Accidentally bought a zero turn mower

Fatjay

Member
These things happen, right?

So I was hunting for a ~20hp diesel engine for a generator project I was working on. My budget was $400-500 depending on the condition. I wanted something that I wouldn't have to rebuild.

As luck would have it, I found a guy selling one for $500, under 1000 hours, no blow-by, and I could hear it run. Coincidently, accessories included a kubota zd21 zero turn mower. He said one of the hydro's was bad, didn't reverse, and needed rebuilt. I quickly handed him $500 before he could change his mind, he drove it on my trailer, and I headed home.

Worst case scenario, I'd have a well running diesel engine for my generator. Best case, I could repair the hydro and have myself a cheap diesel zero turn with 60" deck.

Took 2 hours to get apart and identify the problem. He'd run it dry and there was scoring on the cover where the barrel spins moving hydraulic fluid. The cover was a whopping $550, plus $8 gasket, $20 for a new hydraulic filter, and $40 for a 5gal bucket of UTF.

Got the parts in, got it together, which was surprsingly easy. Drained the rest of the fluid, changed the filter, refilled it, filled the trans separately. Took about 8 hours and 4 beers.

Started it up at low idle, it purred nicely. Moved the levers slightly, it moved as it should. Test mow, no issues. Did another hydraulic fluid change after 10 minutes of running, then another after 30 minutes.

Now I can finally retire my 60" 3pt finish mower that I pulled behind my b8200. No more low tree's wacking me in the head because the tractor sits so high. I even lost a hat because a tree branch took it off, then I proceeded to mow over it.

However, I'm no closer to finding a diesel engine for my generator project!

That's the transmission cover that the barrels and pistons ride on. Normally, it should be smooth.

4lsTMmEh.jpg


Mows like a dream, now I can mow the yard in record time, take it over to my parents and mow, then toss it on the trailer and take it to the church and mow.

wHZEcI9h.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 08:53:02 09/19/17) These things happen, right?

So I was hunting for a ~20hp diesel engine for a generator project I was working on. My budget was $400-500 depending on the condition. I wanted something that I wouldn't have to rebuild.

As luck would have it, I found a guy selling one for $500, under 1000 hours, no blow-by, and I could hear it run. Coincidently, accessories included a kubota zd21 zero turn mower. He said one of the hydro's was bad, didn't reverse, and needed rebuilt. I quickly handed him $500 before he could change his mind, he drove it on my trailer, and I headed home.

Worst case scenario, I'd have a well running diesel engine for my generator. Best case, I could repair the hydro and have myself a cheap diesel zero turn with 60" deck.

Took 2 hours to get apart and identify the problem. He'd run it dry and there was scoring on the cover where the barrel spins moving hydraulic fluid. The cover was a whopping $550, plus $8 gasket, $20 for a new hydraulic filter, and $40 for a 5gal bucket of UTF.

Got the parts in, got it together, which was surprsingly easy. Drained the rest of the fluid, changed the filter, refilled it, filled the trans separately. Took about 8 hours and 4 beers.

Started it up at low idle, it purred nicely. Moved the levers slightly, it moved as it should. Test mow, no issues. Did another hydraulic fluid change after 10 minutes of running, then another after 30 minutes.

Now I can finally retire my 60" 3pt finish mower that I pulled behind my b8200. No more low tree's wacking me in the head because the tractor sits so high. I even lost a hat because a tree branch took it off, then I proceeded to mow over it.

However, I'm no closer to finding a diesel engine for my generator project!

That's the transmission cover that the barrels and pistons ride on. Normally, it should be smooth.

4lsTMmEh.jpg


Mows like a dream, now I can mow the yard in record time, take it over to my parents and mow, then toss it on the trailer and take it to the church and mow.

wHZEcI9h.jpg

Dude!! Incredible deal! I have a zero turn, but nothing as good as that. I measure my repairs on the same scale, beer vs. time!

????
 
(quoted from post at 08:53:02 09/19/17) These things happen, right?

So I was hunting for a ~20hp diesel engine for a generator project I was working on. My budget was $400-500 depending on the condition. I wanted something that I wouldn't have to rebuild.

