Bought a new ZD1611 ZTR... overheated.

[walnutman]

This all happened the day I picked it up.

.3hrs on it. All I did was ride it around the yard and adjusted the anti-scalp wheels.

Neighbor drives up and stops. As I'm talking to him and I see a yellow engine light.
Then I notice the temp guage is pegged. Manual says it should be beeping an alarm. No beeping.

Was around 1:30 pm. I called the salesman and said I'm coming back with the mower. It's overheating. Two things are gonna happen. I leave with my check or another mower.

I get there and my salesman already has the paperwork for transferring to another unit.

Service manager looks into the radiator of the returned unit and questions the level. He drives it back into the shop.

As we finalize the paperwork in the office the service manager pops in and says there is nothing wrong with the unit. It just needed a half a gallon of coolant. My take on that was it was either underfilled or has a leak.

No issues with the return and transfer... great dealership! Actually left with a newer unit based on stock number, serial number and engine model number. I'm sure the try and move the older units first.

Get this. the first unit engine model was V1505-CR-TE5
The newer one is V1505-CR-T-EW03

Wonder what the difference is?

 

[Hay Dude]

“Nothing wrong with the unit”
Overheated
Low on coolant?
Sounds like is sucked in a bunch of coolant and overheated.

I wouldn’t want it.

 

[walnutman]

You mean head gasket?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

the TE5 is a newer generation / newer technology Tier 5 compliant motor.

The other is a older technology tier 3 compliant motor (possibly an interim tier 4 but would need to know the serial number)

 

[walnutman]

the TE5 is a newer generation / newer technology Tier 5 compliant motor.

The other is a older technology tier 3 compliant motor (possibly an interim tier 4 but would need to know the serial number)

I realize that but look again at the engine model numbers. One is TE5 the other is EW03.... with a newer serial number.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

My ZD326 has an overheating alarm, and Kubota ran it through the ECM. My ECM has failed, and I don't want a new one, so I keep an eye on the gauge.

 

[walnutman]

My ZD326 has an overheating alarm, and Kubota ran it through the ECM. My ECM has failed, and I don't want a new one, so I keep an eye on the gauge.

Thing is we typically dont look at gauges unless we notice something isnt right.

 

[Hay Dude]

Thing is we typically dont look at gauges unless we notice something isnt right.

That’s why the sound of the alarm for overheating exists.
Overheating alarms are priceless.
Don’t take long up in the red zone for things to get very expensive

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

In the case of the ZD326, the ECM appears to be more likely to fail. It also costs a lot and does things a few simple components could do better.

If you wait for that horn and it doesn't come on, you will be wishing you paid more attention to the gauge. OP's ECM let him down, and his gauge saved him.

 

[Hay Dude]

In the case of the ZD326, the ECM appears to be more likely to fail. It also costs a lot and does things a few simple components could do better.

If you wait for that horn and it doesn't come on, you will be wishing you paid more attention to the gauge. OP's ECM let him down, and his gauge saved him.

I kinda doubt a brand new, running ZD1611 had a failed ECM, but anything is possible.
I have had an occasion or 2 when I’ve seen the needle in red with no audible alarm.
I have also seen (heard) when the alarm is the first thing I hear, only to see gauge in the red.

IMO, the operator of a zero turn mower running it at the speed required to make a living with one, would be hard pressed to watch the temp gauge without getting into an accident.

 

[walnutman]

In the case of the ZD326, the ECM appears to be more likely to fail. It also costs a lot and does things a few simple components could do better.

If you wait for that horn and it doesn't come on, you will be wishing you paid more attention to the gauge. OP's ECM let him down, and his gauge saved him.

Agree. Not saying I dont look at them but let's be honest. We dont look at them constantly.

 

[mike0000]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

 

[walnutman]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

The ZD1611 is much quieter than what most are used to. The new diesel has common rail fuel injection which, as you have noticed in new diesel pickups, much quieter than the old days. I'm guessing the alarm is probably pretty loud. I know my eXmark low fuel alarm was very loud and annoying.

 

[Brown Dog]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

You must have a hi revving loud gas engine (& excessive vibrating too IF gas)

I’ve had 5 of these ZD Diesels & wear a radio headset for my commercial poultry house alarm system & I can hear my horn go off just fine when they overheat.
Kill the engine, rake the excess grass off & dump the radiator screen out & back to mowing with temp back down to 2 bars.

