In this article I am going to introduce you to a new mower and a better way to mow lawn.

This article is reprinted from todaysmower.com.  My philosophy on mowing my lawn has always been, “If I can’t mow it in an hour, it’s time to get a bigger mower!” I know that many of you too are looking for a better, faster way to mow your lawn. You like the Craftsman Tractors for dependability and ease of use but they just aren’t fast enough. Even with the new Excellerator it still takes you hours every week to mow your lawn.

You want something faster, a mower that will cut your mowing down to a reasonable time.

So you started looking at other options. Sears Craftsman, Toro, Simplicity, and Cub Cadet have all been advertising zero-turn mowers as the answer. You been told a zero-turn mower will reduce your mowing time by up to 50% over a conventional yard tractor like the YT 3000 and YT 4000.

But, you’ve also heard that zero-turn mowers are hard to learn, those big levers scare you, and then ……………… Consumer Reports came out with the article in May 2009 “Hills pose a risk for some riding mowers” and effectively stated that consumer zero-turn mowers can be uncontrollable and probably unsafe on hills over 10 degrees.

Consumer Reports is right. Their findings are not new. They are just the first to stop “walking around the elephant in the middle of the room.” Some of the zero-turns on the market just have more problems than they eliminate. The commercial lawn care owners have known this for years. I was one of the first to use zero-turn mowers and it took me a good 5 years to finally find mowers that would mow well, turn well, and mow on slopes. I can tell you many horror stories of the zero-turn mowers that I’ve pulled out of ponds, and up-righted them after they tipped over. I’ve owned a couple of models that damaged more turf than they mowed. In particular, the consumer versions of zero-turn riding mowers all have problems. Unless your lawn is basically flat, your turf is thick and well maintained, and someone teaches you how to drive them, the consumer zero-turns like the Craftsman ZTS6000, Cub Cadet residential, and the Husqvarna Zero Radius Turn Mower will tear up about as much lawn as they mow.

One other problem with zero-turns that no one talks about………The ride. Residential zero-turns in general will mow faster than a conventional mower, but the usually have smaller tires and weigh more. Most have no suspension and no springs under the seat. Some have a pivoting front axle to take out some of the jar but if you can mow at 4.5 mph with the machine you are constantly being bounced around. The bouncing is severe enough that most women have to wear a sport bra just to feel comfortable when mowing. If you use the mower for more that a couple of hours when you get off your back hurts and you are stiff and sore.

So what’s the answer? Watch this video.

The mower in the video you just watched is called a stand on mower. Specifically a Toro Grandstand. Stand on zero turn mowers are very safe, very easy to use and many times more productive than any other type of mower.

Mower users are slow to change and using stand ons is no exception. Not matter what the idea is, it seems to take years before a product becomes popular enough to be picked up by the large mower manufactures. It has taken over ten years for the big manufactures like Toro to finally start producing innovative stand-on mowers.

What makes them safe:

Stand-on mowers are unique because if the operator gets in trouble, for example, on a steep hillside, he just steps off and the mower shuts down. In contrast, the operator of a zero turn riding mower is confined by a seatback, sometimes arm rests, and the operating levers, all of which make it more difficult to exit the mower in an emergency situation.

Stand-on mowers actually handle hillside cutting better than a lawn tractor. The operator becomes a part of the weight distribution factor, because she can lean into the hillside for sideways mowing and lean forward or back when mowing up or down the hill. The operator platform (where the operator stands) actually lowers the center of gravity, making stand-on mowers relatively stable. “We like to say the operator is ‘plugged in’ at the feet, not the seat,” says Bill Wright of Wright Manufacturing. I have found that stand on mowers like the Toro Grandstand, Wright Stander and the Great Dane Surfer (not the Super-Surfer) are just as stable on slopes as the dedicated slope mowers like the KutKwik and the Deweze.

Stand-on mowers typically come with a suspension platform. The platform helps to absorb a lot of the bumps and bounces when cutting over uneven terrain. It is also very easy to flex your knees which further reduces the bumps. Standing up is a lot less tiring than sitting down and mowing. In addition, the suspension platforms now are designed with enough room so you can shift your feet from time to time. Specifically the Toro Grandstand has a large padded, and suspended platform that makes the machine very comfortable to use.

What makes them easy to use?

Operating a stand on mower is very similar to using a residential self-propelled walk-behind mower. The controls are very intuitive and it just takes a few minutes to learn to drive.

