Bought a new ZD1611 ZTR... overheated.

[walnutman]

This all happened the day I picked it up.

.3hrs on it. All I did was ride it around the yard and adjusted the anti-scalp wheels.

Neighbor drives up and stops. As I'm talking to him and I see a yellow engine light.
Then I notice the temp guage is pegged. Manual says it should be beeping an alarm. No beeping.

Was around 1:30 pm. I called the salesman and said I'm coming back with the mower. It's overheating. Two things are gonna happen. I leave with my check or another mower.

I get there and my salesman already has the paperwork for transferring to another unit.

Service manager looks into the radiator of the returned unit and questions the level. He drives it back into the shop.

As we finalize the paperwork in the office the service manager pops in and says there is nothing wrong with the unit. It just needed a half a gallon of coolant. My take on that was it was either underfilled or has a leak.

No issues with the return and transfer... great dealership! Actually left with a newer unit based on stock number, serial number and engine model number. I'm sure the try and move the older units first.

Get this. the first unit engine model was V1505-CR-TE5
The newer one is V1505-CR-T-EW03

Wonder what the difference is?

 

[Hay Dude]

“Nothing wrong with the unit”
Overheated
Low on coolant?
Sounds like is sucked in a bunch of coolant and overheated.

I wouldn’t want it.

 

[walnutman]

You mean head gasket?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

the TE5 is a newer generation / newer technology Tier 5 compliant motor.

The other is a older technology tier 3 compliant motor (possibly an interim tier 4 but would need to know the serial number)

 

[walnutman]

the TE5 is a newer generation / newer technology Tier 5 compliant motor.

The other is a older technology tier 3 compliant motor (possibly an interim tier 4 but would need to know the serial number)

I realize that but look again at the engine model numbers. One is TE5 the other is EW03.... with a newer serial number.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

My ZD326 has an overheating alarm, and Kubota ran it through the ECM. My ECM has failed, and I don't want a new one, so I keep an eye on the gauge.

 

[walnutman]

My ZD326 has an overheating alarm, and Kubota ran it through the ECM. My ECM has failed, and I don't want a new one, so I keep an eye on the gauge.

Thing is we typically dont look at gauges unless we notice something isnt right.

 

[Hay Dude]

Thing is we typically dont look at gauges unless we notice something isnt right.

That’s why the sound of the alarm for overheating exists.
Overheating alarms are priceless.
Don’t take long up in the red zone for things to get very expensive

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

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.

 

[Hay Dude]

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.

I kinda doubt a brand new, running ZD1611 had a failed ECM, but anything is possible.
I have had an occasion or 2 when I’ve seen the needle in red with no audible alarm.
I have also seen (heard) when the alarm is the first thing I hear, only to see gauge in the red.

IMO, the operator of a zero turn mower running it at the speed required to make a living with one, would be hard pressed to watch the temp gauge without getting into an accident.