IF you want tanks that last for ever, SCAG.
BUT I wouldnt get 72" mowers... get a cheetah in 60 inch.
Here is why, simply put, what if you don't keep that contract? Your mowers will easily out live that contract, property could get sold, they could turn it into a parking lot, etc etc.
a 60 inch mower is more versatile and can be used on nearly everything 1/2 acre and up.
The cheetah is hands down the best combination of fast and well built out there.
You will also get the highest resale value if you ever sell them out of anything else around, and the higher rate of speed (and the better maneuverability of the 60" deck) will more than make up for the lack of the 72" deck.

Get the striping roller kit on the decks from day one, not only will the cut look way better, but it also helps heavily with bumpy lumpy properties and the deck gouging or scalping anywhere (another reason not to get a 72)

I agree that the 60 is the perfect size for a ztr but I've needed a couple of 72" specialty mowers for some time. I already have several very large properties under contract that are suited for a 72" but I've been making due with 60's. If I can land this new contract, that'll put me over the top to where it'll make fiscal sense to purchase two 72" mowers.

As for the Cheetah, I might be headed in that direction. I demoed a 60 Cheetah in the spring and really liked it but I didn't like the fact that it didn't have rear anti-scalp wheels. Maybe with the bigger 72" deck they would have rear anti-scalp wheels on the Cheetah. It's the rear outside corners that are a problem and I don't know if a striping roller will help with that.

 

i believe Simplicity is made by ferris .

 

I am overall happy with my Ferris mowers. I have Parker and Hydrogear wheel motors and I think hydrogear pumps and the hydraulic hoses are made by some company. "Ferris" bolts them down and screws them together.
There was a hose problem and a reservoir problem but easily fixed at home. My suspensions have never needed any work 1600 hours. I have both shocks set to their loosest setting maybe less impact on the bushings. Things do wear out since i run the triple bagger. I need to buy belts, idler pulleys, tires. Funny, as I went from 60 to 90 lawns I seem to be using up the tires quicker and adding up the hours faster. Same amount of days but its costing more. I've made some mods to my setup to reinforce a few parts.
-Idler arm on triple bagger weld on replacement part was weak so added metal brace
-Frame cracked due to triple bagger load of 300lbs wet grass and hole in yard with speed
-raised triple bagger up so bags won't fall off when going up hill with bump and near full load

I'm not crazy about the new FX801 gas usage compared to thr FH721, I think I would have put on something with power in between the two.

I would suggest you look at the Engine model numbers, not just the horse power and the pumps and wheel motors model numbers not just the flow cc's and get the mower with the higher quality parts.

I just want reliability , I'm willing to pay an extra $500 to $1000 or even more for this. Note to Mower makers. Throw the marketing people out that tell you to design for a particular price point. We just want quality.

 

As a Ferris owner for quite some time, I can say that a lot of these complaints, though somewhat over-emphasized, hold true.

When Ferris launches a new model, it's riddled with faults for the first 6 - 12 months of production. It seems to take them quite some time to work out the bugs. A friend of mine bought one of the first Evolutions which was constantly disintegrating.

Ferris also seems to be incredibly slow to respond to anything. Before the iCD, their decks had one of the worst cut quality in the industry. Yet it took them years and years and years and years to finally fix the problem.

They also make a few overweight diesel models with tractor engines showed in mower frames that shake themselves to pieces. The local municipality had two IS4500 which disappeared to who knows where (they also had five walkbehinds which seem to run forever). Someone on this forum bought the new IS2500 with similar problems.

A lot of times when I look at my Ferris mowers, I get the feeling people designing them aren't real engineers but former peasants following instinct.

That aside Ferris does offer some unique features: first and foremost the suspension, a rubber chute, nice deck height adjusters, anti scalp casters, good range of engines and hydro components, plus the paint finish is really tough.

Overall I guess you can only expect so much from a company that made milk machines and is owned by Briggs & Stratton.

 

I have one of the IS2000Z from 2007 so about 12 months after launch it cuts awesomely. When I put razor sharp blades on a leveled deck I can cut at 10 mi/hr with great results. After 25 lawns ( this is like a season on a homeowner machine) its ready to get the blades sharpened again. I keep looking to compare the new deck and whats different under there and how the grass from the left blade throws the clipping across through the center blade and to the right blade and figure whether I see more stingers on the new machine or not.

 

I've had a Ferris 1500/48", and am now on my 2nd 3000/61". So I've only know a Ferris ride & their suspension. I did cut a horse farm for a time. After a while the owner wanted me to cut his pastures with his large JD zero turn. Crossing some of the areas that I cut with my Ferris with a little 'bump'.... nearly bounced me out of the seat on the JD. I rode comfortably over them at half speed on my Ferris.....I was down to a creep on the JD. In the end....I used my Ferris in the pastures too as the JD beat me up too much. I knew then that it would take an lot of convincing to get me to use something else.

