Z997R DieselZTrak™ Zero-Turn Mower
- 27.5 kW (37.4 hp)
- Biodiesel (B20) compatible
- Tier 4 compliant
- Three deck options: 152 cm (60 in.) side, 182.9 cm (72 in.) side, and 152 cm (60 in.) rear.
The Z997R is powered by a 3-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine with a gross 27.5 kW (37.4 hp) that meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Final Tier 4 emission standards. The engine achieves Final Tier 4 compliance by using a diesel oxidation catalyst with diesel particulate filter (DOC/DPF) system.
The three-cylinder diesel engine features low noise levels, superior fuel economy, and a high torque reserve that provides plenty of power and performance.
Key features of the engine include:
The ZTrak™ Z997R Diesel Mower is equipped with a dual-element, canister-style air filter that is easily accessible from the rear of the machine without tools.
The Z997R Diesel ZTrak™ Mower is equipped with a single fuel tank, providing the following:
NOTE: The fill level is 25 mm (1 in.) below the bottom of the filler neck.
There are two side-discharge mower-deck options available for the Z997R Diesel ZTrak Mower:
On every commercial mower deck there are three 25-mm (1-in.) spindles that are cold-forged and heat-treated for strength. Spindles are supported by precision ball bearings that provide great performance and reliability.
Mower decks are shaft driven. Benefits of using this type of system include:
Mowers decks are evaluated by the manufacturer (John Deere Turf Care) and conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B71.4 2004 safety certification specifications for commercial turf care equipment.
60-in. (152-cm) Side-Discharge |
72-in. (183-cm) |
|
Mower type | 7-Iron PRO - forged deck | 7-Iron PRO - forged deck |
Mower compatibility: | ||
Discharge | Side | Side |
Mulching capability | Optional field-installed kit | Optional field-installed kit |
Cut-height range | 3.8-12.7 cm (1.5-5 in.) |
3.8-12.7 cm (1.5-5 in.) |
Cutting width | 152 cm (60 in.) | 183 cm (72 in.) |
Height-of-cut adjustment | Turning knob with foot assist | Turning knob with foot assist |
High lift blades: | ||
Blade length | 53 cm (21 in.) | 64 cm (25 in.) |
Blade width | 7.6 cm (3 in.) | 7.6 cm (3 in.) |
Blade thickness | 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) | 6.35 mm (0.25 in.) |
Blade tip speed | Approximately 5,486 m/min (18,000 fpm) | Approximately 5,486 m/min (18,000 fpm) |
Number of blades | Three | Three |
Blade spindles: | ||
Bearings | Grade=ABEC-1 | Grade=ABEC-1 |
Spindles | Cold-forged and heat-treated | Cold-forged and heat-treated |
Spindle housings | Ductile cast-iron | Ductile cast-iron |
Wheels: | ||
Front anti-scalp rollers | Standard | Standard |
Rear anti-scalp rollers | Standard | Standard |
Deck construction | One-piece forged steel | One-piece forged steel |
Deck thickness | 7-gauge steel |
7-gauge steel |
Features include:
Features include:
For professional landscapers and government municipalities requiring rear discharge placement of grass and debris, John Deere FastBack PRO rear-discharge mower decks deliver a commercial zero-turn mowing solution for both gas and diesel machines. Advantages of a rear-discharge mower include:
A rear-discharge mower deck is ideally suited for:
*NOTE: Operators maintaining turf outside of target areas are encouraged to evaluate rear-discharge dispersion through a cut quality demonstration to ensure satisfaction.
Mower deck |
Z930M |
Z950M |
Z960M |
Z950R |
Z970R |
Z994R |
Z997R |
60-in. (152-cm) FastBack PRO rear-discharge |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
||
72-in. (183-cm) FastBack PRO rear-discharge |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
A large volume of material can be thoroughly processed with the deep-deck design:
Extra convenience and security are provided by a serrated surface that is welded to the top left corner of the deck, providing additional traction when entering and exiting the operator station.
The deck is suspended from and supported by the machine to provide a level cut. Mower deck wheels and rollers help smooth out the mowing job in uneven conditions and reduce the chance of scalping the lawn:
These rear-discharge decks are designed to stand up to heavy-duty commercial use:
Durability is designed into the mower blade drive system:
Extra reliability and long life are provided by cast-iron blade spindle housings:
Minimal service requirements increase uptime:
The Z997R Diesel ZTrak™ Mower is ergonomically designed to give the operator an enjoyable and comfortable ride while increasing productivity.
