CHECK OUT THIS MONSTER.......JOHN DEERE 997 Z TRAK DIESEL ZERO TURN MOWER

Customer dropped off this diesel zero turn mower and wanted me to find out why it’s shutting off all of a sudden.....it’s been giving me fits but I think I’ve got it wrapped up and ready to go......

[@ChristopherSmith-d2t]

I just inherited a 997. It is an absolute beast of a mower. Starting a lawn business and this will be a great asset.

[@fearlessfly100]

@@ChristopherSmith-d2t just make sure your lawns fit the mower......

[@ChristopherSmith-d2t]

@@fearlessfly100 got a 32” stand on as well. It was free so I’ll definitely find a use for it.

[@retired911guy2006]

I have a 2006 997 diesel Serial # 020317 (with the bagger) with a similar problem. My engine doesn't shut down but the deck sure does. I can mow for half an hour to an hour and the high temperature alarm comes on and the deck shuts down. The engine keeps running, however. I first thought I had a bad thermostat and replaced it. Problem kept occurring so I replaced the coolant temperature sensor. Same problem kept happening. I found, as you stated, the alarm and deck interlock was affected by coolant temp AND hydraulic oil temperature. The hydraulic oil level was good, oil was clean so why should it run hot after mowing for a short while? It turns out the hydraulic oil cooler sits just aft (or behind) and at the bottom of the engine coolant radiator. There is a gap of about an inch between them and a metal plate below them. This setup, I believe, is the source of the problem and a is the result of a design problem created by John Deere design engineers. I have a tiny TV camera that can look into small places and I took a look at the situation. Well, guess what I found? The entire area between the radiator and the oil cooler was filled with debris: leaves, grass, dirt, what have you, sucked into the area by the radiator/coolant fan. I carefully loosed it up with a thin piece of wood and blew the hell out of it with an air gun. Debris flew everywhere. I blew out both the oil cooler and radiator as best I could. Everything was hot and it is VERY hard to access the area. The metal plate below them exacerbates the problem by not allowing the debris to fall through and out the bottom, especially with the big bagger hanging on the rear end. The only way to get at it is with an air gun and high pressure air. As long as I keep the area between the radiator and the oil cooler clear, the mower works flawlessly. I was mowing today with it and the deck shut down after 20-30 minutes of mowing. I hadn't blown it out after mowing the past 2 times, so it obviously builds up pretty quickly. I plan on making it a regular maintenance task every other time I mow with it. I shouldn't have to do that, but it is what it is. I checked with 2 different dealers service managers and there are no service bulletins or recalls on the problem. This probably why the 15 year old 997 I have only had 340 some hours on it when I bought it over a year ago. I strongly suggest you contact your customer and tell him to blow out that area between the radiator and oil cooler and keep it blown out. You should probably also reconnect the hydraulic oil temperature sensor to see if doing this prevents the alarm activation and the deck shutting down. I have no idea if doing this will help with the engine shutting down but it may help with that as well. I haven't read all the comments, so maybe someone else has said the same thing and I have wasted my time writing all this. At the least, I hope this helps you and anyone else with a 997.

[@fearlessfly100]

Thanks for watching as well as for the info on your mower.......yes keeping the oil cooler and the area around that clean from debris will help the machine run better at normal operation........😁

[@retired911guy2006]

Since I posted my earlier reply, I have kept the area between the engine radiator and the hydraulic oil cooler blown out with compressed air and have only had one shutdown. That was when the bagger hose came off and blew a bunch of grass clippings towards the rear of the mower. The clippings got sucked into the engine enclosure by the radiator fan and within 10-15 minutes, the temperature alarm started beeping and the deck shut down. I took it back to the shop and blew a bunch of debris out from between the two radiators. By that time, the oil had cooled enough and the alarm cleared. I went back to mowing and had no more problems. I am very thankful that only the deck shuts down, not the engine. I dot know what I would do if the engine shut down out in the middle of a field. Guess I’d just have to wait a half hour for it to cool of on its own.

