Signs of Failed Relief Valve in Zero Turn Hydro?

[Clarkbug]

Question for some folks that play with transmissions more than I do.

Looking at a new to me Zero Turn. It's a Kubota z724, which has the Parker HTG units, which look on paper to be in great shape. Was told that one side recently had to be replaced due to a faulty relief valve.

My questions are:

1. What would the symptoms of a faulty relief valve be? Driveability issues? Blowing out seals?
2. Is this a common failure point? Under 1000 hours on the machine (service interval on the transmission are 300 hours initial, 1000 following per Parker, 500 hours per Kubota). Just wondering how often this sorta thing happens, and if I should be concerned the other side hydro is gonna be coming due soon...

I'm just looking to mow my lawn in the summer, so this would probably be the best kind of overkill for me, and I don't mind a used machine. But for the money, I don't want to buy another one for another decade or so.

 

[Seachaser]

1000 hours is a lot. We mow a lot and have a machine that’s nearly 10 years old and it has about half that. Unless it’s too good a deal to pass up. Only thing to happen to ours is the hydraulic belt has broken twice.

 

[Clarkbug]

This one is a 2014, and was from a mowing company. Got some other info, and it's under 750 hours. Price is a few grand less than a new pro-sumer grade zero turn. (Like a Toro Titan). I need to go see it in person.

Had been thinking about a Spartan a couple years back, but had other priorities, and now that same unit is retailing over $8k. I also heard they just got bought, so not sure what that means for longevity of the brand, so maybe that was a good miss.

 

[Squareground3691]

I have the exact same machine, I paid 6800 new , it’s just over 51/2 years old , Parker hydro’s are quality units, Kawasaki powered ,

 

[Clarkbug]

I have the exact same machine, I paid 6800 new , it’s just over 51/2 years old , Parker hydro’s are quality units, Kawasaki powered ,View attachment 419765

How do you like it? Anything you wish you could do differently with it or that they could have improved?

 

[Squareground3691]

How do you like it? Anything you wish you could do differently with it or that they could have improved?

I like it , the suspension seat is a game changer, wouldn’t ever get one without it , been a solid machine so far , I’m not using it commercially, just my own lawn, I have a lot of perennial gardens so maneuvering is great, it has a low center of gravity, so steeper hills are no problem and wider rear wheels , yea its a quality machine

 

[Clarkbug]

Little followup here. I went to look at the machine this weekend, and it's definitely been used. Rear tires are starting to go at the sidewalls, rust on some deck linkage bits underneath, looks like it's lived outside a while. I'll probably pass unless they can lower their prices down a bit.

They did have a ZG127s that I am going to ask about. It's nowhere near the same machine as a z7 series, but still has the 3100 series hydros and seems to be well made. The only hesitation I have there is it uses the courage v twin engine, and that gives me pause.

I also found a land pride AccuZ for sale privately, but that is probably out of my price range. Looks like a beast of a mower.