The comfort and convenience package includes large, ergonomically angled control levers with specially padded grips and built-in electronic controls to raise or lower the mower deck and disengage the mower blades.
The push button (A) on the left motion control lever raises the mower deck. The push button (B) on the right-hand control lever shuts off the power take-off (PTO).
Once the PTO has been shut off using the button, the PTO switch must be pushed down and pulled up again to engage the PTO.
The deluxe comfort professional-grade seat is included in base equipment. It provides the operator with an enjoyable ride by allowing the operator the ability to adjust the seat to their preference. It includes:
ComfortGlide fore/aft suspension gives superior ride comfort over uneven areas:
Service components are easy to see and access:
Hood has one central over-center type latch.
The hood pivots to make the hood easier to remove and install for ease of servicing the engine.
The durability features of the frame are as follows:
A cast-iron rear bumper is provided on the machine for rear protection. It also adds weight to give great hillside performance.
The hydrostatic drive features a Kanzaki® DUP 17SB dual-unitized hydraulic pump. This dual pump, in a single housing, provides longer life and less maintenance than competitive units.
The pump features a shaft-driven fan for added cooling and longer component life. The swash-plate bearings are roller-type versus ball-type bearings for a longer overall pump life.
The transmission module integrates the dual pumps and steering valves in one single housing. The pump is shaft-driven from the engine. An isolator ensures reduced vibration between the engine and the transmission module.
Two wheel motors are installed on the chassis to directly transfer power to both wheels. Commercial-grade, heavy-duty TG0310 310-cc (18.9-cu in.) wheel motors from Parker Ross, part of the Hydraulic Pump & Motor Division of Parker Hannifin®, are also important components of the overall drive system efficiency.
Rigid hydraulic lines are installed between the hydraulic module and wheel motors for long life.
Kanzaki is a trademark of Kanzaki Kokyukoki Manufacturing Company. Parker Hannifin is a trademark of Parker Intangibles, LLC.
Single-touch deck lift system is best in class:
The push button (A) on the left motion control lever raises the mower deck. The push button (B) on the right-hand control lever shuts off the power take-off (PTO).
Once the PTO has been shut off using the button, the PTO switch must be pushed down and pulled up again to engage the PTO.
The spacious operator station has been designed for comfort, visibility, and ease of use:
The ROPS and seat belt work in conjunction to provide a protective zone around the operator:
Foldable ROPS and a retractable seat belt are standard equipment:
The retractable seat belt is within easy reach of the operator for use when operating with the ROPS up.
ROPS are foldable to allow trimming, such as under trees or bushes:
The folding ROPS performance is certified at the date of manufacture according to ISO 21299.
Stabilisers reduce the amount of movement and noise in the ROPS.
ROPS position | Height at top of ROPS |
Full height | 216 cm (85 in.) |
Down | 122 cm (48 in.) |
BUC11438 LED work lights are available as a field installed attachment. BUC11438 is compatible with model year 2015 and newer (serial number 030,001-) Z900 ZTrak Mowers. All Z997R and model year 2015-2018 (serial number 030,001-070,000) gasoline powered models require AUC18778 battery jumper.
BUC11406 LED beacon light is available as a field installed attachment. The beacon light is short to avoid damage. BUC11406 is compatible with model year 2015 and newer (serial number 030,001-) Z900 ZTrak Mowers. All Z997R and model year 2015-2018 (serial number 030,001-070,000) gasoline powered models require AUC18778 battery jumper.
A JDLink™ M Modem connects a commercial mower to the John Deere Operations Center, which enables you to manage your fleet more efficiently, increase productivity, and reduce labor costs. With a modem and Operations Center, you are always connected to the work in progress and can make timely adjustments to keep your fleet mowing.
A JDLink M Modem is standard equipment on model year 2024 and newer TerrainCut Front and Wide-Area Mowers.
A modem can be field installed on:
See compatibility section for serial number breaks and requirements.
The John Deere Operations Center tracks your fleet and provides tools to analyze mower data. The connected features vary by mower model.
