16.5HP/500cc Briggs & Stratton Endurance Series Engine •Dependable starting and the power you need to get the job done •Cut up to 1.6 acres per hour; top speed of 6.5 mph •3 gallon fuel tank
Hydro Gear EZT Hydrostatic Transmission •Fan cooled 10cc pumps and wheel motors on each drive wheel
30-Inch High Performance Air Induction Mower Deck •Air is drawn from the top and bottom of the deck •Improves grass lift and delivers a superior cut •13-gauge stamped steel deck with 1 mower blade •Allows access to smaller areas •Fits easily through a standard garden or fence gate
Convenient Control Panel •Choke, throttle, and ignition in one location for easy access •Easy to operate deck height and blade engagement levers
Comfortable Steering •Dual levers with foam-padded hand grips •Control arm dampers help reduce vibration
Removable Foot Pan •Allows easy access to deck belts, pulleys and spindles
Model
Model Number:
966 61 23-01
UPC:
705788551774
Manufacturer
Husqvarna
Made in USA
Yes
Engine
Engine Brand
Briggs & Stratton
Starting System
12-Volt Key Start
Battery Included
Included
HP/CC
16.5 HP/500 cc
Fuel Tank Size
3.0 Gallons
Cycles
4-Cycle
Cylinders
1 Cylinder
Oil Filter
Yes
Consumer Warranty
3 Years
Drive
System
Hydrostatic
Speeds
Variable
Drive Wheels
Rear Wheels
Maximum Speed
6.5 Mph
Maximum Reverse Speed
3.5 Mph
Transmission Type
Hydrostatic
Wheels
Front Tire Size
11 x 4, Swivel
Rear Tire Size
18 x 6.5
Tire Type
Pneumatic Wheels
Deck
Cutting Options
3-in-1 (Side-Discharge/Bag/Mulch)
Material
13-Gauge
Construction
Stamped
Spindle Material
Aluminum
Blades
1 Blade
Positions
6 Positions
Cutting Height
1.5-4.0 Inches
Deck Lift System
Manual Hand Operated
Engagement
Manual
Deck Drive
Belt
Accessories
Seat Type
Mid Back w/ Seat Springs
Rear Bagger
Sold Separately
Mulcher Kit
Sold Separately
Headlights
No
Hour Meter
Sold Separately
Arm Rests
Sold Separately
Engine Guard
No
Front Bumper
No
Trailer Hitch
Included
Overview
Weight
395.0 Lbs. (179.17 kilograms)
Dimensions
66.5L x 35.5 up/47.0 downW x 39.3H (168.91 x 90.17 x 99.82 cm)
Q: I am in the market for a zero turn mower and the Husqvarna products seem to have the highest consumer ratings. I am interested in a zero turn for mowing in the summer but I also want to mount a snow blade for winter snow removal. Would the Model 966 do the job? Do you make a snow blade for the zero turns or will I need to get an after-market snow blade. Thanks! by Mark Martin from Michigan on June 11, 2011
A: Mark - Husqvarna does not offer either a snow plow blade nor a snow blower attachment for any of their zero turn mowers. And the snow plow blade and the snow blower attachment for the Husqvarna tractors will NOT fit on any of the Husqvarna zero turns. We also do not offer any after market snow plow blades for zero turn mowers at this time. by Todd, Product Expert
Q: I really don't need a zero turn, but want one. My property is only 2/3 -3/4 of an acre. Is the rz3016 the right mower for this type of residential application? What is the on-going maintenance necessary with this type of mower? by Barry from Georgia on May 04, 2011
A: Thanks for your inquiry. This size zero turn is perfect for your application. It is made for smaller yards that are under an acre. The only maintenance required would be changing the oil and sharpening the blades yearly. by Todd, Product Expert
Q: I did not see a mulching blade for sale. Is one available with your company? by Peter Barica from Florida on April 19, 2011
A: Thanks for your inquiry. We only carry the mulch kit for this mower. This kit does not include blades and we do not carry those blades. by Todd, Product Expert
Q: When you ship mower to my house, does it have motor oil in it, a fully charged battery ready to go, and is it fully assembled with full air in the tires ? In other words, lawn ready ? Could I purchase it with a mulching blade already installed ? by Peter Barica from Florida on April 19, 2011
A: Thanks for your inquiry. The mower arrives with a minimal amount of oil, so I suggest topping off the resevoir when it arrives. All you have to do is put on the seat and it is ready to go. We do not attach mulching blades in advance. by Todd, Product Expert
