Ferris IS 2100Z ZT-4400 Hydraulic Wheel Pumps Not Functioning After Change

[Hexa Fox]

Hey guys I was thinking I may be able to find some help here. I am in a sticky situation because I need this unit to mow with. I have a backup Craftsman zero turn, but it is going to be a pain to try to use it as even a temporary replacement for the Ferris.

Anyway, I changed (or tried) to change out the hydraulic oil in my Ferris today (ZT-4400 wheel pumps) and I could only get a quart into each of the reservoir tanks. I started the machine up and played around with it a little, but I cannot get it to pull down the new oil (Mobil 1 15W-50 Full Synthetic). I have literally tried everything, moving the tires by hand, opening and closing the bypass release valves on each of the tanks and much more. I think it might be something simple because if something was not functioning properly I would have one working but not the other. This is the first hydraulic oil change I have done myself.

Certainly, I can call the dealer tomorrow, which is normally very helpful. However, I am not sure how much help they are going to be over the phone. Please get back to me and let me know!

 

[hawkeye08]

I believe there are instructions in the manual about bleeding the system.

For my IS700Z,

Purging the Air from the Hydraulic System
Due to the effects air has on efficiency in hydraulic drive
systems, it is critical that it be purged from the system.
These purge procedures should be implemented any time a
hydraulic system has been opened to facilitate maintenance or
any additional oil has been added to the system.
The resulting symptoms of air in the hydraulic system may be:
• Noisy operation.
• Lack of power or drive after short term operation
High operation temperature and excessive expansion of
oil.
Before starting, make sure the transaxles/transmissions are at
the proper oil levels. If it is not, fill to the specifications outlined
in the Check / Fill Transmission Oil Level procedure.
Purging Air from the Hydraulic System:
1. Chock the front wheels to prevent the machine from rolling.
Raise the rear of the machine so that the vehicle’s rear tires
do not contact the ground. Position jack stands under the
rear bumper of the machine to secure it.
2. Open the transaxle’s bypass valves (see Pushing the Rider
by Hand for the location and function of the bypass valves),
start the engine, release the parking brake, and slowly move
the zero-turn rider’s ground speed control levers in both
forward and reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is
purged from the unit, the oil level will drop.
3. Stop the engine and engage the parking brake.
4. Close the transaxle’s bypass valves, start the engine,
release the parking brake, and slowly move the zero-turn
rider’s ground speed control levers in both forward and
reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is purged from the
unit, the oil level will drop.
5. Stop the engine. Remove the jack stands from underneath
the machine.
6. Repeat the process detailed above but with the unit's drive
wheels on the ground. The procedure should be performed
in an area free of any objects or bystanders.
It may be necessary to repeat the process detailed above until
all the air is completely purged from the system. When the
transaxles/transmissions operate at normal noise levels and
move smoothly forward and reverse at normal speeds, then the
transaxles/transmissions are considered purged.

I would suspect your IS2100Z has similar procedures. Page 24 in Operators Manual that I downloaded from Ferris is where I copied this from.

 

[BertZegers]

I have a Ferris 1000Z When I changed the hydraulic oil, I disconnected the hose from the reservoir and let it drain. Than I re-connected the hose and filled the reservoir. There is not much oil in the pump and motor. Most of the oil is in the reservoir.

If you have worked on the system, and have air in the system, than you might have to use the complex procedure.

 

[Hexa Fox]

I believe there are instructions in the manual about bleeding the system.

For my IS700Z,

Purging the Air from the Hydraulic System
Due to the effects air has on efficiency in hydraulic drive
systems, it is critical that it be purged from the system.
These purge procedures should be implemented any time a
hydraulic system has been opened to facilitate maintenance or
any additional oil has been added to the system.
The resulting symptoms of air in the hydraulic system may be:
Noisy operation.
Lack of power or drive after short term operation
High operation temperature and excessive expansion of
oil.
Before starting, make sure the transaxles/transmissions are at
the proper oil levels. If it is not, fill to the specifications outlined
in the Check / Fill Transmission Oil Level procedure.
Purging Air from the Hydraulic System:
1. Chock the front wheels to prevent the machine from rolling.
Raise the rear of the machine so that the vehicle痴 rear tires
do not contact the ground. Position jack stands under the
rear bumper of the machine to secure it.
2. Open the transaxle痴 bypass valves (see Pushing the Rider
by Hand for the location and function of the bypass valves),
start the engine, release the parking brake, and slowly move
the zero-turn rider痴 ground speed control levers in both
forward and reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is
purged from the unit, the oil level will drop.
3. Stop the engine and engage the parking brake.
4. Close the transaxle痴 bypass valves, start the engine,
release the parking brake, and slowly move the zero-turn
rider痴 ground speed control levers in both forward and
reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is purged from the
unit, the oil level will drop.
5. Stop the engine. Remove the jack stands from underneath
the machine.
6. Repeat the process detailed above but with the unit's drive
wheels on the ground. The procedure should be performed
in an area free of any objects or bystanders.
It may be necessary to repeat the process detailed above until
all the air is completely purged from the system. When the
transaxles/transmissions operate at normal noise levels and
move smoothly forward and reverse at normal speeds, then the
transaxles/transmissions are considered purged.

