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I would add, to the above, idler spring tension, may be too loose. Blade impacts and even engine stop/start from high rpm (eg in work, lift bum of seat, engine dies, bum back down, engine suddenly kicks back into life)

I am a retired agricultural scientist/farmer - Water filling of tyres as ballast is an old fashioned cheap trick, that should not be used on modern tractors. Modern tractors are: Designed with well researched weight distribution Require a certain degree of wheel slip to protect gears and...

I fit ALL my ride ones with a manual fuel shut off. Saves all those concerns about overflow into crankcase and avoids fuel spills when cleaning float bows/removing carb.

Star Tech - Cant see how the adapters would be a significant help - may speed refilling (a little) but how to judge that transmission full? Likely to end up with a spill/big mess. Anyhow wasn't a big problem - Not like I will be doing this on a frequent basis and the system I was working on...

Job done! & mower returned to service. Even though its a Hydro-Gear transmission, it was cheaper to purchase Ferris/B&S OM fan. New 25HP engine, full service front to back - so far going very well. Transmission a real pain in the rear to refill - took best part of two days to percolate in. As...

B & S 25 hp Pro Commercial - comes with an oil cooler. Cooled from air blast, coming from cowling. Fitted one two weeks ago.

No mulching kit is worth the money - with the exception of people who mow their lawn, at very short/frequent interval, mower mulching kits/systems, are a marketing con.

Thanks for the reply. If not already done - Be sure to set your deck/blade cut height for the tyre pressures you are routinely using. High pressure in the front tyres, may be changing the angle of cut, by lifting the front of the deck relative to the back.

With you all the way. Can't understand why grease nipples are not more easily accessible - especially the spindle grease nipples . Why are so many on the underside of the deck, when it can't be that hard to put them on the top of the spindle shaft?????

It's most likly that so called "experienced guys" will have the accident. Why? : They do a lot more hours than the average home mower, exposing themselves to more risk. Countering this is knowledge/skill. Are overconfident - operate at machines at stability limits. Only takes a small...

Forgive my ignorance - What is 25 F?? & 8 R ??

Maaaate! A conventional mower deck is similar to a centrifugal pump/aircraft propeller. Cut off the air supply/exit (as in a mulching mower exit plug) you use less power and move less air. Most mowers use blades with a "pitch"/twist so as to act as fan/propeller. Propellers are just a type of...

Hate to disappoint you, your ride on lawn mower has very little in common with a "tractor". I commend your enthusiasm - Since retiring 10 years ago, I also have become somewhat enthusiastic about older ride on mowers - current collection (all of which were donated): Husqvarna 22 hp Toro Wheel...

Fair enough. However this is generally not the norm. For the most part: Road vehicle tyres are run well under the manufactures Max pressure. Max pressure rating being the maximum safe inflation , usually for Max load situations. Motorcycles and to some extent mowers & other off road equipment...

Gentlemen: More Power: Retired now but whole career in agriculture. Doesn't matter what you are processing, the more you process (in this case render the grass clippings smaller) the more power is required - simple physics. No matter the size of your machine (push or ride on), an identical...

The above video may assist in an initial tyre pressure setting & could work well for mower tyres BUT does not accommodate the inevitable heating (pressure rise) of the road vehicle tyre in work. Further - most unladen (just driver & front passenger) vehicles will be heavier over the front axle...

Grass that is not being grazed is but a green cancer, requiring prodigious quantities of money to keep under control.

Mulching, is a way of processing grass clippings into smaller pieces. The more you process the more energy/power is required. Two identical mowers, one with a standard cut system, the other with mulching - The mulching mower will use more fuel, likly cut slower and all for a very questionable...

To get an even cut, make sure your pressures are the same across each axle ie the same pressure in both rear - can be diffrent pressure in front but must be same for both tyres. Note: front not usually as important as rear, for even cut.

Onl Only in those systems where it is specified - read your owner/maintenance manual for instructions.

In all the very many tears I have been around all sorts of engines big & small I have never had a low oil situaton. Either you are not maintaining your engine correctly or somehow crankcase oil has been lost.

!2v systems require very good earth/ground return to work effectively. Keep all connections clean & tight. All my 12V started equipment, has an additional earth wire from battery negative (-) to the engine crankcase. If lights or other systems are involved, I run an earth wire to them as well...

One person's hill is another person's cliff. Without seeing "THE HILL" , its slope, obstacles, even soil type, the best advice is either overkill or dangerously insufficient.

I use a length of automotive 12V cable tied in a loop. Length of double loop will depend on space available to to the job. Connect your spring to the point furthest from you. Connect the loop to the other end of the spring. depending on how strong you are and space available, use one or both...

Tough question as every situaton is diffrent. The more a filter catches the cleaner the air so you won't damage the engine. I guess you will have to be guided by how the engine is running (after filter tapping/cleaning with compressed air) - Does it cold start without the choke ? - this...

I'm with the respondents who don't replace their oil filters too often. I usually replace every second oil fill (even this is possibly to frequent). It would be diffrent for commercial high hour engines and for engine service providers who are pretty well obliged to go with a new filter every...