Q: They left out the dimensions in this mower especially the width. What are they please ? by Peter Barica from Florida on April 18, 2011
A: Thanks for your inquiry. The dimensions of this mower are 66.5 X 32 X 42. by Todd, Product Expert
Q: I have between 1/3 to 1/2 acre to mow, I am using a Craftsman 33 in walk behind now, but I am about to invest some serious monies into it for continued use. Been looking at zero turn mowers and wonder which would be best for my situation. I need to keep the mower width 42 inches and below. You have several mowers in the 30+ inches, which would you recommend. the Husqvarna RZ3016 looks good, but would like your opinion. Thanks by Doug Richards from Texas on March 27, 2011
A: Thanks for your inquiry. This mower would be perfect for your application. It will cut down your mowing time and give you a great, durable long lasting mower. by Todd, Product Expert
Overall Rating
4.4
(Based on 5 Reviews)
Sort By
July 15, 2011
Mike North Port, FL
Doesn't Fit RZ3016 Properly...
I bought this accessory for my RZ3016, which I love. Unfortunately, the design of the right arm rest (above the parking brake) is flawed. It interferes with the operation of the parking brake lever and, in order to engage or disengage the parking brake you literally have to bend the brake lever around the arm rest, which sticks out at least half an inch too far. I've read at least 2 other reviewers on this site with the exact same complaint and have found another dozen across the Internet in a quick search. So, I wonder if Husqvarna will offer owners of this accessory a replacement arm rest that is designed properly for the RZ3016 parking brake (right) side? Actually, I doubt it seriously. They were clearly looking for a "one size fits all" accessory and clearly did not (on the design and engineering side) actually test the accessory on the 2011 model of the RZ3016 - if they did, they would have quickly discovered their error.
My two cents worth.
I bought this accessory for my RZ3016, which I love. Unfortunately, the design of the right arm rest (above the parking brake) is flawed. It interferes with the operation of the parking brake lever and, in order to engage or disengage the parking brake you literally have to bend the brake lever around the arm rest, which sticks out at least half an inch too far. I've read at least 2 other reviewers on this site with the exact same complaint and have found another dozen across the Internet in a quick search. So, I wonder if Husqvarna will offer owners of this accessory a replacement arm res... more
July 14, 2011
Mike North Port, FL
Nice - But Design Flaw in Arm Rest Accessory...
It took me a little while to feel confident maneuvering this machine but, after a couple hours use, I think I have it mastered. It's nimble, reasonably well built, came shipped so well it took me over an hour just to get it out of its crate (THAT'S A GOOD THING). And, to my surprise, came filled with oil. A nice touch.
I also ordered the arm rest option and found that it is clearly not designed to fit properly on the RZ3016 - on the parking brake side. Once installed, I quickly discovered that, in order to engage the parking brake, I had to actually bend the lever out to get it to engage properly because the arm rest on that side interferes with its movement. Having engineering experience, I tried (in vain) to contact somebody from Husqvarna to tell them of this design flaw and gave up after talking to 4 different people who didn't have a clue what to do or who to tell. I ended up writing an email to their Public Relations department and actually got a response. It was basically that they had never heard there was a problem and that they would forward my concerns to their engineering department.
I was pleasantly surprised when another reviewer at this site (where I purchased my mower) stated having the exact same problem with the arm rest interfering with the operation of the parking brake. It's quite obvious that those that designed the arm rest option did not actually try it on an RZ3016 model - or it would have been blatantly obvious to them and they would have re-designed the part for this model. Sometimes, "one size doesn't fit all."
I rated this mower a 4 only because of this arm rest issue. Otherwise, I love it.
