F series question

[jcummins]

Kind of think that's an old design. My F3680 72" deck the rear deck anti scalp wheels are on a bracket that you release and they swivel out of the way.

 

[arto98607]

Yes it's also missing the Diesel particle filter all the new ones have!

Funny eh?

 

[jcummins]

My F3680 has none of that stuff.....wouldn't have it if it did.

 

[greenrider1]

Do the new ones swivel up without having to disconnect the drive shaft?

I don't unhook the driveshaft but it's a good idea to make sure the grease fitting on the shaft isn't top dead center, or you risk bending the shaft guard when you tilt the deck up. I learned the hard way. Now I just rotate the shaft by hand if needed prior to tilting the deck up.

 

[Bigpuddie]

My F3680 has none of that stuff.....wouldn't have it if it did.

How do you like the 3680? I found a nice one with 150 hrs on it. He wants a good bit for it...

 

[jcummins]

How do you like the 3680? I found a nice one with 150 hrs on it. He wants a good bit for it...

I like it a lot. My previous mower was a zd326 and I kept getting it stuck Time After Time. I also have some slope areas Pond dams and the like and although the zd326 could navigate it would tend to crab walk it and would leave a track on the dams because this machine was constantly slipping a little bit. The F3680 solved that. It will mow faster than you are capable of handling machine it is fast.

 

[Bigpuddie]

I like it a lot. My previous mower was a zd326 and I kept getting it stuck Time After Time. I also have some slope areas Pond dams and the like and although the zd326 could navigate it would tend to crab walk it and would leave a track on the dams because this machine was constantly slipping a little bit. The F3680 solved that. It will mow faster than you are capable of handling machine it is fast.

Nice! Been pretty reliable? Is it more comfortable to operate than the 326 ( which is also what I have)? Is yours a rear discharge? If so, how do you like it?

 

[jcummins]

Nice! Been pretty reliable? Is it more comfortable to operate than the 326 ( which is also what I have)? Is yours a rear discharge? If so, how do you like it?

I bought this mower used with very little hours. I simply bought what became available I would have taken side discharge or rear discharge and what became available was a side discharge. I think the rear discharge would be nice if you've got a lot of trimming to do around houses and stuff like that but I think if you get into a heavy grass you're going to have trouble getting the volume of grass out from under that deck with a rear discharge. Heavy grass will result in a large volume of grass that's getting thrown out from that mower.

If the wind is blowing wrong this mower will cover you in grass because 72 in cut is a lot of grass. I also never even use the mower with the large flap to cover the side opening up because of trimming reasons I'd be hitting that thing every time you turn around. So what I did is added a flap like the grass flap controlled by an electrical actuator. It works well except it will wind row a little bit when the flap is closed.

Only issue that I've had is my own fault in not greasing the machine right. There is a short pretty well hidden shaft between the moter and the hst area below the radiator. You have to put your head literally under the machine and look up. It's easy to miss and I failed to grease is it properly. Came apart, busted nipple on radiator. It was a real bear to fix but did managed to get it fixed myself without taking it to the dealer.

I'd definitely buy the mower again.

 

[Bigpuddie]

I bought this mower used with very little hours. I simply bought what became available I would have taken side discharge or rear discharge and what became available was a side discharge. I think the rear discharge would be nice if you've got a lot of trimming to do around houses and stuff like that but I think if you get into a heavy grass you're going to have trouble getting the volume of grass out from under that deck with a rear discharge. Heavy grass will result in a large volume of grass that's getting thrown out from that mower.

If the wind is blowing wrong this mower will cover you in grass because 72 in cut is a lot of grass. I also never even use the mower with the large flap to cover the side opening up because of trimming reasons I'd be hitting that thing every time you turn around. So what I did is added a flap like the grass flap controlled by an electrical actuator. It works well except it will wind row a little bit when the flap is closed.

Only issue that I've had is my own fault in not greasing the machine right. There is a short pretty well hidden shaft between the moter and the hst area below the radiator. You have to put your head literally under the machine and look up. It's easy to miss and I failed to grease is it properly. Came apart, busted nipple on radiator. It was a real bear to fix but did managed to get it fixed myself without taking it to the dealer.

I'd definitely buy the mower again.

Great input. I appreciate your time!

 

[Hay Dude]

I like it a lot. My previous mower was a zd326 and I kept getting it stuck Time After Time. I also have some slope areas Pond dams and the like and although the zd326 could navigate it would tend to crab walk it and would leave a track on the dams because this machine was constantly slipping a little bit. The F3680 solved that. It will mow faster than you are capable of handling machine it is fast.

Wow, you were in the same predicament I am in now. I mow real steep ground with a ZD331. It’s a beast and does the job, but it leaves me wishing for 4WD.
I’ll never forget the day I was at the dealer a few years back. He had a used F3680 and a used ZD331 siting for sale side by side. I tested both and felt safer on the ZD because of lower center of gravity. I had no idea at the time the F3680 would have been a better choice (you can still hear the sound of me kicking myself for not buying)
I should have bought both. Each one was in great shape, about 1500 hours on both and $8500 for each one.
I could have tested both out and sold one of them later.