Z955R ZTrak zero-turn mower. Photo: John Deere
At this year’s GIE+EXPO, John Deere showcased its new Z955R ZTrak zero-turn mower, a new 72-inch deck size on the diesel Z994R ZTrak zero-turn mower and a three-bag material collection system (MCS).
The company says the Z955R is equipped with an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) engine and is also designed to increase fuel efficiency and productivity throughout the day.
Featuring a 60-inch side-discharge deck and powered by a 29-HP EFI engine, John Deere says the Z955R provides landscape professionals with an EFI engine at a higher horsepower, which the company says allows the Z955R to collect material, mow in thick turf conditions and mulch.
“As any commercial landscaper knows, productivity and fuel efficiency are key factors that can impact the profitability of their business,” says Natalie Haller, product manager with John Deere. “With the new Z955R mower, we are delivering another EFI model to our line-up that is designed to withstand the demands of a commercial landscape operation. From a reliable and powerful EFI engine to features that directly address and improve operator comfort, the Z955R machine is a productive solution for any commercial landscaper.”
With the Z955R, Haller says users will gain three key things: the park brake, the foot lever and the comfort and convenience handles. The handles, she notes, have buttons inside the top of the handle; one side will kill the PTO and the other will raise and lower the deck or disengaged the mower’s blades.
Photo: Beth Hyatt/Total Landscape Care“Customers were asking to see it with the R spec machines, so we paired the EFI engine with the R,” says Haller. “People love EFI. It’s saving fuel, it’s cleaner emissions and there’s no choke, which makes it easier to start.”
Another added feature Haller notes is the addition of new 24-inch high-back seating and ComfortGlide suspension, which allows the seat to travel up to two inches to the front and back. John Deere adds that these seats feature lumbar support, a control dial and seat latch for seat lifting.
Moving onto the material collection system (MCS), John Deere says the line-up is compatible with all gas-powered Z900 models and features improved design for a more efficient collection of materials.
“For professional landscape contractors, time is money, and we understand the importance of efficiency while mowing,” says Haller. “One of the more time-consuming parts of mowing is cleaning up grass clippings. With the improved three-bag material collection system, grass and leaves are efficiently captured in the system. Additionally, as a result of the improved system design, captured materials are easily dumped, boosting overall productivity.”
Photo: Beth Hyatt/Total Landscape CareSince this upgraded version is more narrow and shorter, Haller says it can fit more easily on trailers to move from jobsite to jobsite. The new location of the blower housing behind the rear tire of the mower, John Deere says, creates a shorter path for the clippings to travel from the blower to the bag and reduces the occurrence of plugs.
John Deere says the 11.75-inch diameter, heavy-duty impeller will chop materials into small pieces and create a more efficient fill from left to right, which ensures the system is able to collect as many clippings as possible.
Haller adds that the bags are also lighter than the previous model, even when they are full, and tool-free clips offer easier in-field removal.
Rounding off the trio of new products is the Z994R with a new 72-inch deck option.
“We are committed to offering the commercial mowing industry a variety of equipment solutions that meet the needs of professional landscape contractors,” says Haller. “With the 72-inch deck offering on the Z994R, we are able to provide even more options for the diesel market. Many of our customers manage areas with fuel restrictions, such as cities or governmental properties, which often require a diesel machine. With the addition of the 72-inch deck on the Z994R, we are providing customers with a powerful, reliable and productive diesel solution.”
Photo: John DeerePowered by a Final Tier 4, three-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine with gross SAE J1995, PS 24.7 hp rated power at 3200 rpm, the Z994R is also equipped with a single 11.5-U.S. gal. diesel fuel tank.
There are two seating options available for the Z994R and both feature the ComfortGlide suspension seat.
