The Story Behind Zero-Turn Mowers

Zero-turn mowers are more efficient than push mowers and are much more maneuverable than traditional riding mowers. This has made them tremendously popular among both landscapers and large property owners. However, few people are aware of who invented this unusual mower type and when they did so. This short guide from PrarieLand Partners will explore the history and development of the zero-turn mower.

Max B. Swisher

There are two candidates that could be considered the inventor of the zero-turn mower. The first is a pilot and inventor known as Max B. Swisher. Swisher created his version of the zero-turn mower in 1949. This mower was known as the Ride King, and though it could execute a zero-point turn like a modern zero-turn mower, it differed from the design we are familiar with in a few significant ways. Rather than having four wheels, the Ride King had three. It was also steered using a steering wheel rather than leavers.

John Rieger

The other candidate was a man named John Rieger. In 1963, Rieger introduced the Hustler. While the Hustler was created more than a decade after the Ride King, it much more closely resembled the zero-turn mowers we are familiar with today, with four wheels and a lever steering system. It had a huge advantage over the Ride King in that the belt-and-pulley mechanism allowed the vehicle to execute a zero-point turn without backing up.

The True Inventor

Like many great inventions, the question of who truly created the zero-turn mower is a bit more complicated than you might think. True, Max B. Swisher was the first to create a mower that could execute a zero-point turn. However, John Riefer’s design proved far more practical and would define how zero-turn mowers would be built going forward, which some would argue is more important.

Rise to Popularity

Initially, many people found it difficult to steer Rieger’s model due to them not being used to the levers. With a little practice, though, they quickly recognized how much maneuverability the design gave them. Large-scale production followed soon after, though the term “zero-turn radius” wouldn’t be coined until later. These days, zero-turn mowers are produced by dozens of different manufacturers, each with their own take on the concept.

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