Looking at the picture to your left, place your hands on the red bars. Use your thumbs to control the forward speed with the black bars. To move in reverse just move your hands to the black bars and pull back. To turn you just move one black bar more than the other. It is very easy to zero turn and the controls are close enough together so you can easily operate the mower with one hand to move branches out of the way or scratch your nose. After you use the levers for just a few minutes the control becomes very intuitive and within no time you are mowing like a pro. All current stand-on mowers have a stationary bar above the dash for operators to hold onto, which also makes fingertip control of forward/reverse and speed levers more steady.

(All photos are from the Toro website.)

What makes them more productive?

1. Comfort

I know you are used to sitting down while mowing, but it is really much more comfortable to stand and ride. It is much easier to stand and let your knees and the suspension platform absorb bumps and ruts in your lawn. You can shift your weight in the turns and lean forward and back depending on the terrain. You don’t feel confined and your back does not have to absorb any bumps and jars. Stand on mowers like the Grandstand have pads that you can lean against and it’s very similar to using a bar rail. I have found that using a stand on mower is a LOT less tiring than riding a lawn tractor with no suspension, a residential zero turn with no suspension, or a commercial zero turn with a suspended seat.

2. Agility

You can easily cut more lawn per hour with a 48 inch Toro Grandstand than you can with a 54 inch Craftsman GT 5000 Excellerator. Why, because the mower is much mower agile. The mower really shines when mowing around obstacles, landscape beds and trees. The feature I like the most with stand ons is the ability to duck under tree branches. It is much easier to duck than to have to lean out of the way using a conventional rider or zero turn mower.

You can also lean into turns. Whipping around beds and making zero-radius turns are effortless and actually fun. With a rear control stand-on like the Grandstand it is easy to watch your pivot wheel (the inside wheel on a turn) and keep it from divoting your lawn.

With stand-ons it is a lot easier to stop and jump off to pick up trash, move the sprinkler hose, or the kids toys. Just being able to get off and on quickly can save you a great deal of time over a conventional rider or zero-turn.

Summary:

I have spent so much time operating stand-on mowers that I could go on for pages about how operator comfort is the key to this type of machine and how much more productive they are compared to any other type of mower. Stand-ons are by far the most productive mowers available today. If you have a large lawn it is well worth your time to study and try this type of mower.

You may buy your new mower here. New Toro Mowers. Type Grand stand in the store search box. Wise Equipment is one of the best companies to buy Toro mowers from on the web. Wise works through eBay to offer an easy and quick way to buy your mower. Wise offers great prices with free or minimal shipping costs. If Wise Equipment does not have a Grandstand listed in their store email them and they assist you in getting the unit you want.

Toro Grandstand

If you are looking for a different type of mower I have two sites that may interest you.

Todays Mower.com

At todaysmower I have been writing reviews for residential riding lawn mowers like Craftsman lawn tractors, Craftsman yard tractors and Craftsman garden tractors.

If your are looking for reviews of the new 2009 Craftsman Revolution and the Craftsman Excellerator, todaysmower is the place to go.

Bigmowers.com

Bigmowers.com focuses on large acreage commercial zero turn mowers.

If your are looking for reviews of the big stuff bigmowers is the place to go.

In the meantime feel free to browse the bigmowers store. There you will find all kinds of new and used big mowers.

Toro Grandstand What I Don’t Like:

I like 95% of the Grandstand but there are three items I would like to see improved.

First the parking brake.  If you have ever had a parking brake that clamps the tire for an extended period of time you know what I mean.

It works great the first few months.  Then after the tires get worn or the one day when both of the tires are just about flat the brakes just won’t work.  

It is also designed for just one size tire.  When you have to replace the tires and you can’t find the exact ones the bar brakes will give you problems.  If the new tires are just a little smaller the brakes won’t hold and if they are just a little bigger, you will have to take the brake system OFF the mower to get the tires to work.  

(I know the engineer who designed the brake and the supervisor who approved the design it will most likely argue with me, but it will be an aggravation to the owners of the Grandstand over the years.)

I would like to see the bars that clamp the tires with a little more offset and spring-loaded so the brake works just as well on an old set of tires as it does on the brand new ones the engineers used to design the brake. 

Of course you won’t need to use the parking brake that often.  Keep your neutral adjusted so the machine will sit still with the engine running and always use the built-in tie down’s when you transport the Grandstand and the poor parking brake design is a mute point.

Second the oil reservoir is smaller than I would like.  I know the engineers would never have guessed why I would like a larger oil cooler and most of you would never guess why either.

Why is it too small?  I need all the oil cooling capacity I can get because I like to run Acrease wing mower on the larger properties.  If the property has more than 5 acres of relatively unobstructed lawn or there are lots of trees I run a wing mower.  I build a tow hitch to fit the stand on or zero-turn that I can remove quickly.  

