Toro Z Master 3000 52" Review

[@411sponge72]

You've had that mower for 3 years? That looks brand new! Very nice! I just bought me a 2000 series.

[@scottwalker19]

Its 5 years old now. The camera is doing it more justice.

[@411sponge72]

@@scottwalker19 LMAO Well, I hope mine holds up like yours!

[@johnhill7480]

Z master 3000 52 vs John deere 915e 54 I'm in the market just cant decide.

[@scottwalker19]

I would recommend choosing the mower from the dealer that has the best support and closest. If you needed to drive a little bit further for better support than do that. It is going to be important if you ever need service or parts and most commercial mowers are on the same level.

[@taylorcaputo3013]

I was looking into buying this mower in a 48 inch deck with a 20.5 hp kawasaki motor. My worry is that it would be under powered to use the bagger with ? I have a relatively flat lawn and it would be used residentially on a 1.5 acre property

[@scottwalker19]

I doubt you would have any problems with it. My mower has head of the bagger just fine and I have not experienced any issues where the power of the mower was a concern. With a smaller deck you would need less horsepower anyways so I am sure if it is from Toro they would not sell factory accessories or additions that do not work with their product.

[@richardnichols2064]

check with toro for other engine options if your worried. they usually have more than one option.

[@MyF-qx1tp]

awesome vid. thanks for making this vid where I just bought the Toro 52 inch deck 4000 series with the twin bagging system. the bagger is on back order. will the mower with the bagging system fit in 7x16 enclosed trailer?Also how far does the blower vac stick out from the deck? thanks for your help. your mower looks great

[@scottwalker19]

I had my mower in a 7x14 enclosed trailer for a few years and it fit in there just fine. It is definitely a tighter fit than just the mower deck but it still fit. I could not comment exactly how far out the blower sticks out. Maybe 12-16 inches. The only thing I had trouble with was the ROPS system. The interior height in my enclosed trailer was only about 6 feet so the mower would not go through the ramp entrance with the ROPS up. It had to be folded down. I normally used the mower with the bagger during leaf season so I was using my open trailer for that.

[@MyF-qx1tp]

@@scottwalker19 thank you very much for getting back to me. yes I definitely will keep the roll over bars down since all my properties have no major incline. also I'm keeping my trimmer racks higher so the blower and tube won't get caught up. I will keep the 4000 s up front and only use it only for bigger yards, but will keep the grandstand 36 on the rear for majority of mows with the accelerator. thank again for your help

[@richardnichols2064]

With the blower installed on the chute you could cut grass in the rain.

[@bennyrosalez6648]

Nice video!!! I will be buying this same model tomorrow. Only has 260 hours on it and is very clean. I was an Exmark owner prior to this. Not sure if this is comparable to a Exmark Lazer Z - E or S. Do they make a foot pedal controlled OCDC Chute, like Exmark?

[@scottwalker19]

I am not sure about the OCDC chute. You may be able to use the Exmark one on the Toro but probably not since they have different decks as far as I know. Toro has one but it is hand controlled. You could always opt for the Grass Flap and they have a nice product but you will have to get rid of the factory discharge flap

[@jaredcousino]

A landscape company is trying to sell me a 2017 with only 750 hrs, Bagger and vac as well. He said only 3500. Looks great and sounds ok over the video he sent. But man that seems too good to be true. Any input

[@hutte59]

I have the same mower just wondered how satisfied you are with the bagging system. I’m moving and where I’m moving everyone bags so wondering if the bagging system is worth the $3,000. Also did the bagging kit come with a different pulley, that’s a double stack pulley? I’m told the blower runs off the outside spindle? Thanks for your video and time.

[@scottwalker19]

I think the bagging system is worth the money. I am not sure how much it cost now, however when I purchased it it was about $2500. The best part about it is that it is more compact than a tow behind solution and it is also heavy duty. The bagging kit does come with a different pulley that you just add on to the factory pulley. At least that was the solution for my specific model and year. The blower does run off of the outside spindle that is closest to the discharge chute. As far as the value for the actual bagger. If you do not intend to use it a lot you can definitely find other solutions that may suit your needs just fine.

[@hutte59]

@@scottwalker19 Scott, thanks for getting back to me. I’m moving out west and have been doing lawn care part time for 18 years about 20-25 yards a week here in Iowa. I was shocked to find out after talking to a friend who lives there and a local dealer that sells Walker mowers that you have to bag because the people there are conditioned to it and they have to water. They have rapid growth with the watering, and at first I thought their crazy nobody noticed even the millionaires here water Lol. I was thinking of getting a Walker because there’s not a Toro dealer there, but because of a hand injury years ago I’m convinced I wouldn’t be able to drive it. And their really expensive, very expensive and not as heavy duty as our Toro 3000. I do have a $450 aluminum side bag which I wish I would have never bought, it fills up after about 50-90 ft. Of grass or leaves even after you grind them up. Again thanks for you time!!!

