I’m not selling any of my older mowers until the nonsense ends. My wife and I work together and I now have 7 different mowers of various size. We run a pair of Z3X 61” for our main units but I have kept my 52” and 60” ExMark zero turns just in case. I hate using the zero turns and they would have been sold off last year but I could see all of this coming and I’m glad I kept them for added insurance.
Great video and information. Your information reminded me about learning how to work on anything not just lawn mowers. My father and I work on our cars by hand and we learn that way how things work and how to diagnose and fix.
Thank you for your video and all the time it takes to make it. I just started to balance my blades I wonder if this would help prolong some repairs. Let me know your thoughts. I know that eventually all things will wear out regardless of care.
Thanks for your content Bud. FYI I had to cut my pulley off my spindle on my 72” z3x. Also do you happen to know the torque spec on spindle/ pulley bolt?
I don't know the torque specs yet, I just went with "tighten until it feels tight enough" I did order a torque wrench so I can check it when I get it lol.
Hi Bud, hope all’s well for you and your family. I have a 2019 Ferris Z3x 52 “, oil guard 37 hp vanguard. I am wondering why your mowers are breaking down, these are built to industrial standards. Do you use “X” blades, or extra high lift blades? Do you think that could cause vibrations or undue stress on the spindles? Very odd your spindle bearings crapped out. I know you are very good with maintenance, it 15:30 doesn’t make sense. Could belts be too tight or perhaps pillows not lined up? I heard don’t turn on or off the blades unless you have low idle rpm. Sorry for long post, I have much respect for your methods. Thank you. Jim
There are so many variables when it comes to why and when things break. We have extreme weather conditions here, very rough rocky dusty terrain and I run these machines pretty hard sometimes in those conditions. All machines are built by human hands and can have issues just because one of those hands didn't do everything right one day. At the end of the day, I expect things to break down or wear out within reason and I feel overall, that these machines are the best for me and my business. I think most of the issues I have had and things that have failed are within reason all things considered.
Things are crazy right now ! Can't find parts or mowers ! can't find people to work ! My brand new mower with less than 100 hrs will be down till at least November, "I'm told" We need to replace the wiring harness on it. Great idea buying 2 new mowers with way things are now. We have 4 mowers + my father n law's mower if we need it and sometime that's not even enough mowers🤷 our 61" is about to hit 2k hrs🤦.....🤔just curious how many pumps of grease does your spindles take in the mowing season? Mine takes 50-100 during summer.(per week)
Maybe January? They have been on order since Spring, but I guess the factory is not able to keep up with demand. Thankfully I didn't have any more issues after Spring and both mowers have over 1000 hours on them. Hope to get another 1000 hours on them before I sell them.
Ed Wright made a video suggesting 12-1500 hours was the unload point to avoid the majority of problems. This video seems to back that up. Labor costs up, machine costs up, part costs way up, gasoline hyperbolic.....customers ain't ready for reality and neither are we. I love the Ferris Product but as you grow as a small operator you can't turn to your on hand fleet mechanic to turn your machines around for you. Just thinking out loud. The Math on what you need to make an hour to make these machines profitable instead of futile marches ever higher. You've really racked up some time on your fleet the last couple years. You'll sleep better when you get your new machines. Mow money mow problems.
It's all in how you care for the equipment. I have a 2016 Toro grandstand with 1800+ good on it and it's only had one repair, a bad gasket. Only myself ever uses the unit and it's well maintained. It isn't babied but it is certainly not abused. These machines can last well into the 2000+ hour range if they are taken care of properly and treated well in their use. No curb hopping, no mowing super tall, thick grass for the sake of a few video likes, no banging the decks into objects, etc...
I actually like doing my own maintenance. You learn your machine that way.
I’m not selling any of my older mowers until the nonsense ends. My wife and I work together and I now have 7 different mowers of various size. We run a pair of Z3X 61” for our main units but I have kept my 52” and 60” ExMark zero turns just in case. I hate using the zero turns and they would have been sold off last year but I could see all of this coming and I’m glad I kept them for added insurance.
Good thinking, I'm going to do the same.
Great video and information. Your information reminded me about learning how to work on anything not just lawn mowers. My father and I work on our cars by hand and we learn that way how things work and how to diagnose and fix.
Thank you
Great content. Yep, always be prepared.
