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home plate improvement and hardware stores betray inexpensive zero - turn lawn mower , but a flashy mower could be more costly in the recollective run . Fast mowing increases stress on a lightweight frame and stamped steel deck . inexpensive mowershave an expected working life story of few than 1,000 hour .
All of that may be fine for an Akko or two–1,000 hours might equal a decade of mowing – but if you pout more than 3 acre , or if you ’re in the mop business , you ’ll want a stronger , faster mower , and a more well-situated ride . For exemplar , I tested the professional - gradeBobcat ZT3500 zero - bit mowerfor this revue . If you need to know why it costs so much , and if it ’s deserving it , keep reading .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower: At a Glance
Rating: 5/5
Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower
Testing the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero-Turn Mower
I had ten days in early August to examine the ZT3500 , and I made the most of it . I mow my yard , my nextdoor neighbour ’s yard , and a flying field on the other side of my family , for a sum of about 3 acres , twice . The area let in quite a bit of terrain variety , including short steep - ish incline , undulate ground , flat areas , and a long gentle gradient . There are also obstacle like landscape beds and tree diagram mulch rings , gates , narrow-minded corridors , and a systematically wet area . The grass is a compounding of southern warm season smoke ( centipede and bermuda grass mostly ) , along with some weedy fescue areas in the field of operations .
I have had the opportunity to test and liken several other zero good turn mowers in the same expanse , which has help me streamline my examination approach shot . The first sentence around I took it ho-hum and easy , familiarizing myself with the control and nuance of operating the lawn mower . I observe the randomness level of the railway locomotive and cutting deck of cards , informality of adjust the rump position and deck of cards height , smoothness of speedup and deceleration , how easily the lawn mower chase after a uncoiled strain , whether or not a hard turn tears up the lawn , and the similar . The 2nd mowing was all about speed and efficiency . I mow as chop-chop as safely possible , given the terrain and grass status , and noted the smoothness of the ride , ease of guide control at higher speeds , and cleanness of the cut .
A Pro-Quality Zero Turn For All Day Mowing
The Bobcat ZT3500is designed as an entry - level commercial lawn mower , and make an ideal choice for large individual property . This lawn mower features heavier - duty components and offers quicker , cleaner mowing capability than the light - responsibility zero - act at the big nursing home advance stores . Some of the standout feature of speech include a buirdly 7 - gauge brand frame , large 23 - inch ride tires that improve control and soften the drive , and a plush highback seat with adjustable spring suspension and armrests for maximum comfortableness . It also come with a rollover protection organization ( ROPS ) for impart safety on rocky terrain .
Some of the practical remainder between the ZT3500 and a cheap zero turn from a retail merchant follow down to the pro - grade Kawasaki engine , deep visibility weld cut deck , and the fast and undestroyable Hydro - Gear ZT-3400 transaxle . The 726 cc FX - series locomotive produces 21.5 horsepower and is know for its durability . FX engines have an average work lifetime of well over 2,000 hours . As for fuel efficiency , I mowed a total of 6 land on about 3 Imperial gallon of gas .
Bobcat ’s patent TufDek Pro cutting system is a chain - jump on aim that adjusts between cutting heights of 1.5 inches to 4.9 in . The deck has a 10 - gauge blade top with 7 - bore spindle reinforcement , and 7 - bore side curtain . The bullnose shape maximizes airflow for a sportsmanlike cut and better distribution of clippings .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
As for the hydrostatic transaxle , it enables the ZT3500 to move up to 3 miles per hr quicker than retail zero twist mowers . Not only that , but it runs smooth and quieter than many of the other zero round I ’ve test over the years . As an supply incentive , the circle bar were perfectly calibrated for just - soft - enough pressure sensitivity and straight - in the lead tracking .
Fast Mowing With A Smooth Ride
What stand out on newspaper publisher became obvious in real life as soon as the Bobcat dealer delivered the unit to my business firm . flop off the truck , I admit it for a quick ride around my sloped front one thousand without mowing . It speed and slow down swimmingly , even when I force the issue . On a straightaway , I held the ends of both lap bar in one hand and it tag as directly as an pointer . It took the curves just as smoothly .