Wing mowers allowed me to greatly reduce my mowing time on the larger properties and saved a lot of time mowing under trees on those properties that had windbreaks etc.  

Pulling a 60 inch commercial wing mower puts a lot of strain on the drive systems and a larger oil cooler on a well designed mower like the Grandstand is good enough to keep the drives running for years.

Third, I would like to see a movable forward grab bar for the operator’s controls.  I would like to use this movable bar as a “cruise control” when I have to mow slower than usual.

That’s it,  just three small items I would like to see changed on the Toro Grandstand.

You can read more about the Toro Grandstand in the next post, here engine & deck review and here Toro Grandstand first review

When you get your own Toro Grandstand be sure to come back here and tell us what you like and don’t like about it.

Toro Grandstand Operator Controls Review

Are the operator controls on the Toro Grandstand any good?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours on stand on mowers and I know what operator controls I like and don’t like.  For example, I liked the adjustable forward grab bar on the original Great Dane surfer. (sorry I don’t have a picture to show you)  It allowed me to drive the mower slowly without having to constantly trying to keep the controls steady.  It worked great to slow down on residential lawns so the yard owners wouldn’t complain we were mowing too fast. (Even if the mower does a good  job at 8 mph some homeowners “think” you couldn’t possibly be doing a good job)

The new Toro Grandstand uses the same T-2 Tbar controls as their walkbehind.  It has fixed grab bars for both forward and reverse.  The operation moving bars are solid and feel very comfortable to use.

If you want to use the mower as a walkbehind the operator platform is very easy to raise and locks solidly in the upright position.  There is lots of room behind mower with platform raised.  The wheels are far forward of where your feet are, so you will have no problems using this mower as a walkbehind if you need to.

Controls are a little high when the platform is raised  but they are very smooth and this should not be a problem.  

I don’t think you will be using it much as a walk-behind though because the Toro Grandstand is very stable and you will not want to walk very often.

In summary, I really like the strong easy to use controls on the Grandstand.  The only change I would like to see is to make the forward grab bar adjustable so you can use the mower at slower speeds comfortably.  

You can read more about the Toro Grandstand and what I like and dislike about it in the next post, here engine & deck review and here Toro Grandstand first review

When you get your own Toro Grandstand be sure to come back here and tell us what you like and don’t like about it.

Toro Grandstand Operator Platform Review

Is the Toro Grandstand Operator Platform Comfortable?

One Word, YES!

Comfort:  Toro raised the bar a lot with this new platform for the Toro Grandstand.  The platform features a variable rate suspension.   The suspension works great for a small person or large one like me.  I think the weight range for this suspension is easily from 100 to 300 lbs.  The platform suspension is just the best of any standon and in my opinion is better than most of the sit down zero turns and all of the consumer riding mowers.

Size:  The platform is just plain huge!  It has lots of room for anyone using the machine.  The rubber mat on the platform is soft but firm.  It seems rugged and should last a few years.  Of course I would suggest that you keep the rubber clean and any rocks or sharp debris should be swept off and not be allowed to grind into the mat.  

Changes: The only change I wish is that  it had a few holes in the mat for water runoff and mud.  (Yes, I have to mow in the rain.)

You can read more about the Toro Grandstand and what I like and dislike about it in the next post, here engine & deck review and here Toro Grandstand first review

When you get your own Toro Grandstand be sure to come back here and tell us what you like and don’t like about it.

Toro Grandstand Tires & Brakes Review

Does the new Grandstand have the right tires and brakes?

Front Tires:  The front tires are the right size.  They give enough flotation for most types of mowing and are flat free, semi pneumatic, smooth tires.  Even with the engine weight on the deck they will be able to support the extra weight. 

Rear Tires:  The 20X10-8 rear tires are flat, heavy duty, and have a good tread pattern.  I like flatter tires like this because they don’t dig into the lawns yet provide good traction on slopes.  They are wide enough to give good flotation for the weight of the machine.  

The brakes are a joke though.  THEY LOOK LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT.  Yes, they are strong but there is not enough radius on the contact arms.  As the tires wear or if they are flat the brakes will not hold.  As best they will make great mud scrapers in the spring.  I would like to see pin lock brakes like the older Ransomes Greens Mowers had even though they require a little more maintenance over the years.

There are holes on the axle carrier where fenders could be mounted.  If fenders were available mudflaps could be incorporated to keep debris off the deck and your legs.

