What Are Zero Turn Mowers, and Should I Buy One?
A ride-on mower is a significant investment, whether you’re buying it for domestic or commercial use. Therefore, it’s essential that you’re aware of all the available options, so you can select the best possible rider for you.
To help you make an informed decision, we’re now going to take a look at zero turn mowers, which form an important part of the riding mower market. We’ll do this by explaining what makes them unique and how they operate. Then, we’ll examine their pros and cons, before showing you a small selection of our unbeatable range of 0 turn mowers for sale.
What Are Zero Turn Mowers?
As the name suggests, zero turn mowers are a specific type of riding mower with a turning circle of practically nothing. In other words, they can turn around on the spot. To be able to achieve this feat, they are designed slightly differently to other ride-on mowers.
The most noticeable difference is that zero turn radius lawn mowers tend not to have a steering wheel (although there are some newer models that are exceptions to this rule). Instead, they are designed with two steering levers, which are used to determine the mower’s direction of travel.
In fact, when you’re operating a zero turn mower, the only things usually in front of you are these two steering levers. That’s because the engine is situated behind the driver’s seat and most zero turn riding lawn mowers don’t have pedals.
How Do Zero Turn Lawnmowers Work?
Zero turn riding mowers are rear-wheel drive. The left and right-hand drive wheels’ speeds are independently controlled by each of the two levers. The front wheels, on the other hand, swivel and are much smaller in size.
If you push both levers forwards, the mower travels straight ahead. If you pull both levers backwards, it reverses.
Push the left-hand lever forwards more than the right-hand one and the mower will make a gentle turn to the right.
Push the left-hand lever forwards and pull the right-hand one back and the turn will be a much sharper ‘zero turn’ to the right. This happens because each drive wheel is moving in the opposite direction, causing the mower to pivot on its centre.
Naturally, reverse the above instructions and the mower turns in the same fashion but opposite direction.
Should you hold both levers together, over your lap, the machine is in neutral.
In short, zero turn lawn mowers manoeuvre in a similar way to a shopping trolley or tank.
You can watch a demonstration of how to operate one of the best home zero turn mowers here, courtesy of Toro, who is one of our leading zero turn mower suppliers.
Advantages of Zero Turn Mowers
As you can see from the video, zero turn mowers are great fun to drive. They also enjoy a series of practical benefits that set them apart from other ride-on mowers.
No Uncut Grass
Because they can pivot on the spot, zero turn mowers’ main advantage over other ride-on mowers is that, when turning, they don’t leave any uncut grass. Therefore, when riding one, you won’t need to go back over areas of lawn that were missed because of the mower’s turning circle.
Buy a good zero turn mower and you’ll enjoy a perfectly cut lawn at the first time of asking, first time out.
Superior Handling and Speed
As the left and right-hand drive wheels are controlled independently, zero turn mowers have more precise steering than other riders. Furthermore, their controls are always highly responsive. This means zero turn mowers enjoy greater manoeuvrability than other riders, making them the perfect mower for efficiently cutting around trees and other obstacles.
Zero turn lawnmowers are also the fastest type of ride-on mower, so you can get your work done in much less time.
Benefits of a Rear-Mounted Engine
Because a zero turn lawnmower’s engine is located behind the driver’s seat, this offers you a much clearer view of what’s in front of you – an obvious advantage when mowing a lawn.
In the case of petrol-powered models, a rear-mounted engine design also reduces the engine’s perceptible noise levels and lowers your exposure to emissions.
Comfort and Safety
Zero turn mowers’ final benefit is their comfort levels. As you can see from all of these machines, they are invariably designed with a low centre of gravity and ergonomic seating. If you’re mowing a large lawn, and so in the seat for a substantial amount of time, this added level of comfort is a huge bonus.
Having a low centre of gravity also improves the machine’s balance, making zero turn mowers a particularly safe style of rider.
Disadvantages of Zero Turn Lawnmowers
Like with anything in life, there is always a flip side to the coin. While zero turn mowers hold many advantages over conventional riding mowers, they do have their drawbacks.
Price
Because of their advanced engineering and many practical benefits, pound for pound, zero turn lawnmowers tend to be more expensive than other styles of ride-on mower.
