20:
67:
machine, the large drive tires rotate independently of each other based on the driver's input. They may rotate in opposite directions. The mower can pivot around a point midway between the drive wheels (the classic z-turn), or it can pivot around either one of the drive wheels if one is stationary, or it can turn in a circle of any radius. Reversal of the direction of travel can be accomplished by causing both wheels to rotate in reverse.
148:. When both levers are pushed forward simultaneously with the same force, the mower moves forward; when both levers are pulled back simultaneously with the same force, the mower moves backward. Pushing one lever more than the other causes the mower to make a gentle turn. Pushing one lever forward and pulling the other back pivots the mower about its center by driving its wheels in opposite directions, creating a zero-radius turn.
167:
Zero-turn mowers are designed to cut closely around obstacles to significantly reduce the need for trimming and edging. These mowers pivot through 180 degrees without leaving any uncut grass. Maximum lever movement means maximum fluid flow, which translates into a rapidly turning wheel. If one drive
66:
Most current models have four wheels: two small swiveling front tires and two large drive tires in the back. Bush Hog (, Inc. of Selma, Alabama) mowers sometimes come with a small, pivoting fifth wheel mounted in the center behind the driver. Instead of controlling the swiveling tires to steer the
83:
resident Max B. Swisher invented the very first commercially available zero-turn mower and called it the "Ride King". It was a three-wheeled machine: one drive wheel in front and two in the rear. The patented system had a driven front wheel that was capable of turning 360 degrees. The wheel was
58:
speed control of each drive wheel being the most common method when a gasoline or diesel engine is used. Battery-powered models simply use two electric motors. Both commercial duty and homeowner models exist, with varying engine power options, size of cutting decks, and prices. A z-turn mower
168:
wheel turns more rapidly than the other, the machine moves along a curved path. If both wheels turn at the same speed, the machine follows a straight path. If one wheel stops and the other turns, or if the wheels turn in opposite directions, the mower pivots.
184:, where the mower is front-mounted and thus terrain following, providing a higher level of balance, comfort, safety and performance. The Out-front models use a centralised main drive wheel system with front and rear caster wheels.
107:. Regier's lawnmower used two independent drive levers, instead of the steering wheel common on most riding mowers. Regier's patent was eventually sold to Excel Industries, the parent company of Hustler Turf and BigDog Mower Co.
144:. The tire speed is controlled by two levers that protrude on either side of the driver and typically extend over the lap (aka. lap bars). It is not that different from steering a
19:
128:
As of 2023, there are more than three dozen zero-turn mower manufacturers, offering a range of mid-mounted and out-front mowing deck options and accessories.
188:
As both types use traction only as a steering system, care must be taken on any sloping terrain. Loss of traction causes total loss of steering.
388:
335:
Maxwell, Steve Care must be exercised when turning as a tight turn on one wheel can induce scuffing and turf tearing. (2007-08-04).
292:
103:, which used a counter-rotating belt-and-pulley mechanism to cut hay, alfalfa and other farming materials and lay them out in
88:
in the same direction at all times. In order to reverse or utilize the zero-turn capabilities, the driver simply turned the
364:
209:
141:
76:
48:
178:, where the mower is suspended under a 4-wheel chassis, with front caster wheels and rear drive wheels
461:
233:
96:
258:
368:
151:
Zero-turn mowers can use steering wheels but must be designed much differently. For example,
117:
In 2009, the
Hustler Zeon became the first fully electric zero-turn mower, with four 12-volt
336:
155:
is one of the few zero-turns to use a steering wheel by connecting the back wheels to an
47:
that is effectively zero when the two drive wheels rotate in opposite direction, like a
413:
89:
44:
455:
145:
284:
60:
40:
122:
313:
434:
152:
118:
55:
59:
typically drives faster and costs more than a similarly sized conventional
137:
80:
104:
100:
99:, developed a zero-turn lawnmower based on the company's agricultural
365:"Zero Turn Mower Reviews - Best Zero Turn Mowers - Popular Mechanics"
140:
is simply changing the speeds of the drive tires, a method called
85:
18:
234:"10 Most Brilliant Products of 2009: Hustler Zeon Electric Mower"
54:
Different brands and models achieve this in different ways, with
171:
This drive system can be used on two types of zero-turn mowers:
159:. The axle is mounted in its midpoint to the body of the mower.
156:
23:
A commercial zero-turn lawn mower with two pivoting front wheels
121:
batteries. As of 2023 most fully electric zero turn mowers use
389:"The Best Zero-Turn Mowers That Easily Tackle A Large Yard"
337:"Zero-turn radius concept mows over grass, competition"
259:"8 Best Electric Zero Turn Mowers: 2023 Reviews"
92:180 degrees and the mower would move backwards.