Models |
Location and status |
GPS speed |
Geofencing and curfews |
Engine hours |
Maintenance planner |
Machine Analyzer Tool |
Fuel level |
Fuel consumption |
Diagnostic trouble codes |
Service Advisor Remote |
Z700 ZTrak Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Z900 ZTrak Mowers with carbureted engines |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Z900 ZTrak Mowers with EFI engines |
X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Z994R ZTrak Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Z997R ZTrak Mowers | X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
--- |
X |
X |
X |
E Series QuikTrak Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
Q820M, Q850M, and Q850R QuikTrak Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
X |
--- |
X |
--- |
Q865R EFI QuikTrak Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
R Series commercial walk-behind mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
1550 TerrainCut Front Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Key |
X |
X |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
1570, 1575, 1580, and 1585 TerrainCut Front Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
--- |
X |
X |
X |
1600 TerrainCut Wide-Area Mowers |
X |
X |
X |
Sync |
X |
X |
--- |
X |
X |
X |
The JDLink M Modem regularly transmits the location and operational status of each mower in the fleet so you can monitor mowing progress in Operations Center.
The modem regularly transmits the mower’s engine hours to inform maintenance planning and balance use.
Factory or custom maintenance plans can be established in Operations Center. Maintenance alerts are sent when engine hours reach maintenance intervals.
On select products, the modem reports the time the mower spent transporting, idling, and working. The Operations Center’s Machine Analyzer tool reports usage data which allows you to analyze operator behavior, identify causes of low productivity, and initiate corrective actions.
On select products, the modem reports the fuel level. On these products, an analysis of fuel consumption is available in the Operations Center Machine Analyzer Tool. Measuring fuel consumption enables you to address causes of excessive fuel use.
On select products, the modem transmits the trouble codes generated by the mower’s control units to the Operations Center. Addressing DTCs can reduce downtime and repair costs. For example, a low-engine oil pressure DTC can indicate an engine is low on oil. Addressing the issue can prevent costly downtime and repairs.
On select products, John Deere dealers can perform remote diagnostics, software programming, and adjustments without the cost of a service call.
A JDLink M Modem is standard equipment on model year 2024 and newer (SN 110,001-) TerrainCut Front Mowers and model year 2024 and newer (SN 690,001-) TerrainCut Wide-Area Mowers.
A JDLink M Modem can be field installed on the commercial mowing products listed below. Field installation attachments simplify modem installation, and include brackets, mounting hardware, harness, and instructions. Field installation requires a JDLink M Modem to be ordered separately. The field installation attachments include a wiring harness therefore the modem should be ordered with the less harness option code.
Model |
Compatible model years |
Installation attachment |
Z700 ZTrak Mowers |
2024 and newer (SN 080,001-) |
BUC11759 |
Gasoline-powered Z900 ZTrak Mowers |
2024 and newer (SN 130,001-) |
BUC11759 |
Z994R ZTrak Mowers |
2024 and newer (SN 070,001-) |
BUC11759 |
Z997R ZTrak Mowers |
2021 and newer (SN 070,001-) |
BUC11908 |
QuikTrak Mowers |
2024 and newer (SN 010,001-) |
BUC11744 |
R Series commercial walk-behind mowers |
2025 and newer (SN 070,001-) |
BUC11918 |
TerrainCut Front Mowers |
2022-2023 (SN 080,001-110,000) |
BUC11797 |
1600 TerrainCut Wide-Area Mowers |
2023 (SN 680,001-690,000) |
BUC11797 |
John Deere leads the commercial zero-turn mower industry with use of the Michelin X Tweel Turf technology.
Michelin is a world leader in tyre manufacturing and technology. This airless radial tyre solution is an industry first for John Deere, which provides a smoother ride for the operator and additional advantages to John Deere owners.
Advantages of the Michelin X Tweel Turf include:
Heavy-duty construction provides the ultimate in performance and reliable operation:
The ZTrak Z997R Mower is equipped with 15x6-6 flat free front caster tyres that provide:
A choice of rear wheel options is available for factory installation:
The Z997R comes with 26x12-12, square-shoulder, 4 PR turf drive tyres as standard equipment.
The 15x6-6 smooth-design flat-free front caster wheels provide excellent durability, flotation, and curb climbing.
A wide stance increases hillside mowing capability.
Michelin, X, and Tweel are trademarks of Compagnie Générale des Etablissements Michelin SCA.
Product features are based on published information at the time of publication. Product features are subject to change without notice. Contact your local John Deere dealer for more information.