FAQs

When doing a 180 degree turn on your Ferris mower, you will need to make sure both wheels continue to spin free. The reason the turf is tearing is because one of the wheels is locked in place. One lever slightly forward and the other slightly in reverse (slow down into the turn and keep the speed low) will achieve a tight turn without tearing the grass. Not every condition will allow you to accomplish this without tearing the grass. If you find that you can not avoid tearing the grass while making a zero-turn, then we suggest that you do a 3 point turn. This takes only a second longer to accomplish and will keep the lawn in better shape.

No. Do not run Ethanol (E85) fuel in your Ferris mower. The engines are not designed to handle the different nature of that style of fuel. Clean, fresh, unleaded fuel that has an ethanol content of no more than 10 percent (E10) is required. Refer to your engine manual if you are unsure.

Ferris Industries only sells through authorised Ferris dealers. The dealer is factory trained to set up your Ferris mower and perform any warranty work. They also keep a good stock of parts to serve you faster. If your dealer does not have the part in stock, it can be ordered from the Ferris Parts Department.

We do not recommend that you traverse a hill with a larger grade than 15 degrees. The way you can check that you would be ok to mow a side hill would be to try and back up the hill. If you can not back up the hill you will want to look at using a walk behind or other style of mower meant for side hills of a steep incline. Refer to your operators manual for specific guidance.

The Ferris factory commercial or residential warranty only applies to the original purchaser of the machine. The warranty is not transferable.

All Ferris parts are built to the OEM specifications and carry a 90 day factory warranty if they are installed by an authorised Ferris dealer. A short example of an aftermarket parts problem that may occur: It is recommended that you replace your hydraulic filter with the Ferris OEM replacement filter. There are filters out on the market that will fit this same application and look exactly the same, but the internal filter system is not. Most engine oil filters that you will find are 50 micron pressure filters and the Ferris hydraulic filter is a 10 micron pressure filter. The pistons in the hydraulic pumps have a 40 micron tolerance, which means using an improper filter may lead to actually not filtering the system properly. This will increase the contaminants in the oil, will cause premature wear and lead to a catastrophic failure in the hydraulic system. Using the Ferris OEM parts for your Ferris mower not only can help extend the life of your machine, but will also give you the peace of mind that your Ferris mower will continue to function properly over time.

Regular commercial mower maintenance can go a long way toward preserving your equipment and budget, especially with the rigorous conditions landscapers face and long days mowing in the field. While teaching landscape crew members to “respect the machine” plays a large part in making mowers last, so do simple things like reading the operator’s manual, greasing parts, changing oil and keeping the mower clean and dry.

Here are five top lawn mower maintenance tips to keep your zero turn mower running long and strong through the season and beyond.

1. Fuel your mower correctly. 

Michael Iles, a Briggs & Stratton customer service representative, recommends fueling mowers with clean, fresh, unleaded fuel that has an ethanol content of no more than 10 percent (E10), and to use a fuel stabiliser to prevent water and fuel from separating. “Most stabilisers will last from six to 12 months, and this helps fuel stay in good condition for when you start running the machine next season,” Iles says.

Without fuel stabiliser, when the mower is started up it will suck up water first instead of fuel, which can cause corrosion and damage internal engine parts, Iles says.

2. Properly store your mower. Leaving mowers outdoors even overnight can cause premature wear, namely corrosion that can cause linkages to rust. “Wherever water can build up, it eventually will dry out and cause corrosion,” Iles explains. Always dry machines to remove excess water before storing them.

The investment in covered trailers for hauling and storing equipment will preserve machines. Keeping mowers stored in a garage, or any dry shelter will give equipment a longer shelf life, and save on maintenance over time.

3. Watch the tyre pressure. Whenever a mower isn’t cutting evenly, the first thing to check is a mower’s tyre pressure, an uneven tyre pressure will affect the geometry of the mower, as well as the cutting height. Maintaining tyre pressure is also important for prolonging the life of your equipment and its parts.

4. Clean the mower deck. When grass clipping and mulched leaves build up under the deck, the residue can form a layer of hard “gunk” that practically has to be chiseled out. Regularly cleaning underneath the mower deck will prevent this problem. Not cleaning out the bottom of the deck can cause premature corrosion, especially as grass clippings built up can also contain fertilizer and chlorine residue.

5. Remember basic mower maintenance. Most commercial lawn mowers have 10 to 20 grease fittings that need to be greased to prevent metal parts from rubbing together. Read the operator’s manual carefully, which will outline all basic maintenance activities landscapers should tend to in order to keep a mower in prime condition.

