Happy but somewhat Disgruntled New Ferris owner

[greasemonkeyok]

Here is another way to look at it. When you buy a new truck, do you know when the engine, transmission, and differential were manufactured?

I'd rather have a Japanese engine manufactured 3 years ago than a Chinese engine manufactured yesterday.

 

[MoKelly]

I fully understand your concern. It seems to me the dealer would have at least told you that the engine was 3 years old.

From a business perspective, how in the world can the manufacturer justify having a big time engine lying around for 3 years before installing on a mower? That is just crazy working capital management. In today's day and age, having inventory sit idle for 3 years is unheard of by a successful business.

MoKelly

 

[ToadHill]

Example: Mfg builds engine only 2 times per year then changes to different size unit, say July & December.

December 2009 engine sits in warehouse, then sells to distributor in Oct 2010, when it ships from the far east to the USA. Sits in his warehouse until July 2011 of the next year.

End mfg orders engines for future use, and it sits with him for until Nov 2011, he builds the machine in November 2011 and calls it a 2012 model.

You buy it in April of 2012.


Presto a new machine with a 3 year old engine.

 

[brin]

Example: Mfg builds engine only 2 times per year then changes to different size unit, say July & December.

December 2009 engine sits in warehouse, then sells to distributor in Oct 2010, when it ships from the far east to the USA. Sits in his warehouse until July 2011 of the next year.

End mfg orders engines for future use, and it sits with him for until Nov 2011, he builds the machine in November 2011 and calls it a 2012 model.

You buy it in April of 2012.


Presto a new machine with a 3 year old engine.

I still have a problem with that...It just does not seem right just because it's the way it's done. Another poster made the very valid point that the gaskets and seals are then 3 yrs. old and we all know that means leaks for sure....Something either is a new 2012 or it is used..period..that is just me...

 

[Bird]

the gaskets and seals are then 3 yrs. old and we all know that means leaks for sure...

I'd disagree with that, Bob. It might mean leaks, but it's far from sure. In fact, I think the odds are far in the other direction. And if they do leak, that should show up during his warranty period. And a new engine, less than 6 months old is no quarantee of no leaks. I bought a new Toro a year ago last March, the build date of the engine was the previous November. I put 11 hours on it in 2 months and then it sprung an oil leak; pretty big one, in fact. Now the oil filter was certainly tight, but that's what leaked. Of course, the dealer replaced it under warranty.

From a business perspective, how in the world can the manufacturer justify having a big time engine lying around for 3 years before installing on a mower? That is just crazy working capital management. In today's day and age, having inventory sit idle for 3 years is unheard of by a successful business.

I'd agree in general, but I can certainly think of several possibilities. The mower manufacturer surely gets a better price when buying large quantities. Normally, you're right, he wouldn't want to buy some to sit around 3 years, but what if he expected some big price increases in engines and wanted to buy before they went up? Of what if he expected to sell 2 or 3 times as many mowers as the market provided after the downturn in the economy? So if he's got new engines (regardless of their age), what would you recommend he do? Scrap new engines just because they're 2 or 3 years old?

Now I certainly do think it would be advisable to tell customers and discount the mower price a bit, or give them an extended warranty.

 

[MoKelly]

The mower manufacturer surely gets a better price when buying large quantities. Normally, you're right, he wouldn't want to buy some to sit around 3 years, but what if he expected some big price increases in engines and wanted to buy before they went up? Of what if he expected to sell 2 or 3 times as many mowers as the market provided after the downturn in the economy? So if he's got new engines (regardless of their age), what would you recommend he do? Scrap new engines just because they're 2 or 3 years old?

Those are possibilities but seem (at least to me) to be unusual or one-off situations. I get the impression from this thread that older engines in mowers is a normal (not unusual) practice. So, that tells me this is how its normally done.

But, I will readily admit, I know very little about how mower engine manufactures operate!