I would suspect your IS2100Z has similar procedures. Page 24 in Operators Manual that I downloaded from Ferris is where I copied this from.

I have these directions and have followed them. I started to fill the reservoir tanks and the unit is not circulating it. There is only one quart in each reservoir and it is not going anywhere no matter what I do.

 

[Hexa Fox]

I have a Ferris 1000Z When I changed the hydraulic oil, I disconnected the hose from the reservoir and let it drain. Than I re-connected the hose and filled the reservoir. There is not much oil in the pump and motor. Most of the oil is in the reservoir.

If you have worked on the system, and have air in the system, than you might have to use the complex procedure.

My dealer told me that this was going to be almost like an oil change. So far I guess it pretty much has been. I plan on calling them first thing when I get up tomorrow, but what is the "complex procedure"? My dealer told me to make certain that I get all the old oil out of the system too. This oil has less than 100 hours of use on it and it looks absolutely horrible.

 

[DocDryden]

I believe there are instructions in the manual about bleeding the system.

For my IS700Z,

Purging the Air from the Hydraulic System
Due to the effects air has on efficiency in hydraulic drive
systems, it is critical that it be purged from the system.
These purge procedures should be implemented any time a
hydraulic system has been opened to facilitate maintenance or
any additional oil has been added to the system.
The resulting symptoms of air in the hydraulic system may be:
Noisy operation.
Lack of power or drive after short term operation
High operation temperature and excessive expansion of
oil.
Before starting, make sure the transaxles/transmissions are at
the proper oil levels. If it is not, fill to the specifications outlined
in the Check / Fill Transmission Oil Level procedure.
Purging Air from the Hydraulic System:
1. Chock the front wheels to prevent the machine from rolling.
Raise the rear of the machine so that the vehicle痴 rear tires
do not contact the ground. Position jack stands under the
rear bumper of the machine to secure it.
2. Open the transaxle痴 bypass valves (see Pushing the Rider
by Hand for the location and function of the bypass valves),
start the engine, release the parking brake, and slowly move
the zero-turn rider痴 ground speed control levers in both
forward and reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is
purged from the unit, the oil level will drop.
3. Stop the engine and engage the parking brake.
4. Close the transaxle痴 bypass valves, start the engine,
release the parking brake, and slowly move the zero-turn
rider痴 ground speed control levers in both forward and
reverse directions (5 to 6 times), as air is purged from the
unit, the oil level will drop.
5. Stop the engine. Remove the jack stands from underneath
the machine.
6. Repeat the process detailed above but with the unit's drive
wheels on the ground. The procedure should be performed
in an area free of any objects or bystanders.
It may be necessary to repeat the process detailed above until
all the air is completely purged from the system. When the
transaxles/transmissions operate at normal noise levels and
move smoothly forward and reverse at normal speeds, then the
transaxles/transmissions are considered purged.

I would suspect your IS2100Z has similar procedures. Page 24 in Operators Manual that I downloaded from Ferris is where I copied this from.

Thanks for the tip,

I bought a used Ferris 2100z with 10.4 hours, it now has about 16 hours on it , the mower is about 15 months old.
It has the Hydro Gear ZT-5400 Transaxles.
I cut about 3 acres.
The operator's manual suggest that I change the hydraulic Oil and filter at: Change Interval: Every 400 Hours (Initial hydraulic oil and filter change after first 100 hours of operation)
Any suggestions as to how often I should change the hydraulic Oil and filter and what type / grade of oil should I use?