Graze the slope - automatic, may make money and/or pleasure

This is my experince: - Cut at 100mm (4") Always use full power/rpm BEFORE starting to cut and for a few moments after cutting NEVER cut wet grass. Do not collect grass clippings (unless you want to make compost) - spread it. In long grass, lift the grass shoot out of action, to allow for...

Some words on "tractors" ; Ride on lawn mowers are for the most part NOT tractors, even if they look a little like a miniature version. Tractors come in all shapes & sizes, are heavy duty (compared with ride on mowers), usually diesel, have 3 point linkage & tow bars. Horticultural ones can be...

I doubt that most mower V twins' have an oil thermostat - I have never seen one on a mower engine You are correct to a point - ideally engine oils should reach over 100 C for a period sufficient to drive of harmful volatiles (water, byproducts of combustion & fuel). Other than this, a crankcase...

"Not sure about the others, but the Kubota GR has only one transmission, so the differential is open. It may have a diff lock feature, but if so, that does more damage to turf than ZTRs. It's also a tractor configuration, which has a higher CoG than a ZTR. I would not recommend the Kubota GR...

In my limited experience; Most if not all mowers can be turned into mulching mowers by changing the blades to mulching (if available for your mower) AND closing off the grass exit shoot. Some mowers come with this as an optional extra. My view - Its a marketing con, waste of $$. Mulching...

Nice topic for the Brains Trust. I am about to repower a Ferris zero turn, with a brand new B&S, 2500, 724 cc, 25 hp engine. The new engine comes with an oil cooler. The old, same engine, detuned to 23 hp, did not have this feature. This has got me thinking about my Hustler Super Z, zero...

Zero turns do not handle operating across a steep slope well at all. Not only inefficient potentially dangerous. Steep slopes are best handled by 4 x 4 mowers - there are many to choose from...

Thanks MBTRAC (Mercedes?) - I am doing up this Ferris for my neighbour who has elected to go for the B&S 15W-50 full synthetic (as per engine recommendation for widest ambient temperature range) I will also use it in the transmission - should give very good service. I did check out various...

This is the powdered graphite I use - comes from the hardware (not mower/automotive) store. Note: Graphite is graphite. As long as its finely ground/powder, it will all be the same. Below is just the stuff I can find easily, pack size/shape/supply company will have no bearing on quality. The...

Hoping for an informed comment: Could I use the same Vanguard 10W-50 full synthetic, instead of the recommended 20W-50, API SL, in the hydro transmission?

Sorry ILENGINE, my bad typing proofreading. You are correct, should be: Hydro-Gear Commercial ZT-3100. Model No. ZJ-HPEE-3F7B-29LX

Thanks for that ILENGINE. Just had another thought (dangerous) - could I use the same Vanguard 10W-50 full synthetic in the transmission? Would sure save on all those part used oil containers around my place.

While on oils - The new B&S 25 hp engine oil recommendations are very broad, everything from a straight 30W mineral up to a full synthetic (Vanguard) 15W-50. I have used straight 30W in my small engines for probably 40 years or so without any issues. My local mower shop is recommending full...

Hydro-Gear recommended motor oil for the gearboxes, 20W-50 API SL. Any comments /observations on this??

The OM Hydro-Gear filters hydraulic filters PN 52114 are like finding "hens teeth" & very expensive when you do (around $40/each Australian) I can get Stens PN 120-738 for about half the above price - are these okay??

So I now have a bit more information: The transmissions are Hydro-Gear Commercial ZT-3100. Model No. ZJ-HPEE-3F7B-29LX As far as I can make out this requires a cooling fan Part No 55217 Please confirm.

Dont know as my neighbour purchased it second hand with right side fan blades missing. The absence of the blades not only risks hydraulic oil getting too hot it also seems to lead to a build up of grass chaff, further diminishing cooling effect. Its my job to get the mower back up in to full...

Thanks again - Will be getting the mower in tomorrow (Australian time). Will see if I can find the transmission model number and also check the remains of the fan, to see if I can work out the blade pitch direction

I hope you don't mind that I double check your PN When I Googled Hydro Gear PN 53826 - I got - "Hydro Gear Fan 7.0 10 Blade - Counter Clockwise Specs" I also got Hydro Gear PN 53994 which looks the same but the blades have the opposite pitch to the above. What say you??

Reference: Ferris 48" Part Number 5901740. Location: Australia Having trouble sourcing a replacement hydraulic transmission fan for the above mower I think the Ferris (B&S) Part Number is 1759449FS, now superseded by 1759449 YP 7" CCW INPUT (WHITE) The transmission may be Simplicity or...

Great! spot on information AND FAST!!!!

Hi All, Zero Turn Mower, Ferris 48", Part Number 5901740. 1. Dont seem to be able to find a part number for the two hydraulic filters - can you help? 2. B&S parts very hard to get in Australia - can you recomend an alternative to above OM? Thanks in anticipation.

Bluntly - Never wash your engine powered equipment. Might make you feel good but chances are you are damaging the machine. With due care use compressed air. Only if needed to soften grease/oil build up, spray some cheap light oil (WD40)/diesel/kerosene, before you use the compressed air.