8:
110:In 1974, the Dixon company coined the term
358:
356:
210:"Zero-Turn Mowers: Past, Present, Future"
114:on their entrance into the mower market.
314:"Why Zero Turn Mowers? - Easy to Drive"
197:
125:batteries ranging from 40 to 80 volts.
203:
201:
95:In 1963, John Regier, an employee at
7:
363:Berendsohn, Roy (December 7, 2004).
414:"The best zero-turn mowers of 2023"
285:"List of the Best Zero-Turn Mowers"
14:
136:For most zero-turn mowers today,
63:that has steerable front wheels.
295:from the original on 2023-05-18
1:
435:"Commercial zero turn mowers"
16:Type of lawn mowing equipment
208:Fasold, Danny (2009-01-12).
29:zero-turn riding lawn mower
478:
283:Doe, Jhon (2023-05-15).
263:www.seedsandspades.com
24:
142:differential steering
49:tank turning in place
22:
97:Hesston Corporation
25:
369:Popular Mechanics
238:Popular Mechanics
41:riding lawn mower
31:(colloquially, a
469:
446:
445:
443:
441:
431:
425:
424:
422:
420:
410:
404:
403:
401:
399:
385:
379:
378:
376:
375:
360:
351:
350:
348:
347:
332:
326:
325:
323:
321:
310:
304:
303:
301:
300:
280:
274:
273:
271:
270:
255:
249:
248:
246:
245:
230:
224:
223:
221:
220:
205:
112:zero-turn radius
39:) is a standard
477:
476:
472:
471:
470:
468:
467:
466:
452:
451:
450:
449:
439:
437:
433:
432:
428:
418:
416:
412:
411:
407:
397:
395:
387:
386:
382:
373:
371:
362:
361:
354:
345:
343:
334:
333:
329:
319:
317:
312:
311:
307:
298:
296:
282:
281:
277:
268:
266:
257:
256:
252:
243:
241:
232:
231:
227:
218:
216:
207:
206:
199:
194:
165:
134:
73:
17:
12:
11:
5:
475:
473:
465:
464:
454:
453:
448:
447:
426:
405:
393:www.forbes.com
380:
352:
327:
316:. zeroturn.com
305:
275:
250:
225:
196:
195:
193:
190:
186:
185:
179:
164:
161:
133:
130:
90:steering wheel
84:driven by the
72:
69:
45:turning radius
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
474:
463:
460:
459:
457:
436:
430:
427:
415:
409:
406:
394:
390:
384:
381:
370:
366:
359:
357:
353:
342:
338:
331:
328:
315:
309:
306:
294:
290:
286:
279:
276:
264:
260:
254:
251:
239:
235:
229:
226:
215:
211:
204:
202:
198:
191:
189:
183:
180:
177:
174:
173:
172:
169:
162:
160:
158:
154:
149:
147:
146:shopping cart
143:
139:
131:
129:
126:
124:
120:
115:
113:
108:
106:
102:
98:
93:
91:
87:
82:
78:
70:
68:
64:
62:
57:
52:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
30:
21:
438:. Retrieved
429:
417:. Retrieved
408:
396:. Retrieved
392:
383:
372:. Retrieved
344:. Retrieved
340:
330:
318:. Retrieved
308:
297:. Retrieved
288:
278:
267:. Retrieved
265:. 2023-06-13
262:
253:
242:. Retrieved
240:. 2009-10-01
237:
228:
217:. Retrieved
213:
187:
181:
175:
170:
166:
150:
135:
127:
116:
111:
109:
94:
74:
65:
61:riding mower
53:
36:
32:
28:
26:
462:Lawn mowers
341:thestar.com
123:lithium ion
77:Warrensburg
374:2010-07-17
346:2010-07-16
299:2023-05-18
269:2023-06-17
244:2023-06-17
219:2010-07-16
192:References
182:Out front
176:Mid mount
163:Operation
153:Cub Cadet
119:lead acid
75:In 1949,
56:hydraulic
37:zero turn
456:Category
320:30 March
293:Archived
289:Mowering
214:Igin.com
138:steering
132:Steering
105:windrows
101:swather
71:History
43:with a
440:29 May
419:29 May
398:29 May
33:z-turn
86:motor
442:2023
421:2023
400:2023
322:2011
157:axle
35:or
458::
391:.
367:.
355:^
339:.
291:.
287:.
261:.
236:.
212:.
200:^
81:MO
79:,
51:.
27:A
444:.
423:.
402:.
377:.
349:.
324:.
302:.
272:.
247:.
222:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