Iles adds, “Many common problems can be avoided by simply reading the operator’s manual to learn what you should and should not do.”

Before storing a mower for winter, Iles suggests giving it a full service, including changing oil and filters. “That way, you are not waiting in line come spring when everyone is ready to service their mowers,” he says.

Regular maintenance checks, including oil and filter changes as specified by the operator’s manual, will keep a mower running strong during the growing season, when landscapers might be running equipment for up to 12 hours per day.

The life of any Ferris mower depends on many different things. To actually put a number on it is just about impossible. The maintenance, hours of operation, environmental conditions during use, and how you use your Ferris mower are just a few things that will affect the life of any Ferris mower. We have customers that are still operating some of our original mowers from the mid 80’s. Then you will find some of our newer mowers that look like they have been through a war that are only a few years old. As with any product, if you use it as intended and properly maintain it, it should provide you with reliability and performance for many years.

Your operators manual contains information on all user serviceable areas of your Ferris product. If the information you are looking is not in the operators manual, please contact your local dealer. They have the factory training, experience and diagnostic tools to assist you in keeping your Ferris in top running condition.

Regular service and maintenance are critical to the lifespan and performance of your Ferris product. User maintenance is detailed in your Ferris operators manual, as well as your Ferris service checklist booklet. The service checklist booklet is available from your Ferris dealer, and also serves as your service log book. 

The amount of use the Ferris mower gets will dictate the amount of grease you will need. The spindles and caster wheels are generally the most often greased. If you are a light use homeowner, then greasing the mower at the beginning and middle of the season is generally enough. The spindles and castor wheels should be done around once a month because of the moving interior parts. Commercial mowers that put hundreds of hours on their Ferris mower would be looking at greasing the mower everyday depending on usage. FYI: the spindles have a large cavity in them for the grease to set into. You will find that it takes a larger amount of grease than everything else on the mower. If in doubt refer to your operators manual or service schedule booklet.

Please contact your local Ferris dealer for the most accurate pricing and availability. We do not sell products direct from the factory, so we are unable to quote prices. Your local Ferris dealer will also be able to give you information on any special offers or special financing programs that are currently available.

(This link will take you there) or you can find them under the Tech Support tab on the main page of our website under manuals.

Ferris Industries does not deal in the used equipment market, so we will not be able to provide you with any value or pricing information. We recommend that you contact your local dealer. The values depend on your location, condition, hours of use, etc. of the used equipment. Ferris commercial mowers do retain a higher than normal resale value due to the quality construction and the heavy duty components we use in our products.

Yes, Trailer hitch kits are available for most Ferris Zero Turn Mowers. S65Z models have a trailer hitch fitted as standard. Kits can accept a ½” shank ball.

You do not have to take your Ferris mower back to the same dealer you originally purchased it from. Any authorised Ferris dealer can perform warranty work for you.

Make sure the machine is off and parking brake is applied. Compressed air, or a leaf blower can be used to clean debris that may collect on and under the machine. Pay special attention to the engine and hydrostatic cooling system. If you wash your Ferris, wait until the machine has thoroughly cooled after use and avoid using high pressure water (A garden hose is fine). Dry the machine thoroughly after washing and run the machine with blades engaged once dry to ensure any water is cleared from spindle and pulley bearings, and underneath the cutting deck.

Most Ferris models are fitted standard with adjustable suspension seats, or deluxe suspension seats with lumbar support. Upgrade kits may be available for your specific model, and your local Ferris dealer can guide you through the options.

There are several variables that will play into the way the mower will track when the levers are in the full forward position. Small differences in tyre circumference due to manufacturing tolerances and/or air pressure differences can lead to a unit not tracking straight. Also the lever stops may be set where some adjustment may be needed. Refer to your operators manual for adjustment directions. Adjustment of the hydrostatic transaxles should not be attempted, as this may allow the mower to move without control. Contact your Ferris dealer if you have a persistent tracking issue.

When you are mulching or bagging there are a few things to keep in mind. The decks can hold a large volume of grass that is beyond the capability of the blower or mulching kit to process. They work the best when the grass is cut no more than ¾” at one time. If the grass is taller, cutting twice (once on a higher setting and then again at your normal setting) would be the best solution for maintaining a good cut quality. This allows sufficient air movement around the blades of grass so they are processed properly. If you are continuing to have clumping issues, you can also slow down. Depending on the times of year, grass type, weather conditions, you may be traveling to fast for the blades to process all of the grass properly. So slowing down will help the deck system to keep up with the cutting process.

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To find out more about our current mower line up and to find parts, find a dealer near you.