Bought a new ZD1611 ZTR... overheated.

[walnutman]

In the case of the ZD326, the ECM appears to be more likely to fail. It also costs a lot and does things a few simple components could do better.

If you wait for that horn and it doesn't come on, you will be wishing you paid more attention to the gauge. OP's ECM let him down, and his gauge saved him.

Agree. Not saying I dont look at them but let's be honest. We dont look at them constantly.

 

[mike0000]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

 

[walnutman]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

The ZD1611 is much quieter than what most are used to. The new diesel has common rail fuel injection which, as you have noticed in new diesel pickups, much quieter than the old days. I'm guessing the alarm is probably pretty loud. I know my eXmark low fuel alarm was very loud and annoying.

 

[Brown Dog]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

You must have a hi revving loud gas engine (& excessive vibrating too IF gas)

I’ve had 5 of these ZD Diesels & wear a radio headset for my commercial poultry house alarm system & I can hear my horn go off just fine when they overheat.
Kill the engine, rake the excess grass off & dump the radiator screen out & back to mowing with temp back down to 2 bars.

 

[arrow]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

It is not just about engine noise.
The whirring of the cutter blades produces enough noise by themselves to justify hearing protection.
I have not been on a single zero turn that was quiet enough within the five brands we sell that doesn’t warrant protection unless one is already kind of deaf.

 

[WM75Guy]

My Zero turn is quite old, it’s also quite loud, I only cut with hearing protection, not sure I’d hear an alarm if it had one. Are these newer machines quiet enough that you don’t wear hearing protection, or is the alarm if it works very loud?

I need hearing protection on my ZD1211. I wear a 3M Worktunes hearing protection/radio. I can hear the alarm without any issue.

 

[mike0000]

You must have a hi revving loud gas engine (& excessive vibrating too IF gas)

I’ve had 5 of these ZD Diesels & wear a radio headset for my commercial poultry house alarm system & I can hear my horn go off just fine when they overheat.
Kill the engine, rake the excess grass off & dump the radiator screen out & back to mowing with temp back down to 2 bars.

I like your screen name, one of my closest friends and co-workers had a dog he loved very much, he had named him “Brown Dog”. I remember when Brown Dog passed away, sad time for my friend. I’ve lost touch with him since we both retired, I think of him whenever I see your posts.

You are correct, It is a gasser, Kohler 27hp twin, I wouldn’t say it has excessive vibrations, but it is loud. It’s probably at least 20-25 years old, Great Dane Chariot Lx 72” deck.
It’s been very reliable, I think it has about 800 hrs. hydrostatic and built very solidly. I recently added a suspension seat, which was probably my biggest complaint with the mower, it had a terribly rough ride, new seat helps quite a bit. I think we paid about $8k new, which I thought was outrageous back then, went from a cub cadet rider that was a 42 or 44” deck I think, the zero turn cut my mowing time in half. I also wear a set of radio headphones while cutting.

Mike

 

[walnutman]

I like your screen name, one of my closest friends and co-workers had a dog he loved very much, he had named him “Brown Dog”. I remember when Brown Dog passed away, sad time for my friend. I’ve lost touch with him since we both retired, I think of him whenever I see your posts.

You are correct, It is a gasser, Kohler 27hp twin, I wouldn’t say it has excessive vibrations, but it is loud. It’s probably at least 20-25 years old, Great Dane Chariot Lx 72” deck.
It’s been very reliable, I think it has about 800 hrs. hydrostatic and built very solidly. I recently added a suspension seat, which was probably my biggest complaint with the mower, it had a terribly rough ride, new seat helps quite a bit. I think we paid about $8k new, which I thought was outrageous back then, went from a cub cadet rider that was a 42 or 44” deck I think, the zero turn cut my mowing time in half. I also wear a set of radio headphones while cutting.

Mike

Ride quality on zero turns was a huge issue. Three years ago I bought a new eXmark Lazer X because up north all the landscapers used them so I figured they knew what worked for them. $14,000.

OMG what a lousy ride. No suspension. Had a nice suspension seat but not air ride. I thought I was gonna lose my kidneys. If I went a little faster it would bounce off the ground over moderate bumps. I dont think the landscapers company owners cut with them.

Sold it for $13k and got a $9600 Ferris with that great suspension. All the difference in the world.

Just bought the new ZD1611 flagship diesel Kubota. Ferris is on marketplace.
I wanted a bigger beast, diesel and the air ride seat. The seat and the jacking front axle are the best!

 

[Brown Dog]

I need hearing protection on my ZD1211. I wear a 3M Worktunes hearing protection/radio. I can hear the alarm without any issue.

+1 on the 3m WorkTunes

 

[Brown Dog]

Ride quality on zero turns was a huge issue …
Just bought the new ZD1611 flagship diesel Kubota … I wanted a bigger beast, diesel and the air ride seat. The seat and the jacking front axle are the best!

You’ll really like the 4cyl Turbo Diesel TORQUE !!!
It’s plenty heavy enough so it doesn’t bounce you or ride too rough unless you mow wide open ground speed on rough ground : then it’ll beat your brains out like ANY mower will
I tried the lil 1211 3cyl first but it just wouldn’t pull my steep hills w/o bogging down.
And again I don’t mow fast because my 20acres of weekly mowing farm grass is rough.
I just wished Kubota offered a 84 or 96” side discharge deck option.