Proud owner of a Ferris IS1500Z

survriggs · Apr 17, 2012

After much consideration and trying other ZTR's I finally settled on a Ferris IS1500z with the Kawasaki engine and 52" cut. The suspension was great since I have a rather rough yard. The steering was a little hard to get used to and I'm still not great at it. I use a 8 wheel Argo for surveying in the swamps so I'm somewhat used to steering with sticks. It's a little hard to keep it slow enough to mow deep grass and rough ground but it sure will fly on smooth ground. So far I'm sure impressed.

Carl_NH · Apr 22, 2012

sruvriggs,

Congratulations on your new Ferris! I have the IS2000 25 Kawasaki 52" and have really enjoyed using it.

A few things I have learned on adjustments and use.

1. Deck Bearings - take a lot of grease, like 20 pumps and its coming out around the spindle - doesnt hurt the mower but it did coat the underside of the deck with a very thin film of grease - makes it real easy to remove grass.. I dont think it hurts to grease them like this..

2. L/R handles - you probably figured out there are a lot of adjustments to balance the fwd speed if you need to, but also I tightened up the L to R movement a bit helped.

3. Hydro Pumps relief valve - there is a 3/8 plug that if loose will bleed off fluid - one of mine was loose and I had a heck of a time trying to sdjust fwd speed until I figured this out.

4. Mulching blades - I got the Oregon Gator blades after the first season on the std blades - they really do a good job on leaves - I compost all the leaves (20 yards a season) and the finer they are makes compost faster.

5. Turning & divots - it's real easy to make them! divots that is esp on wet areas or thin turf - best way I found is to go into a turn slow and do a 3 PT turn, or another way is to cut the perimeter first with two passes then make wider turns at the end of each.

Have fun and enjoy your new machine!

survriggs · Apr 25, 2012

Carl_NH said:
sruvriggs,

Congratulations on your new Ferris! I have the IS2000 25 Kawasaki 52" and have really enjoyed using it.

A few things I have learned on adjustments and use.

1. Deck Bearings - take a lot of grease, like 20 pumps and its coming out around the spindle - doesnt hurt the mower but it did coat the underside of the deck with a very thin film of grease - makes it real easy to remove grass.. I dont think it hurts to grease them like this..

2. L/R handles - you probably figured out there are a lot of adjustments to balance the fwd speed if you need to, but also I tightened up the L to R movement a bit helped.

3. Hydro Pumps relief valve - there is a 3/8 plug that if loose will bleed off fluid - one of mine was loose and I had a heck of a time trying to sdjust fwd speed until I figured this out.

4. Mulching blades - I got the Oregon Gator blades after the first season on the std blades - they really do a good job on leaves - I compost all the leaves (20 yards a season) and the finer they are makes compost faster.

5. Turning & divots - it's real easy to make them! divots that is esp on wet areas or thin turf - best way I found is to go into a turn slow and do a 3 PT turn, or another way is to cut the perimeter first with two passes then make wider turns at the end of each.

Have fun and enjoy your new machine!

Thanks for the info. I did do the two passes on the ends and make wider turns. I also placed a 5 gal. plastic bucked in the yard and practiced cutting around so it wouldn't hurt if I hit it. I'm not telling how many times I turned it over "laughing".

rjohnson82 · May 1, 2012

survriggs said:
After much consideration and trying other ZTR's I finally settled on a Ferris IS1500z with the Kawasaki engine and 52" cut.

Sounds like we are in the same boat! I just bought my first ZTR last week. I got a ferris is2000 60" with kawasaki. i cant believe how sensitive the steering is! What an amazing machine though, I cant believe how much nicer it is than what i was used to for so many years! None of the other ZTRs can compare in ride quality. I drove Exmark, hustler, scag, dixie chopper and gravely which are all great machines, but very bouncy!
Hopefully I will get better at flippin around as time goes by! Havent made too many divots yet! Good luck!!!