Z525E

Features

Serviceability is designed-in for convenience

Service interval decal (Z300 Series shown)

Service interval decal (Z500 Series shown)

A convenient service interval decal provides basic maintenance information. It provides a quick-reference for keeping recommended service up to date.

Mower deck access

Footrest easily removed for access to mower (Z335E shown)

Footrest removal bolt and hand grip (Z335E shown)

The footrest area is hinged and easily raised for service to mower deck:

It is necessary to remove just one bolt that can be conveniently removed with the lift-height pin.
Easy to clean grass off the top of the mower
Provides convenient access to the mower drive

Loosening bolt to remove platform for access to mower deck

Footrest opens for access to mower deck

Engine service

Z335E engine

Z335E engine oil and fuel filters shown

Z535M and Z535R engine

Z540M and Z540R engine

Easy-to-access oil filter, fill/check oil tube, and oil drain

The engines are easy to service, including changing the oil and the oil filter and servicing the air filter.

Accel Deep Mower Deck

Tie-down locations

Accel Deep™ Mower Decks have several features that make them easy to service:

Flat-top design minimizes places for debris to collect.
Spring-loaded, flip-up belt guards make removing debris easy.
Provision is provided for a standard, 3/8-in. (9.5-mm) ratchet wrench to be used for releasing belt tension when removing the drive belt.

Tie-down locations are provided for convenience and safety when trailering the machine.

Full-featured engine is more reliable and lasts longer

Z525E with 54-in. (137-cm) Mower Deck shown

The Z375R and the Z525E have a full-featured engine with extended life series (ELS) features that is engineered to deliver world-class endurance and power. A step above the competition, it is designed to be more dependable and longer lasting, saving time and money over the long run.

22-hp (16.4-kW) engine (left rear view shown)

22-hp (16.4-kW) engine (right rear view shown)

Built to exceed demanding needs by incorporating premium features and innovative designs:

Overhead valve (OHV) design for cooler operation and longer valve life
Contains an advanced debris management system that directs cooling air through the rotating screen to the air cleaner compartment, where large debris is pre-filtered through ejector slots
- Keeps unfiltered air out of the engine through a large, dual-sealed, premium oval-shaped cartridge-style filter
- Ensures maximum protection for extended engine life with the premium air cleaner, a pleated paper filter with a foam precleaner
- Captures fine particles for maximum protection and extended maintenance
Provides maximum protection with full-pressure lubrication system
- Pumps oil by a mechanical gerotor-style pump to all critical engine components
- Enhances the system through a premium automotive-style spin-on oil filter, which removes over 95 percent of oil contaminates
A premium bearing package for improved durability; includes a super-finished crank pin bearing with a 50 percent smoother surface to increase load capacity by 35 percent
- Uses a premium DU Teflon®-coated bearing
- Helps resist wear and increases durability through self-lubricating bronze bearing
Wear-resistant chrome-plated valve stems for long-life valves
- 44 percent smoother for longer life
Cast-iron cylinder sleeve for extended life
Dependable float-feed type carburetor with integral fuel pump
High-capacity fuel filter for dependable operation
30 micron filter with 55 percent more filter area than standard filters
Maintenance-free electronic ignition for quick, dependable starts
- Platinum spark plugs for extended life

Teflon is a trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

Operator station is designed for comfort and convenience

Operator station (Z535M shown)

Color-coded controls are easy to identify

The operator station is designed for operator comfort and convenience in operating all controls:

Excellent visibility forward and to the trim side of the deck makes operation easy and comfortable for the operator.
Controls are color coded for easy identification.
Twin-lever motion-control levers adjust, using cut-height pin/socket, for convenience and operator comfort.
Shock absorbers dampen control movements to give smooth operation.

Comfortable seat

Comfortable seat (Z525E)

Comfortable seat (Z535M, Z540M)

Comfortable seat (Z535R, Z540R)

Comfortable seats with two suspension springs and no-tools fore-aft seat adjustment, that can be used by the operator while seated:

Z525E – Medium-back, 15-in. (38-cm) seat with adjustable armrests and 3-in. (7.6-cm) fore-aft adjustment
Z535M – High-back, 18-in. (45.7-cm) seat with adjustable armrests and 3-in. (7.6-cm) fore-aft adjustment
Z540M – High-back, 18-in. (45.7-cm) seat with adjustable armrests and 3-in. (7.6-cm) fore-aft adjustment
Z535R – High-back, 20-in. (50.8-cm) seat with adjustable armrests and 4.5-in. (11.4-cm) fore-aft adjustment
Z540R – High-back, 20-in. (50.8-cm) seat with adjustable armrests and 4.5-in. (11.4-cm) fore-aft adjustment

Seat suspension

Seat suspension springs

Two steel springs under the seat absorb shocks when traveling over rougher areas to provide a smoother ride.

