Love my Spartan... I researched for 2 months before making my decision on a new mower and I chose a 2021 RZ 54 with a Kawasaki engine. It blew every other mower in it's class away. I'd put mine beside a scag any day.
Great review. Love the good and the honest bad. For those that are wondering, you can get this mower with a key ignition. My Pro 54” has a key ignition and was the only one available at the dealer. They can get you a key ignition if you request it. Absolute fan of Kawasaki and I will buy nothing else. Before they were bought out by Husqvarna my Yazoo-kee was a Kawasaki engine and after 20 years I sold it to my father and it is still rolling and has not had one problem with the engine. Also this mower is not hydrostatic, which in opinion is fantastic and one of the reasons why I bought the mower. This mower is built like a tank and rides like a dream. I have an acre a lot and it literally takes about 30 minutes to mow my yard.
Appreciate the comment! Still love mine today.. if covid had not sent the prices crazy I would have bought a new one every 3 years...but mine now is a lot lot more than I paid for it. ANOTHER thing...these 5 things I like and dislike...if they are done truthfully (I am not sponsored by spartan) then I always have good views on it... consumers want the good and bad so they can make a decision on their own... Thanks for watching. JEFF.
That light on that thing pretty freaking neat man! I test drove a 61 inch 2020 srt spartan vanguard engine love that thing I might get it one day right now I have a john deere e120 it's pretty good but I want a zero turn and john deere zero turn are pretty high dollar so I just might get me a spartan nice video my dude!👍👍
I appreciate your comment, Thank you. Still love it with now 70 hours on it. As farcas speed backwards....not really sure, but it does go pretty quick. Hate i don't have a specific answer for you... I might use the GPS on it to see....hmm.
@@RoadHardRoadhouse thank you sir I got a Skaggs blower I'm hooking on the front you can get a Reese receiver for the front of them and I need to go backwards blowing leaves I just didn't want to go slow backing up an acre or two but I'm looking at a 54-in also that really is a nice more you have thank you for commenting back
At least on the new 54" bad boys... I didn't like the not as deep decks...I have lots to mow, and need that deep deck to toss up the grass and cut it again. .. My spartan where I have it set as far as cut , cuts grass the size of rice.....problem with that is I almost need goggles... if wind is blowing or I make too fast of a turn.....I'm cleaning out my eyes... lol
My ZT Elite has the 42” by 5” deep deck with the 725 Kohler engine . I use it for farm and ranch so it’s cutting everything from 3” grass to 2’ pasture grass and even light brush. Power to width ratio is a bit higher than needed for normal laws. Be blessed and stay safe.
In 2019 i bought an rt pro 54" with the briggs and stratton commercial series engine, i mow one acre every two or three weeks for an average of 20 hrs a year, i have cut from 6 inch all the way to about two foot tall bushes and grass,at first the cut wasn't that good, strip between blades, lots of stems standing, started to believe some of the bad comments posted online but after doing some research, followed some suggestions like sharpen blades that I was not doing at the time and go slower because i was going as fast as i couId,have noticed that when its all grass, can cut at full speed but not when there's bushes, slow down and sharpen blades fixed it in my case, the ignition it's a pain, not sure if it's the button itself because I really have to push it hard,or a loose connection but it will start after a couple of tries, had the rpms go down gradually when mowing, took the control panel off and tighten the bolt and nut holding the throttle stick, problem solved, no problem with the deck or height selection knob, bought the electric chute, love it when it works and hate it when it doesn't, it takes a while to open in the first attempt, I think it's because I get confused with the buttons, sometimes I push the close button then I realize its the wrong one, already replaced the motor once because it cracked open, not sure if it's or was under warranty, just went to an auto parts store and find a similar one, so far so good, a bolt got stuck in the spindle when trying to take it out to change blades, bought a new spindle, not sure if warranty would have cover it because of the bolt stuck to it, I had to cut it to get blade out, yes I was using an impact gun and still couldn't get it out, chose the briggs and stratton commercial series engine because it was cheaper and didn't want to pay an extra couple hundred dollars for the smart choke offered in the other engines, at the time it was the only difference i noticed but after searching it turned out the briggs and stratton engine has more horse power, is the second best engine in their lineup after the vanguard, I have seen a lot of bad comments on these engines but so far has been a good for me, I do maintenance every year, change oil,filter and spark plugs, have not change fuel filter yet since new, that's next on the list, seems like a lot of this small issues are being caused by vibration, next is the rpms when mowing, last time I checked was 3200 rpms when some people say it should be at least 3400 at full throttle with the blades engaged,other than that I think it's a good mower.
I added a heavy duty bungee cord to my deflector by installing an large eye bolt to the deflector then to a location convenient for you on your mower then I can grab it to lift it when I need to avoid a tree or my car. Then let it go when I’m past an obstruction
But how is your cut? I bought one at the end of last year, and am not happy with the cut at all. It gouges on turns and leaves strips of partially cut grass. I'm not mowing a baseball field or golf course where it is perfectly flat - it's a yard.