As luck would have it, I found a guy selling one for $500, under 1000 hours, no blow-by, and I could hear it run. Coincidently, accessories included a kubota zd21 zero turn mower. He said one of the hydro's was bad, didn't reverse, and needed rebuilt. I quickly handed him $500 before he could change his mind, he drove it on my trailer, and I headed home.

Worst case scenario, I'd have a well running diesel engine for my generator. Best case, I could repair the hydro and have myself a cheap diesel zero turn with 60" deck.

Took 2 hours to get apart and identify the problem. He'd run it dry and there was scoring on the cover where the barrel spins moving hydraulic fluid. The cover was a whopping $550, plus $8 gasket, $20 for a new hydraulic filter, and $40 for a 5gal bucket of UTF.

Got the parts in, got it together, which was surprsingly easy. Drained the rest of the fluid, changed the filter, refilled it, filled the trans separately. Took about 8 hours and 4 beers.

Started it up at low idle, it purred nicely. Moved the levers slightly, it moved as it should. Test mow, no issues. Did another hydraulic fluid change after 10 minutes of running, then another after 30 minutes.

Now I can finally retire my 60" 3pt finish mower that I pulled behind my b8200. No more low tree's wacking me in the head because the tractor sits so high. I even lost a hat because a tree branch took it off, then I proceeded to mow over it.

However, I'm no closer to finding a diesel engine for my generator project!

That's the transmission cover that the barrels and pistons ride on. Normally, it should be smooth.

4lsTMmEh.jpg


Mows like a dream, now I can mow the yard in record time, take it over to my parents and mow, then toss it on the trailer and take it to the church and mow.

wHZEcI9h.jpg

Dude!! Incredible deal! I have a zero turn, but nothing as good as that. I measure my repairs on the same scale, beer vs. time!

????
 
(quoted from post at 08:53:02 09/19/17) These things happen, right?

So I was hunting for a ~20hp diesel engine for a generator project I was working on. My budget was $400-500 depending on the condition. I wanted something that I wouldn't have to rebuild.

As luck would have it, I found a guy selling one for $500, under 1000 hours, no blow-by, and I could hear it run. Coincidently, accessories included a kubota zd21 zero turn mower. He said one of the hydro's was bad, didn't reverse, and needed rebuilt. I quickly handed him $500 before he could change his mind, he drove it on my trailer, and I headed home.

Worst case scenario, I'd have a well running diesel engine for my generator. Best case, I could repair the hydro and have myself a cheap diesel zero turn with 60" deck.

Took 2 hours to get apart and identify the problem. He'd run it dry and there was scoring on the cover where the barrel spins moving hydraulic fluid. The cover was a whopping $550, plus $8 gasket, $20 for a new hydraulic filter, and $40 for a 5gal bucket of UTF.

Got the parts in, got it together, which was surprsingly easy. Drained the rest of the fluid, changed the filter, refilled it, filled the trans separately. Took about 8 hours and 4 beers.

Started it up at low idle, it purred nicely. Moved the levers slightly, it moved as it should. Test mow, no issues. Did another hydraulic fluid change after 10 minutes of running, then another after 30 minutes.

Now I can finally retire my 60" 3pt finish mower that I pulled behind my b8200. No more low tree's wacking me in the head because the tractor sits so high. I even lost a hat because a tree branch took it off, then I proceeded to mow over it.

However, I'm no closer to finding a diesel engine for my generator project!

That's the transmission cover that the barrels and pistons ride on. Normally, it should be smooth.

4lsTMmEh.jpg


Mows like a dream, now I can mow the yard in record time, take it over to my parents and mow, then toss it on the trailer and take it to the church and mow.

wHZEcI9h.jpg

Dude!! Incredible deal! I have a zero turn, but nothing as good as that. I measure my repairs on the same scale, beer vs. time!

:)
 
Good deal. Kubota parts aren't cheap. I've been working on a B9200 that needed engine help. Thankfully I was able to buy most of what I needed used off of ebay. You got yourself a nice mower on the cheap.
 
After seeing that, it's a good thing you changed the fluid several times. The daughter is thinking, when can I drive that. Stan
 
I think you,got a super duper deal. Didnt steal it but close enough!
If you were a cat you'd be PURRING!
 