MoKelly

 

[Carl_NH]

RJohnson,

Yes, I understand your concern and issue. In June 2010 bought a known leftover 2009 Ferris IS-2000 25HP Kawasaki, 52" cut. I did the once over on the machine and indeed it was new, but the engine MFG date was 0907 so I contacted Ferris gave them my S/N and asked the same question.

They indicated this not unusual - they buy in quantities at one time and as they get used they reorder more. Also as others pointed out the supply chain side of things may mean a motor is built and shipped to a warehouse, then shipped to the end user OEM. So a year may pass from the date of MFG to the date of receipt, then they install this in my case late 2008 build as a 2009 model.

Further in my machine I noticed the oil was dark and smelled of gas, and again Ferris said "the dealers showroom these and move them outside for the day and back in at night, so the engines dont get hot enough to burn off the gas. BTW the hour meter only runs when the deck is engaged.

I immediately changed the oil and filter to a SAE30 and ran that until this spring with no adverse effects or issues - no oil usage, no leaks. Engine runs perfectly. Last weekend I changed to Mobil 1 Synthetic as I have 55 hours on it in almost 2 seasons.

First I would figure out if you do have a 2012 IS2000 Model, then if so it "should have" the 26HP Kawasaki and you have a 27HP. The second is did you really get a 2011 model?

That would be my question to Ferris - what is the Mfg Date and is it a 2012 model? If indeed it is a 2012 model, then you got a bonus of 1 HP. If its a 2011 model per Ferris then I would be hopping on over to see your dealer as he sold a leftover..

Ferris has a 3 yr warranty now, along with Kawasaki, so if there are going to be issues they will crop up before that time, also, you may be able to get Ferris or the dealer to cover you for 500 hours or 5 years whichever comes first.

Let us know how you make out, but really I dont think it will be a problem.

Carl

 

[beppington]

I have a Sears 42" hydro riding mower I bought new ~1994. I've changed the oil one time & generally neglected the poor thing, never changed nor even added to the HST oil. Zero leaks whatsoever.

I am probably fortunate, but I wouldn't say leaks are a sure thing after 3 years, or any years for that matter.

That said, it would still bother me to find out the "new" engine is 3 years old. I guess that's just the way it is, but it kinda stinks.

 

[Bird]

Further in my machine I noticed the oil was dark and smelled of gas, and again Ferris said "the dealers showroom these and move them outside for the day and back in at night, so the engines dont get hot enough to burn off the gas. BTW the hour meter only runs when the deck is engaged.

I know my Toro dealer does that; i.e., moves a bunch outside out front during the day and back in at night. However, my little Toro didn't have an OEM hourmeter; the dealer installed one when I bought it. And the manual says to change oil & filter at 100 hours or annually. The oil looked clean when I bought it, but was a bit darker after a year and only 35 hours so I changed oil & filter. I don't know who makes their oil, but since Kohler recommends a 10W-30 and the dealer has it with Kohler's own name on it, that's what I used.

And Carl, it sounds as if you're putting even fewer hours on your mower than I'm putting on mine.

 

[Carl_NH]

I know my Toro dealer does that; i.e., moves a bunch outside out front during the day and back in at night. However, my little Toro didn't have an OEM hourmeter; the dealer installed one when I bought it. And the manual says to change oil & filter at 100 hours or annually. The oil looked clean when I bought it, but was a bit darker after a year and only 35 hours so I changed oil & filter. I don't know who makes their oil, but since Kohler recommends a 10W-30 and the dealer has it with Kohler's own name on it, that's what I used.

And Carl, it sounds as if you're putting even fewer hours on your mower than I'm putting on mine.

Bird - Yes- I have three machines and I can only sit on one at a time! I use my Cub Cadet 1811 for some mowing (just so it doesnt feel left out) and the B21 Kubota for FEL and BH, and the Ferris cuts about 1.5-2 ac a week in about 40 minutes.

The mowing time on the Ferris is so much less than the Cub.. Also the hour meter only runs when the blades are engaged..

Carl