Ferris IS700Z HST oil and filter change

Gary Fowler · May 23, 2015

I decided that 75 hours was likely enough for the first transmission oil change regardless of the mfg stated 200 hours. Since tractors require 50 hours, I thought this was likely a good idea for the mower.
The manual only had like 11 steps to do this and about 9 of those involved putting the oil back in. They neglected to mention that the factory has two trained gorillas that assemble these. One puts on the oil filters and the other puts in the top fill plug (actually you cant fill from there as it only vents). After getting about every tool out of my tool chest, I finally used my Harbor Freight oil filter pliers and with much effort, finally got the filters off. There is only enough clearance on the top so that you can move the filter about 1/16 turn at a grip assuming the pliers aren't slipping. Luckily after about 1/4 turn, I could then turn it off by hand.

Next was trying to remove the top fill plug which has to be removed in order to vent the transmission when refilling. I did try unsuccessfully to fill it without removing the plug after about 30 minutes of trying to get the right sized allen wrench on the plug. Ferris did provide an access hole in the frame to get to it. TOO BAD they put it about 3" from the plug and of course the frame is so close that there is barely enough room to get the short end of a standard allen wrench in. You can see the plug by looking thru the frame in front of the rear wheel but you cant reach it from there. You must be under the mower and with the aid of a mirror, you can find the plug. Getting an allen wrench of unknown size in the hole with no visibility is not an easy task. After fiddling around with about a dozen different allen wrench sets and finally finding a short one that fit but only to discover that they had that other gorilla putting the plugs in and I couldn't move it with the short wrench. I finally got out my micrometer to measure the short one and then find a longer handle one of the same dimensions. Finally now I had two wrenches that fit, one to break the joint and then get the shorter on so I could spin it around without removing the wrench. Now over an hour into this oil change and just about ready to pour some oil.

You fill thru the reservoirs and the 20W-50 oil is slow to fill. OEM says 2.2 quarts per side. Fill till the oil if flush with the top fill oil. Since you cant see into the hole at all, it is just a process of pouring till it starts to run out and then try to get the plug back in before too much oil escapes to your concrete floor then hope that the reservoir is not too full so as to leave room for expansion of the hot oil. I got the first one filled about right after loosing about half a pint on the floor before I could get the plug started back in. The second one was a bit easier to start and I only lost a couple of tablespoons on the concrete BUT the reservoir was too full so I had to remove some oil. I only did this after running the mower for about 15 minutes mowing a small and section of yard. Evidently the filters fill as you are filling because the level didn't drop any when mowing.

I will check the level again when cold just to be sure.

This would have been a pretty easy job, even with the super tight filters, if Ferris had just located the access hole directly on top of the plug AND put a regular hex head bolt plug in it rather than the recessed allen wrench type. Then a socket on an extension would have made quick work of an otherwise complicated and difficult task.

Ridge · Jun 19, 2015

We just bought a IS600 and will having these fun projects in the future, how is the mower otherwise?

jaydee325 · Jul 17, 2015

I'm glad I came across this. I'm shopping zero turns right now. So far looked at Kubota and Toro. Looking at Ferris tomorrow.

Serviceability was something I had not thought much about. Will now.

Thanks Gary.

jaydee325 · Jul 17, 2015

Gary, Ridge,

Please share your thoughts on these two Ferris models. This is the range I'm looking at right now.

Thanks,

Bob

MinnesotaEric · Nov 9, 2015

Gary Fowler said:
I decided that 75 hours was likely enough for the first transmission oil change regardless of the mfg stated 200 hours. Since tractors require 50 hours, I thought this was likely a good idea for the mower.
The manual only had like 11 steps to do this and about 9 of those involved putting the oil back in. They neglected to mention that the factory has two trained gorillas that assemble these. One puts on the oil filters and the other puts in the top fill plug (actually you cant fill from there as it only vents). After getting about every tool out of my tool chest, I finally used my Harbor Freight oil filter pliers and with much effort, finally got the filters off. There is only enough clearance on the top so that you can move the filter about 1/16 turn at a grip assuming the pliers aren't slipping. Luckily after about 1/4 turn, I could then turn it off by hand.

