QuestionQUESTION: Mr. Paul do you have an opinion on this mower and why?
Troy-Bilt 22-HP V-Twin 50" Hydrostatic Z-Turn Mower. I am most interested on how does on moderate to severe hills. I would given the choice buy a Dixie Chopper but I can't justify the price just to cut acres
ANSWER: Comparing a Troy-Bilt to a Dixie Chopper is like comparing a Mercedes to a Hundai.
The Troy-Bilt is the absolute cheapest zero turn mower sold in the US. There is a reason why.
There are several options to go with between these 2 units. Of course I recomend the John Deere z425, incidentally so does Consumer Reports Magazine. It will cost about 3500.00 well below the Choppers cost but still fairly reasonable for a ZTR mower.
Bottom line. Never buy a Troy-Bilt. Encore is a little known brand that makes a pretty darn good mower also. They are comercial products that are sold world wide. You will not even know about them unless you mow grass for a living but they are common and make a good product.
Think how good you would look sitting on a shiny new Deere. They say "nothing runs like a Deere", for a good reason. You don't pay for green paint, you pay for quality.
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QUESTION: Okay you recommend the "John Deere" which personally I can't stand and why run like a deere when you can fly like a CHOPPER LOL. Got my first one in 84 I think had 7 or 8 when I sold the business in 94 and retired to sunny Fla (shoulda kept one). But my question was/now is what. exactly don't you like about them (troy built) I'm not trying to provoke you I really want to know
ANSWER: When Troy-Bilt was purchased by MTD about 5 years ago MTD set up a teir level on their products. They were on a buying binge. Troy-Bilt, Bolens, Cub Cadet, et al.
Troy-Bilt is at the bottom rung of quality. Next comes Bolens, then yard machine/yard man, Finally Cub Cadet.
That's not the only thing. My store does warranty work for 4 Lowe's stores and 5 Depots. We are currently in a drought and I have 4 Troy-Bilt ZTRs in my shop right now for warranty repairs. My God, it's August in Kansas! I can't beleive 3 people even need to mow their grass.
I am "The Truthmeister" I don't make a dime regardless of what you buy.
I have litterally had the Troy-Bilt service rep in my shop to look at a unit that had a disputed warranty claim. His response, I kid you not, was what do you expect for 999.99. No lie, true story.
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QUESTION: Now I understand. Well being a glutten for punishment and the fact that lowes gives me 10% off and has a very liberal return policy and it might help me make your myspace list I....think my mind is made up besides don't like green. Wanna give any hints on what problems to look for. I really would be interested in the "truth"
ANSWER: .75" spindle shafts.
no dampeners on hydro controls
BRIGGS with no pressure lube
160cca battery
1/2 caster spindles
10 gauge deck
NO DEALER SUPPORT!!!!!
Want more?
Don't do it Eric. Just took in another Troy-bilt, deck idler failure, @ 11 hours
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QUESTION: Paul I am a little confused here the, troy built comes w/Kohler Courage® Twin Cylinder, is the battery junk cause I definitly don't have problems with cold weather. Idler pully isolated or common? 1/2" caster? 10 ga? pretty heavy when I went to the brake/bend. Are these mowers u are seeing being used by idiots or people trying to use them commercially. I mean how the hell do you take out a caster spindle. I am still listening paul, I'm just not sure we are talking about the same animal
ANSWER: I am constantly amazed at peoples dislike of the Green product. Deere hasn't been in business for over 100 years because of their quality.
Wow a Kohler Courage, that just means you stepped up in quality about 2%
We are talking long term on most of these items. The bigger the bearings, bushings, spindles etc, the longer the life. TB 3/8 belts, JD 1/2 belts. TB 10gauge deck, JD 7gauge deck. Tb .75 spindles, JD 1" spindles. TB idlers, 12ball bearings, JD 8ball beraings. TB no zerks on spindles, JD zerks. The list goes on and on. The battery is just another sign of TB being thrifty. The temp isn't the point, the battery is just one more way TB saves a buck.
From what I have seen if you hit a twig you bend a mower spindle.
The majority of purchasers that I deal with are mowing 1.5 acres or less and are not idiots. Unless you factor in that they bought a Troy-Bilt.
In the power equipment world you ALWAYS get what you pay for. Kohler courage engines are built with the sole purpose of competing wuth Briggs.
Trust me Eric, I have nothing to gain if you buy the Troy-bilt, or the Cub Cadet, or the Encore, or the Deere.
I was just using the idler as a reference. I have already this year performed warranty work on 17 Troy-bilt ZTRs this year.
Most common failures are starter solenoids and control lever mounts.
These mowers are just cheaply built.
If you buy the Troy, don't say "The Expert" didn't warn you.
Buy the way, my shop works on about 3500 units a year, the crappiest units that role through my shop are Troy-Bilt.
Remember, you get what you pay for.
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QUESTION: Thanks for all your time. I'll go green. Later
ANSWER: People like you make me laugh. Why the hell did you waste my time if you don't care what I say.
Buy the Troy, I expect a, "you were right", when you take it in for warranty repair.
Once again, TB is a secret code word for CRAP.
You were warned!!!!!!
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QUESTION: Look you yahoo, I did take you advice I am buying the Deere based on your advice. Maybe you should step down off your soap box and read what I wrote
"Thanks for all your time. I'll go green. Later" Next time I will use smaller words so maybe you will understand a little sooner
AnswerSorry Eric, miss read your punctuation. I didn't see the period. Sorry, my arms aren't long enough. You have to admit, that period is pretty darn small! You notice I hit the space bar twice after every period because the "Allexpert" font is pretty poor.
Once again I humbly apoligize. Good luck, Eric.