Thank you
Thank you for your video and all the time it takes to make it. I just started to balance my blades I wonder if this would help prolong some repairs. Let me know your thoughts. I know that eventually all things will wear out regardless of care.
Balanced blades are very important for the life of the spindle bearings.
Thanks for the information bud
I would like your opinion on using a multi-tool such as Stihl kombi vs a single tool edger as I know the kombi will be heaver.
Kombis are great and not hardly a noticeable difference in weight.
When is the next video coming? I love the content man keep it up.
Thank you. I have been taking a break from you tube, but I will start again soon.
Thanks for your content Bud.
FYI I had to cut my pulley off my spindle on my 72” z3x.
Also do you happen to know the torque spec on spindle/ pulley bolt?
I don't know the torque specs yet, I just went with "tighten until it feels tight enough" I did order a torque wrench so I can check it when I get it lol.
Hi Bud, hope all’s well for you and your family. I have a 2019 Ferris Z3x 52 “, oil guard 37 hp vanguard. I am wondering why your mowers are breaking down, these are built to industrial standards. Do you use “X” blades, or extra high lift blades? Do you think that could cause vibrations or undue stress on the spindles? Very odd your
spindle bearings crapped
out. I know you are very
good with maintenance, it
15:30 doesn’t make sense. Could belts be too tight or perhaps pillows not lined up? I heard don’t turn on or off the blades unless you have low idle rpm. Sorry for long post, I have much respect for your methods. Thank you. Jim
There are so many variables when it comes to why and when things break. We have extreme weather conditions here, very rough rocky dusty terrain and I run these machines pretty hard sometimes in those conditions. All machines are built by human hands and can have issues just because one of those hands didn't do everything right one day. At the end of the day, I expect things to break down or wear out within reason and I feel overall, that these machines are the best for me and my business. I think most of the issues I have had and things that have failed are within reason all things considered.
Things are crazy right now ! Can't find parts or mowers ! can't find people to work ! My brand new mower with less than 100 hrs will be down till at least November, "I'm told" We need to replace the wiring harness on it. Great idea buying 2 new mowers with way things are now. We have 4 mowers + my father n law's mower if we need it and sometime that's not even enough mowers🤷 our 61" is about to hit 2k hrs🤦.....🤔just curious how many pumps of grease does your spindles take in the mowing season? Mine takes 50-100 during summer.(per week)
I have a battery powered grease gun, but I go through half a tube every week on the spindles.
I have heard that the wire harness is causing a lot of issues right now. Hopefully it's not down untill November, that sucks.
Get a bad boy mower......
No thanks. I looked at them because we have a dealer here, but they are not built for long term commercial use.
Have you ever ran the Ballard x blades on the ferris mowers if so do you have to buy a different bolt to put the blades on or will the stock one work
I have not, but I don't think they would require a bolt change.
I will let you know when they get here I’m excited to get them
I got the x blades from Ballard and installed them I used the stock bolt to hold the blades on
Good deal. Let me know how they compare/perform if you don't mind.
So have your new rides come in yet??
Maybe January? They have been on order since Spring, but I guess the factory is not able to keep up with demand. Thankfully I didn't have any more issues after Spring and both mowers have over 1000 hours on them. Hope to get another 1000 hours on them before I sell them.
@@HandyGuy2016 ferris assembly line has been very busy building stihl mowers, from what I hear. Haven't actually seen one yet
Ed Wright made a video suggesting 12-1500 hours was the unload point to avoid the majority of problems. This video seems to back that up. Labor costs up, machine costs up, part costs way up, gasoline hyperbolic.....customers ain't ready for reality and neither are we. I love the Ferris Product but as you grow as a small operator you can't turn to your on hand fleet mechanic to turn your machines around for you. Just thinking out loud. The Math on what you need to make an hour to make these machines profitable instead of futile marches ever higher. You've really racked up some time on your fleet the last couple years. You'll sleep better when you get your new machines. Mow money mow problems.
Very true
It's all in how you care for the equipment. I have a 2016 Toro grandstand with 1800+ good on it and it's only had one repair, a bad gasket. Only myself ever uses the unit and it's well maintained. It isn't babied but it is certainly not abused. These machines can last well into the 2000+ hour range if they are taken care of properly and treated well in their use. No curb hopping, no mowing super tall, thick grass for the sake of a few video likes, no banging the decks into objects, etc...
Hey handy guy where are you
What do you mean?
Missing your videos! Hope all is well.
Been busy