Exmark 72" Red Mowers - Stay Away!!

Ridin' Green · Nov 9, 2015

puppypaws said:
I am very sorry to hear this, you would think more people would talk about these type problems to make people aware. This is really the first I've heard about the Kohler EFI giving these problems. The EFI system is really simple, this is the reason it's on the vehicles we drive, it's virtually bullet proof. I really can't imagine why Kohler would be having a problem with their system, they've had EFI in place a very long time, you'd think they would have any bugs worked out.

I've been running their 28 EFI since 2006 with the Bosch system and it has been completely flawless, never failed to start after 2 to 3 revolutions of the engine no matter if it's 20° or 100°, never once have I heard or felt the engine not running and sounding perfect. The fuel economy is less than 1 gph in normal cutting, and the response to load it excellent.

I also have a 35 hp Kawasaki carbed engine on a 72" mower, this engine never changes sounds but loves fuel to the tune of around 2 gph. The big Kawasaki starts no where close to as easy as the Kohler EFI. I certainly would love to know what the problem could be with their new Delphi system, the only difference I'm aware of is the components change.

I don't think it has anything to do with the Kohler EFI's themselves, but rather the Exmark RED system. Even the Exmark tech rep we talked to last year at open house about them said the RED system was having a few bugs on some, but not all mowers.

puppypaws · Nov 9, 2015

Ridin' Green said:
I don't think it has anything to do with the Kohler EFI's themselves, but rather the Exmark RED system. Even the Exmark tech rep we talked to last year at open house about them said the RED system was having a few bugs on some, but not all mowers.

That's why I am leaning towards problems with the Red technology myself.

Check out the thread "Fuel Consumption 26hp Kawasaki," and tell me why you believe these fuel numbers to be so very high on the small block Kawasaki engines?

zlandman · Dec 8, 2015

I had a go-around with my Exmark RED x-series 60". Had it two years now. First problem was the motor oil's relationship with the oil sensor. Dealer said to run super light weight oil in it, I found a valvoline racing oil, that helped. (Kohler since came out with their own). Second keep the oil topped off or a little over. It will get fussy if it senses a hint of low oil. Third, I was having some terrible problem with abrupt stalls. Figured out it was a bad PTO switch - replaced under warranty. Same PTO switch those mowers at TSC use... junk.

My experience with the Toro/Exmark is the wiring is always stretched tight and low quality components at the end of the wire. Given what the unit costs, I really wish the components were military grade.

I have also had some other issues with this machine and been at my wits end a few times. But now I think I have an understanding with it and it will be reliable. Problem is you really have to keep tuned to the machine and do your own diagnostic because most of these problems are intermittent in the field and the dealer "can't" re-create them. Still sputters at times, dealer says it's valve float. I'm not so sure. Only does it when it's very hot out. Owning an Exmark is a journey..

puppypaws · Dec 8, 2015

zlandman said:
I had a go-around with my Exmark RED x-series 60". Had it two years now. First problem was the motor oil's relationship with the oil sensor. Dealer said to run super light weight oil in it, I found a valvoline racing oil, that helped. (Kohler since came out with their own). Second keep the oil topped off or a little over. It will get fussy if it senses a hint of low oil. Third, I was having some terrible problem with abrupt stalls. Figured out it was a bad PTO switch - replaced under warranty. Same PTO switch those mowers at TSC use... junk.

My experience with the Toro/Exmark is the wiring is always stretched tight and low quality components at the end of the wire. Given what the unit costs, I really wish the components were military grade.

I have also had some other issues with this machine and been at my wits end a few times. But now I think I have an understanding with it and it will be reliable. Problem is you really have to keep tuned to the machine and do your own diagnostic because most of these problems are intermittent in the field and the dealer "can't" re-create them. Still sputters at times, dealer says it's valve float. I'm not so sure. Only does it when it's very hot out. Owning an Exmark is a journey..

Believe me, you should not pay the amount of money this mower cost and have a need of babying it to get through a days cutting. This is a show of poor engineering, but given the Red technology was new, hopefully they've worked the bugs out. My guess is you were the trial and error part of testing Exmarks new mower technology, with you buying early when they were first introduced, is that the case?

zlandman · Dec 8, 2015

It was a little later in the year they were first introduced. And I had reservations about it due to it being new technology.

As many of you know, it's devastating to a sole operator to shut down on a sunny day due to equipment failure. I thought I could buy my way out of that situation, LOL.

puppypaws · Dec 8, 2015

zlandman said:
It was a little later in the year they were first introduced. And I had reservations about it due to it being new technology.

As many of you know, it's devastating to a sole operator to shut down on a sunny day due to equipment failure. I thought I could buy my way out of that situation, LOL.

This tells me exactly what I would have thought, you got the first of Exmarks new technology in your mower. Your mower may have been purchased a little later than first introduction, but you actually bought the first of their newly introduced technology.

