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I posted earlier on which motor is best for 61" Cheetah, almost settled. To be safe, I found a Ferris dealer and drove a new 3200 with the 37HP Kawa expecting to hate it?an, was I wrong. Loved it! I have been driving Scag for 10 years for farm use and am a huge fan of Scag quality.

About same price for the Cheetah with 31 kawa and the Ferris 3200 with the 37 Kawa. A lot of money and I don't want to blow this, any help would be so much appreciated.

1) My impression is Scag is a little better built, heavier deck, etc. Agree? If so, is it significant. I am using for farm and a few family fall clean-ups. Maybe 100 hours a year.

2) The ICD deck is decent but it was dry. Does it do OK with damp or wet grass without clogging?

3) Are there any huge problems with the new model 3200? I saw a few posts on belt issues etc but hard to tell if that is a big deal?

4) Again, since all of my history is Scag I feel like I am going out on a limb. Anything else I need to know about Ferris 3200?

This topic is broad but I will take any/all opinions as part of my decision.

Thanks!

I should add one thing. After the test drives, I think I am leaning toward the Ferris. Didn't expect to be going away from Scag but the suspension and the higher HP Kawi for about the same $$ is hard to pass-up. Advice, please!

Guzzler said:

I should add one thing. After the test drives, I think I am leaning toward the Ferris. Didn't expect to be going away from Scag but the suspension and the higher HP Kawi for about the same $$ is hard to pass-up. Advice, please!

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The ferris is3200 is a great mower. You can't beat the ride, and the icd deck cuts great. They are very solid mowers. Btw, don't rule out the new 36 hp big block vanguard. It is a great engine. My father has a snapper pro s200xt with the 32 hp vanguard big block and it's a power house. Snapper pro and ferris are built on the same frame with the same icd deck. The only difference is the suspension on the ferris. I am also a fan of scag, but they are kind of pricey. The velocity deck is one of the best cutting decks out there. Especially when cutting wet grass. I would also give the edge to ferris though. I read the post on your other thread concerning the complaint of the ferris throwing belts. I haven't seen that problem with my dad's 61" s200xt with the same deck and he uses that mower like a bush hog at times. I also haven't had the problem with any of the ferris mowers I have run, or been around.

Thanks so much, very helpful comments!

Personally, I'd go Scag / Kawi, but I'm not impartial.

If you need a tie breaker, which dealer is closer to your home? If this is a residential mower, which dealer is open Saturday mornings?

I'm moving from metro ATL to the GA mountains and the closest Scag dealer is at least an hour away so it's not too hard to sell this mower before I move. About my only local choices are Kubota and Exmark so it looks like I'll be going Kubota-something.

Only one dealer really close to me,carries Scag, and very unlikely I would buy anything from them-long story. So, all the remaining Scag and Ferris dealers are all about 25 mi away. Pretty much a tie in that department, not awful but would be nice to have that perfect dealer right around the corner.

Guzzler said:

Only one dealer really close to me,carries Scag, and very unlikely I would buy anything from them-long story. So, all the remaining Scag and Ferris dealers are all about 25 mi away. Pretty much a tie in that department, not awful but would be nice to have that perfect dealer right around the corner.

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I would rather have a great dealer 25 miles away than a bad dealer 5 miles away. If it your decision is a tie between the two brands go with the better dealer.

Still deciding,been really busy. Probably take one more look today if I can get to both dealers.

I have seen a couple of main complaints for the Ferris 3200. One is snapping belts and the other is loose collars underneath somewhere? Anyone know if these are still issues?

Guzzler said:

Still deciding,been really busy. Probably take one more look today if I can get to both dealers.

I have seen a couple of main complaints for the Ferris 3200. One is snapping belts and the other is loose collars underneath somewhere? Anyone know if these are still issues?

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As for snapping belts, I haven't seen an issue with the ferris mowers I have been around. The s200xt my dad has uses the same deck. He has around 250 hours on it and has had to put one belt on it, but he isn't easy on a mower. He mows four foot grass in places around his horse pasture and farm shop from time to time, as well as 8 to 9 acres of lawn. I have never heard of a complaint of a loose collar on a ferris. I can't help with that one.

Several IS 3200 operators on lawnsite have commented about their new machines throwing the deck drive belt and spindle pulleys not tight. Haven't heard what the resolve is as many don't follow up and comment as to how their problem was solved.
I have always admired the suspension on Ferris ZTRs. In 2008 I set out to purchase an IS 2000, the dealer was on vacation, checked out Kubota, wasn't impressed, ended up with a Scag Tiger Cub/collection system. I have since installed an aftermarket suspension seat on the Tiger Cub. My Hustler X-ONE is used in a cemetery, one tough machine and easy to maneuver despite its size and weight, rear discharge machine.

Mad Mackie said:

Several IS 3200 operators on lawnsite have commented about their new machines throwing the deck drive belt and spindle pulleys not tight. Haven't heard what the resolve is as many don't follow up and comment as to how their problem was solved.
I have always admired the suspension on Ferris ZTRs. In 2008 I set out to purchase an IS 2000, the dealer was on vacation, checked out Kubota, wasn't impressed, ended up with a Scag Tiger Cub/collection system. I have since installed an aftermarket suspension seat on the Tiger Cub. My Hustler X-ONE is used in a cemetery, one tough machine and easy to maneuver despite its size and weight, rear discharge machine.