[@normandong4479]

Do you use synthetic motor oil like some other landscapers who might be using a SCAG, EXMARK OR FERRIS? Seems a synthetic oil will help the mower last longer. The z master 4000 has eliminated zerk fittings to lube and wonder if the 2000 or 3000 has the same.

[@scottwalker19]

I use the oil that Kohler sells for their engine. They do make a synthetic and a standard oil. The containers look very similar so you just have to read them carefully. I like the idea of synthetic oils especially since the engines run at full throttle most of the time. As for the Zerk fittings, I know some manufactures are doing away with the fittings on certain models. They are basically sealing up the area and calling it a "lifetime" grease. That just means if it breaks you have to buy a whole new assembly of what ever that part was, no rebuilding it. There are plus and minuses to that but it just depends on how long it lasts for you.

[@universalvagrant1]

Hey Scott - random question as you probably don't still have the mower but do you have any idea how heavy the blower assembly for the bagger on the Toro is?

[@scottwalker19]

I do still have the mower. It is probably about 50 lbs. That is roughly a guess but its probably around 50 lbs, maybe less. It is very heavy duty.

[@jasone9]

Does Toro say it's ok to step on the deck? Most manufacturers say not to step on the deck.

[@scottwalker19]

I am not sure. I think that since the commercial stuff is heavy duty, stepping on the mower deck should not be a big deal. I know Toro is starting to actually integrate steps into their new mowers. I have seen them on several zero turn models at my local dealer. They look like a metal bike pedal that is bolted on the deck.

[@josh-e3j]

I have that exact same mower, I was wanting to upgrade the platform on the seat I have the suspension seat but need the frame and rubber bushings. My 60’ 3000 has it but not my 52’. What parts did you get to convert it over to? Any help would be much appreciated

[@scottwalker19]

If you go to a dealer or search the parts list on Toro.com they have the base “platform” and then they also sell the suspension seat separately as far as I know. They may sell a whole kit but I can not confirm that as they dont ever list a description when you see parts lists. My dealer happened to have a suspension seat in stock so it was nice that I was able to order the “platform” separately. Since you already have the seat you said, then ordering the Platform would be it. I think if I remember correctly it was just the section that the seat mounts to (the upgraded on allows you to flip the seat up) and then that mounts on top of 4 rubber bushings that mount to the actual frame of the mower.

[@ohiodigger4391]

I have this same mower that I bought used. I haven’t been able to use the vac system because the belt that runs the impeller keeps rubbing against one of the ears that stick up off the deck that would usually hold the discharge chute. I’m considering cutting that ear off. Do you have any issues with that belt rubbing?

[@scottwalker19]

I do not have any rubbing issues. To the best of my knowledge it should not be near anything but I would have to double check my mower.

[@Primus697]

Can I mulch ? I can’t use side discharge. I have to mulch.

[@scottwalker19]

I am sure you can mulch if you would like, you could also use the bagger that I have in this video. Either way you will have to buy the mulch kit and install it or buy a bagger and install that.

[@dmudder5529]

Just got a similar 3000 my ride, shocks. Beefy mower and comfortable. Adjustable deck baffles a nice feature. Thanks for video, helped me decide on purchase.

[@scottwalker19]

The MyRide came out like the year after I got mine so that was not an option but I did upgrade mine to the comfy seat and suspension setup. That is a must for me after using it for a year with a regular seat. I have used a MyRide version and I do like that setup. I am glad that the shocks are adjustable. I am glad I was able to help! I have been happy with my Toro mowers.

[@elainenilsson5472]

can you open the bagging system to dump without taking the tube out?

[@scottwalker19]

Yes you can. It just pivots up from the back and the. You have access to the bags.

[@jonnyg44]

What kind of motor? Probs a Kohler I'd be surprised if it was a kawi

[@scottwalker19]

It has a 25hp Kohler

[@buenavistalawnlandscape3523]

Where did you order the bagging system. My dealer wants $3300 for one . That's expensive

[@scottwalker19]

I ordered it from my local dealer. I think I paid around $2500. That was a few years ago though. I am not sure about your area or what you are ordering it for. The triple bagger or the dump from seat model are going to be more expensive. Also prices will probably have come up from a few years ago.

[@buenavistalawnlandscape3523]

@@scottwalker19 thanks

[@austinhoffman219]

Buy a Protero leaf vacuum system.

[@paulkelley7445]

I wanna buy one what a bagger

[@scottwalker19]

They definitely are amazing machines. They do have a price tag attached to that though

[@richardnichols2064]

kohler would not be my first choice for engines. 1) Kawasaki 2) briggs 3) kohler honda would be number 1 if they offered it.