Badboy MZ Magnum/thoughts after 2seasons of mowing

This truly is a bad boy, there were days where I mowed for 10 hours. It kept up with a $15k Gravely, though not as fast but just as durable. Remember this is a residential use mower not a commerical use mower. For this commercial job, at times we were mowing 6 to 7ft weeds in ditches with steep slopes. Too steep for the Mahindra tractor to mow. Mowed acres upon acres of grass all throughout Trophy Club parks in Trophy Club, TX.
My only complaint is the drive belt system. Mowing for several hours the belt gets really hot and starts to loosen. Which interns starts to lose its drive power. Also, this unit is not suited for large steep hills due to the drive belt system. All in all this $3k beast suits me and my 10 acres just fine.
Purchased at Tractor Supply in Decatur, TX. 2018.
Current hour log 181

[@stevecampbell1794]

I just bought myself a bad boy Magnum MZ couple of weeks ago and I couldn't be happier. Really enjoy mowing with it

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Got mine in 2018 still going strong

[@garyfp4254]

I have a 2016 MZ Magnum and the only problem I've had is due to mowing rough pastures, and had to weld new brackets to the hydros that broke off.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@garyfp4254 not bad, these mowers are built tough

[@tiggerfink]

I bought my brother a bad boy MZ to help him out cutting his property. 2 years later he is getting a lot of big commercial properties and residential yards. If you do proper maintenance and put in the correct spark plugs, the MZ will run like a champ. That spark plug has 71 different models. RC12YC and the platinum version works great in the MZ with the kohler engine. You will have to gap those plugs to .030. However, the hills are getting bigger and the properties are getting bigger. Therefore, he is trying to decide between the Maverick HD, Rebel, or the rogue. He needs a bigger transmission and the higher models will provide a stronger transmission. I love the parts diagram and service manual on the bad boy website. The information on the website made it so easy to do repairs on the bad boy. Bad Boy mowers have a great frame. The frame was the most important requirement to us. In this class, they all are built well, your decision will be based on the features you want at a price point you are willing to pay.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Right on

[@rayburnett3066]

We got a Bad boy ,and it for almost 2 years now ,and love it,even the its a 42 in cut

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Awesome to hear, i really like mine

[@mr-js9is]

Name speaks for itself! Bad! Won’t cut even, tires stay flat, hydraulic’s are loud, seat frame will break, pulleys will scream! 50 hours on my 2020 at avenger 54”.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Wow

[@mr-js9is]

@@LifeWithKernelLeeI will agree with you that badboy does make a thick stout deck. Maybe mine is a Lemmon. Lol Here in a few minutes I’m doing once again a blade change and adjusting the center pulley (bad boy recommended trying) to resolve the poor quality of the cut.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@mr-js9is man I hate to hear yours is messing up like that

[@rayburnett3066]

I have had mine for mine for almost 3years now and no complaints

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Awesome, mine going strong still

[@UnkyJofus]

Thanks for the review. We have 11 acres. Cut about two. I went from three hours of mowing with my old JD L100 lawn tractor to less than an hour with the MZ Magnum 54". And that was my first cut with a zero turn. I've been searching for a MZ Magnum for over a month and I just happened to be 5 hrs out of town, and found a TSC that just got one in stock. I had to wait for them to prep it. My father in law has had one for years and swears by it.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

That is awesome, glad you found one they are really good mowers

[@jimpease280]

I've had mine since 2015. 5 acres to mow. Normal maintenance and a couple repairs. Nothing shocking costwise except the cost of a new front tire.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Not bad

[@swolehas1794]

I just bought this mower and cut for the first time with it. I was going to go with a cheaper model, but I was impressed with the deck on the magnum, so I went with it. Hope it lasts a long time and hope the maintenance is minimal

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Mine is still going strong

[@minifoodies9448]

Hello from Thailand I enjoyed ur videos 👍 Happy to see u friend and want to see ur videos more & more

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Hi there, thanks for watching

[@Kenburris6812]

Love my mz. On my 9th year and replace deck belt every 3 yrs. Keep the oil and air filter clean. I replaced the choke cable and spark plug twice. Replace the blades each year. I'll buy another one if they don't get to expensive.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Awesome, I just finished mowing my property with mine. Great mowers

[@OfficialHankIII]

1999 ALL WHEEL DRIVE DIESEL 2900 HOURS ON MY NEW HOLLAND MC 35 WITH A 60 INCH FRONT DECK AND A 72 FRONT DECK.... PLUS THE OTHER ATTACHMENTS YOU CAN RUN...THX FOR THE REVIEW..ALL YOU NEED IS A WIND GUARD FOR YOUR MIC.. THAT ROUND FOAM LOOKING ACCESSORY TO BLOCK OUT THE WIND WHILE YOUR TALKING

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

👍🏻

[@jackconway3248]

Maybe a better quality belt and sounds like a a bad ground with intermiitent gage working. Thank you for the review. I've been mowing with an BB MZ for five years now. It's been a good mower. I did add a LED light bar right above the front black rubber bumper with a blue lit toggel in the empty spot near the key. Great for mowing when cooler at night, neighbors like it less than I but that's to be expected.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Ha, for sure

[@jackconway3248]

@@LifeWithKernelLee My other mower is a 95 John Deere GT 275 Garden Tractor and it’s been a work horse too👍

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@jackconway3248 thats awesome, i had a kubota lawn tractor that ran forever

[@rayburnett3066]

Bad boy is a badassmomwer. We bought a 2019 hold over in 2020

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Yes they are, mine is still running strong

[@rayburnett3066]

@@LifeWithKernelLee ours too

[@wemcal]

Great video and great mower

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Thank you, mine is still going strong

[@magrubers8416]

I bought a mz magnum in 2022. Has 48 hours on it and has just died on me while mowing. I Believe it’s the starter solenoid but regardless with a 4k-5k mower you should not be having such issues with under 50 hours use…

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Hmm, wow that stinks

[@scotdixon777]

A starter solenoid would keep it from engaging the starter and starting, but it shouldn't cause it to die while running, unless it completely shorted out. (Just my input, if it helps.)