You can read more about the Toro Grandstand and what I like and dislike about it in the next post, here engine & deck review and here Toro Grandstand first review

Toro Grandstand Engine & Deck Review

This is a continuation of the first review and covers the engine/deck section of the Toro Grandstand Stand-On Mower Model 74558 19 HP Kawasaki® KAI with 48″ TURBO FORCE® deck, Toro Grandstand Stand-On Mower Model 74559 19 HP Kawasaki® KAI with 52″ TURBO FORCE® deck, Toro Grandstand Stand-On Mower Model 74568 23 HP Kawasaki® with 48″ TURBO FORCE® deck, and the Toro Grandstand Stand-On Mower Model 74569 23 HP Kawasaki® with 52″ TURBO FORCE® deck

The engineers really worked hard on the Grandstand to give you the most dependable yet practical standon mower.  The new engine/deck design is a completely new concept for the stand on mower segment and I like the simplicity of what they designed.

The engine, deck, and drive pumps are on a sub- frame.  When you raise or lower the deck, the engine and drive pumps move also.  Why is this good?  There are no long belts and idlers to give you alignment problems over the years.  This design makes the deck very heavy so it doesn’t bounce on really rough lawns.

The pumps are connected to the drive motors by high quality hoses.  The pump controls are connected to the control levers with heavy duty commercial grade sleeved cables.  I have cables like this on twenty year old machines that are still working fine.

A few other good points about the deck:  

There is a bull nose bumper across the whole front of the deck.  The bumper is designed to not only strengthen the deck but to keep blow-by to a minimum.  

There is a 1/2 inch bumper on the opposite side for the deck from the discharge.  The bumper is more than strong enough to protect the deck from all the banging and bumping a high speed zero turn goes through.  The rubber discharge chute is rugged and flexible yet stiff enough work well.  It should be able to deflect a baseball or other similar object you may pick up with the blades.  One of the better features for this deck is the adjustable baffle.  This allows you to adjust how much grass is kept in the mower and how much goes out the discharge.

You can adjust the cutting height in 1/4 inch increments.  This is great if you have other brands of mowers.  You can match your new Grandstand to the exact cutting height of the other units.  The height adjustment lever will be too hard to raise for some of your smaller operators.  It’s a small price to pay though for the great design.

Ease of Maintenance:

 The mechanics at Eau Claire Lawn Equipment thought it would be a little harder to work on this type of deck/engine layout, but they like the overall design enough to overlook this small problem.

Yes, I like this part of the Toro Grandstand.

Wright Stander ZK 52 inch Mower Review

This review covers Wright Stander ZK 52 inch, Kawasaki 27 hp, and the Wright Stander ZK 52 inch, Kawasaki 31 hp

Wright Stander ZK 52 inch

Specs Please visit Wright-ZK Spec Sheet for current and up-to-date specs.

Cutting Height Range 1.5 – 5.5″
Deck Construction 7 Gauge, 6″ Deep
Blade Tip Speed (fpm at 3584 rpm) 19,000
Spindles Cast Iron Housings Cast Iron Housings, 1″ Shaft with precision ball bearings
Discharge Systems Side & Mulch (Rear available soon)
Engine Kawasaki™
Horsepower 27, & 31
Hydro Pumps 16 cc w/ Cooling Fans
Fuel Capacity 17.5 Gal.
Drive Tires 24 x 12.0 – 12
Caster Tires 13 x 6.5 – 6
Speed Forward (mph) 13.5 Mowing, 15 Transport
Speed Reverse (mph) 7
Overall Length 69″
Overall Width 53″
Dry Weight 1150

Why Would You Want This Mower?

If  a 60 inch mower is just too big for the properties you are mowing but you need a high production mower this is a great choice for you.   The ZK is a high production machine that will out mow most zero turn riders.  They are big (1150 lbs) fast (13 mph) rugged (years of service) and agile .   Being a stand-on you can use this mower on many slopes where you wouldn’t dare take a conventional rider.

(All photos are from the Wright website.)

What I Like:

52 inches is the best all around size for mowing small to medium properties.  I found that with a 52 inch mower you can get into all the areas you can get a 48 inch and you can mow faster with the larger deck.

I like the large motor and heavy weight of the machine.  When mowing at high speeds, heavier machines like this one don’t bounce as much as the lighter units so the rider can use it for much longer periods of time without getting tired.  The heavier machine also give a more uniform cur, because the mow is not bouncing around as much on the little ruts and bumps that are common to most lawns.

The operator platform position is neutral to the turning axis of the mower making this one of the most comfortable stand on mowers to use.

The Wright Stander ZK is powered correctly for the speed it will mow at and size of deck.