[@nodaklojack]

Had the same issue. Was leaking coolant through the weephole on the waterpump. Replaced waterpump and no issues.

[@chuckcollinsworth5000]

I have questions about mine. The deck won't lift when pressing the deck lift pedal???

[@fearlessfly100]

@@chuckcollinsworth5000 is it hydraulicly operated?

[@chuckcollinsworth5000]

@@fearlessfly100 Yes Sir

[@ashleywehrlen6353]

Did you have any other issues with it after replacing the battery? Im working on a customers same tractor same issue shutting down while running Im about to flush the coolant and put a new battery on and was just curious if that fixed the issue for you.

[@fearlessfly100]

@@ashleywehrlen6353 the tube that goes into the fuel tank had a bunch of junk around it.....so I pulled it out and cleaned it ......

[@bobbybatson4310]

The safety switches for the brake the control arms apparently are micro switches loose contact mine shuts off too and I moved the levers back and forth it started up ran just fine haven't totally checked it out but I feel certain I found the problem

[@jasonsejkora4578]

having same issue with mine. great machine when its running. damn I want to track that issue down

[@fearlessfly100]

Check the pick up tube in the fuel tank...

[@timherold9725]

You can replace just the hydro temp sensor. Don’t have to buy the whole tank. Ask me how I know.

[@tonyschreck2429]

I have this 2007 unit also pull the pickup diesel fuel hose out the tank and clean the screen on the end. Use the algae cleaner this will keep diesel fuel flowing so it doesn’t shut off or cause alarm to go off. The alarm can go off for tons of reasons.

[@jschnurb19]

My dad has one, they are big and they have a lot of power.

[@fearlessfly100]

Joshua Schnurbusch thanks for watching.....I’ve been around the yanmar Diesel engine in tractors and utility vehicles ......but not in a zero turn like this......you are right when you say it has a lot of power......I was testing it out at my place before I gave it back to the customer and the engine never indicated there was a load on it.....and I took down some really tall grass really quick ......

[@jeffreywiley9661]

What Battery goes in the 997 Z Trak? I'm trying to help a friend with this machine that hasn't been used in 4 years, and naturally, the battery is dead. Do I have to spend a lot to get a battery in it?

[@fearlessfly100]

The battery is gonna be one for a small car......i believe it was an interstate MT-26.....they run around $125 for that size battery......

[@jeffreywiley9661]

@@fearlessfly100 Thanks so much!

[@johnurby6074]

I recently purchased a 2007 John Deere Z997. I am having trouble determining where the transmission oil and filter(s) are. Can you help? Thank you.

[@fearlessfly100]

Hey John ........Thanks for watching.......Yes there is a hydraulic filter on the unit......its underneath on the drive motor for the wheels.......part number from John Deere is M146082......Also if you are sitting in the seat the hydraulic/transmission fluid tank is on your right.......ts what the control panel is attached to......Hope this helps.....if you need anymore help with your unit please reach out.......

[@johnurby6074]

@@fearlessfly100 Thank you very much. I didn't ask my question properly. Is there a separate transmission filter and oil needed to service transmission? Does the hydraulic filter and reservoir also serve the transmission? Another question: I started the z997 after changing all oils and filters. It doesn't yet have a drive shaft. Unknown what they did with it. Anyway, as I am sitting on the seat with the engine running, I try to unlock the parking brake and the engine turns off. I removed the seat switch and cleaned the connectors and it is still turning off. Any suggestions? Thanks again. John

[@fearlessfly100]

The hydraulic/transmission fluid circulates through the drive motor for the wheels as well as the drive motor for the deck....i believe there is only one filter for the whole system.......As for the parking break....that happened to me a few times........make sure the drive handles are all the way out and the electrical connections are free of corrosion.......if they are im not sure what else it might be right off the hand other than a safety switch not functioning properly...........

[@retired911guy2006]

@@johnurby6074 If both the directional control levers are not in the fully "parked: position, the interlock will definitely kill the engine.