It took me a little while to feel confident maneuvering this machine but, after a couple hours use, I think I have it mastered. It's nimble, reasonably well built, came shipped so well it took me over an hour just to get it out of its crate (THAT'S A GOOD THING). And, to my surprise, came filled with oil. A nice touch.
I also ordered the arm rest option and found that it is clearly not designed to fit properly on the RZ3016 - on the parking brake side. Once installed, I quickly discovered that, in order to engage the parking brake, I had to actually bend the lever out to get... more
July 11, 2011
Steve Abingdon, MD
Not a bad mower for its size
PROS:
1. It doesn't cost a fortune.
2. It is small and nimble, which pays dividends in weaving through tight areas and also not taking up so much space in your garage, shed, or barn.
3. For a small mower, it is very solid and well constructed. Compare it to a low-end (but similarly priced) Ariens at Lowe's or Home Depot, and you will see what I mean. The deck is sturdy, and also the front casters are very robust and include big "slick" landscaping-type tires that you typically see only on larger models.
4. Most things are logical and well laid out, e.g, easy access to the oil and gas fill caps the battery is not hard to get at.
CONS:
1. It has only one blade, so if you're dealing with very tall grass you may have to mow the lawn twice to get it to look good. If you like to mow while driving fast, this mower is not for you. But if you can accept these limitations, and not let your grass get too high, you'll be fine.
2. There is no deck leveling adjustment, but if you keep both tires equally inflated, this might not be an issue. It hasn't been for me, thus far.
3. My biggest gripe: To get the mower blades turning, you have to pull up a lever that is too small, too hard to get at, and too hard to pull up. An easy, obvious fix would have been to make the lever as large as the one you pull to raise or lower the mower deck (see the photo, and notice how one lever is large and one isn't), and also have it a little higher so you're not scraping your knuckles on the deck when you grab it. You get used it it, however. I must say, for a company that seems to put quality into most of its products, this design flaw is kind of a disappointment.
4. You cannot tow anything with it.
SUMMARY:
This is an inexpensive, compact, well-built mower that may suit you if:
- You don't want to spend a lot of money for a zero turn mower, AND
- You don't have a huge lawn, AND
- You typically mow often enough to preclude having to cut high grass, AND
- You don't mind man-handling the mower engagement lever, as discussed above.
PROS:
1. It doesn't cost a fortune.
2. It is small and nimble, which pays dividends in weaving through tight areas and also not taking up so much space in your garage, shed, or barn.
3. For a small mower, it is very solid and well constructed. Compare it to a low-end (but similarly priced) Ariens at Lowe's or Home Depot, and you will see what I mean. The deck is sturdy, and also the front casters are very robust and include big "slick" landscaping-type tires that you typically see only on larger models.
4. Most things are logical and well laid out,... more
May 30, 2011
Gregory Grand Haven, MI
Just the right size for my half acre lot and 2 car garage
Very pleased overall with the mower and rear bagger. Did take a few trips around the yard to figure out the handling and turning techniques. But after a couple of mows I feel more confident in my ability to get the job done. Only issue is with the parking brake being obstructed by the arm rest purchased. Can't fully engage the parking brake without bending the parking brake handle around the armseat. In order to engage the parking brake, the seat must be pulled all the way forward. Seat does not stay attached properly to the mower, when you slide if all the way back (when the seat is tipped forward) the seat will come loose from the mower completely.
Assembly of the rear bagger did encounter problems with nuts not fitting the screws included. I had to substitue for my own nuts to complete installation.
Very pleased overall with the mower and rear bagger. Did take a few trips around the yard to figure out the handling and turning techniques. But after a couple of mows I feel more confident in my ability to get the job done. Only issue is with the parking brake being obstructed by the arm rest purchased. Can't fully engage the parking brake without bending the parking brake handle around the armseat. In order to engage the parking brake, the seat must be pulled all the way forward. Seat does not stay attached properly to the mower, when you slide if all the way back (when the seat is tip... more
May 25, 2011
Mack Redford, MI
Love It
I am still learning to operate it; still a little tense. The mower does everything I expected, not an area I cant get into, does an excellent job.
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Owners Manual
