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37 hp Kawasaki DFI

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14K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  lbh136  
#1 ·
Hey guys my local dealer sells Ferris mowers and I purchased 2 new 3100z's with the relatively new Kawasaki 37 hp DFI. I was wondering what experience you all have with them. My first mower had to have a new motor put on it at 200 hrs due to scarred Pistons. Now both of them have been acting up again, one with signs of fuel pump failure and the other with really milky oil that smells like gas. I'm getting tired of having to fix these things and Im wondering if I need to push for a different motor to be placed on my units. I know Kawasaki has had a good name in engines for years but my experience with these engines has been that they are powerful but unreliable. Thanks guys!
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#3 ·
I have always had kawasaki motors on all my units. I love them. I did buy a new 2013 ferris 3100z with the 37 dfi . The motor had so many problems it was crazy. Now is has been running great with 1100hrs.my next chic would be the vanguard. They where supposed to have the kaw dfi fixed back in 2013. I know they had issues with in 2010.
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#4 · (Edited)
I like mine (2012 on a 3100z). It has 620 hours on it right now. I bought it used with 537 hours. I have not had any trouble whatsoever. Love the power. Gph have been acceptable. I'd make sure all warranty updates have been done before unloading it (or better yet, ask Kawi for one that has the bugs already worked out)
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#5 ·
This was always my experience with this engine too. When it runs correctly, it's great ..... but if the IG coils arc to the blower housing and cause the E-Governor to malfunction, or if the ECU wiring connector pins get worn from engine vibration and have poor connection, or if the fuel system gets too hot, or if the fuel filter gets even a little restricted, or if the valves get noisy and worn, or if the crank position sensor gets gapped too wide, or if the exhaust valves let go, or if you have an older version on a Bobcat that needs updated wiring and updated fuel system components, or if you need the updated $800 ECU with the new design MAP sensor that doesn't get soaked with fuel from the fuel injector aiming.

Other than those couple items, it's a fantastic flagship engine at the top of the commercial engine lineup from Kawasaki.
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#6 ·
heilman4 said:
This was always my experience with this engine too. When it runs correctly, it's great ..... but if the IG coils arc to the blower housing and cause the E-Governor to malfunction, or if the ECU wiring connector pins get worn from engine vibration and have poor connection, or if the fuel system gets too hot, or if the fuel filter gets even a little restricted, or if the valves get noisy and worn, or if the crank position sensor gets gapped too wide, or if the exhaust valves let go, or if you have an older version on a Bobcat that needs updated wiring and updated fuel system components, or if you need the updated $800 ECU with the new design MAP sensor that doesn't get soaked with fuel from the fuel injector aiming.

Other than those couple items, it's a fantastic flagship engine at the top of the commercial engine lineup from Kawasaki.
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Wow... maybe I should trade before any of those let go!
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#7 ·
Derwood said:
Wow... maybe I should trade before any of those let go!
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It's not that any of these issues is beyond repair. The real issue for Kawasaki Engines is that the motorcycle division is struggling severely. The senior management in Japan has decided that until the Consumer Products division is again making money, they won't invest in the Engine division.

It's likely that you won't find any significant improvements in new products, engine quality, dealer service, production improvements, distribution improvements, or marketing advances until 2017 or 2018.
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#8 ·
heilman4 said:
It's not that any of these issues is beyond repair. The real issue for Kawasaki Engines is that the motorcycle division is struggling severely. The senior management in Japan has decided that until the Consumer Products division is again making money, they won't invest in the Engine division.

It's likely that you won't find any significant improvements in new products, engine quality, dealer service, production improvements, distribution improvements, or marketing advances until 2017 or 2018.
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Dealer told me last year that ALL the updates and fixes had been performed. If that's true, could one expect to be trouble free?
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#16 ·
Help, I have 2 2010 Bobcat 37 hp ZTR'S. They are incredible, but one has an issue. It wouldn't run right it would pop and carrying on. We replaced the coils and it did fine for a week, we stopped using it for the rest of the season. We put two new coils in, speed sensor, it ran good for a couple months. This time the it would run perfect with the deck on and then RPM'S would drop and you could not mow with it. You could shut it off and restart it and it would do fine, but eventually RPM'S would drop. What could this be, 1600 hours and motor does not use oil. Is there a separate crankcase sensor? Or is the sensor on the coil the same. Could it be the computer module? Hate to not fix mower its been fantastic since 2010.
 
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