Ferris IS2100z no power to left wheel

[Notforhire]

I was doing my weekly mow yesterday when I went to reverse direction the drive to the left wheel quit. It felt like something was binding. When I moved the left side control lever the engine would load up but the wheel wouldn't turn. After checking for an obstruction underneath the machine I tried to power the wheel again. This time it worked and I drove the machine about 30 yards to the barn and parked it.
First thing I checked was the hydro oil level which was OK. Then I noticed all the cooling fan blades were missing! Since I blow out the grass clippings from that area after every use, I'm guessing that a stick must have wiped out the blades within an hour of my discovery.
Is it possible that the drive unit got hot and that's what caused it to act up?
I checked the clock and I'm overdue on the first hydro oil /filter change. I have 160hrs and the service was due at 100 hrs.
I ordered new filters and 15w50 Mobil 1 along with a new fan.
Any ideas?

 

[oldnslo]

Does that mower have chain drive to wheels? If yes is chain lose or possibly a stick got caught in the chain.

Other option would be did something get in brake linkage for that side?

 

[Notforhire]

The machine is driven by two Hydro Gear ZT transmissions ZT-4400™ - Hydro-Gear.
Everything is self contained, one unit for each drive wheel.
I haven't gotten a chance to look into how the parking brake arrangement works.
The only thing wrong that I could find is the broken/missing fan blades.
For a machine that is designed to run all day long in summer heat, I would be surprised if it would overheat after one hour (max) in 75 deg. weather.

I was unable to look at it today, but tomorrow I can lift it up and really look things over.

 

[RjCorazza]

I think you're on the right track. Unlikely that it's a coincidence that the fan is gone and the pump is acting up.
My Kubota ZD's run all day long without issue, but are very sensitive to low fluid. As little as 2 qts low (12.8 total) after a fluid change will cause the transmission to act up.
Post an update with your results, and good luck!

 

[Carl_NH]

My IS2000 has a central oil tank and filter with separate Hydrogear pumps (with fans) and Parker wheel motors. Does yours have the central oil reservoir and share oil between them - is so one fan should cool enough for both. If each is separate yes, it could have gotten hot. I would pull the filter and change the oil and see what you find - hopefully no metal bits!

Since I tow a Trac Vac with mine and the bigger machines Ferris makes they put a hydro cooler on them I retrofitted a transmission cooler above the engine, as my oil was smelling burnt at 50 hours and was running around 200-210* and after I installed the cooler it stayed around 170-180 even at 80* outside and towing the trac vac.

 

[Notforhire]

Each pump/motor has it's own tank. Both are at the full mark(cold). I've included photos of the cooling fan with and without blades.
My old (18 y.o.) 1000z Ferris is a different design with separate drive components. No grass clippings accumulate in the drive area.
The newer model has to be cleared of debris after every use. Why, I don't know.

 

[oldnslo]

On your initial post you state engine loaded up like something binding so possible but doubtful heat would cause that and then work a few minutes later after checking for obstruction. My experience with HST transmission is engine bogging down indicates they are trying to work and something mechanical is stopping them from turning.

How are the brakes released? Via the joystick or separate brake lever?

 

[Notforhire]

On your initial post you state engine loaded up like something binding so possible but doubtful heat would cause that and then work a few minutes later after checking for obstruction. My experience with HST transmission is engine bogging down indicates they are trying to work and something mechanical is stopping them from turning.

How are the brakes released? Via the joystick or separate brake lever?

Each drive wheel is independent of the other with the exception of the common drive belt that provides power to the pumps.
Each steering stick controls a swashplate that directs the oil. Reversing the direction of the swashplate reverses the flow of oil from the pump which reverses the direction of the drive motor. When the sticks are in the "neutral " position the oil is recirculated and not directed to the motor. (A hydraulic bypass is provided so the machine can be moved with the controls in the neutral position and the engine not running.)

I did check the bypass valve to see if it had somehow gotten knocked into the bypass position, best I can tell it had not.

There is a separate parking brake lever that controls a mechanical brake in each unit. The brakes aren't used in the normal operation of the machine, but are only applied when the machine is "parked".

What was interesting was that when I went to reverse the left motor it seemed like the pump was deadheaded and not like I had run up against something. I don't think the wheel was trying turn. Of course I don't really know what was happening internally, that's just how it felt.