Next was trying to remove the top fill plug which has to be removed in order to vent the transmission when refilling. I did try unsuccessfully to fill it without removing the plug after about 30 minutes of trying to get the right sized allen wrench on the plug. Ferris did provide an access hole in the frame to get to it. TOO BAD they put it about 3" from the plug and of course the frame is so close that there is barely enough room to get the short end of a standard allen wrench in. You can see the plug by looking thru the frame in front of the rear wheel but you cant reach it from there. You must be under the mower and with the aid of a mirror, you can find the plug. Getting an allen wrench of unknown size in the hole with no visibility is not an easy task. After fiddling around with about a dozen different allen wrench sets and finally finding a short one that fit but only to discover that they had that other gorilla putting the plugs in and I couldn't move it with the short wrench. I finally got out my micrometer to measure the short one and then find a longer handle one of the same dimensions. Finally now I had two wrenches that fit, one to break the joint and then get the shorter on so I could spin it around without removing the wrench. Now over an hour into this oil change and just about ready to pour some oil.

You fill thru the reservoirs and the 20W-50 oil is slow to fill. OEM says 2.2 quarts per side. Fill till the oil if flush with the top fill oil. Since you cant see into the hole at all, it is just a process of pouring till it starts to run out and then try to get the plug back in before too much oil escapes to your concrete floor then hope that the reservoir is not too full so as to leave room for expansion of the hot oil. I got the first one filled about right after loosing about half a pint on the floor before I could get the plug started back in. The second one was a bit easier to start and I only lost a couple of tablespoons on the concrete BUT the reservoir was too full so I had to remove some oil. I only did this after running the mower for about 15 minutes mowing a small and section of yard. Evidently the filters fill as you are filling because the level didn't drop any when mowing.

I will check the level again when cold just to be sure.

This would have been a pretty easy job, even with the super tight filters, if Ferris had just located the access hole directly on top of the plug AND put a regular hex head bolt plug in it rather than the recessed allen wrench type. Then a socket on an extension would have made quick work of an otherwise complicated and difficult task.

For the record, as an auto tech, I drilled a pile of access holes into unibody cars primarily through strut towers to gain easy assess to crankshaft bolts changing out timing belts. Is drilling your own hole an option? I'm considering a Ferris is700/Simplicity XT which is what brought me to the forum. What do yo think of your engine? Would you buy this mower again?

Gary Fowler · Nov 9, 2015

EricTheOracle said:
For the record, as an auto tech, I drilled a pile of access holes into unibody cars primarily through strut towers to gain easy assess to crankshaft bolts changing out timing belts. Is drilling your own hole an option? I'm considering a Ferris is700/Simplicity XT which is what brought me to the forum. What do yo think of your engine? Would you buy this mower again?

I would for sure buy it again.

I am sure all mower brands (or any vehicle) have some eccentricity with them with regard to servicing. Sometimes I think it is designed in to make it too difficult for the owner to do so he takes it to the dealer for service.
Examples: Just ask anyone who has done the first service on any equipment about how easy it is to remove the screw on oil filters as an example.
My Craftsman ZTR6000 with B&S engine is nearly impossible to access the oil filter with a wrench (or any tool other than hand) to remove it.

My wife's 2003 Olds Bravada has the oil filter up inside a hole that is about elbow deep so removing it means getting an oiled up arm every time.
Brother in law once owned a car that required that the engine be pulled to change the spark plugs.

I took a cutting torch to my 1970 Ford Torino to cut an access hole in the inner fender liner to get to the rear spark plugs. I still had to remove the front tire to get to it IIRC.

But back to the mower: I have the FS 690 Kawasaki engine which so far has been flawless. If I were buying again, I would look at the FX grade. It has a much better air filter system on it, likely some other refinements also.