Bought A Broke Down Scag Mower To Cut My 15 Acres...Now I Gotta Fix It!
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- čas přidán 10. 06. 2024
- My old Kubota mower blew up. So I had to find a new mower to cut my 15 acres. Mower prices have gone up so much! I decided to buy a used Scag Turf Tiger. But the mower is broke down and I need to fix it. In this video I figure out if the problem is the wheel pump, the wheel motor, or something else. In the end, we succeed and the mower is getting the job done.
For someone who didn't know what they were doing -you did good! Great video.
Kubota has a well-deserved reputation for not giving a rip how hard their equipment is to work on. That includes the simple stuff like adding engine oil. I think you’ll like the Skag.
That’s actually the exact opposite from what I’ve experienced.
It’s like Bizarro World.
I do like the Scag. And yes, it has been much easier to work on so far.
I’ve worked at LansdowneMoody for right @ a little over 4 years and they sell Kubotas, Scags & Ferris’s The Ferris Moses are high dollar compared to the Kubota & Scag models. You done ✅ good 👍 with your Scag mower Ned. Hope you’re doing well and we’ll see you on the next one
As someone who inherited a Kubota B7500, I can confirm that some kubota models definitely were not designed with maintenance and repair in mind. Even something simple like stowing the mid mount mower in the raised position to use a 3 point hitch attachment is more of a challenge than it seems like it should have to be.
The hydrostatic drive is simply an adjustable output pump, feeding a set displacement motor.
I have rebuilt several of these. The first thing is make sure it is as clean as possible, the tiniest amount of dirt will put you right back where you are. The second thing is mark the upper and lower body parts to insure they go back in the right position. They will go back together 180 degrees from the proper location. I found this out with my first one. Had to take it back off and reposition the pump. A lot of extra work that was completely unnecessary when a simple sharpie mark was all that was needed. Even if you have to replace the pump you are miles ahead of the new setups they're using today. They have gone from a two part system to a single pump/ wheel motor system. My friend had to have a Cub cadet replaced last year and it cost almost $2,000. I owned a landscaping and lawn care company for almost 25 years and never replaced a wheel motor. Always the pump and only replaced a couple of those, the rest I rebuilt.
Yes, I really like this mower. And it is my first time going this deep on one of these machines. So you know alot more than me. As long as parts are readily available I'd like to just keep running the Scag.
@@nedstephens I have an old 48 in. Scag. I'm talking early to mid nineties. I haven't bought any parts for it in a long time. Everytime I went in they would ask me when was I going to trade it or buy a new one. I guess they got tired of looking up parts on a micro fish since it wasn't on the computer, that's how old it is. My answer was, Why should I go into debt while this machine was still doing everything I needed. I am still operating a 2000 Exmark 60in Lazer around home, along with the little Scag. It's the one I have rebuilt the pumps on. It's a 23 hp water cooled Kawasaki. Make sure your fan runs constantly. Mine didn't and when it blew a fuse and I didn't realize it. I had to replace the engine at around 1500 hrs
and I made sure it now runs all the time. This level of machines will last a long time if taken care of. When I purchase the Exmark it was $9,000 . I have no idea what it would cost today since I retired in 2017. From what you have done I think you have a good machine that will last. Plus you are your own mechanic and that will save you a lot of money.
Don’t forget to flush your hyd system or it will fail again faster.
Thinking the same thing...when the pump failed all those tiny metal filings had to go somewhere...like the wheel motor.
@@davidparnell1893
After flushing is there somewhere to put a filter?
You did the right thing, I am rebuilding mine now. My new integrated wheel motor assembly is $2600.00 + Rebuild is $400.00 with new oil 👍
$2600! Ouch.
Hydrogear z5400?
I love watching CZcams videos to help me in figuring out out to fix things. But brother, some of the things you did are definitely above my pay grade! Great job diagnosing and fixing that beast!
Hahah. Pretty simple once you dig into it. Thanks a bunch.
Hey good repair job. Nice mower too, I wanted one like that but your right the prices on a good zero turn are more than i used to pay for cars! Ha.
I'm 67 and cut 5 acres to keep the varmints and coyotes back from house.
Also in the wide open spaces if i don't keep up with the grass it will get high just like yours.
First time i seen your video.
I will check out some more of your content.
Good job young man.
Need to bale that hay and sell it. 😅
Better off just to buy a new pump and wheel motor. From my experience rebuild kits dont last long if they work at all. Its usually wear from something that isnt able to be replaced. I would replace both, because debris goes throughout the entire sytem and ruins both.
I love it when a project goes correctly. I enjoyed your video. Nice production, not over edited.
Thanks a bunch.
you need a tractor and a bushog
Right or a couple of goats, sheep or other small animal. They will knock that stuff down in no time.
Even pay someone to mow it ONCE and then take over
Or a flail mower
What a pity that motor destroyed all your good work on the original pump. But still, all worked out well in the end. And the Skag is a good brand. Really enjoyed your video. Cheers.
I know. I could just shrug and learn the hard lessons. But happy I'm not too deep. It's good now. Thanks a bunch.
I would love to have a mower like that 😊
Very patient and methodical approach, job well done.
