and though I am optimistic all will go well, I have no crystal ball. Therefore I have a 3 year service contract. I tend to cover my bets but think it may be a waste of money in this case. Seeing how my (former)lawn service charges were about to spiral to $8000 a year, I am content that this purchase will pay for itself before the 2009 New Year arrives! If all goes as planned I’ll spend the saved $4k on a vacation at that point.
BUILD TOUGH
I OWN A SMALL LANDSCAPING BUSINESS AND I HAVE ALWAYS USED CUB-CADET MOWERS UNTIL I RESEARCHED THE SWISHER Z-MAX.
THIS IS A COMMERCIAL QUALITY MACHINE FOR HALF THE PRICE OF OTHER BRAND NAME COMMERCIAL MOWERS.
I FIRST SAW THIS MOWER AT MY TRACTOR SUPPLY STORE AND I WAS SO MUCH IMPRESSED W/ THE QUALITY I KNEW I HAD TO TRY ONE W/ MY BUSINESS. WELL THAT WAS 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVE HAD NO MAJOR REPAIRS.
THIS MOWER IS TOUGH AS WELL AS HEAVY(910 LBS). I WENT BACK (LAST MONTH) TO THE TRACTOR STORE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE BUT IT WAS NOT IN STOCK. THEN I DID AN ONLINE SEARCH AND FOUND THIS ONE, MODEL ZT2660B, ON SALE THROUGH AMAZON AND PURCHASED IT RIGHT AWAY. IT ARRIVED TODAY IN A CRATE AND MY EMPLOYEE UN-CRATED IT AND PUT THE HANDLES ON IT IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.
THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE IS W/ DELIVERY. THE DELIVERY TRUCKS LIFT GATE WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE CRATE AND THE MOWER HAD TO BE UN-CRATED ON THE TRUCK. WITH THAT SAID ALL WAS GOOD… I POURED 4 GALLONS OF GAS INTO BOTH TANKS AND IT STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY. BEST OF ALL IT IS BUILT IN THE USA. I AGREE W/ THE OTHER REVIEWERS …5 STARS ALL THE WAY.
+++UPDATE–7/3/09—NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!
Cut Mowing Time from 2-1/2 hours to 1-1/4 hours
I bought this mower after owning a Poulan 25HP, 48″ Deck mower. This zero turn cut my time from 2-1/2 hours to 1-1/4. This machine is great. I now mow at 5-6 MPH. I live on 2-1/2 acreas with lots of trees. Since buying this mower my trim push mower has not been used. Watch out when your are going down hill. If you go too fast you will lose control and run into anything in the way. This thing also cuts the lawn like a golf course. My neighbor owns a golf course and made that comment to me.
Buy this thing!
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