An Unusual Use for a Topper

[kilobravo]

It hurts my brain to sift thru it all LOL.

My sincere apologies, Alex. I will try and cut down on the quotes.

I really wanted a Kawasaki but the Kohler has been stellar so far.

Well, that was a surprise. When I looked at the site, it gave me the impression that the mower DID have a Kawasaki, the FH615 I think it said. Mine's one of the original 600 series, FH601V.

They are the mother company of Gravely.

I never knew that, thanks. Grew up with Gravely's and Wheel Horses everywhere.

As for Amplify, it is SOOO easy to apply. Wipes on so easy and wipes back off with no effort at all.

More than a little anxious to give it a whirl, Alex. UPS says it will arrive Saturday so maybe I'll get to try it on Sunday. We've been in a stint of rain for almost a week but it's supposed to clear up Monday so we'll see.

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[kilobravo]

Question is, does it warranty buying a specialty coating for?

<smiling> No, it really doesn't D and I'm sure Maytronics has tested their units in very high Chlorine concentrations, I was just adding a bit of humor to the forum. Something else will die on the cleaner long before the Chlorine gets to the shell I'm sure. <smile>

 

[DFB5.0]

Does Ferris do big numbers in the US?

The retail nursery business I work for has a large display garden and mini-golf course set around a large lake. After a Toro Time-Cutter (Krohler single cylinder) and a Toro Titan (V-twin Kindasucki), they went looking for a zero-turn In mid-2021. One of my bosses took a liking to the Ferris line, finally deciding on a IS 2600 with a 3-cylinder diesel engine.

IS® 2600 Series Zero Turn Mower | Ferris (ferrismowers.com)

I've only used it a couple of times, the gardens are not my responsibility, which is a shame because this thing sooooo comfortable to ride on and that engine smashes through anything.

While I love how comfortable it is, the problem with the Ferris is that it's just too heavy, exaggerated by the 904 cc Yanmar 3-cyclinder diesel engine (At the time, I tried talking them out of the diesel as the gas version with the Breaks and Scrappem is considerably lighter).

Now they want to go back to Toro because of how hefty it is on the grass, not to mention a variety of manufacturing/design faults and reliability niggles; the automatic engine safety cut switch on the seat failed within the first 30 minutes, two leaking radiators due to poor design of supporting systems, exorbitant servicing costs.

Having said that, the Toro Titan Time-Cutter it replaced was hardly trouble free. When it was new, the Kindasucki was actually Notsucki, plenty of grunt and no oil smoking either. As time went on, the Titan actually became a Time-waster. It was always throwing belts, would cut uneven, had out of sync drive bales so it would drive even, broken choke lever, hard starting when hot (not choke related)..............................So yeah, I'm not with them in going back to Toro, I'd do another Ferris with the lighter gas engine.

By the way, this is what happens when the boss gets too close to the lake..................................

I don't let him forget that little mistake.

 

[skinnyb]

My sincere apologies, Alex. I will try and cut down on the quotes.


Well, that was a surprise. When I looked at the site, it gave me the impression that the mower DID have a Kawasaki, the FH615 I think it said. Mine's one of the original 600 series, FH601V.


I never knew that, thanks. Grew up with Gravely's and Wheel Horses everywhere.


More than a little anxious to give it a whirl, Alex. UPS says it will arrive Saturday so maybe I'll get to try it on Sunday. We've been in a stint of rain for almost a week but it's supposed to clear up Monday so we'll see.

All good.

Yes the Kawasaki engine is on some of them. I bought mine during Covid so maybe they were having supply issues and switched to Kohler. I have even seen a couple with the Breaks and Scrappem

Gravely is a well known brand, don't know if they got bought out by Ariens or what. Either way, nice to have a USA made piece of machinery (Wisconsin).

 

[skinnyb]

Does Ferris do big numbers in the US?