Cup holder and storage compartment

Cup holder (Z525E shown)

Open storage compartment

Flip-up foot platform

The commercial-style steel footrest flips up to provide easy access for servicing the mower deck:

Easy to clean grass off the top of the mower
Provides convenient access to the mower drive

The 48-in. (122-cm) Accel Deep™ (48A) Mower Deck cuts clean and is versatile

Z535M ZTrak™ with Accel Deep 48A Mower

Accel Deep 48A Mower

The 48-in. (122-cm) Accel Deep Mower Deck is a stamped-steel, deep, flat-top design that delivers excellent cut quality, productivity, cleanliness, durability, and versatility. Optimal performance and dispersion of clippings is provided, even at faster mowing speeds:

4.5-in. (11.4-cm) deep throughout the entire deck shell for optimum mowing, mulching, and bagging performance
- Optional MulchControl™ attachment provides superior mulching performance and versatility.
Stamped-steel design eliminates sharp edges and corners where material can build up and diminish mowing performance
Mower deck is suspended from the vehicle for a smooth and level cut
- Adjustable mower wheels, positioned just above ground level, help smooth out the mowing job

Excellent cut quality

48A Mower top (similar mower from X700 Series Tractor shown)

48A Mower underside (similar mower from X700 Series Tractor shown)

Deep mower-deck stamping gives excellent cut quality. It allows the cut and suspended material room to exit the deck without getting recut:

Reducing the amount of re-cutting enables more power to be used to cut incoming grass, which greatly improves mower capacity.
- Helps maintain excellent cut quality at faster mowing speeds
Clean flow of material out of discharge area prevents cut material from interfering with cutting the incoming grass, making it possible for the blades to cut incoming material cleanly.
Even in mulching mode, cut evenness is improved compared to other designs because the additional depth allows for continuous circulation, optimal re-cutting, and an even distribution of clippings.

Productivity - getting the job done fast

Right side of Accel Deep 48A Mower Deck

Deep mower-deck stamping gives high productivity, which gets the job done fast. It allows the cut and suspended material room to exit the deck quickly, reducing the amount of recutting so more power is available to process incoming grass:

Greatly improves mowers capacity to maintain excellent mowing performance in difficult mowing conditions and at higher speeds

Large discharge opening is both high and wide to handle more material:

Gives a smooth, even discharge of clippings at all mowing speeds
Reduces the chance of plugging, especially important when operating in wet, thick, or dense grass and when bagging
The 48A Power Flow™ blower has an inlet housing with over 50 percent greater area than the 48X Power Flow blower used on previous machines.

Cleanliness - for the mower and the operator

Accel Deep 48A Mower Deck

The flat-top shape of the deck stamping is optimal for keeping itself and the operator clean:

There are few places to catch and hold material on top and underneath the deck.
- Top of deck stays cleaner, reducing time and effort needed for cleaning and service
- Underside of deck is self-cleaning to maintain optimum performance without buildup of material to interfere with the flow of air and clippings
- Less need to clean and remove buildup of material from underside deck
The depth of the Accel Deep Mower Deck minimizes the amount of material that escapes from the front of the deck
- Limited amount of material to drift onto the operator and mower deck
- Even for material discharged out the chute, less recutting results in larger pieces that are less likely to end up on the operator
- Mulching prevents the discharge of material completely and the MulchControl attachment makes mulching a practical solution for most mowing situations.

Versatility - easy to change between side discharge, mulch, and bagging modes

The 48A Mower is designed for maximum versatility, providing the greatest ease in changing from one mower discharge mode to another:

With the optional MulchControl attachment installed (along with the special mulching blades), changing from side-discharge to mulching or vice versa is done with the simple flip of a lever.
The Power Flow rear bagger can be used with the MulchControl attachment and blades installed - by simply placing the MulchControl lever in the side-discharge position.