We’re by no means saying their cost is prohibitive, or that they’re overpriced, but if you’re shopping in the value end of the market, you’re unlikely to find a 0 turn lawn mower for sale.
Operating on Inclines
As zero turn lawnmowers use traction as a steering system, they can be difficult to operate if your lawn is wet or on an incline.
This problem with inclines is exacerbated by the fact that zero turn mowers are lighter at the front than they are at the back. On smaller models, this might even cause the front end of the machine to lift off the ground, when mowing uphill.
Some Top Zero Turn Mowers
Just like with other styles of riding mower, there are zero turn mowers aimed at both the domestic and commercial markets. And because of their widely varying specifications, you’ll find zero turn lawnmowers at vastly different price points.
To give you an idea of the broad range of models that we offer, here are three of our best zero turn lawn mowers…
Toro MX 4275T TimeCutter® Petrol Zero Turn Riding Mower
Powered by a Toro Commercial V-Twin 708 cc engine and with dual hydrostatic transmission, this zero turn mower has a fabricated steel deck with cutting width of 42 inches. Fitted with a side-discharge chute, its cutting height can be adjusted between 30 and 114 mm.
The MX 4275T features Toro’s Smart Speed® technology too, which allows you to choose between three different speed settings. Trim is designed for accuracy, Tow for use with attachments, and Mow for completing the job as quickly as possible.
Designed with comfort in mind, this zero turn riding lawnmower also comes with Toro’s MyRIDE® suspension system, an ergonomically designed high-back seat and cup holder, making your mowing a pleasure, never a chore.
Find out more about what is one of our best 0 turn mowers now.
Kubota ZD1211 Zero Turn Mower
Designed for professionals, for whom only the best will do, the ZD1211 features a 25 hp Kubota diesel engine, hydrostatic transmission, and low fuel consumption. With a generous 49-litre fuel tank and 60-inch cutting deck too, this machine can comfortably mow huge areas of grass, without any inconvenient pit stops.
The ZD1211 ejects cuttings to the rear and has an optional mulching function. Kubota’s unique baffling system ensures that it cuts evenly and mulches finely.
This really is one of our top rated zero turn mowers. It also comes with a Bizet D driver’s platform, which is economically and intuitively designed. A conveniently positioned LCD screen gives you key information regarding the mower’s performance, including engine oil pressure, water temperature, fuel level, and more. The braking system and cutting deck are both operated by pedals at the front of the platform.
And as it is fitted with a fully adjustable, padded luxury seat, including reinforced suspension, high back and armrests, you won’t just achieve unbeatable mowing results, you’ll do so in comfort and style.
Discover more about one of the best rated zero turn mowers on the market here.
EGO ZT4201E-L Z6 Battery Zero Turn Riding Mower
Powered by any combination of EGO 56V ARC Lithium™ batteries, and able to mow very large lawns on a single charge, this is an exceptionally efficient and incredibly versatile machine.
Boasting a maximum power output equal to a 22 horsepower petrol engine, this zero turn mower has a top speed of 8 mph, 42-inch cutting width and 10 cutting heights. It comes with side discharge and mulching options as standard, while a collection bag can be purchased as an optional extra. Despite its petrol-matching performance, the ZT4201E-L Z6 has a sound power level of just 97 dB(A).
There are 3 operating modes. Standard is designed for everyday mowing, Control for extra lawn protection, and Sport for high performance mowing. An intuitive LCD screen allows you to control the mower’s mode and speed, as well as keeping you updated on the battery’s charge level.
Learn more about one of EGO’s best zero turn riding lawn mowers now.
Zero Turns for Sale
Here, at Ron Smith, we stock an exceptional range of 0 turn mowers for sale. Our eclectic collection of mowers includes models with different engine power options, sizes of cutting deck and prices, suitable for either commercial or domestic use. You can search for your ideal type of mower using the dropdown menus on the left-hand side of the page, helping you easily identify the best zero turn mower for you.
And should you have any questions about our top rated zero turn lawn mowers, or if you need further advice on the best zero turn for you, our Hereford and Worcester-based Ride-On & Tractor Mower Experts are always on hand to help.
