F3990 Hour Meter

[Robert Galka]

I am looking at some used F3990 mowers that the city is selling at auction. They all look well used, but two have about 250 hours and the other two have 2000 hours. Does anyone know if the hours are reset when an instrument cluster is replaced? I'm sure these all have had software updates to try to repair the emissions problems, I wonder if that reset the hours?

 

[MOOTS]

They probably replaced the cluster, for whatever reason, and it started back at zero.

 

[Robert Galka]

They probably replaced the cluster, for whatever reason, and it started back at zero.

That's what I was thinking. I know on some motorcycles have the mileage stored in the ECM, when you replace the cluster it restores the mileage to what the old odometer said.

 

[MOOTS]

That's what I was thinking. I know on some motorcycles have the mileage stored in the ECM, when you replace the cluster it restores the mileage to what the old odometer said.

Any pictures of the mowers? I wasn’t aware of emissions problems on the F’s.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Any pictures of the mowers? I wasn’t aware of emissions problems on the F’s.

There was a whole run of F's that had huge emissions.
Same issues as the B3350's.

 

[Robert Galka]

Any pictures of the mowers? I wasn’t aware of emissions problems on the F’s.

I didn't take any pictures, but the auction site has some bad ones. I think the ZD1511 also has the same engine with the DPF problems.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

interesting, sounds like it'd be BETTER to buy the 'low hours' unit as it's probably had better service ??

 

[NoJacketRequired]

There was a whole run of F's that had huge emissions.
Same issues as the B3350's.

Is there a way to identify the good ones, and the bad ones? I'm asking because our airport recently purchased a used F3990 and I need to have some idea of how to budget for its maintenance.

Thanks, NIW - the information you share here is absolutely invaluable!

 

[MOOTS]

There was a whole run of F's that had huge emissions.
Same issues as the B3350's.

I thought they were a different (electronic) engine than a 3350 and missed all the mechanical emissions problems.

 

[Robert Galka]

The first one went for almost $14,000.00 CDN with taxes and auction fees. It still needed the DPF repaired
because the light was on. That was way more than I was willing to spend for a beat up mower with unknown hours. I'm sure I could find a clean low hour machine for $20,000.00.

Here's a picture.

 

[PaulL]

That is a lot of money. An F is an incredibly durable machine, and a mowing weapon. There's a reason lots of commercial mowing operations are using them rather than a zero turn. They are suited to mowing larger areas though, and they're expensive. I agree for $14K you can probably do better with another sort of machine. But even with a lot of hours those machines will still go for years.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Yeesh...some do get carried away at auctions !! For me ,every 'nonrunner' machine is only worth 10-15% above scrap prices. If this unit is similar to the 'late father's tractor at dealer', it'll need $6K of parts to start with.

Yikes, if I had to pay 15-20K for a lawn mower, I'd be thinking REAL HARD about my landscaping decisions. That beast looks like it was designed to mow acres and acres and acres of grass,something that takes TIME, a LOT of time.

 

[steveh]

I am looking at some used F3990 mowers that the city is selling at auction. They all look well used, but two have about 250 hours and the other two have 2000 hours. Does anyone know if the hours are reset when an instrument cluster is replaced? I'm sure these all have had software updates to try to repair the emissions problems, I wonder if that reset the hours?

To the original question, yes, when instrument cluster replaced the hour meter reads zero. I did this once at about 300 hr. and when I sold the tractor years later told the buyer about the extra hours up front. I also had the invoice for the replacement cluster and its date, so all I needed to do meanwhile was add the old hours to the reading when planning maintenance. [This was a few years back, so it is possible the newer system is different from mine....] Dealer would know....

 

[GreensvilleJay]

You'd think it'd be possible to set the new odometer to the old value. From a computer view, easy to do and could be 'traced' that it had been done.
From legal view could be trouble though. 'low ' hours on tractor sounds good.and NO way of knowing actual time on the machine.

 

[MOOTS]

The first one went for almost $14,000.00 CDN with taxes and auction fees. It still needed the DPF repaired
because the light was on. That was way more than I was willing to spend for a beat up mower with unknown hours. I'm sure I could find a clean low hour machine for $20,000.00.

Here's a picture.
View attachment 137442

View attachment 137443

That looks like a 2000 hr machine. Looks like it was used as a battering ram too. Right side rear of deck looks extremely close to the tire.

 

[Robert Galka]

That looks like a 2000 hr machine. Looks like it was used as a battering ram too. Right side rear of deck looks extremely close to the tire.

The right tire was sitting in a big pot hole, so it looks twisted in the picture. I know one of them has a slightly bent deck, probably from hitting curbs.