The retail nursery business I work for has a large display garden and mini-golf course set around a large lake. After a Toro Time-Cutter (Krohler single cylinder) and a Toro Titan (V-twin Kindasucki), they went looking for a zero-turn In mid-2021. One of my bosses took a liking to the Ferris line, finally deciding on a IS 2600 with a 3-cylinder diesel engine.

IS® 2600 Series Zero Turn Mower | Ferris (ferrismowers.com)

I've only used it a couple of times, the gardens are not my responsibility, which is a shame because this thing sooooo comfortable to ride on and that engine smashes through anything.

While I love how comfortable it is, the problem with the Ferris is that it's just too heavy, exaggerated by the 904 cc Yanmar 3-cyclinder diesel engine (At the time, I tried talking them out of the diesel as the gas version with the Breaks and Scrappem is considerably lighter).

Now they want to go back to Toro because of how hefty it is on the grass, not to mention a variety of manufacturing/design faults and reliability niggles; the automatic engine safety cut switch on the seat failed within the first 30 minutes, two leaking radiators due to poor design of supporting systems, exorbitant servicing costs.

Having said that, the Toro Titan Time-Cutter it replaced was hardly trouble free. When it was new, the Kindasucki was actually Notsucki, plenty of grunt and no oil smoking either. As time went on, the Titan actually became a Time-waster. It was always throwing belts, would cut uneven, had out of sync drive bales so it would drive even, broken choke lever, hard starting when hot (not choke related)..............................So yeah, I'm not with them in going back to Toro, I'd do another Ferris with the lighter gas engine.

By the way, this is what happens when the boss gets too close to the lake..................................

I don't let him forget that little mistake.

Ferris is pretty popular here too. They are EXTREMELY expensive though so most go with a more value brand.. If I had my choice I would buy a Scag Turf Tiger but they cost 4x what my mower cost..

 

[DFB5.0]

In Australia, we have a brand called Bushranger, selling a variety of outdoor power equipment, including zero-turns.

100% Aussie Owned & Operated | Bushranger Power Equipment (bushrangerpe.com.au)

Would you believe Bushranger offer a range of accessories, including a rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tip? Actually, that exhaust tip looks pretty dam good if you ask me.

Zero Turn Accessories - Discover The Range | Bushranger Power Equipment (bushrangerpe.com.au)
Bushranger Spartan Spoiler Kit Suits RT/SRT - Zero Turn Accessories - Discover The Range | Bushranger Power Equipment (bushrangerpe.com.au)
Bushranger Spartan Chrome Exhaust Tip - Zero Turn Accessories - Discover The Range | Bushranger Power Equipment (bushrangerpe.com.au)

 

[DFB5.0]

Ferris is pretty popular here too. They are EXTREMELY expensive though so most go with a more value brand.. If I had my choice I would buy a Scag Turf Tiger but they cost 4x what my mower cost..

Yeah, this one was extremely expensive, as in you could by a very nice Mazda 3 for the same money.

Actually, the guy who uses it is EXTREMELY prone to breaking anything he comes in contact with. You name it, he's broken it. So, it's a leap of faith letting him loose on such an expensive machine. Although to his credit, he hasn't blown it up yet, and he hasn't backed the thing into the lake like the boss has.

 

[kilobravo]

Uh oh, he's doing the quote thing again.. <smile>

Does Ferris do big numbers in the US?

First time I've heard the brand name, D.

finally deciding on a IS 2600 with a 3-cylinder diesel engine.

THREE CYLINDER, HS! But the weight..not good.

By the way, this is what happens when the boss gets too close to the lake

Been there out in our deep drainage ditches in front. When the ground is wet under the turf, a ZT becomes a whirling dirvish on ice. <laughing> I've had to get out the golf car or even the truck, to pull the darn thing back to level ground.

Either way, nice to have a USA made piece of machinery (Wisconsin).

Wisconsin must be the place for mower manufacturers, Alex as Scag is made there as well.

If I had my choice I would buy a Scag Turf Tiger but they cost 4x what my mower cost

Nope, they're not cheap.

