Swisher 50-Inch 23 HP Zero Turning Radius Riding Lawn Mower #ZT2350

I have owned my Swisher ZT2350 for about 18 months. I mow about 1 1/4 acres and use the trailer hitch on it to pull a 17 cu Ft trailer. It works great and has been reliable. I bouhgt it because of the heavy duty steel construction, the powerful B&S ELS engine and the trailer hitch (not all have one) - It is really built rugged, mostly steel plates bolted together. I was sick of plastic housings & parts wearing out, cracking & breaking. In this respect, you can't beat this mower. I use it relentlessly almost daily and it has been relatively trouble free. I did have to replace the starter solenoid after about 17 months, but I start & stop it frequently when using it as a landscaping tractor, so I guess that isn't too bad. The only complaints I have are 1.The parking brake is a pretty crappy design, hard to set at times, and prone to sheared teeth & damage. They need to switch it from a toothed to a band type design. 2.The hand crank for raising & lowering the deck is slow & clumsey to operate. They need to redesign this into a simple latching foot lever so it can be easily raised & lowered on the move. These have been minor annoyances compared to the overall usability of the product.
The parts are generally easy to remove, buy & replace. The Swisher folks have been absolutey great to deal with. Resonable prices, and quick. I ordered spare belts and mulching blades and they arrived by mail promptly. This is a first rate company with first rate products - I shopped extensively before buying and believe this is truely the best value for the money you can get in a zero turn mower/tractor!. I have also done some design work on it, adding a 42" snow blower attachment for winter use - It works like a charm and where I live, this is a really big deal in terms of saving cost, space and getting your $ worth from your tools. I would recommend the ZT2350 to anyone. It is one of the best values I have found in years. (and as a design engineer, I can be pretty critical of mechanical designs!)
Buy Swisher 50-Inch 23 HP Zero Turning Radius Riding Lawn Mower #ZT2350!

19HP 42" ZTR Tractor

I own the version of this mower sold at Lowes, which they no longer carry (I now know why). Only difference is a 17.5HP engine versus the 19HP, so they could sell it for $400 less. The experts give this rave reviews, but I doubt they ever used one other than on a parking lot. Zero turn? Not! Even on dry pavement this rig has trouble turning. Upon studying other Zturns, I can see this is a poor design with very poor weight distribution. Simply put the weight is well forward of the rear axle, thus this thing handles like a rear wheel drive car in mud. When turning, all the driven wheels do is spin like they're on ice. (Try it on the driveway and you will only burn rubber) The front casters have too much weight and do not swivel easily.

Other poor design elements include a light weight sheet metal skirt along the front of the mower that bends easily if you happen to bump into a tree. Once bent, it locks the front casters so they won't swivel. You can bend it back out, but why should you need to? This is the only ZT I've seen with this dumb feature.

If you want your lawn to have crop circles, this is the one for you. Frequently when turning the deck will dig in and scalp the lawn. And never back up, you are guaranteed to dig the grand canyon.

Oh, and did I mention this thing sounds like a 20 year old beater with no muffler. Yep, they put an el cheepo on it. My 20in push mower is quieter, as is my chain saw, blower, etc. You get the picture. I live where everybody has a ZT, and all I hear from my neighbors is the sound of the blades cutting grass. This thing will deafen you if you don't wear hearing protection.

I've mastered using it, to turn you must come to a complete stop, then very slowly advance the outboard control. It also helps to lean towards the outboard wheel to give it a little more traction.

All in all a $800 lawn tractor from Sears would do a better job, and for a lot less money. You've been warned. Oh! Almost forgot, all the plastic junk on this rig cracks and falls apart. Nice.
Buy 19HP 42" ZTR Tractor!

Swisher Big Mow 66-Inch 27 HP Zero-Turning Radius Riding Lawn Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) #ZT2766

This a great machine. IT IS COMFORTABLE TO RIDE AND COVERS A WIDE AREA. MY FARM LOOKS WONDERFUL WITH THE CLOSELY MOWED LAWN.
Buy Swisher Big Mow 66-Inch 27 HP Zero-Turning Radius Riding Lawn Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) #ZT2766!

