Kubota zero turn is a cut above
When grass cutting is a large part of your business, issues such as how comfortable an operator will be over the course of a long working day come very much to to the fore, as does the machine’s capacity to cut close to obstructions.
It was those two fundamentals beyond all else that persuaded Adam Love of Basingstoke based Roots Landscaping to talk to Graham Merritt at Lister Wilder about his options. With Graham’s guidance, Adam settled for a Kubota ZD1421 zero turn mower – and he is so satisfied with it that he is now considering a second.
Adam employs four other operatives for his garden and grounds maintenance business, which operates mainly around Basingstoke, Reading, Newbury and Maidenhead. A reputation for doing a good all-round job keeps the team constantly busy and means that their machinery likewise has to perform to high standards.
“We were operating with second-hand mowers that were getting past their best and I decided that the time had come to invest in a new one,” says Adam who already runs other Kubotas. “I looked at a variety of factors, but comfort was a big one and manoeuvrability in tight spaces was another. That was what really guided me towards the Kubota zero turn.
“I find the seat and the seating position both really comfortable; the rear tyres also soften the ride added if you are doing a long day. The guys all love it.”
The seat has adjustable arm rests, a high back rest and lumbar support. It can be adjusted upward, forward and backward to let individual operators find their own favoured position. All the deck controls are ergonomically grouped on the right-hand side within easy reach so that the cutting height can be easily adjusted.
Another feature Adam likes is the optional mulching kit, which produces even finer clippings and uniformly discharges them back into the ground. He feels it also adds a significant safety benefit, while for his customers it means less debris and an all round tidier finish.
Powering the ZD1421 is a Kawasaki petrol engine that scores on economy but also on low emissions noise and low vibration. The engine is paired with Kubota’s original hydrostatic transmission, which is responsive under all loading conditions. The hermetically sealed structure requires little more than an occasional fluid change, with no belts to worry about.
It’s a machine that has provided a big boost for Roots Landscaping. “We move it around very easily on a plant trailer,” says Adam. “You just offload it and away you go.”