I've seen a lot of talk in different posts about the quality of the cut with a Ferris.....or the lack there of. I have the stripe kit and I've never had a complaint from a customer. The only mower I seen that stripes significantly better would be a Walker. EVERY property that I pass with stripes that get my attention is mowed by a Walker. Other than belts and routine maintenance....I haven't had the issues I'm hearing on here....but my current machine is only at 500 hours. Hope that helps....

 

Ditto on seeing the walker stripes. Quality of cut for me when I bag everything never had any clumping. I mainly look for stringers to judge quality of cut.

 

I have a brand new is3000. Within the first year the rear left suspension broke. Still love the machine.

 

Hello everyone, I have a 2011 IS3100 with 1200+ hours, and I will never buy a ferris ever again. I had spindles seize in the first 20 hours, then shocks go out at 70hours or so, pump failed under 1000 hours, wheel motor failed before the pump, pto failed twice already, pin broke in engine at under 1000 hours also, regulator failed last week, and just on Friday altanator failed this machine is the worst purchase I have ever made. If anyone says that I abuse it in these conditions I will just say my 2005 hustler has been my brake in mower on new properties, and is still running and holding down the fort every time the ferris is down in the shop. Based on my experience I just purchased two hustler Super Z HD's with 72" decks, and if they are anything like my old hustler Z I will be in pretty good shape. Sorry for the rant oh ferris has great customer service and do back any issues with warranty that is the one thing positive I can say for the company they back there product 100%.

 

Sounds like you got the one in a million lemon. It could happen to any machine really... I've run ferris for 14 years and never had any suspension issues. It's the only way to go! The other stuff has nothing to do with ferris. All the companies run the same pumps and wheel motors and engines.

 

Yes Ashgrove, I might have gotten a lemon, but the ICD deck also got bent and folded to the point where I had to replace it. The build quality was not as strong as my other mower, which I also replaced its deck right after I replaced the ferris deck, but that deck was 8 years old and did not have a bend on the leading edge. I am not trying to argue with anyone just saying what I have experienced with my Ferris, its a shame cause I loved the concept especially being that the ground down here is far from smooth.

 

Wait... You bent the deck!? I have abused/used my ferris's and slammed my decks plenty of times. No way your deck was bent under normal to heavy use!!!! You HAD TO BE using it way beyond it's intended use and then some to actually bend a double layer 10 gage piece of steel. There is no way it is the fault of the company. They all build the machines almost identically.

 

Admitting to..... "the ICD deck also got bent and folded" ....kind of throws a little light on how all the other issues might have occurred.

 

Overall I guess you can only expect so much from a company that made milk machines and is owned by Briggs & Stratton.

Finally someone said it. I love my vanguards but B&S makes stuff cheap to sell large volumes. They will be like BB soon if they don't change. Like someone else said we just want durability and quality. Price comes after those.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

Bent deck? Let me tell you that my new ferris 2013 3100z mows the roughest lot around . I don't think anyone can beat mowing over cypress knees and low swamp grounds.I have put this machine to major abuse and still keeps trucking along. One tuff machine
Posted via Mobile Device

 

How many hours?

 

Yes the deck was bent and not only bent but folded in on impact with a low lying tree stump. It folded, I was not on the machine but was present on impact. The mower was going about 8mph when it hit the unseen stump and instantly killed the blades. I was talking to the client explaining to him that the mower had individual wheel motors when it happened. I could not believe that it got hooked on it and then folded. My hustler z has hit stumps bigger than that and the person on the mower would jolt forward and almost come off but deck did not even have a dent. When I replicated the decks, the welder said that the hustlers deck had far more braces and a brace between the leading edge and the blade compartment which is why it held up better also it was a heavier guage steel. The new deck is 7 guage steel with more steel braces than the original hustler deck and has a steel brace from leading edge all the way to the blade compartment. This new deck that I got made is what the original one should have been built like. I have spent tons repairing and shipping down all the parts. My conditions are really rough, I will be posting pictures and video of some of the properties we take care of as soon as my new equipment arrives. Should have pics up at the end of next week so you guys can appreciate smooth graded yards and properties.

 

I have a 1500. I am a school teacher and have some of my students for employees. So my machine gets used by 17 and 18 yr old kids. (So you can imagine the abuse it takes.) I had a small hydro leak but that is all. Not a single problem other than that. 706.8 hours on it. I mow a lot of rough terrain...old cemeteries and such.

