Bought New SCAG Cheetah, Very Disappointed in Ride?

[MARK102661@AOL.COM]

I just traded my Scag Wildcat for a Scag Cheetah. After reading all the reviews I was under the impression this was the most comfortable ride on the ZT Market.
What a let down. I wish is still had my Wildcat. It isn't what I was expecting. I emailed SCAG and a SCAG Engineer called me the next day. I told him this mower rides like Log Wagon. He said I should take it back to the dealer and have them check out the shock? Really. There's nothing wrong with the shock. I was just wondering if anyone else experienced this. Don't get me wrong this is the third Scag mower I've owned. It cuts great, 61"deck, with the 27 hp Kaw air cooled. But the ride is beating me to death.

 

[Mad Mackie]

The 61" Cheetah has a suspension seat and two speed hydrostatic drive units. What speed range are you mowing with?
I have found some suspension seats to not adjust to a comfortable setting for me anyway. If Scag suggested that you bring it back to the dealer to check the shock, then do it, maybe there is a problem with it. Tire pressures to spec?
Mad Mackie in CT

 

[MARK102661@AOL.COM]

Over a hundred views and one response? I must be the only one having this problem. Thanks Mad Mac, I checked the tire pressure. There rated 12psi, to my surprise they had 26psi in them both. Of course I adjusted that. It made a little difference. I did put my suspension seat on it I took off my Wildcat. The SCAG
Engineer stated that seat wasn't designed for the Cheetah, The weight of both seat aren't that much difference. I can't see how this would make the suspension
not operate correctly. The SCAG engineer stated the New Cheetah was like night and day to other SCAG mowers. I just don't see it. Taking it back to the dealer
would be a waste of time. There is nothing wrong with the shock. Like mentioned in the first post, this the third SCAG I've owned. First Scag I had was a 2004 Tiger Cub, 19 hp Kaw.48" Deck. Tried to wear it out, I mowed anything the first year putting the warrenty to the test. Excellent Mower, never had any problems other than normal wear and tear i.e. Belts and Pully's. Built like a tank. Traded up to the Wildcat, 61" Deck 30 hp Kohler. Never had any problems with it. Had 1400 hrs when I traded for the Cheetah. Live and Learn

 

[Mad Mackie]

Did you try the Cheetah seat on the Cheetah before you swapped the seats?

 

[MARK102661@AOL.COM]

Yes, I used it all day mowing the first day I brought the mower home. I have five acres, after mowing with the seat that came with it I decided to try my
suspension seat I had on my WildCat. I mentioned that to the Engineer who called me the next day. He said the mower wasn't designed for that seat? It fit
right on. I only have 20 hours on the Cheetah, waited for a new oil filter I ordered. I went to the dealer today and had to order a new Hour Meter. The housing
on the hour meter broke. SCAG put the hour meter right next to the choke lever, not sure how the hour meter housing broke off? But IMO they should of placed it
above the choke lever but what to do I know....lol....it just seems like an odd place to place on the control panel. No problem ordering a new one, I'll just bring in the broken one and get the new one tomorrow. The mower still bucks you around, I'm going to try and adjust the shock. It looks like one on a Motorcycle, it only
around five or six long. Dealer asked how I liked it today, I told him it rode like a log wagon. We looked at the other one he had on the lot and I sat on it and it felt the same. I don't know, after spending $10,700 I'm not too happy about the whole ordeal. What can you do?

 

[Mad Mackie]

I don't have any ideas, Scag advertises the Cheetah as a "soft Ride", actually no such thing as a rigid frame ZTR that has a soft ride, it's all in the seat!!! Your machine has two speed hydros, what speed are you mowing in?
Do you have "flat free" front tires?
Cheetah is a much faster machine than your previous Scags. Also reacts differently in the controls with Hydrostatic drive units compared to pumps and wheel motors. Several Cheetah owners have posted about problems with the shock cylinders connected to the control levers, don't know what the cure was!

 

[MARK102661@AOL.COM]

I keep in low speed, what I've read is high is only for road, loading it back on the trailer or what not. I tried the high speed yesterday on the road
yesterday, there is no way I could mow while it was in high speed. Flat free come on all the upper class SCAGS. My WildCat had them. There great,
Tiger Cub didn't, plenty of flats with them. I'm thinking I'm not heavy enough. Weighting only 170, 5'10 may be the problem? Who knows. Thanks for the
replies Max. Only Time will tell.

 

[MARK102661@AOL.COM]

My Bad, Thanks Mac

 

[tigercat]

The set has an adjustable knob for weight. My tigercat does. Put the adjustment in a different spot. Less air pressure in the tires should give it a softer ride. Your casters may have too much pressure?