 

[arrow]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

It is not just about engine noise.
The whirring of the cutter blades produces enough noise by themselves to justify hearing protection.
I have not been on a single zero turn that was quiet enough within the five brands we sell that doesn’t warrant protection unless one is already kind of deaf.

 

[WM75Guy]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

I need hearing protection on my ZD1211. I wear a 3M Worktunes hearing protection/radio. I can hear the alarm without any issue.

 

[mike0000]

You must have a hi revving loud gas engine (& excessive vibrating too IF gas)

I’ve had 5 of these ZD Diesels & wear a radio headset for my commercial poultry house alarm system & I can hear my horn go off just fine when they overheat.
Kill the engine, rake the excess grass off & dump the radiator screen out & back to mowing with temp back down to 2 bars.

I like your screen name, one of my closest friends and co-workers had a dog he loved very much, he had named him “Brown Dog”. I remember when Brown Dog passed away, sad time for my friend. I’ve lost touch with him since we both retired, I think of him whenever I see your posts.

You are correct, It is a gasser, Kohler 27hp twin, I wouldn’t say it has excessive vibrations, but it is loud. It’s probably at least 20-25 years old, Great Dane Chariot Lx 72” deck.
It’s been very reliable, I think it has about 800 hrs. hydrostatic and built very solidly. I recently added a suspension seat, which was probably my biggest complaint with the mower, it had a terribly rough ride, new seat helps quite a bit. I think we paid about $8k new, which I thought was outrageous back then, went from a cub cadet rider that was a 42 or 44” deck I think, the zero turn cut my mowing time in half. I also wear a set of radio headphones while cutting.

Mike

 

[walnutman]

I like your screen name, one of my closest friends and co-workers had a dog he loved very much, he had named him “Brown Dog”. I remember when Brown Dog passed away, sad time for my friend. I’ve lost touch with him since we both retired, I think of him whenever I see your posts.

You are correct, It is a gasser, Kohler 27hp twin, I wouldn’t say it has excessive vibrations, but it is loud. It’s probably at least 20-25 years old, Great Dane Chariot Lx 72” deck.
It’s been very reliable, I think it has about 800 hrs. hydrostatic and built very solidly. I recently added a suspension seat, which was probably my biggest complaint with the mower, it had a terribly rough ride, new seat helps quite a bit. I think we paid about $8k new, which I thought was outrageous back then, went from a cub cadet rider that was a 42 or 44” deck I think, the zero turn cut my mowing time in half. I also wear a set of radio headphones while cutting.

Mike

Ride quality on zero turns was a huge issue. Three years ago I bought a new eXmark Lazer X because up north all the landscapers used them so I figured they knew what worked for them. $14,000.

OMG what a lousy ride. No suspension. Had a nice suspension seat but not air ride. I thought I was gonna lose my kidneys. If I went a little faster it would bounce off the ground over moderate bumps. I dont think the landscapers company owners cut with them.

Sold it for $13k and got a $9600 Ferris with that great suspension. All the difference in the world.

Just bought the new ZD1611 flagship diesel Kubota. Ferris is on marketplace.
I wanted a bigger beast, diesel and the air ride seat. The seat and the jacking front axle are the best!

 

[Brown Dog]

I need hearing protection on my ZD1211. I wear a 3M Worktunes hearing protection/radio. I can hear the alarm without any issue.

+1 on the 3m WorkTunes

 

[Brown Dog]

Ride quality on zero turns was a huge issue …
Just bought the new ZD1611 flagship diesel Kubota … I wanted a bigger beast, diesel and the air ride seat. The seat and the jacking front axle are the best!

You’ll really like the 4cyl Turbo Diesel TORQUE !!!
It’s plenty heavy enough so it doesn’t bounce you or ride too rough unless you mow wide open ground speed on rough ground : then it’ll beat your brains out like ANY mower will
I tried the lil 1211 3cyl first but it just wouldn’t pull my steep hills w/o bogging down.
And again I don’t mow fast because my 20acres of weekly mowing farm grass is rough.
I just wished Kubota offered a 84 or 96” side discharge deck option.