No issues on my 54" I have heard of that on wider mowers... I did lower my blades to 1.5 or so for a area and it did gouge when I turned a few times...inraised it and back to non-issues
I recently purchased a 2021 RZ pro 61". I've got to say it's awesome. I also use a commercial 9nseries 60 inch john deere. It's a $10k mower. I'd put the pro up against it any day. The 21 has an updated transmission I believe, and a few other upgrades. For the $5k i paid I cant think of a better equipped mower. Btw the price is about to increase 12 percent...
Appreciate the information! I love my Spartan! Lots of questions have been asked why I have a bigger motor than most of the 54" Mowers.. but ill take it lol
Looking at getting a Spartan RT Pro or a ad Boy Maverick - almost all other zero turns have arm rest but the Spartans do not - Does the fact theres no arm rest change the comfort - BTW this will be my first zero turn cutting my own 4 to 5 acreas ???
I had arm rests on a bush hog ztr . I never was able to use them on a ztr.. There is a extra from Spartan that is sold at the dealerships that helps in arm fatigue. I think it is more for the forearms... I am driving pretty quick on my 4 acres and have to go around small trees , so I am not so sure I would be using the arm rests anyway...
@@RoadHardRoadhouse Hey Thanks for the reply, again wasnt sure if there used much as Ive never had a zero turn, just know that every zero turn Ive looked at had them installed - BTW great video
What did Spartan say about throttle lever. Was gonna pick up a 61" Kawasaki FT730V 24 hp SRT-XDE model tomorrow but seen multiple people having issues with this. Also seen people get no replies about warranties with calls, emails, texts.
First I would look at what price range you are looking at. From there pick the very best mower...look at thickness of metal on deck, look at motor power vs others at 54". Look at comfort stuff last.. my cup holder destroys a beer 🍺 and makes it flat in less than 10 min...so its a water holder....lol... thickness of deck metal...and always buy a fabricated deck....NEVER a pressed metal deck...
@@RoadHardRoadhouse ok cool Im working with 2 lawns about 3 acres total both residential for me n my mom, but I want a commercial mower for the heck of it, but 5 grand is my limit. Just want the best cut and something that’s going to be a beast
@@danagardner3102 the Spartan is in your realm, but make sure you get the kawasaki motor imo... headlight is an awesome accessory. Do research , measure where you will store it..how wide are the gates etc...
I have had others tell me that their RZ pro was set up differently as well... and they were all from different parts of the country... so that is all I can say..... I have another video that I go into the mower better...
It Isn't the fastest, but it took my mowing from 2.75 hours to 1hr 10 min. And there are areas on my property where I need to flatten the ground so I can go faster
Very disappointed with Spartan reliability. 54” With-a Kawasaki FR691V engine. 32 run hours and it won’t start. Bad fuel solenoid. Kawasaki has the part on back order with no end date. I called Spartan customer service to ask if they had a contact with Kawasaki. I was told not their issue to take it up with the dealer.
dude you dont want your gas sitting for 2 months. the more frequent you change your fuel the cleaner your engine will be. getting fresh gas every couple of months gives the gas more than enough time to start to break down and get your engine crappy.
Thank you very much! This mower is a big part of my week! Makes quick work of mowing on my property! Thanks for watching! Subscribe if you feel like it!
I looked your Ariens up. Where are you planning on getting it? At least when I looked it up , they are at big box stores... I dont buy mowers from big box stores.... could be me, could be rumors over the years...but I hear that box stores dont get the best mowers.... at least with John Deeres.... I have always heard if you want a deere. Go to the John deere store for better service down the road etc....
@@RoadHardRoadhouse From lowes, the ariens does have a 23HP Kawasaki, what I like more is the arm rests as I have a very sloped yard so might help me stay in the seat better, how would you say the spartan is on slopes? I was also looking at john Deeres but everything seems so flimsy on them, this would be my first zero turn and I want something that will last, the spartan looks awesome, but will it last? Thanks!
Spartans are made by the previous owner of Bad Boy.. he saw that they started to go to less than his idea of desirable parts so he started his own company. We all want something to last....I cant afford a broken mower either
@@RoadHardRoadhouse I actually just watched Spartans video showing off their entire manufacturing plant and I'm very impressed, I think the 2020 spartan rz with the kawasaki engine would be perfect for me, plus they have a ton of add-ons available, I really like the keyless start with these mowers among many other options, plus they just look badass, I've done a lot of research between the kawasaki and Briggs & Stratton and everyone says the Kawasaki is the way to go, cant wait to find a dealer to go check one out!
I went with vanguards when I bought my two new Scag mowers. I had a little over eighty hours when my Kawasaki started crapping out. My uncle that lives next door to me owns and operates a small engine/ lawn mower repair shop and he does not/ will not repower with Kawasaki engines. FWIW/YMMV
Road Hard Roadhouse I hear ya. I just see that more as a means to keeping costs down for them and the buyer. A sticker is a fraction of what it would cost to have a part laser’d or even cut on a water jet.