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My experience has been mostly with the is2100 and not the is3200. I guess there could be some difference in the decks, but it didn't appear to be to me. The specs indicate there may be different spindles on the is3200. The 61" icd deck on the is2100 looks identical to the icd deck on the S200xt and there have been no issues with either on any of the machines I have operated.

We demoed the ferris a couple years ago and the scag. I was running with dixie chopper commercially. We went with scag, after looking at everything and try booth in every possible situation, tall grass, wet grass, production, the comparing moving parts and wear, tear parts pricing ect. Long story short after a lot of research we went with scag they just out performed in about everything. Also a used scag will bring more $ everyday at the auction. I'm not married to either brand just letting you know I've been down the same road you're on.

Taskforce, very helpful comment, thanks.

Don't mean to turn this into a soap opera, but

Along those lines, went to a dealer about an hour from home that sells both. Nice guy, really high prices. He was all about Scag. Not trying to start a huge brand debate, both nice machines. That said, when they are a few feet apart and you look closely at the construction, design, etc it is hard not to like the Scag just a little more. Just one example, but I found a factory installed loose bolt with no nut on a new Ferris in a REALLY important spot. No doubt I like the ride on the Ferris over the Cheetah, just a few design things that are concerning me enough that I am back to Scag. Called another dealer with both, he also favored Scag. Not 100% sure what to make of that so I have to go with my gut.

I wish Cheetah had the Kawi 37 DFI option but it doesn't. So, back to my original post (until I change my mind again). Leaning toward 61" Cheetah with either 31 Kawa or Briggs 36 BB. 27hp Kawa model is on a really good promo right now, just worried that I will spend 10k for an underpowered machine.

Go with the Vanguard engine on the Cheetah.
Kawasaki big blocks are still having problems and Kawasaki needs time to iron them out. Could be why Kawasaki's are on promotional.
There is always a "reason" for promotional sales!!

I have a Scag Tiger Cat with a 61" deck and the Kawi Fx730 (23hp I think) and have never had a issue with power and some of my grass gets pretty thick. I may be missing something but I can't imagine there being that much more of a drain on power on a Cheetah with the same deck.

All the small engines are pretty decent, we prefer the kaw. Also, if you've engine issue and a good dealer Kaw will back their product up. I don't know every engine out there, but we've one walkbehind with over 3k hours on it an fx engine, that's never had anything done to it, as a mater of fact I've quit changing the plugs, air filter or fuel filter.
Also keep in mind there's a western standard for published Hp on an engine and an Asian standard. So a 25 hp Kaw is what Briggs is calling their 30 hp engine.

Kawasaki FX engines are unofficially classified in several categories.
Fx481V, FX541v and FX600 all share the same displacement basic engine block of 603 CCs and two valve cylinder heads.
FX651V, FX691V and FX730V all share the same displacement basic engine block of 726 CCs and two valve cylinder heads.
Both of these engine lines have been around for a long time and well proven.
The FX engines of larger displacement are considered "big blocks" and are three valve cylinder head design. As these engines are of newer design and production, there have been some problems showing up that Kawasaki needs to resolve and they will resolve them but it takes time.
To a varying extent, every product ends up being consumer tested regardless of amount of manufacturer testing prior to production.

A large percentage of consumers still believe that horsepower is the governing factor in the performance of any given machine, and as ZTRs are getting larger and heavier, horsepower does play into the performance picture somewhat, but not a whole lot. It is more of a marketing tool than a high horsepower need.
As the availability of higher durability hydrostatic drive units is happening, I think, but I have no data to substantiate this, the power needed to sufficiently drive these units has increased thus the demand for higher HP engines to install on these machines.
Observing automobile advertising, one will see that HP is always mentioned along with MPG ratings, but not the same model/engine combination.
Just a few thoughts from
Mad Mackie in CT:smile::biggrin::laughing:

Thats kind of what I'm saying we have never had issues running the fx engines. Unless you just want to be cool and say you're running a big block there's no real advantage. A home owner running a commercial mower should never need a "big block". I run 61" tiger cats with the 23 hp fx and in the fall attach scag clam shell baggers that run off the right spindle. I've still never run out of power.

Thanks to everyone that chimed-in on this discussion, the comments were very helpful! Went with the Cheetah, 61" with 31HP Kawasaki. Seemed like some pros/cons with both Briggs and Kawa, called dealer and they had only Kawasaki 27 and 31HP so made decision a bit easier as he had been telling me all along that he preferred the Kawa, even when he had both. Agree with the last post, the 31hp not an absolute necessity. Using on a hobby farm, i cut a wide variety of areas. Some of those, like the edges of tilled fields with thick weeds and grass, probably push the limits. My old 61 with the 25HP (old ratings) just didn't have enough. The new 27 would probably have been fine but I had the extra $$ and just didn't want to second guess.

My first impression is WOW. I will start a new thread and give some first impressions after I get to mow for more than a few minutes.

Cheers!

Great choice, and the suspended rider platform is just as comfortable for the ride. Sorry i just wasn't impressed when we demoed the ferris. The motorcycle seat thing they made was fun and compact, but still cut like the ICD. It cut nice just not what we where after.