IS500z: Fix or replace engine or mower

[profusion]

Hi,

I have a Ferris IS500z that I bought in 2007. The mower was running fine until yesterday when it started to stall when I cranked up the throttle past 50%. I rode it back to my shed and shut it off and now I don't even hear the solenoid click when I turn the key. I'm guessing it's a bad solenoid but I need to diagnose it. I'm also wondering how much time I have left on this machine. The 24 HP Briggs engine has 542 hours on it and is leaking quite a bit of oil which I top off as needed. The engine area is a dirty, oily mess and I'm handy but not handy enough to pull the engine out or do any major work on it. Aside from the engine and the mess created by oil and hydraulic fluid, the machine is in great shape. I'm wondering if it make sense to, at some point, find a reliable service (won't be easy in central NJ) to fix or replace the engine or would that be time to replace the mower? I don't know how much it would cost to fix or replace the engine but a new machine is pricey and it seems wasteful to dump the entire machine if the engine can be replaced.

In short, given the shortage of good local mechanics and the cost of fixing/replacing an engine, when would you declare the machine's life ended?

 

[ILENGINE]

Lets start with the actual 7 digit model number from the model number tag since there are 17 different models of the IS500Z. And then also get the model number info off of the valve cover.

I suspect the run and or start issue is related to the battery/charging system. Also if it is the engine I am thinking most likely has a leaking sump gasket. And 542 hours with proper care should be about the half life of that engine.

 

[profusion]

Lets start with the actual 7 digit model number from the model number tag since there are 17 different models of the IS500Z. And then also get the model number info off of the valve cover.

I suspect the run and or start issue is related to the battery/charging system. Also if it is the engine I am thinking most likely has a leaking sump gasket. And 542 hours with proper care should be about the half life of that engine.

Thanks for the quick reply. The model number is: 5900640

 

[profusion]

Turns out a fuse was blown in the starter circuit so it runs now. I checked the fuses visually earlier but the fuse that blew wasn't very transparent so I missed the gap. A multi-meter detected it.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hi,

I have a Ferris IS500z that I bought in 2007. The mower was running fine until yesterday when it started to stall when I cranked up the throttle past 50%. I rode it back to my shed and shut it off and now I don't even hear the solenoid click when I turn the key. I'm guessing it's a bad solenoid but I need to diagnose it. I'm also wondering how much time I have left on this machine. The 24 HP Briggs engine has 542 hours on it and is leaking quite a bit of oil which I top off as needed. The engine area is a dirty, oily mess and I'm handy but not handy enough to pull the engine out or do any major work on it. Aside from the engine and the mess created by oil and hydraulic fluid, the machine is in great shape. I'm wondering if it make sense to, at some point, find a reliable service (won't be easy in central NJ) to fix or replace the engine or would that be time to replace the mower? I don't know how much it would cost to fix or replace the engine but a new machine is pricey and it seems wasteful to dump the entire machine if the engine can be replaced.

In short, given the shortage of good local mechanics and the cost of fixing/replacing an engine, when would you declare the machine's life ended?

Hello P,

Worse case: New engine is roughly $1200 plus whatever labor to install.

Even a good local auto mechanic might be willing to fix the original engine as a side job for the extra money.

Finding a competent small engine mechanic anywhere these days is next to impossible. Dealers have done it to themselves by not providing training or paying people what they are worth. They just sell the equipment.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Turns out a fuse was blown in the starter circuit so it runs now. I checked the fuses visually earlier but the fuse that blew wasn't very transparent so I missed the gap. A multi-meter detected it.

Hello P,

The question now is why did the fuse blow? It may blow again.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Hello P,

Worse case: New engine is roughly $1200 plus whatever labor to install.

Even a good local auto mechanic might be willing to fix the original engine as a side job for the extra money.

Finding a competent small engine mechanic anywhere these days is next to impossible. Dealers have done it to themselves by not providing training or paying people what they are worth. They just sell the equipment.

Very few shops rebuild small engines anymore, including me. It takes too long, too much liability, and not enough money for all the work.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hello T,

Back when I started in the late 70's we actually learned how to perform reliable overhauls and parts were abundant for reasonable prices, so it was practical. Of course, we were usually trained by more experienced elders who were around in the cast iron engine days.

Now, no one is trained much beyond changing a spark plug and air filter. Overhauls are not even practical because of absorbent shop labor prices and them only employing untrained people (breathing bodies).

 

[Stetevens]

Hello T,

Back when I started in the late 70's we actually learned how to perform reliable overhauls and parts were abundant for reasonable prices, so it was practical. Of course, we were usually trained by more experienced elders who were around in the cast iron engine days.

Now, no one is trained much beyond changing a spark plug and air filter. Overhauls are not even practical because of absorbent shop labor prices and them Cars Arena only employing untrained people (breathing bodies).

We actually learned how to perform reliable engine overhauls, and parts were readily available at reasonable prices, so it was practical to do so. We were usually trained by more experienced mechanics who had worked during the cast iron engine era.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hello S.,

I worked as a small engine mechanic back in the late 70's when I first started out. Most parts were kept in stock including overhaul components for the most common brands. It was economical back then to perform a basic overhaul. Now the parts are sky high or no longer available and the labor would easily exceed the cost of a new engine.

It was fairly steady work until later when the OHV (throw away) engines came out, then the bottom dropped out of the repair business. Most engines were not worth the effort to overhaul because many of them would break a connecting rod and punch through the block.

Aside from that most engines are not built to be saved anymore, just ran until they quit or blow up. Manufacturing engineers are creating the perfect disposable engines. Manufacturing loves it because they can sell more equipment and make profits just to add their junk to the salvage piles.