Ferris Zero Turn

/ Ferris Zero Turn #1  

crbr

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
1,705
Location
East TN
Tractor
Kub - 2006 | B7800, 2022 | BX 1880
Does anyone have a Ferris ZTR and have an issue of very dusty conditions while mowing? This mower that I have test driven stirs up an unusual amount of dust and grass. It's to the point that wearing a dust mask is necessary and I am a dirty mess when I get done mowing.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #2  
I don't have a Ferris ZTR but my neighbor does. He is extremely pleased with his. His Ferris has a suspension on it and he just glides across his lawn while I am getting beat to death. I don't know about weather conditions in your part of the country but it has been extremely dry here. Around here mowing with anything is going to be a dust storm. Also I am sorry to hear you gave up on Roy Jackson.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #3  
With the blade tip speed of any of the commercial ZTRs you will get a suction effect which will really stir up the dust in dry conditions. This is especially true if you are using high lift blades. I personally love the high-lift blades and plan to use them exclusively, but there are places where I get totally surrounded by blowing dirt and can't even see out. I wear a mask in these areas.

If it has high-lift blades, maybe try some standard lift?
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Also I am sorry to hear you gave up on Roy Jackson.
I could never get a rise out of him for any comment or place in his fan club. I think Roy is in his own zone... :D

With the blade tip speed of any of the commercial ZTRs you will get a suction effect which will really stir up the dust in dry conditions. This is especially true if you are using high lift blades. I personally love the high-lift blades and plan to use them exclusively, but there are places where I get totally surrounded by blowing dirt and can't even see out. I wear a mask in these areas.

If it has high-lift blades, maybe try some standard lift?
Thank you for the input. Makes perfect sense. I'll look and ask about the blades.

Yes Sir, thank you.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #5  
My new Land Pride brush hog has high lift blades. A good idea taken too far. In dusty conditions it's by far the worst brush hog I have ever used for stirring up dust. I think high lift blades on a brush hog are overkill.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #6  
Yup, my Ferris throws stuff and dust a pretty good distance. I look like the dustmeister after just a short mowing session. With that said, it sure does a better and faster job of cutting than my Craftsmen riding mower. The mower has about 800 hours on it with no trouble other than swapping and sharpening blades and routine maintenance.

Even though it has suspension, I am going to swap the seat out for a Michigan Seat Highback Suspension Seat, Model# V-5300 from Northern Tools I think. I took it up to my property in North Florida from my Miami home and it rattles your bones a little bit more than I want on the property up here.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Thank you, Gentlemen. :)
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #8  
I have the IS2000 Ferris 52" - new this year - does a great job with the Trac Vac I tow picking up all the pine needles and leaves this time of year and I have noticed some blow out of the front of the deck over sparse grass cover areas.

I bought a leftover 09 model with the older deck style - has a cut out in the front of the deck and this does allow more dust/blow out from the front of the deck. They changed the deck design this year with offset blades and angled the front of the deck forward but I dont know if this made the blow by any less.

Mine has been great so far smooth ride, the suspension and high back seat are very comfortable.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #9  
I used a 1500 for a couple of seasons and it never seemed too bad about kicking up dust... at least not compared to some other units I've used. Carl touched on what I was going to say. Some of the models use what they call an "ICD" deck which is sloped in the front and supposed to help combat that problem. I believe that deck is standard on some models, optional on others and not available on a few. The one I used had the old flat front deck and I'm not sure what type blades it was using. They are nice mowers, no doubt.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #10  
With the blade tip speed of any of the commercial ZTRs you will get a suction effect which will really stir up the dust in dry conditions. This is especially true if you are using high lift blades. I personally love the high-lift blades and plan to use them exclusively, but there are places where I get totally surrounded by blowing dirt and can't even see out. I wear a mask in these areas.

If it has high-lift blades, maybe try some standard lift?

Ditto. It's not the machine, it's the blades with the high tip speed.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn
  • Thread Starter
#11  
Again, thank you all for the input of information.
 
/ Ferris Zero Turn #12  
I've owned and operated my Ferris 1000Z for 3 yrs out here on the farm. It is absolutely my most prized possession. Right after the tractor. My Ferris, however, gets more seat time.

Debris? My wife calls it being Ferris'd.

You can try a less lift blade set up.

You can place a baffle on your discharge to mulch your clippings.

You can even put a grass bagger/vacuum system on your Z.

However, your best friend is a faster forward speed.
To be somewhere else when the discharge exits the deck is your goal.

Keeping this in mind, I submit that you can look for a machine that discharges to the rear of you deck.

How about making turns with your Z only to the trim side of the deck? In doing so, you are discharging debris to the right and turning left "away from" and not "into" the airborne clippings and dust.

Sometimes problems are more logistical, as opposed to mechanical, no? You'll still come in and have the wife tell you to leave the predominance of your attire in the garage. It's just the nature of the business.

I have an equine facility and, invariably when I drag the various paddocks with a chain harrow to break up the clumps of dobbin's muffins you're just gonna get a little of the airborne "material" in places that the sun never, ever shines.

I actually have a wardrobe set aside for Ferris-ing. There's a certain section of my dresser drawer set aside for various shades of off white, to light green or even light brown socks to underwear(No skid mark jokes, please).

How'd we get off onto this subject, anyway?

Excuse me while I take a moment to clear my nasal passage of foreign material. Wipe some green stuff from the corner of my eye and rinse down the shower.

"Hey, who washed the dog in my bathroom?"
 
 
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