How long should things last?

[ultrarunner]

My guess is there will be a slew of those submerged wet belts driving the oil pumps failing in the future. Of course outside of Fords warranty and a real pain to replace and that is assuming the driver shuts down the engine before the main, rod, and cam bearings seize do to oil starvation. On the 2.7's the engine has to be retimed since the cam chains gears have to be removed first. Brilliant.

Not that any engine never fails, Just had to pull the head on the Wrangler 4.0 and fix a bad seat and exhaust valve at only 204K.

I remember when these engines first appeared and the praises received for fuel economy and power…

 

[Oaktree]

I bypassed it so the mower starts, and I have the components (cheap) to force the mower to perform the ECM's lost functions. The important ones, anyway.

Curiously, what function does it serve in that the mower will run with it bypassed?

 

[sd455dan]

I remember when these engines first appeared and the praises received for fuel economy and power…

They are impressive engines.
The bottom ends are way overbuilt.

I just think the wet belt for the oil pump is a mistake due to long term maintenance that will be needed versus driving direct off a crank gear or off the cam with a shaft. When the belt starts to age the debris finds it's way into the oil pump pick up screen as well.

 

[Oaktree]

Personally, I like the challenge of finding problems, the proper parts or something I can make into a part, and repairing things. Same for building things.

Always have. No accounting for tastes I guess.

Same here. A co-worker once commented that I was the only guy he knew who'd try to fix a $5 radio.
I've always joked that my sole marketable skill is the ability to fix things.

Longevity always depends on how you take care of something.

Taking care of things certainly helps longevity, but it's no guarantee. If something's a POS, it's a POS no matter how well you take care of it.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Curiously, what function does it serve in that the mower will run with it bypassed?

When you read the stuff below, it's important to remember that there is a distinction between preventing ignition and shutting the engine down.

The ECM does only three things.

1. Checks the safety switches and prevents the mower from starting if it doesn't like what it sees.

2. Shuts the mower off if you get off the seat AND the PTO is engaged.

3. Allows you to shut the mower off with the key.

The safety-switch ignition check can be bypassed with one jumper. I figured this out and did it. The system can be rigged so the safety switches work to prevent ignition, but that takes more jumpers.

Ordinarily, I hate seat switches, but this one is actually okay, because it will not shut the mower off unless the blades are turning. The mower has a seatbelt, however, so the likelihood of falling in front of the blades is extremely low. At least it should be. My seatbelt latch is screwed up, so until I fix it, my strategy is to hold on tight. I have not tried to restore the seat shutoff function yet, but I may do it later.

I have come up with a cheap circuit to shut the mower off with the key. I have the parts, but I haven't done the breadboarding, testing, and assembly. It works in simulation.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I forgot: the ECM also blows a horn if the mower overheats. There is a temperature gauge on the control panel, though.