Between my house and my dad’s, I cut around 9 acres. Mostly on hills. I am ready to step up to a commercial mower. I have Scag, Bad Boy, X-mark, John Deere, and Kubota dealers in my area so I would like to stick to one of these.

First question, are the 25hp diesels as powerful as the 35-37hp gas mowers? The diesels should have as much torque if not more than the gas engines.

Second question, which mower is best on hills, or which one has the best hydraulic system for steering.

I currently have a 54” residential Bad Boy and I am not impressed with the steering on hills. Do the commercial Bad Boy mowers have a better system? Bad Boy commercial mowers seems to be cheaper than the rest and look to be very well made but looks can be deceiving. Your thoughts.

BIL just bought a Bad Boy. As I understand it, they include the better hydro transmissions in them at a lower price point. If you go by components, it would seem those Bad Boy mowers are a good buy.

Don't know anything about the motors, but damn...37HP in a zero turn. I have 22HP but I"m not climbing any serious hills.

Find a Grasshopper dealer .

Thanks KFWA, I have heard that Bad Boy has stepped it up a lot since I bought mine, but then again my is not a commercial mower anyway.

I don't have a zero turn but have a John Deere 445 and 455. The 455 is the same HP as the 445 but it's diesel. The diesel cuts thick grass at a higher speed than the gas. The torque makes the difference in them. I'd find a dealer that would let you try both versions out if possible.

We had some Grasshopper dealers but I think those dealers quit carrying them. Haven't heard any reasons why.

I don't know what you want to spend but, this is what I did. I bought a used JD 1475 diesel 4wd w 72" four irons deck. The JD has a weight transfer system that allows it to climb the steepest hills. The mower can give a golf course cut at 14mph. Purchase price was $16,000.
John Deere 1575

If you have hills, look at what tires come on them. You'll need some grip.

I'd have a real hard time staying aboard my mower in my yard at 14mph.

The diesel mowers are much heavier built and will hold up to more rugged use. Yes they have plenty of power. I have 26HP Kubota diesel mower and a LazerZ ExMark gas mower both zero turn

The way I understand it the heavier mowers handle the hills better. I have 2 Gravely ZT's, the heavier one definitely handles my hills better.

9 Acres is a bunch. I would go as wide as possible.

Thanks for the responds so for. The hills that I live on are no problem to cut but you are constantly making a steering input, so it is hard on the steering system. I have already replaced one pump and the other will need it soon.

I hear ya - and it's hard to believe it can achieve a really good cut at that speed... Yowza...

Check out ventrac mowers when I make the leap it’s what I will be buying

that's my next move for my mowers - get rid of those lawn tires and put on some tires that have some bite

My 26 hp Kubota diesel never bogs down from any cutting I’ve done with it .

HP isn't what keeps the blades turning in heavy cutting, it's torque and diesel motor excell in the torque department

This is what I was thinking, but just wanted to verify it before spending the money.

I've got a JD x495 with the Yanmar 24hp diesel motor. Its great.

We have a Kubota with a gas engine (27 hp, I think) and it works well. We only cut about 3 1/2 acres but it is rough and we only cut it every few weeks. The mower works well. I wanted the diesel model but the dealer talked me out of it but I can't remember he reason. If I were in your shoes, I would get the diesel if the price is not prohibitive.

A diesel for personal use should be the last mower you have to buy

I don't know, but might they be a bit tough on grass doing typical ZT turns?

Diesel's are much more efficient, especially if you can find off-road diesel (un-taxed) in your area. If you are mowing 9 acres you will be going through some fuel. Be patient and see if you can find a clean used model at auction and you can save a bundle. I purchased my Kubota ZD-25 at a local estate auction about ten years ago with 220 hrs on it (effectively new for a commercial mower) for 45% of what new units were going for. Checking prices online I can still get about what I paid for it.

Mine has a 34HP diesel. It's all hydraulic. Sounds like a jet engine when the mower decks are engaged.

What brand?

National

9 Acres?

Mississippi?

Rains there, no?

9 acres = at least a cow/calf pair I'd think and no mower needed.

+ grillin' meat later.

Just a thought.

I also run MegMo blade conversions.

https://meg-mo.com/

Those look interesting Kingston.

Too bad they don't have anything for walk behind movers.

Lol, yeah it doesn't quite work like that. Grew up on a farm, still have to bush hog.

That's a new one on me. Nice

You don't need a mower you need some fence material and goats



Mike

Diesel if for no other reason than to avoid modern chit gasoline. Ethanol blend gas is terrible in a mower or any other motor that doesn’t get used constantly. It sucks bad enough in your car but it doesn’t sit long in a car you use daily. Let a mower sit with modern gas and it soon won’t run.

And here non ethanol costs more than diesel.

Mike

for 9 acres I would think traditional tractor and tow behind finish mower??

Take a lot longer time to mow than a zero turn mower

Stay away from kubota’s not because of the engine but because the gear box will go out pretty often and it’s expensive. Buy a grasshopper 925d with a 61” deck. We have been running grasshoppers since 1995 and other then normal service item’s you will not have a issue! Other brands just can’t hold up like a grasshopper!

Time wise to cut 9 acres with a grasshopper will be about 3 hrs or less depending on the type of ground your covering!

Will agree with Buck720 above. I've been running the same 720k Grasshopper for 30 years. Other than tires and freshening up the Kohler motor it'd been trouble free. I'll probably replace it within the next couple years with a 725d (Kubota 3 cyl diesel) and expect it'll be the last mower I'll ever buy.

I’ve had a Bad Boy CZT 60” for a few years. I mow about 4 acres, much of it sloping. It’s worked just fine, although my experience with ZTR’s is limited to this sample of one.

Go Diesel.

If'n you want to go fishing when you should mow the grass instead. It's got to be cut sometime after.

It smells better when you cut anyway.

My 26hp diesel could take a 7' cut at 10mph and never miss a beat.....this in very dense grass. Sharp blades matter.