I just purchased a new Z force S 48 and while cutting on a slope it started smoking (white smoke) really bad. Once I got back on level ground it cleared up. It repeated this 4 more times while I cut the sloped area. Anyone else had this occur?
I have the same mower and the same issue. It is not caused by the oil level being too high. It happens to me when I am going up hill, and tilted to the left. I pretty much just avoid mowing any slopes that will cause it to smoke. I will mow downslope, turn off the deck, go up the slope without mowing, then mow back down. Adds a little time, but not too much. Other than the smoke, the mower does a great job on slopes. I am able to mow a 2.5:1 slope detention(dry) pond, going at a 45 degree angle.
These mowers with the 20HP Kohler engines have a breather system design problem that require them to be taken apart and corrected with the installation of a new design breather tube.
I checked with the local Cub Cadet dealer in my area in Maine yesterday where this machine was purchased from and he said he wasn't aware of this problem. I notified him of the results I found on several different mower forums and he said he'd call me back if he found something in their TSB's on this model. About an hour later he called me back and said I was correct, that a bulletin had been issued and that it needed to come back to them to have it corrected under the warranty. I'll be taking it back this week and when it is completed, I'll let you know how I made out. The mower was bought last year and now has only 23 hours on it and apparently the owner has had this problem since it was brand new but didn't follow up on it, which is what I'm doing for him now.
I took delivery of a 2011 Z-Force 46 early in July 2012. In the first 5 minutes use it lost power and belched oil smoke. The oil was a tad above the full mark. Long story short, it still does this at any oil level. I had the dealer send me the latest service circular about this problem; CC-715 C. This is the third version of attempts by Kohler to remedy the problem which covers engine production from 2010 to 2012!
I am not willing to stay with this engine since part of the current fix is to put in a new dipstick with a LOWER full mark resulting in reduced crankcase oil capacity and an engine that will have less oil to keep it cool and a muck reduced service life. I gave Cub 2 choices, replace the Kohler with the Kawasaki they are using exclusively in the 2012 Z-Force or replace the 2011 with a 2012. I will let you know how this plays out.
I meant to get back to everyone on this issue. I finally got the mower down to Waterman's Farm Machinery on the Sabattus Road, in Sabattus, Maine where it was purchased. Their service department did the warranted campaign update to the engine and some other service maintenance work.
The owner's of the mower and I've run it for about a combined 7 to 8 hours since we got it back and it runs much better with no smoke problems at all anymore. How long it will last, only time will tell, but I sure like using this mower a lot more, now that it doesn't hog up on oil splash anymore.