Would you believe Bushranger offer a range of accessories, including a rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tip?

That is too cool D and I LOVE the way it looks, too.

Yeah, this one was extremely expensive, as in you could by a very nice Mazda 3 for the same money.

WOW and ALL THOSE ISSUES, too!

 

[MAGS1]

Wisconsin must be the place for mower manufacturers, Alex as Scag is made there as well.

Yep there’s a few up in Wisco. Kohler is also headquartered in the Cheese State, so those that run on Kohler engines are close by.

 

[DFB5.0]

Yep there’s a few up in Wisco. Kohler is also headquartered in the Cheese State, so those that run on Kohler engines are close by.

Unless it's the push mower engines, which are made in China alongside all of the other Honda clones, or Chonda's as they are known.

When I bought this Rover in 2014, sadly they had just stopped offering the big block 190cc OHV Briggs and Stratton engines. Instead, they were offering a "Rover" engine, which was just a generic Chonda with a Rover badge glued to the cover, or the Kohler XT-775. I reluctantly settled for a Kohler.

Never liked that engine. Overall, it just looks and feels cheap, has consumed oil from the beginning, and is strangely hard to pullover, almost like they forgot to fit a compression release. To give it some credit, I have absolutely hammered that engine, its done a power of work over the last 10 years, the only maintenance being a spark plug and regular oil changes. And while I said it consumes oil, it doesn't actually smoke, a lot of that will be the cast-iron bore.

 

[DFB5.0]

THREE CYLINDER, HS! But the weight..not good.

Been there out in our deep drainage ditches in front. When the ground is wet under the turf, a ZT becomes a whirling dirvish on ice. <laughing> I've had to get out the golf car or even the truck, to pull the darn thing back to level ground.

The 3-cylinder Yanmar is basically a tractor engine, so its almost overqualified for its role here. Nothing stops it though, handy considering ours has a mulching kit installed, which naturally put the engine under more load. It's also water-cooled, which adds more weight and complexity to the machine overall.

Diesel Water Cooled Engines - YANMAR Industrial Engines (yanmarengines.com)

As for extracting the mower out of the lake, I amusingly watched the process at a vantage point in the nursery. They first tried dragging it out with one of out mini-diggers, but then had to winch it out using a Toyota Hilux.

Those mini-diggers are called Dingo's (no, not the baby killing kind), powered by 23hp Krohler V-Twins. Both burn oil, but that's normal for a Krohler.

 

[skinnyb]

The 3-cylinder Yanmar is basically a tractor engine, so its almost overqualified for its role here. Nothing stops it though, handy considering ours has a mulching kit installed, which naturally put the engine under more load. It's also water-cooled, which adds more weight and complexity to the machine overall.

Diesel Water Cooled Engines - YANMAR Industrial Engines (yanmarengines.com)

As for extracting the mower out of the lake, I amusingly watched the process at a vantage point in the nursery. They first tried dragging it out with one of out mini-diggers, but then had to winch it out using a Toyota Hilux.

Those mini-diggers are called Dingo's (no, not the baby killing kind), powered by 23hp Krohler V-Twins. Both burn oil, but that's normal for a Krohler.

I guess I am blessed, my Kohler on my ZT doesn't burn any oil at all. I have used it 4 years and about 200 hours so far. Changed end of every season with the Kawasaki 5W40 and a Kohler filter... I guess its a Wisconsin built engine to go along with the mower itself ;)

 

[DFB5.0]

I guess I am blessed, my Kohler on my ZT doesn't burn any oil at all. I have used it 4 years and about 200 hours so far. Changed end of every season with the Kawasaki 5W40 and a Kohler filter... I guess its a Wisconsin built engine to go along with the mower itself ;)

Keep doing what you are doing, you have a winner there.

 

[kilobravo]

It's also water-cooled, which adds more weight and complexity to the machine overall.

You know I wondered about the size of the whole setup and wondered what the hell was inside that large box on the back. Now I get it..liquid cooled, amazing.

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