ZD28 -How long do they last ?

[Ranger1969]

Dad bought a new Kubota ZD28 diesel mower back in 05 or 06. I inherited it last year and it was in sad shape. I replace both rear tires, the starter, battery, replaced the oil cooler, deck rollers, oil, roters and fuel filters etc. The engine ran great. Last week I was talking to the dealer about trading it in on a new unit. They asked how many hours and I checked - it was hard to read but I could just make out 735 hours. I told the dealer the hour meter had 735 hours and it had stopped working. Today I jumped on it for a spin and after I was done I check the hour meter again...,and it read 736. So I think it was working the whole time and I guess the machine has 10,736 hours. Question is how many hours do these machine typically reach before failure ? How many hours did yours get to? Thanks

 

[Redlands Okie]

Why 10,736 ? Seems to be about 10 years and 5 months a year at 5 days a week of mowing thats over 10 hours a DAY.

Why not 736 ? Seems to be about 10 years and 5 months a year of mowing thats a bit under 4 hours a WEEK or so.

No idea on what was mowed or occupation but that seems more reasonable for most users.

Yes i know that not answer your question on how long the engines normally last. Just curious on the numbers.

 

[Ranger1969]

I guess I just jumped to the conclusion that the hour meter had rolled over and never considered 736....seemed too low but perhaps it right ��. So the question is now...how may hours do you have on your mower? What typical life span of one of these diesels?

 

[CharlieKtractor]

I guess I just jumped to the conclusion that the hour meter had rolled over and never considered 736....seemed too low but perhaps it right ��. So the question is now...how may hours do you have on your mower? What typical life span of one of these diesels?

just changed oil in my ZD28--shows 4756 hours---very stout machine

 

[Redlands Okie]

Wow. If that was a vehicle engine averaging 50 mile a hour thats about 237,800 miles. Stout they must be

 

[4570Man]

I seriously doubt the hour meter has rolled over. How long do they last? Well I've never seen one that was completely used up and didn't suffer a catastrophic accident. My F2560 doesn't have a working meter but I suspect it's got thousands of hours. I see commercial equipment for sale all the time with thousands of hours.

 

[Ranger1969]

just changed oil in my ZD28--shows 4756 hours---very stout machine

Wow looks like my ZD28 was just getting warmed up compared to yours - what kind of maintenance have you done to keep your mower running? Did you buy it new? Thanks

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I don't think it has over 10k hours on it lol, if so you must only have memories of your dad mowing the grass or running it to get groceries and leave it idle for most of that time lol.

Sorry for your loss if that was the reason for the inheritance.

A liquid cooled diesel that's been well taken care of, easy 2-3k hours the rest of the machine will most likely fall apart around the motor. I wouldn't be surprised to see one with twice that.

But you said it wasn't taken care of and was in rough shape?

Just as a start I would check and change EVERYTHING, fuel filter, coolant, grease everything ext. adding a additive to your diesel would be a good idea also, I add 2 cycle oil to my diesel but you can add everything from ATF to name brand diesel additives, the older diesels are used to more sulphur in the diesel.

 

[Redlands Okie]

. adding a additive to your diesel would be a good idea also, I add 2 cycle oil to my diesel but you can add everything from ATF to name brand diesel additives, the older diesels are used to more sulphur in the diesel.

Ok..... any more info on this adding 2 cycle oil or such to a older diesel fuel ?

Not trying to hi jack the post. Just curious.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

. adding a additive to your diesel would be a good idea also, I add 2 cycle oil to my diesel but you can add everything from ATF to name brand diesel additives, the older diesels are used to more sulphur in the diesel.

Ok..... any more info on this adding 2 cycle oil or such to a older diesel fuel ?

Not trying to hi jack the post. Just curious.

It's a very highly debated subject from everything from onroad trucks to off road equipment running "low sulphur" or "ultra-low sulphur" diesel fuel.

http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/a...need-fuel-additives.html#/topics/96567?page=1

Do we NEED fuel additives/lubricants? - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com

http://www.mytractorforum.com/76-cu...st-diesel-additive.html#/topics/229824?page=1

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../236739-there-need-diesel-fuel-additives.html

Yesterday's Tractors - Talk of the Town: Modern Diesel Fuel in an Old Tractor

Read up and you can come to your own conclusion, all I know is my tractor was running and I dumped 2.5oz bottle of 2 cycle oil into the fuel tank on my tractor and just that little bit quieted the tractor down after a few mins, 2 cycle oil is cheap, I'm running a 05 JD. Tank was nearly full and holds 14 or 15 gallons.

Depends on who you talk to I guess, at the least it's cheap insurance, a gallon of 2 cycle at Walmart is like $13, If you did 1oz per gallon it still will last awhile.

It can damage a newer diesel motor, but the older stuff seems to like more oil in the diesel.

 

[Fitch]

I have a 2004 ZD21 with 1,566 hours on it. It uses about a quart of oil between oil changes. I keep the transmission overfilled because it's a low serial number. The deck was recently rebuilt (gear box died and outer spindles had bearing failure because of seal failure). It had recurrent hot start problems. I installed a heat shield, part is standard on the new ZD1021, between the starter solenoid and the exhaust manifold which reduced the solenoid temperature to less than 130F and solved that problem. I haven't had a hot start problem since installing that heat shield. The shield installation is a piece of cake though it does involve drilling two holes. For some reason the picture showing the shield on my mower came in rotated 90 degrees to the left. The picture on the right shows the shield on the ZD1021. I ordered the part from Kubota.

Other than that, the mower is working great.

Fitch

 

[Ranger1969]

Thanks Fitch - are you the only owner/user? How many hours do you usually mow a month? Do you have the impression that your mower will keep right on chopping away after the repairs?

Thanks

 

[eallenII]

Thanks Fitch - are you the only owner/user? How many hours do you usually mow a month? Do you have the impression that your mower will keep right on chopping away after the repairs?

Thanks

Fitch
I have owned my zd28 since it was new in 2004. I cut 6 acres in Baton Rouge, 10 months a year. I have 1100 hours on mine religiously maintained for 19 years. Runs like clock nothing cuts better and I’ve owned them all. If Kubota made cars and trucks I would one of each. Also have M5700 2002, same story. Your mower is barely used. Spend whatever you have to , to keep it in good shape you can’t go wrong.

 

[fatjay]

I have a 2001 zd21 with 1200 hours and it runs like a top with no indication of giving up. It's those kubota diesel's, they're good for 10k hours if properly maintained.

 

[JJT]

I have the ZD28's little brother, the ZD21. 800 hours and it looks and runs like new. Bought new about 20 years ago. I've changed the front tires, other than that just routine maintenance.