Would you or anyone else have an idea if there has been any technical bulletins published by Exmark addressing problems found after the initial release of their Red technology?

Dawson · Dec 8, 2015

Just passed 700 hours on my ex mark read 60 inch it's a little over a year old. So far no problems other than A few sputters when it was new but it hasn't done that in over 6 months? I hope I don't encounter any of these issues some people are having but I have to say you're not going to get more power on less gas than you do on this machine.
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Kelly's Landscaping · Jan 21, 2016

3 years of use now on my 2 red tech lazers and when I compare them to the old lazer Z models it's not even close to a fair fight.

In 3 years of use the 72 lazer xs has cost me 161 dollars to-date in repairs her sister the 60 lazer xs has cost me 100 dollars to-date in repairs. In that period of time the 2 of them have mowed $350,000 in grass 1100 hours on the 72 and 900 on the 60.

I look at the lazer z generation my 2003 60 and 2005 52 and the repairs between them in the first 3 years was $4500 for about $250,000 in grass mowing.

Last year 2015 the lazer xs mowers which we use 4-5 days a week each for 30 weeks a season did not have a single down day between them. No question about it I am buying 2 more in a year when these are 4 years old and let someone else use them for another 5-10 years.

djagusch · Jan 21, 2016

Kelly's Landscaping said:
3 years of use now on my 2 red tech lazers and when I compare them to the old lazer Z models it's not even close to a fair fight.

In 3 years of use the 72 lazer xs has cost me 161 dollars to-date in repairs her sister the 60 lazer xs has cost me 100 dollars to-date in repairs. In that period of time the 2 of them have mowed $350,000 in grass 1100 hours on the 72 and 900 on the 60.

I look at the lazer z generation my 2003 60 and 2005 52 and the repairs between them in the first 3 years was $4500 for about $250,000 in grass mowing.

Last year 2015 the lazer xs mowers which we use 4-5 days a week each for 30 weeks a season did not have a single down day between them. No question about it I am buying 2 more in a year when these are 4 years old and let someone else use them for another 5-10 years.

$175/hr mowing? Guessing your not accounting for trimming, blowing, shrubs, fert in some of those accounts.
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Kelly's Landscaping · Jan 21, 2016

djagusch said:
$175/hr mowing? Guessing your not accounting for trimming, blowing, shrubs, fert in some of those accounts.
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Wasn't trying to break it down by hour, just by what the major equipment brings in. Shrubs and fert are not included in my numbers this is just lawn cuts which are about 60-62% of my business.

Only brought up numbers to help frame the amount of work the mowers have done vs what they cost.

The nice thing about 175 an hour figure you came up with is you could then work it out to what the mower should bring in over it's usable life of say 3000 hours each. Much in the same way I know the weedwackers I use cost me 10 cents per lawn.

Dawson · Jan 22, 2016

Kelly's Landscaping said:
3 years of use now on my 2 red tech lazers and when I compare them to the old lazer Z models it's not even close to a fair fight.

In 3 years of use the 72 lazer xs has cost me 161 dollars to-date in repairs her sister the 60 lazer xs has cost me 100 dollars to-date in repairs. In that period of time the 2 of them have mowed $350,000 in grass 1100 hours on the 72 and 900 on the 60.

I look at the lazer z generation my 2003 60 and 2005 52 and the repairs between them in the first 3 years was $4500 for about $250,000 in grass mowing.

Last year 2015 the lazer xs mowers which we use 4-5 days a week each for 30 weeks a season did not have a single down day between them. No question about it I am buying 2 more in a year when these are 4 years old and let someone else use them for another 5-10 years.

don't forget about the gas savings...I don't know about you but I run my 60inch red on the low setting 95% of the time...at that setting it saves me around a grand a year in gas over the 30hp kohler (carb) dixie chopper I had before it.

sjessen · Jan 22, 2016

Dawson said:
don't forget about the gas savings...I don't know about you but I run my 60inch red on the low setting 95% of the time...at that setting it saves me around a grand a year in gas over the 30hp kohler (carb) dixie chopper I had before it.

That alone pays for the extra cost of the Efi engine vs carb.

Kelly's Landscaping · Jan 22, 2016

Dawson said:
don't forget about the gas savings...I don't know about you but I run my 60inch red on the low setting 95% of the time...at that setting it saves me around a grand a year in gas over the 30hp kohler (carb) dixie chopper I had before it.

I use the middle setting for mowing and the high for quick moves from the trailer to the lawn. They seem to use about the same 1.1 gallons an hour as my old 27 hp kohlers did but these are 34 and 38 hp motors. And they are traveling 20-35% faster then add in a foot of extra deck and I am seeing plenty of savings on fuel.

Exmark 72" Red Mowers - Stay Away!!

Ridin' Green

puppypaws

zlandman

puppypaws

zlandman

puppypaws

Dawson

Kelly's Landscaping

djagusch

Kelly's Landscaping

Dawson

sjessen

Kelly's Landscaping

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