For what you have into it and what you have now I'd say that was a steal no matter how you see it. It also took you less alcohol than what it
would've taken me.
 
Forgot to add. How about making that generator project a pto drive and use the other tractor to power as needed ?
 
Daughter is waiting to be upgraded from weed wacker duty to mower duty. I'd considered it when I was mowing on the craftsman, but not this thing.

I called a few shops about resurfacing it, they wouldn't do it. Probably better though, since it has caveties for hydraulic fluid flowing. No idea how they cut them out of a solid piece, it's about an inch thick and there's caveties all over the place.

Typically when the power goes out, it's from snow. My house is a split level, and a royal nightmare to run wires. The driveway is on the opposite side of the house as the electrical box. So I'd either a) have to run an extension cord 30' around to plug in, or b) drive the tractor around the house. In 3' of snow neither is an easy feat.

Plus I don't want to tie up my tractor with a PTO generator when I should be out snowblowing, and my wife/kids want heat and electricity. Even when I have the stove running, because the layout of the house the bedrooms get to about 50F when the furnace quits and it's 10F outside. My wife isn't going to stand for that anymore, and wants me to make the generator. I bought a cheap gasser but that has 8hr run time, where if I go diesel I can tie it in to my home heating oil and run it for days on end.
 
Great Mower. I have,in days past seen rebuilt(complete) Kubota 20 HP engines at dealers very cheap. I don't know about core charge if you didn't have one. I am currently installing a 30KW generator with a 3.0 GM LP gas engine . Just finishing a shed for it.
 
I'm working on a shed for mine. I didn't go LP because if I run out, I'm at the mercy of someone to deliver it, where-as if I run out of diesel I can run and get it any time, even 5gal gas cans if necessary. My setup will be 10kw, should be plenty to power the whole house.
 
You got that beautiful mower for just over $1000
and labour!!!? You are a very smart and lucky man!
 
Where are you located? Send me an e-mail have about 20 + Kubota engines.. also have some information for you on the zd21 ..jm.
 
Looks real good!

Given the mower's history it might be a good idea to plug a pressure gauge into the charge circuit
to make sure that is up to par. A loss of charge pressure for any reason (running it dry or
otherwise) would result in the kind of damage you found. I'm not sure what kind of charge pressure
would be typical for a lawn mower hydro - it is probably a lot less than the 350+ psi I'm used to
seeing for large servo-controlled hydrostats. Probably something in the 75 psi range would be
expected.
 
I do not know about the 21s but ZD a 28 will score the hydros if you run them on a steep hillside. The oil all moves to one side and starves the upper pump. On the 28s Kubota sold a kit that is a tank and hose that you mount by the right fender. You seal off the dip stick hole and the hose mounts to the fill hole. You then flood the housing so no air is in there. dealer replaced hydros for a 28 was about $2000 when we ran them as our main mowers. We were lucky to get a 1000 hrs out of hydros before we put the tanks on.
 
(quoted from post at 20:39:59 09/19/17) Where are you located? Send me an e-mail have about 20 + Kubota engines.. also have some information for you on the zd21 ..jm.
jm. [email protected] I'm in eastern PA. I've not had luck with any tractor graveyards in the area. I keep an eye out, but haven't had much luck yet.
 
Brendon-KS I thought about that but I have no idea where to hook one to. It's a completely sealed pump/hydro/transaxle, it's all one piece. Well, various pieces, but no hoses.

VicS but how long can that run a gen? And I hear that LP gen's perform not as well during cold.

Jerry He: The zd28 and zd21 are the same system, just different deck and motor as far as I can tell. The previous owner ran it on a hill and starved it. I have seen the tank for it, it's $288, which isn't bad. I've just been overfilling it for now and keeping an eye on the fluid level, wait until I get at least a few hours to make sure everything is ok. I don't run on any steep hills as well. I also considered making my own, I've seen the diagram, it's not terribly complicated. Can get that size/shape tank just about anywhere, some hoses, strap it to the top of the battery box. Only trick is to get a good seal on the hose that goes into the fill hole.
 

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