Ferris IS 700 Review

IS 700 review

Ferris IS 700 overview

Ferris puts the IS 700 in the middle of its IS range, above the IS 600 and below the ISX 800. The maker’s page lists two models, a 52-inch (5902107, $9,954) and a 60-inch (5902061, $10,449), and both use the same engine. Some parts of the page call it the IS 700Z, which looks like an older or alternate label for the same machine.

This Ferris IS 700 review is therefore a two-variant review, where the only differences are deck width, weight and price.

Engine and drive

The engine is a Briggs and Stratton CXi twin of 810 cc, rated 27 hp gross. Ferris credits the rating to Kawasaki’s method on that page, an inconsistency worth noting. A 6-gallon tank feeds it.

Dual Hydro-Gear ZT-3200 transaxles with 7-inch fans provide 0 to 10 mph forward and 0 to 5 mph reverse, the same drive as the IS 600 but with a bigger engine behind it.

Cutting

The deck is 10-gauge fabricated steel and cuts from 1.5 to 5 inches. The page names an iCD cutting system, and mulch and striping kits include iCD+ options. The spindles are greasable aluminum with 1-inch shafts. Blade details are not published.

A 10 cubic foot 2-bag hard-top collector is an accessory, as are LED lights and a service jack.

Ride and dimensions

Suspension is the Ferris design with a pivoting front axle and adjustable coil-over shocks, and the mid-back seat is suspended with adjustable arms. Drive tires are 22×11-10 and casters 13×6.5-6. Dry weight is 1,059 lb for the 52-inch and 1,140 lb for the 60-inch, and overall length is 81 inches.

Width with the deflector down is 65 or 74 inches, which matters for gate clearance.

Warranty and who should buy

Warranty is 2 years unlimited hours or 4 years and 500 hours for the machine, 10 years for the suspension, and engine terms per the engine manual. The page also headlines a 4-year limited warranty, which only matches the longer term.

Buy the IS 700 if you want a 27 hp engine and a wider deck without stepping to the ISX 800 price.