[Big Josh]

Do any of you have problems presented to you when it comes to actually doing a full 180 degree turn with your zero turn mowers? What are some of the factors that you all have seen cause tears or spots in turf? And, what have you done, or know of that can help with this?

[Ax Man]

Well Big Josh welcome to the site!
Factors: Width of tire, weight of machine, inertia, soil type, pitch of lawn, soil moisture, density/type of turf.
There are more but thats good to start.
Z mowers can be a fantastic tool in the right hands.
What determines that is the users ability to manage turning, terrain, and mowing conditions.
I think That the average new user finds that (he) can go fast in a straight line, but ripps up the turf on the corners.
Tire width plays a big factor here. A wide tire when turned 180 will rip grass out.
The trick is when you either have to do a K turn or the "rolling turn". Make sure you slow down as you approach your turning area, wet soils can really slip and you can peel large amounts of sod without realizing it (at first)
Practice if you can, on non critical areas and what I do is run the machine with 1 hand on both sticks rocking the wrist to steer. (a habit from running a Walker) try that too.

[Big Josh]

Thanks a lot for the input!

[yardguy]

What ive seen mostly from new operators is that, when you are turning both tires must be spinning! wat i mean is that wen you turn left make sure that you pull back on the left lever as you are pushing the right one forward. if the tire isnt spinning it is tearing the grass. Practice on a driveway first , and you'll have the hang of it in no time. Hope that helps!?

[cutntrim]

Yep, don't allow the inside wheel to stop rolling. I acutally do little 3-point turns instead of 180 spins. Leaving yourself a generous turn around area by going around the outline twice before making stripes also helps. Simply slowing down will make a 90% difference most of the time. With the unbelievably wet weather we had this fall, even experienced operators had trouble avoiding leaving turn marks, if only occasionally.

[Sammy]

Originally posted by cutntrim
Yep, don't allow the inside wheel to stop rolling. I acutally do little 3-point turns instead of 180 spins.

Yup, 3-pt turn is good.

[Mark Oomkes]

Good healthy roots are a plus as well.

[GLAN]

Same process as turning a walkbehind