f 2690

Sigarms · May 15, 2017

ironpen said:
Here is my follow up report. Mowed about 10 hours this week on the mower. Beautiful cut. Rear discharge is perfect. Plenty of power. I can't tell the difference between it and my New Holland MC35 which is the same front mower layout. It has 35 hp, but I didn't miss it. I climbed some rather steep hills in the one spot I have that's hilly and did not have to shift into the slower gear.

You must have some nice flat land. No way in heck could I mow set on the "rabbit" speed with the terrain I have.

JOHNTHOMAS · May 16, 2017

Sigarms said:
You must have some nice flat land. No way in heck could I mow set on the "rabbit" speed with the terrain I have.

Nor I. I have only used the rabbit speed a couple of times and that was when it started raining at the rental flat lot and a couple of times when moving on blacktop. Wait, I didn't use rabbit on the lot, I just floored the pedal in turtle.

jcummins · May 16, 2017

Huh....i seldom have mine in the lower speed range. And I'm certainly not flat land.

Sigarms · May 16, 2017

jcummins said:
Huh....i seldom have mine in the lower speed range. And I'm certainly not flat land.

For at least myself, in low speed, I can drive just as fast as when the mower is rabbit mode. In rabbit mode, the pedal can rarely get past half way and the machine starts bouncing around like all heck on the uneven ground.

To access a couple of fields, I can either cross a creek or use the paved road to an access gate. Only time I can really use "rabbit" mode and "open her up" is when I'm on the paved road.

I just find turtle mode fast enough

ironpen · May 28, 2017

Well, I am now about 25 or 30 hours in and I must say this is a fine machine. I have never used anything but the fast mode personally. I did have to turn the knob under the seat again, but no big deal. The cut is really beautiful, much better than with my old New Holland MC 35. I still use it in a couple of small areas that are infested with tree roots so as not to put the excess wear and tear on the new mower. I am really happy with the power and am glad not to have to worry about that DPF filter that is on the f3990.

ironpen · Jul 19, 2017

3 month update. This is a fantastic piece of machinery. Everything works great and the cut is to die for. My yard and parts of the church yard have never looked so good. My advice is for you to get the rear discharge deck. No clumping and no clippings spraying everywhere. I don't know why anyone would try to sell you the side discharge model. Anyway, to each his own, but I am happy as can be.

HoyeTractor · Jul 20, 2017

I couldn't agree more. I've had my 2690 for 2 months and I can't believe I've wasted so much of my life on side discharge ZTR mowers.

One thing I can not quite figure out is the 4wd. When making a sharp turn or turning up a slippery hill- one front wheel seems to spin out a lot. I can't tell much if any difference between the automatic and full time 4wd position. I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong or if that is the way that is supposed to work or if something isn't working. Seems like the rear wheels should help push the mower around the turn.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 21, 2017

HoyeTractor said:
I couldn't agree more. I've had my 2690 for 2 months and I can't believe I've wasted so much of my life on side discharge ZTR mowers.

One thing I can not quite figure out is the 4wd. When making a sharp turn or turning up a slippery hill- one front wheel seems to spin out a lot. I can't tell much if any difference between the automatic and full time 4wd position. I'm wondering if I am doing something wrong or if that is the way that is supposed to work or if something isn't working. Seems like the rear wheels should help push the mower around the turn.

I always keep mine in the not 4wd? per owners manual recommendation and have done so with all three Fs I've owned over the years. I rarely put mine in the 4wd? and when I do it's only for that extra boost of traction on that rare time of need and it's in and go and then back to regular drive. I don't understand the extra 4wd? because it is operating in the 4wd in the normal position with rear wheel(s) pushing along with drive tires. I usually just push down on the diff lock pedal if I'm spinning for that extra grip till it pops on up the hill and then let off and keep going.

ironpen · Jul 22, 2017

You need to take it out of full time 4wd. It's the lever on the left hand side of the seat. There are several on the right hand side, but this one is the only one on the left. The legend shows one picture with the front and back wheels connected and one with a gap between the pictures of the front and back wheels. You need to put it on the one with the gap which is almost certainly not the one it is currently set to. If you do that, I am almost sure your problem will go away. It will really take the pressure off of your drive mechanism and make it last a long time.

HoyeTractor · Jul 24, 2017

I keep it in the normal position. In full time 4wd there is an indicator light that comes on in the dash. I'm just saying I can't tell any difference between the two positions which makes me wonder if something is not working correctly. For example, I have a tree that is on a slight slope. When I mow a tight clockwise circle around it and start going up the slope the RH (closest to the tree) tire will start to spin and I almost stop moving. It really tears up the grass. It does that in full time 4wd and the 'auto' positions.

I think I'll put it up on some jack stands this weekend and see if I can tell what is going on.