Swisher Z-Max 60-Inch 26 HP Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) #ZT2660B

I am on my 2nd summer with my Swisher Z-Max and it has been a pretty decent machine. If it was powered by a Honda, in my opinion it would be the best value going. Don't get me wrong, the briggs has worked well, but I have another 60" mower powered by a Honda that handles taller grass much better and gets better fuel economy.

Mine has had some minor issues:

One steering arm pivot point came loose (inside the chassis)
Front frame member to front pivot axle member bolt came loose and fell out
When mowing, driver tends to get a fair amount of grass in their lap that blows up from the front of the deck
Gator blades are junk
I have 50 hours on mine and have replaced both deck belts. (seems a bit excessive)

Yes, it does have a few issues, but when compared to what is available in the same price range it looks pretty good. Although I have had to do a bit of wrenching on it, I have to say that it is pretty easy to work on.
Buy Swisher Z-Max 60-Inch 26 HP Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) #ZT2660B!

Poulan Pro 54-Inch 26 HP Lawn Tractor with Briggs & Stratton Engine (Non-CARB Compliant) #PBGT26H54

The Poulan Pro 26 hp tractor has hydrostatic transmission. There is no adjustment capability on the linkage. I had to return my tractor after taking it to an approved repairman. The tractor didn't have enough power in reverse to go up the ramp on my trailer. The tractor may be acceptable if you are mowing flat areas and/or don't anticipate going in reverse up hills. They should have designed the tractor such that the transmission linkage could be adjusted... or made sure this problem didn't exist (When the repairman called the company they were aware of others having this problem).
Buy Poulan Pro 54-Inch 26 HP Lawn Tractor with Briggs & Stratton Engine (Non-CARB Compliant) #PBGT26H54!

Poulan Pro Zero Turning Radius Lawn Tractor with 54-Inch Steel Deck, 26 HP Briggs & Stratton ELS Twin Engine, Dual EZT Hydrogear Transaxels and Electronic PTO (Non-CARB Compliant) #950ZX

i had a 46in lawn tractor and it took me 4 hrs.to cutted my glass.
now it only takes 1 hr.to cut my glass with my 54in zero radius turning pro poulan lawn
tractor.
Buy Poulan Pro Zero Turning Radius Lawn Tractor with 54-Inch Steel Deck, 26 HP Briggs & Stratton ELS Twin Engine, Dual EZT Hydrogear Transaxels and Electronic PTO (Non-CARB Compliant) #950ZX!

Poulan Lawn Tractor with 38-Inch Steel Deck, 15.5 HP Briggs & Stratton Engine, 5 Speed Transmission and 18-Inch Rear Tires (Non-CARB Compliant) #PO15538LT

I've had two lawn tractors before I got the Poulon. I got the Poulon direct from the factory in a wooden crate. Getting the machine uncrated was not difficult after I realized I needed to let some air out of the tires so they would pull out of the slats holding the machine firmly in place. All I needed to do was attach the steering wheel, you'll need a cresant wrench. The mower already had oil in it. Added gasoline and it started right off first try. It cuts cleaner (more smoothly) than my old Ranch King. One thing I really like about the Poulon is the extreme ease of manuvering it around. It was almost like I have power steering as compared to the Ranch King or a MTD I owned several years ago. The Poulon makes far sharper turns than the others; not quite zero radius but a lot nearer to it. Another feature I really Appreciate is the neutral key position you can activate in order to cut while in reverse. The feature whereby you can set the hand brake and leave the mower still running, while you get off to remove something in the way, is a big help too. I haven't had the mower long enough to evaluate its longevity; but up to now its been one fine machine.
Buy Poulan Lawn Tractor with 38-Inch Steel Deck, 15.5 HP Briggs & Stratton Engine, 5 Speed Transmission and 18-Inch Rear Tires (Non-CARB Compliant) #PO15538LT!