Cleaning a mower deck, both top and bottom, is one of the most frequent maintenance activities:

The flat-top design reduces places for material to build up and makes material that does collect easy to remove.

Mower wash port

Mower wash port with hose connector

A wash port is provided to make cleaning the underside of the mower deck easy.

Hose connector is included with the mower deck.

Superior durability is designed in

Spindle pocket

Mower wheels are double captured

The 48A Mower Deck has strong spindle pockets, to keep the blades aligned, even after years of tough service:

Ribs in the deck shell add strength where it is needed.
The 48A has a 23 percent heavier overall weight than the Edge™ Xtra 48-in. (122-cm) Mower Deck used on previous machines.

Mower wheels are double-captured:

Provides greater strength and durability for longer, trouble-free life.
Single-bolt adjustment makes setting wheels to the correct height for the cutting height quick and easy.

Low-tension belt-drive design reduces the side load on engine lower bearings and mower deck bearings for longer life.

The 48A Mower Deck features a 5/8-in. (16-mm) diameter solid-steel rod side bumper that provides extra strength and protection.

Dual-stage E-coat and powder-paint coatings provide extra protection from rust.

MulchControl option

The MulchControl attachment for the 48A Mower Deck makes mulching more practical for many mowing situations because it not only does an excellent job of mulching but it also allows the mower to be easily converted for times when it is more desirable to side discharge or collect the lawn material. Advantages of mulching grass clippings include:

A beautiful looking lawn
Grass clippings not blown onto the operator, driveways, or flower beds
Less fertilizer use
Elimination of the effort needed to dispose of clippings

How MulchControl works

MulchControl baffle open (similar mower from X700 Series Tractor shown)

MulchControl baffle closed (similar mower from X700 Series Tractor shown)

MulchControl is an innovative, simple design that is easy to use and maintain:

The MulchControl attachment includes baffles to control the flow of material under the deck.
- The MulchControl baffle, or divider, between the left and middle spindles is about half way down. The height is designed to balance the mulching and side-discharge modes.
- When the MulchControl baffle is open, the divider between the left and middle spindles passes a portion of the material to the discharge opening, along with the material from the middle and right spindle areas.
- When the MulchControl baffle is closed, the material stays within the deck and gets chopped into mulch and deposited in the turf.

MulchControl baffle closed

MulchControl handle

The MulchControl handle is located on top of the mower deck and used to open and close the discharge baffle.
- The operator is required to get off of the machine in order to engage or disengage mulch mode.
Changing from mulching to side discharge or vice versa takes only a few seconds.

MulchControl is well-suited to the following mowing situations:

Usually mulch, but side discharge when grass gets too long
Usually side-discharge, but would like to be able to close the chute to control clippings
Always mulch a main lawn, but often side discharge secondary lawns
Bag clippings, but want to go farther before emptying bags

MulchControl puts the operator in control of the clippings. Now the operator can have all the benefits of mulching with the ability to easily change to side discharge or bagging when needed.

While in the side-discharge mode, MulchControl will still mulch about one-third of the material. Therefore, the side-discharge mode is essentially a partial-mulch mode. This can be an advantage when side discharging or bagging, as it helps to reduce the amount of material being discharged. Other times this could work as a disadvantage:

When cutting strong southern grasses, such as Zoysia and Bermuda
When cutting in wet, high-growth conditions, such as those found in the Pacific Northwest United States
When optimum bagging and lawn clean-up is desired

6.5 bu (230 L) Power Flow rear bagger (rear bagger not available for ZTrak Z355E or Z355R)

Optional rear bagger

Power Flow blower

An optional 6.5-bu (230-L) Power Flow Rear Bagger material collection system (MCS) is available. It provides an efficient means of collecting grass clippings and leaves:

The Power Flow blower and chute are easy to install. The Power Flow blower swings out for easy cleanout and cleanup.
The hopper design provides modern styling, great bagging performance, cleaner operation, and easy-to-empty bags:
- 6.5-bu (230-L) capacity
- Easy-to-attach Power Flow blower (ordered separately)
- Easy-to-attach chute (ordered separately)
- Air exhaust duct
- Convenient spring-latch
- Airflow fill indicator
- Quik-Tatch mounting
- Sealed hopper top
- Loose-knit bags available

Engine is smooth and powerful V-twin design

Engine, left rear view

Engine, right rear view

A V-twin engine with 44.2-cu in. (724-cc) displacement provides plenty of power and torque to handle tough mulching, mowing, and bagging conditions:

V-twin cylinder design for greater torque, lower vibration, and improved sound quality
Engine model M44
Electronic ignition for fast starts
Cast-iron sleeves for longer engine life
Overhead valves for excellent power and fuel economy
Spin-on oil filter with pressure lubrication for keeping the oil cleaner for long engine life and extended time between oil changes; pressure lubrication is also more effective when operating the tractor on an incline
Easy access to the no-tools oil drain valve for oil changes
Rear engine guard for protecting the engine and providing additional strength and integrity

The Z525E engine has extended life series (ELS) features for enhanced performance and longer life.

Engine oil check/fill tube and oil-drain tube

Replaceable fuel filter and oil filter

Replaceable fuel filter and oil filter are easy to access and change to minimize service time and cost.

John Deere recommends the use of fuel stabilizer in gasoline. See Fuel-Protect for gasoline engines (8 oz) for more information

Design includes a heavy-duty formed and welded steel frame

ZTrak™ Z335E shown

ZTrak Z535M shown

ZTrak Mowers are designed around a heavy-duty formed and welded steel frame for strength and reliability.

Large front caster wheels and large rear drive wheels provide several operator benefits:

Smoother ride
Better slope performance
More operator comfort over uneven ground
Better traction

The operator platform is roomy and uncluttered for maximum comfort, and the controls are convenient to use:

Easy to get on and off the mower
Ample legroom for comfortable operation
Adjustable motion-control levers for height and position, enabling the operator to stay comfortable while using them
Color-coded and logically placed controls

Instruments and controls are convenient and easy to use

Motion-control levers

Adjustable motion-control levers

Motion control lever positions

The motion-control levers can be adjusted to three different height settings and fifteen different fore-aft settings:

Increased operator comfort
Adjustable for most precise control of the machine
Adjustment of the control lever can be done with the cut-height pin

Shock absorber for motion-control levers

A standard shock absorber for the motion-control levers makes maneuvering ZTrak™ Mowers easy and comfortable:

Shock absorber modulates the movement of control levers for smoother operation.
Operator can smoothly and precisely control the machine.

Tracking adjustment

Cut-height pin doubles as tracking adjustment tool

Adjusting tracking with cut-height pin

On-board tracking adjustment from the operator seat is quick and easy. The cut-height pin includes a 13-mm wrench and doubles as a convenient tool for adjusting tracking and the motion-control lever position:

The red arrow indicates the socket included on the cut-height pin that can be used for the operator to use when making a tracking adjustment.

Control panel

Control panel (Z525E shown)

The operator control panel is conveniently located and easy to use.

The following instruments and controls are included:

Hourmeter
Ignition switch
Power take-off (PTO) control
Engine speed/choke control
- A choke position is built into the engine speed control (525E, Z535M).
- A separate lever is provided for operating the choke (Z540M)

Park brake

The park brake is conveniently located:

Large lever is easy to use.
Park brake effectively holds the machine in the parked position.
Park brake must be engaged (in the upper position) to start the engine.
Once the engine is started, the park brake must be disengaged before operating the motion-control levers.

Mower deck lift/cut-height adjustment

Mower deck cutting height adjusts from 1 in. (2.5 cm) to 4 in. (10.2 cm) in 0.25-in. (0.64-cm) increments for excellent cut quality and performance.
Mower-deck adjustment has built-in memory so the operator can easily return to the desired cutting height after raising the deck.

The 54-in. (138-cm) Accel Deep™ (54A) Mower Deck cuts clean and is versatile

Z525E ZTrak™ Mower with Accel Deep 54A Mower

Accel Deep 54A Mower

The 54-in. (138-cm) Accel Deep Mower Deck is a stamped-steel, deep, flat-top design that delivers excellent cut quality, productivity, cleanliness, durability, and versatility. Optimal performance and dispersion of clippings is provided, even at faster mowing speeds:

4.5-in. (11.4-cm) deep throughout the entire deck shell for optimum mowing, mulching, and bagging performance
- Optional MulchControl™ attachment provides superior mulching performance and versatility.
Stamped-steel design eliminates sharp edges and corners where material can build up and diminish mowing performance
Mower deck is suspended from the vehicle for a smooth and level cut
- Adjustable mower wheels, positioned just above ground level, help smooth out the mowing job