On mowing Clarence Day , I adjusted the seat and deck height and got commence . For the first mowing , I ran at a moderated tread . The engine noise grade did n’t stand out as especially quiet or loud . In anticipation of the tryout , I had allowed the locoweed to grow extra long , but the results were beautiful . I follow the traditional shape : 2 initial perimeter passes then alternating parallel pass to mop the body of the M . At the ends of those long parallel passes , I was impressed by how swimmingly the mower made 180 - degree spell , and the wheel did n’t pluck up the grass . The inscrutable deck raise plenty of airflow to resist up the individual grass steel for a clean cut , then ejected the clippings equally across a 20 - foot swath . The clippings did not clomp or make windrows . It await great .
The 2nd mowing , a week subsequently , was all about speed . Again , I was impressed by the liquid treatment and unclouded cutting , but the fast travelling speed may have been the most telling feature . Or , the fact that it handled and mowed so well at that speed . This time around the gage height was more distinctive for a regular mowing , but pout at or near top speed did n’t seem to take aside from the crispness of the snub . It leave none of the stringy weeds that sometimes ward off mower blades , and the clippings pretty much disappeared . Also , the simple mechanical seat pause did an unbelievable caper of sequester my trunk from the jarring effects of the terrain .
Extra Clean Cut
When I was a landscape gardener , slew my lawn at home was frustrating . The mowerswe used for work slue loyal and clean , and my well - used equitation mower at home was just the opposition . I had to slow my stride well below the mower ’s maximum travel speed or bivalent haymow in ordination to get a sportsmanlike stinger , no matter how sharp the blades were . I have experienced similar results from cheap zero routine mowers . The big difference was leaf blade tip speed . Pro - quality mower are design to maintain optimum blade speeding ( 17,000 to 19,000 feet per minute ) while travelling at or near their top change of location stop number . The Bobcat ZT3500 does exactly that , and I could not have been more pleased with the resultant .
The ZT3500features a 3 - steel pack of cards with a blade hint focal ratio of 17,365 fpm . It may seem to be on the dense side for commercial-grade equipment , but it also go a second slower than some commercial zero turn mowers , which may be able to cut down up to 15 miles per hour in ideal ( flat , straight , weed spare grass ) conditions . This political machine cut my overgrown grass absolutely when I was run between one-half and three - quarter velocity ( approximately 5 to 7 knot per hr ) , which was immobile than the top amphetamine of my lawn tractor , and at top speed when I was just cutting off a week ’s growth .
Why I Think The Bobcat ZT3500 Is Worth Every Penny
After taxis you ’ll pay off near to $ 10,000 for a new Bobcat ZT3500 , and I consider that ’s a really unspoiled tidy sum for what you ’ll get . This is an submission - level commercial-grade mark mower that is built for years of dependable serve and minimum maintenance . On a large residential property where hebdomadary mowing is the norm , expect the ponderous responsibility locomotive engine , frame , and deck to last 20 eld or more .
I was able to mow my 3 - acre test country in just over an minute , include the prison term it took to open and close gate and navigate around legion landscape painting obstacles . In wide - exposed spaces it exceeded a rate of 4 acres per hr . At that rate you could cut down 25 acres every hebdomad , class around , without transcend the 1,000 - hour maximum before the 3 - year warranty snuff it . The ride was comfortable , the mower point easily around the landscape painting , and the forage looked great .
corrupt the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero Turn Mower onBobcat starting at $ 9,319 .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Product Comparisons
So, is the Bobcat ZT3500 Zero Turn Mower right for you?
Not everyone needs a openhanded speciality lawn mower , but those who do would do well to invest in caliber and durability for the long term . If you ’re running a small job or own a great place , theBobcat ZT3500could be a smart investment . With its heavy - duty frame , low - maintenance pro - grade engine , and quick clean - cutting functioning , it moderate all the corner in terms of durability and performance . It ’s also a easy ride . The adjustable highback spring temporary removal seat fall with rich padding and armrest to minimize jarring , and the large tires smooth out the drive over most terrain . With a spirit expectancy up to 20 geezerhood or longer , this could sincerely be a buy - it - for - sprightliness mower for midsize and large belongings owners .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and intersection quizzer who spent 20 year in the baby’s room and landscape gardening industriousness . For more than twenty age he pout , edge , planted , prune , cultivated , irrigated , and renovated beautiful landscape . Now he tests and writes reviews about the late out-of-door powerfulness equipment , hand tool , lawn care product , and other outside living goods .
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