John Deere’s New Z994R Zero-Turn Commercial Mower Emphasizes Diesel Power & Comfort

    Posted On: October 31, 2018

    John Deere has released a new diesel-powered zero-turn mower within its ZTrak Z900 Series called the Z994R Diesel ZTrak. The 24.7-horsepower, three-cylinder engine is Final Tier 4-compliant and is liquid-cooled. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company.)

    John Deere customers have been looking for more diesel-based zero-turn mower options, according to John Deere product manager Natalie Haller, so the company built the new Z994R Diesel Ztrak to meet those needs. Emphasizing enhanced comfort, increased productivity, lower operating costs, and longer engine life, the Z994R is aimed at professional landscape contractors and belongs to Deere’s ZTrak Z900 Series. Deere’s other commercial mowers include QuikTrak 600 Series stand-on mowers, 17 walk-behind mower models, 1500 Series front mowers, and 1600 Series wide-area mowers.


    Targeting professional landscape contractors, John Deere’s new ZTrak Z994R zero-turn mower was designed with user comfort in mind, as well as with increased productivity, lower operating costs, and longer engine lift. (Photo courtesy of Deere & Company)
    Diesel-Powered

    The Z994R’s 3TNV80F diesel engine is a Tier 4 Final-compliant three-cylinder, liquid-cooled model offering 24.7 horsepower. Drawing fuel from an 11.5-gallon (43.5-liter) fuel tank, providing “enough fuel capacity for long mowing days,” Deere says the “high-torque, low-emission diesel engine provides power for tough conditions with low vibration and noise levels.”

    Elsewhere, the Z994R offers three mower deck options, including 54-inch (137-centimeter) or 60-inch (152-centimeter) 7-Iron PRO side-discharge decks or a 60-inch 7-Iron PRO Mulch On Demand mower deck. The latter has the ability to switch between a side-discharge mode and a fully chambered mulching mode with just one lever adjustment. Deere is also making the mower available with Michelin TWEEL X Turf airless radial tires, which it says “virtually eliminate flats and increase productivity.” The mower’s top speed, meanwhile, maxes at 10.5 mph (16.9 km/h).

    Comfort Is Key

    In developing the Z994R, Deere notes that operator comfort was a primary focus. To that end, besides providing a large operator station and foot platform, the mower provides three seat options, each providing fully adjustable armrests featuring ComfortGlide fore/aft suspension that Deere says provides up to 2 inches (50.8 millimeters) of fore and aft travel to enhance comfort. The mower also includes a three-position ROPS (rollover protective structure), retractable seatbelt, and storage areas.

    Source: Deere & Company

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