What I Would Like Changed:

I would really like to see a Kohler available.  

Warranty:

2-year Limited Warranty: Covers parts and labor

Summary & Where To Buy:

This mower is not for everyone.  But if you are willing to take a chance on switching from a zero-turn rider to a stand on this machine will definitely reduce your mowing times.  This machine is designed for high speed production mowing in thick heavy grass.  I know it will work well on Midwestern Bluegrass in the spring.

I don’t have a specific dealer for you to buy Wright mowers from so I would suggest first going to my eBay store Big Mowers Store. You can also go to  Wright Mfg’s website and use the dealer locator to find the dealer nearest you.

When you get your own ZK be sure and come back here to let us know how well you like it.

Everride Scorpion FX 19 HP 34 inch Stand On Mower Review

34 inch Everride Scorpion

This is not the mower that has been around for almost 10 years.  It has been redesigned so your body weight is below the axle to give you better hillside maneuverability than the Scorpion Models.

Why Would You Want This Mower?

One:  It is small and very maneuverable.  You can go through 36 inch gates.  This machine will replace your walk-behind for 90% of the mowing you would normally use a walk-behind for.

Two:  If you primarily mow residential and light commercial mowing this is an easy to use, lightweight zero-turn stand-on mower.   It will save space on your trailer and is easy to maintain.  This mower will mow 30% or faster over a sit-down zero turn and 50% faster than a 36 inch walk-behind.

Three:  It is very easy to get on and off.  If you mow properties with a lot of trash and garbage that has to be picked up, the operator can jump on and off this machine much faster than a sit-down zero turn.

Specs

Scorpion FX 19 HP 34 inch Features:

Go here to see the latest specs on this mower.  Everride Scorpion Spec Sheet

What I Like:

If you are used to using a zero-turn rider this machine is very easy to transition to.   The operator stands forward of the pivot point on this stand on mower and you look at the lawn from the same basic position as you would when seated.

The operator controls are very easy to use and can be adjusted for fast or slow speeds.

The machine is very lightweight and even an inexperienced operator will not tear up lawns.

The machine is very easy to work on.

What I Would Like Changed:

Gravely Turning Weights

Mr. Skagg told me once that he never wanted to build a 34 inch standon, but because of  his competition he felt obligated to his customers to build one better than theirs.  He did not like the high center of gravity that this narrow of machine had.  This machine is not good for hills and slopes.  It is too narrow for it’s height and should be used with caution until you can get a feel for it’s tipping point.

If used for what it is designed for (fast trim mower)  it is an excellent choice to replace your walk-behind.  Just be aware of it’s limitations (high center of gravity) and it will work well for you.

Because the operator stands forward of the pivot point of the machine weights are added by the rear drive wheels to give you more traction for turns.  If the operator platform was moved six inches back these weights would not be necessary.

Warranty:

2 year limited

Where To Buy:

Go Here For New & Used Everride Mowers

Everride Scorpion FX 19 HP 48 inch Stand On Mower Review

Everride Scorpion FX 19hp

This is not the mower that has been around for almost 10 years.  It has been redesigned so your body weight is below the axle to give you better hillside maneuverability than the Scorpion Models.

(All photos are from the Everride website.)

Why Would You Want This Mower?

One:  If you primarily mow residential and light commercial mowing this is an easy to use, lightweight zero-turn stand-on mower.   It will save space on your trailer and is easy to maintain.  This mower will mow 30% or faster over a sit-down zero turn.

Two:  It is very easy to get on and off.  If you mow properties with a lot of trash and garbage that has to be picked up the operator can jump on and off this machine much faster than a sit-down zero turn.

Specs

Scorpion FX 19 HP 48 inch Features:

Go here to see the latest specs on this mower.  Everride Scorpion Spec Sheet

What I Like:

If you are used to using a zero-turn rider this machine is very easy to transition to.   The operator stands forward of the pivot point on this stand on mower and you look at the lawn from the same basic position as you would when seated.  I have had 10 year old’s drive this type of machine (not mowing) after only five minutes of practice.

The operator controls are very easy to use and can be adjusted for fast or slow speeds.

You can drive the machine with one hand most of the time.

The machine is very lightweight and even an inexperienced operator will not tear up lawns.

The machine is very easy to work on.

What I Would Like Changed:

Gravely Turning Weights

Because the operator stands forward of the pivot point of the machine weights are added by the rear drive wheels to give you more traction for turns.  If the operator platform was moved six inches back these weights would not be necessary.

Warranty:

2 year limited

Where To Buy:

Go Here For New & Used Everride Mowers