 

Pleased to report from Australia that we have had only 3 suspension repairs during our time with Ferris .Considering the number of all models used here including 5100's on roadside duty in Kangaroo Island this speaks for itself.
One Is3100 that fell off a small ledge and sheared the supsension pivot took
just 15 minutes to repair...we have some really bad terrain here that renders most front decks un-useable. I would suggest that premature wear would be from excessive speed and high speed fwd-reverse movements ....some operators are always going to be harder on machines than others.
We dont regret the investment we have made in Ferris and the fact that we can offer customers both sprung and unsprung versions cements the brand
as a leader in durabilty and comfort and value.Other major brands here have
had a free ride on price gouging and bad support over the last 20 years and we needed a third player to break that monopoly.. ..now Gravely and Hustler
are after Toro and Deere as well and everyone has to perform. I look forward to toasting my 1000'th Ferris sale here in the near future.

 

I've owned a Ferris 2000 52" (pre-sloped deck) with 25hp Kaw and it was THE Best Riding, WORSE Cutting, most under powered Mower I ever had! SOLD for $4500 w 200hrs.

Next Mower: Scag Cheetah 61" with 31hp Kawasaki...Beautiful ride over relatively smooth properties...Nearly sent me to hospital after suspension SLAMMED me into the frame several times...One of the best cuts ever! Was so underpowered I always had to leave rubber guard up or motor would bogg especially on slopes...Kaw Smoked TERRIBLY at start up...Never could safely do 16mph because front wheel would go into a "Death Wobble"

Current Mowers: 2013 Ferris 3100 with 36hp Vanguard, 61" Deck and a 2016 Exmark Full platform suspension 810cc Kaw with 61" Deck...

First of all I cut a Bunch of rough rocky and sloped properties in South Texas and NOTHING Comes close to a Ferris 3100 on rough to extreme properties...

I bought the New Exmark to replace the 225hr 3100 but after putting the Exmark Full Suspension on rough properties I can't sell my 3100!

If you mow smooth properties all the time, buy a Scag, Exmark, or any other mower with a suspension...

I'm 6'2" 335lbs and this is the BADDEST Mower I've ever owned for less than ideal properties...

"Almost" as good a cut as the Scag and Exmark, and in 100 degree weather it's the FIRST mower I ever owned that keeps hydro fluid so cool it doesn't whine nomatter how hard you push her!

Mated witb the 36 Vanguard I actually brushcut 5' tall grass with ease! Zero Problems with suspension...And I really doubt if anyone else here runs a mower harder on rougher property than me!

Mower Hugs Slopes and will give you a clear warning before you get into trouble...I would sell my Brand New Exmark TODAY if I could by a new 3200 where the deck hangs from the suspension (new one's don't)

Only complaint: This is an OWNER OPERATOR MOWER ONLY WITH THE 36 VANGUARD!!!

You MUST restrain yourself in tall grass because the Belt cannot handle the Vanguard's power and you will go throught many deck belts if you don't slow down, because the Might Vanguard is more than happy to Smoke a Belt!

 

Hello all, new Ferris owner here. Would like some input from people with Ferris knowledge;
I recently purchased a used Ferris 3100 32 HP BB with 72" ICD deck. It is supposedly a 2013 model. Brought my mower into a local Ferris dealer to have it gone through and they informed me that most of the suspension bushings are wore out- the mower only has 429 hours on it. Is this normal? The camber on the rear wheels is inward to the point its wearing the tread quickly on the inside of the tires. Also, the front shock bushings seem to be toast as well. I would like to replace them myself, but when i look on the parts diagrams, I don't see them. I only see the complete shock and spring assembly. Do i really have to purchase 4 new shock/spring assemblies!?? Can someone shed some light on this for me?? TIA!

 

I got about 900 hours on my rear tires on my 2013 ferris 3100 z with 61 deck. The suspension bushings where still excellent at 1100 hrs. Mine sat outside the whole 3 years and bushings and shocks still good. You should not have to replace this stuff with such low hours. I hope those are the correct hours. Yes the tires will wear on the inside.

 

Yes I am also hoping the hours are correct but im not sure if ill ever know for sure 100%. No real way to tell if the hour meter was replaced or disconnected. Sounds like you have had good luck with yours, im hoping for the same.

 

That's right track for what they don't tell you. Everything get real loose and you replace tires more often. Messes up the cutting height as well more often. I was with ferris for 14 years and now I'm on scags. I won't be going back. I should have switched sooner.

 

So does anyone know if there are replaceable bushings in the shock assemblies or do I need to replace the entire assembly?

 

I've been reading through this thread. Do any of these issues apply to the is700Z? I have been looking into getting one.