 

[Carl_NH]

Hopefully it's something external/mechanical - like the broken fan blades jamming the linkage preventing movement. If the oil on that side looks clear, doesn't smell burnt that would be a good sign. The fact that it goes forward seems to point to mechanical issue - fingers crossed.

The hydro design behind the deck/under the seat is a natural grass gathering point and the way the belt is routed on the top of the pump allows a stick to get caught in the belt and take out the fan blades.

I have caught sticks in the deck/pump drive belts on mine, but they are under the frame driving the pumps from the bottom not on top - a better design IMO.

 

[skipmarcy]

Seems logical a piece of something (maybe a stick?) got to your fan blade so maybe it also caught on the brake linkage momentarily for that same drive and bound it up then got dislodged on it's own.

 

[stevem5215]

Yep, fan blades are there to keep the trans cool. A 75 day out isn't hot but the trans get hot from USE not from heat of day. Sure at 90 you need to worry more if a blade breaks off but overall you need to ensure the blades are there and working. I check mine after ever cut and blow the grass out underneath the seat. Overheating that trans is a bad idea and at the very least I'd fix the fan and replace filters (fluid drains out with filter removal) and refill with a good fluid like you mention. And pray you didn't damage anything internal. ZT4400's are gonna be an expensive fix if so. They are an extremely heavy duty transmission. (my Simplicity Citation XL has Zt3400's in it and my ZT-2500 has ZT2800's in it (less power).

 

[Notforhire]

Early on I discovered that grass clippings small sticks etc. seem to accumulate in the cupped hub of the fan and on top of the drive unit in general. Since new (2016) I have always blown out the debris after I finish mowing. This particular day I mowed for about an hour (starting with a clean machine, with fan blades), before discovering that the fan was broken. Since there is no temperature alarm on the drive unit and it isn't visible from the operators seat, I don't know what else I could have done to prevent this short of doing an inspection every five minutes. Honest boss the blades were there when I started mowing.

Now I'm assuming that it was a stick that decided to steal my blades, but I really have no evidence of that. There were no sticks, pieces of trash (or fan blades for that matter) found in the fan area. For all I know the fan fairy took them while I wasn't looking.
My 18 year old 1000Z also gets blown out after ever use, but generally it's pretty clean and doesn't accumulate clippings etc. like the ZT2100. The fans are mounted up high and also protected by a sheet metal guard. As far as the drive goes, IMO it's better design.
Don't get me wrong, the 2100 is an improvement. It's a great unit to operate. Because of the suspension it doesn't beat up my bad back like the old rigid frame 1000z and handles better on hills/irregular ground.

Yep, fan blades are there to keep the trans cool. A 75 day out isn't hot but the trans get hot from USE not from heat of day. Sure at 90 you need to worry more if a blade breaks off but overall you need to ensure the blades are there and working. I check mine after ever cut and blow the grass out underneath the seat. Overheating that trans is a bad idea and at the very least I'd fix the fan and replace filters (fluid drains out with filter removal) and refill with a good fluid like you mention. And pray you didn't damage anything internal. ZT4400's are gonna be an expensive fix if so. They are an extremely heavy duty transmission. (my Simplicity Citation XL has Zt3400's in it and my ZT-2500 has ZT2800's in it (less power).

 

[Carl_NH]

I guess you looked around the lawn to find the pieces of fan as this would give you some idea of how long you ran "unfanned" but seems the fan eating fairies took care of them!

I've been putting off changing my hydro filter since last year so this encouraged me to get it done. Originally done at 100 hours when I added the cooler, now at 390 (vs 250 per manual) just the filter and reservoir drained 1.5 qts. and the old 15-50 Mobil 1 was molasses color.

I hope you get your unit back on line soon.

 

[Notforhire]

I guess you looked around the lawn to find the pieces of fan as this would give you some idea of how long you ran "unfanned" but seems the fan eating fairies took care of them!

I've been putting off changing my hydro filter since last year so this encouraged me to get it done. Originally done at 100 hours when I added the cooler, now at 390 (vs 250 per manual) just the filter and reservoir drained 1.5 qts. and the old 15-50 Mobil 1 was molasses color.

I hope you get your unit back on line soon.