Thanks a bunch.
Oh yeah? Then why was the problem not identified and corrected? He threw money at the problem...
Good work on the diagnoses and repairs, so I decided to subscribe. Thanks for an informative and well-done video.
Awesome, thank you!
You met the challenge.
Nice job on the diagnosis and repair.
Thanks a bunch.
You think that was a successful diagnosis?
Should have bought the rotating group for the pump if the plate was that word the pistons were going to match. and that metal from the pump went in to the motor.
Probably, because that motor didn't look good. Thats for sure.
If you mowed and baled that grass, which would be prairie hay you could actually make some money of that piece of land. It looks like great grass for that purpose.
Well it is industrial property. So I do need to keep it short and keep the city happy. But I will look into it. Thanks for the tip.
I like your videos, I'd suggest showing a little more of your work. I think you'll have 250k subs in no time.
You mean with the jump cuts... the image flip, then not flipped...
Good video...
The purpose of the separate hyd systems for each side is so if you have a failure, like you did, you don’t contaminate the whole hyd system. Hopefully you drained the oil out of that left side reservoir and replaced the left side filter or you may be doing this again. Just saying…
A word of warning. Been around these scags for 18 years. Tough, tough, tough! This front wheel struts are the weakest point on the frame. The 27hp Kawasaki is fantastic...keep your radiator screens clean. But in tall grass like that tou must ne very mindful of the pto shaft that drives the mower deck. Tall grass and weeds can get caught up in it and the u-joint and ultimately rip the fuel line out of the tank. Just be mindful. Otherwise you've got a great machine
I mowed it down and I do keep it short most of the time. And you're exactly right grass did get wrapped around the shaft. Took a lot of work to get it off. Almost turned into a rope. But I will watch out for the fuel line going forward. So far I am quite pleased with its performance. Good tip, thanks a bunch.
The problem I had with my turf tiger is tall grass wrapped the pto shaft where it connects to the gearbox. The grass cut the oil seal of the gearbox and lost enough oil to seize up the gearbox. Expensive mistake.
@kmb957 yes that can and does happen
Adjust the preload on your front caster wheels. The one you wiggled was lose. Just tighten the bolt 1/2 round or so till the wiggle is gone. Been there done that.
Awesome. Thanks for the tip.
Mowers cost way too much now. It's just ridiculous. Some push mowers are even over-priced
12:18 you should weld the reinforcement inside the tube not on the outside but you will have to drill the plates or bars or square stock that will be welded into it first so it can still be bolted onto the machine like factory...then leave a 1/4 inch gap between the tubes to make your welds 360 around the reinforcement too both hold the tubes and the reinforcement together once fully welded...to stiffen it up=make it alot stronger than the manufacturer did in the first place...then grind the welds smooth so only you know how you repaired it...
It is estimated that grinding a weld will weaken the strength of the joint by 30%. Much better idea to simply lay down a proper bead so you don’t feel the need to grind it.
Those weights would be handy to climb steep hills.
That is the same mower I used to cut 10 acres with a lake with a tall dam and a railroad overpass making a steep hills to mow. I The Scag was the only mower I demoed that would climb the hill without lifting. Also it was the only non-diesel mower that was water cooled. That mower 6 years old and 900 hours sold at auction for $12,000.
Whoa baby. Hard to get use to them prices. Like getting in cold water - takes a minute to catch your breath 🥶
I bought a Woods Mowin machine F 23 with a 61 inch deck last year. I had to put a new head on carburetor and of course all new belts. I now have a great mower that new today would run around 20 k.
Very nice!
I love your welding helmet. Very patriotic! We need patriotism more than ever these days
I agree. I do love this country.
Nice Work. Good, Thx.
Thank you too!
With 15 acres of land to mow, id buy a cheap old tractor and a large miwer deck, always cheaper and tends to ve faster, then id think about bailing it all up, as good quality hay is expensive.
My guess the motor came by fedex =) they're rough with packages that are heavy to them =)
You nailed it. That was a fedex package. Guess they live up to their reputation. Haha.
I bought a riding mower that only ran long enough for me to get it home then was given a push mower that the person swore would start and run. I had to fix them both before I could use either one.
Ha. No one likes the double dose of broke down.
While you have it opened up check and replace the drive fluid and filter. Poor and dark fluid along with the filter would be a good investment. Hard to believe the pricing on those units.
Good call. Thanks. And I did change those.
Sir you mowing 15 acres. With how thick that grass is you need a tractor and a bushog. 😮
Why don't you have somebody bale that 15 acres? They'd do it for nothing just to keep the bales. That grass looked too good just to let lay there and rot.
Ohh I love scaggg
I'm getting to that point myself.
@@nedstephens we have 21 scag mowers that we use weekly
Scag is a good mower however the liquid cooled engine is a downfall. Most manufacturers don't have liquid cooled engines unless they are diesel because they are a nightmare. That same engine was on bad boys I owned years ago and they was short lived. But hopefully you will have better luck than we did
I hope so too. Thanks.
I'm assuming that the motor didn't have any oil in it. Was it easy to fill and get the air out?