[@davidleatherneck]

Probably a short in a wire up behind the air cleaner. Take the top off and look. There is a vid of that and how to fix it.

[@tiggerfink]

I hope you got the issue fix.

[@Netseriym]

I have to hammer fist the side of the gas reservoir, to make the gauge read properly. Maybe give it a try… Hope this helps!

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Mine still doent work

[@Netseriym]

@@LifeWithKernelLee Worth a try, glad you at least tried!

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@Netseriym deff worth a try👍🏻

[@tomgreen1721]

Never had a Zero turn , cant shoot my shot gun at snakes from one i guess, still using good ole steering wheel John deer , but I like to have one one day

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Haha, yeah that would be tough to shoot and drive a zero turn at same time.

[@tomdegnan8434]

They're an amazing mower wouldn't give it up change the oil and air filter and just keep going

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Yes indeed, mine still running strong

[@thepatriot4355]

I have the craftsman T240 with the Kohler KT725 22 horsepower 725cc V Twin Engine its based on the Kohler Command pro commercial Engine it's a beast

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Oh I bet!! Thats lots of power

[@photoray002]

Anyones thoughts on the Magnum ZT220's non-serviceable vs ZT2800's serviceable? Will not changing the trans oil be a problem within 5, 7, 10 years? Also I hear the main drive belt comes off easily while mowing and is a major operation to put back up requiring the removal of one of the trans axles. Is this true?

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Ive found that mine is pretty easy to work on. I put a new clutch, belt and a spindle on pretty easily.

[@photoray002]

@@LifeWithKernelLee Thanks, Im talking about the drive belt, not the deck belt. I hear it pops off quite a bit during mowing.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@photoray002 the only problem I have with drive belt is when mowing up steep grades. It wines and slips a bit.

[@photoray002]

@@LifeWithKernelLee OK thank you.

[@FatMatAdventures]

With all that time you saved by switching from the Kabota to the Badboy, it's almost like you're going back in time... er sumfin like dat. Good review of the zero turn. Purty fancy!

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Made it all the way back to 1985

[@FatMatAdventures]

@@LifeWithKernelLee Great Scott!!!

[@bobbyoshields1703]

Howdy friend 👍

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Howdy

[@bobbyoshields1703]

Where’s the beer? Ain’t part of it? Just wondering. It is for me but I don’t have that much area to mow now if I want to do some drinking I mow my Neighbors yard also LOL

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Haha

[@moparandbill]

In the midnight hour she cried mow mow mow! Lol

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

@@moparandbill haha

[@USCGCoasttoast]

I wish I looked at this mower before buying a Kubota Z726X what a pos this mower turned out to be. Only has 300.3 Hours on it and I have changed two coils, the Fuel pump, Starter, and one spindle. Cost me over 12k and I was going to trade it in and they were only going to give me 4300.00 for it. Never again Kubota for a lawn mower-Love my L3901 Tractor the mower sucks.

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Oh that stinks, I had a kubota lawn tractor before this bad boy. It had 1300 hrs, was a good mower

[@rayburnett3066]

What is the purpose between a Maverick and an MZ?

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

The Maverick has upgrades with suspension

[@tylerleblanc2080]

Feel like if I’m spending 5k on this thing.. Im spending an extra 1k for the gravely HD

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

I hear ya on that, mine was around $3500 new

[@swolehas1794]

I paid $4200 for one at Rural King. It's cheaper if you pay in full at time of purchase

[@josefmd]

Try 2 grand more for a Gravely ZT HD with a 48 inch deck.

[@mitchellferre1652]

Get a Ferris and don't look back

[@cmatwijecky]

Really a question. Is it worth getting a maverick over the mag them for twice the cost because of suspension and comfort or will the magnum work just fine other than the suspension issue?

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

I my case and my opinion, its not worth it. I was considering trading for the Maverick and am glad I didnt. The only issue i have with the Magnum is hills. And that is due to belt driving mowers. So unless its a shaft driven mower, all of the models will have this issue. The issue is, the hotter the belt gets the more it stretches and loses pulling power. The more this happens the more often you will be changing out belt drives. In my case, mowing my property with small hills it works fine. However, when I was helping my neighbor with his mowing business, thats when i experienced drive belt issues. Hope this helps. The Magnum is a great mower and Im very satisfied with it.

[@dalewalters9614]

Bad boy replace my gas gauge free

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

I should have checked into that

[@noahrowland1220]

I have a 2022 mz magnum 54 inch I’m selling 25 hours!

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

👍🏻

[@stanable2078]

Another crappy audio video. I can’t understand a word you are saying

[@LifeWithKernelLee]

Thank you