I actually just came in the house after a brief game of "fan blades, fan blades, where are the fan blades." No luck. I can't walk very far, so I'll take a second look after the ZT is operational.

My parts delivery dates are spread out over next week. As soon as the filters arrive I intend on draining at least the left side. I don't want to leave anything open if I can avoid it. The Mobil 1 isn't due till this Fri.

I think the oil cooler is a great idea! Unfortunately with the newer self contained units I don't think there's a way to hook one up. It would be money well spent, IMO.

I wish there was a simple way to soften the ride on my rigid frame machine. It's been one of the most trouble free machines I've ever owned. I tried a suspension seat. It was an improvement, but not enough.

 

[RandyT]

I actually just came in the house after a brief game of "fan blades, fan blades, where are the fan blades." No luck. I can't walk very far, so I'll take a second look after the ZT is operational.

My parts delivery dates are spread out over next week. As soon as the filters arrive I intend on draining at least the left side. I don't want to leave anything open if I can avoid it. The Mobil 1 isn't due till this Fri.

I think the oil cooler is a great idea! Unfortunately with the newer self contained units I don't think there's a way to hook one up. It would be money well spent, IMO.

I wish there was a simple way to soften the ride on my rigid frame machine. It's been one of the most trouble free machines I've ever owned. I tried a suspension seat. It was an improvement, but not enough.

No way to connect a cooler on that system. Heck the separate pump motor systems if working properly don't move that much oil by comparison back into the system for filtering. The hydrostat system is best described as a closed loop system. The oil that is in the pump/hoses/motor gets moved back and forth within that loop system and the only oil that is recovered, returned to the overflow tank and then filtered and pumped back into the system is do to the pump inefficiency loss.

 

[stevem5215]

The best you can do on a non suspension model is to lower the rear tire pressures. I'd suggest instead of 15lbs use 10-12lbs. Makes a difference on my ZT2500 with front suspension only.

 

[cnrenterprises]

The machine is driven by two Hydro Gear ZT transmissions ZT-4400™ - Hydro-Gear.
Everything is self contained, one unit for each drive wheel.
I haven't gotten a chance to look into how the parking brake arrangement works.
The only thing wrong that I could find is the broken/missing fan blades.
For a machine that is designed to run all day long in summer heat, I would be surprised if it would overheat after one hour (max) in 75 deg. weather.

I was unable to look at it today, but tomorrow I can lift it up and really look things over.

See page 8 of the Manual for trouble shooting. Your issues are likely one of the ones listed. You can access them from the link you posted.

 

[Buckeye Guy]

I have the exact same mower and have owned it for 7 years now. Twice mine has done the same thing on the left side. Once, it was just a touch low on the reservoir tank, added not even a cup of oil and then it was fine. Second time, a stick (or something) partially dislodged the release lever underneath the pump (the lever used to release the valve for moving). I opened and closed the lever a few times, put it back and it was fine ever since. Doesn't explain your missing fan blades though. Surprised you didn't hear that happen, were you able to find any of the blades in your yard? Might help to explain how it happened.

 

[POGuy]

I have the exact same mower and have owned it for 7 years now. Twice mine has done the same thing on the left side. Once, it was just a touch low on the reservoir tank, added not even a cup of oil and then it was fine. Second time, a stick (or something) partially dislodged the release lever underneath the pump (the lever used to release the valve for moving). I opened and closed the lever a few times, put it back and it was fine ever since. Doesn't explain your missing fan blades though. Surprised you didn't hear that happen, were you able to find any of the blades in your yard? Might help to explain how it happened.

I lost those little blades once. Ran over a curved piece of bamboo while cutting along a hedge. Had a bad feeling as I watched it go under the deck then heard a quick "zip" sound, less than a second long, sure enough, blades gone. Never would have heard it unless I'd seen it happen in real time !

 

[Buckeye Guy]

I lost those little blades once. Ran over a curved piece of bamboo while cutting along a hedge. Had a bad feeling as I watched it go under the deck then heard a quick "zip" sound, less than a second long, sure enough, blades gone. Never would have heard it unless I'd seen it happen in real time !

Wow, guess it doesn't take much to knock the blades off. I wear noise cancelling headphones when I mow, so I most likely wouldn't hear it either