Yeah it was pretty easy. But you don't want to go firing anything up until you're sure the pump and motor are full. Getting the air out is just a matter of loosening the bypass valve, putting the tire in the air, and then running it forward and reverse until the air is out.
Too bad you have to mow that. Sure would be nice to have the edges mowed in a few passes nicely and then let it grow into a nice grassland. You could have some very knowledgeable conservation groups help with that happily and if jt is "needed" in the future so be it. But until this it could benefit the environment tremendously and likely get a ton of views and following.
M
Only critique is I would have replaced the rotor, as it was the other half of what was touching that valve plate, I’m sure it’s no longer in spec.
Yeah I need to find better literature on how that should be spec'd. Had trouble finding that.
Yeah I rebuilt two wheel motors and two pumps like 5 years ago. I may have to do them again, but not sure what it wi be this time. Last time it was mostly an issue with the gasket seal in the pumps and the bearings in the wheel motors
Did you get parts through your scan dealer or a direct component dealer? Would you leave the component contact, thanks
I bought the stuff off eBay. Just grab serial numbers and search. I used bought from aldermansinc and total-power-parts. For rebuild stuff I used perrypower and outdoorpowerequipment. Hope that helps.
Think the weights are for going up steep hills.
It could be handy. But the weights do come with the bagger kit. So I sold them with the bagger.
I bought a turf tiger with a 72" deck and a 2 year only 35 hp Vanguard liquid cooled v twin. Very powerful but parts are no longer made for the engine and it overheats. Plenty go coolant flow but I can only use it for 20 minutes before the temp makes it's way into the red. Vanguard/Briggs says there's no equivalent replacement engine. It only cost me $2K and I've gotten 2 seasons out of it but it's annoying to have to mad dog the gauge and mow my 12 acres an acre at a time.
Oh wow. That's a bummer. I've run the Kawasaki now in 100 degree weather and it doesn't overheat at all. Runs really strong like a champ. My Kubota would overheat like crazy, and I could never come up with a fix. Hope you find a fix for it though.
Mine has the 35 briggs air cooled. ~10 years now, no problems.
@@turbodog99 I wish I could just hang an air cooled vanguard on mine but apparently that doesn't work because they said there is no alternative listed.
Your Kubota overheating was most likely a diesel lift pump. Just changed mine and it runs cool. @@nedstephens
@@mikewest712 I wish I could go back and check that. Dealer did tell me overheating was common in my model. If I ever get another one I'll check the lift pump. Thanks bud.
If you know anyone who has a baler they will cut and bale that if you let them have the bales.
❤
And all the metal in hydro tank . Hope the water pump in that KW holds up its plastic . That eng is no longer built and No parts . You at least change the hydro filter.
Yes I did change it. And I hope it all holds up too.
Let's see, next will be engine problems (most likely rings, valve train and head gasket), then will have spindle problems (can be rebuilt), deck cracks (depending on previous owner(s), control arm dampers, wheel bearings and eventually electrical problems. Ask me how I know...
If the Skag doesnt work out look for a Ferris. MIne has been virtually indestructible.
I actually missed out on one the day before I bought the Scag. Was really interested in how that suspension rode. Indestructible is what I like.
Did you find an hydraulic filter on it with bearing and thrust plate metal in it?? You don't want that stuff attacking your new pump and motor!!
I did clean out the system and replaced the filter. But I honestly couldn't find any metal in anything. Kind of crazy with all the damage I found. You're right though, only takes a small little piece to create a problem.
get yourself a small Ford N Series tractor and a bush hog
Kinda sounds like it has a bad bearing on an idler or spindle.
Nail it for hay or have someone do it for yah…
If he’s smart 😊
Wait a minute, you're cutting 15 acres with a "mower"? Realy? You would need a batwing mower behind a tractor and it would still take many, many hours.
Why are you mowing 15acres?
It's an industrial property. And I need to keep it mowed. If it was just a homestead I'd probably let it go.
Any time you find damage in a hydraulic system, the entire system should be disassembled and cleaned and serviced. Metal pieces flow through the system and share the misery.
I did run fluid through the system. Knock on wood I hope I don't have a future video replacing two more pumps and two more motors. Haha.
@@nedstephens Did you cycle that fluid through a filter and check it with a magnet?
Replace the front wheel bearing. They are worn out .
Yeah that did have some slop in it. Now that its running I'll take a closer look.
Chunked pump.
You're right on keeping varmits at bay. The first cut I did had rats and snakes scurrying with every pass. Prices are ridiculous, just glad I pounced on this one as fast as I did.
SHOULD HAVE INVESTED IN A TRACTOR AND BUSHHOG WOULD BE BETTER FOR THAT JOB AND WAY EASIER TO CUT....
Maybe so. But after cutting it twice, I'm really impressed by the Turf Tiger. Really fast, and a nice cut. So for now I'll just keep on with it.
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The flag on the hat tells me this isn't the content I'm looking for. What's with the mirror image video?
Won't apologize for the flag. I love the flag. As to the mirroring - I hopefully fixed that glitch.
Wonder what’s wrong with the American flag… I’m not sure I understand people….