Buying a new Tiger Cat 52". What Engine should I get?
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Mad Mackie
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On any machine with any sort of hydraulic drive, V belt drive, or combination of, engine torque and horsepower are not of major concern, as the drive system only uses a small percentage of the engines power output. The remaining power is used to drive the mower system and connected collection system if installed. Engine torque is a factor on direct drive systems that are found on larger machines with manual transmissions with dry clutches and larger automatic transmissions as found on farm tractors.
As for the typical vertical shaft small engines, more HP costs more money, better quality engines cost more money making the machine package more expensive. Machines are packaged and assembled with a target price in mind and vary depending on the deck size and power needed to comfortably operate the entire machine and still be attractive to different segments of perspective buyers.
Some thoughts from
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:
As for the typical vertical shaft small engines, more HP costs more money, better quality engines cost more money making the machine package more expensive. Machines are packaged and assembled with a target price in mind and vary depending on the deck size and power needed to comfortably operate the entire machine and still be attractive to different segments of perspective buyers.
Some thoughts from
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:
Mad Mackie
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Greg McCall
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My Scag Tiger Cat was good for the first year except for the back firing when I shut it off.
The Second year has been.....well I have not got a second year with it.
I posted this story elsewhere but here it is again...
My Scag mower has been in the shop now all but 2 weeks since January for one problem or another. The mower is less than 2 years old. I have been back and forth to two different repair shops with the mower at least 5 or 6 times. Mower is still at the Terrell Texas dealer service shop today. I ask the dealer in Terrell for a trade in "deal" and was politely offered about $4,000 on an $8000 I paid. That is not a deal and I understand, only the factory Manufacturer can help here. Mower has about 56 hours on the engine.
They have replaced the carb with no help and I don't know where they are with it now. Supposedly a factory rep has looked at it several times but I still have no mower.
So far I can not get Scag to back up their product.
I need a mower that will run or money back.
The Second year has been.....well I have not got a second year with it.
I posted this story elsewhere but here it is again...
My Scag mower has been in the shop now all but 2 weeks since January for one problem or another. The mower is less than 2 years old. I have been back and forth to two different repair shops with the mower at least 5 or 6 times. Mower is still at the Terrell Texas dealer service shop today. I ask the dealer in Terrell for a trade in "deal" and was politely offered about $4,000 on an $8000 I paid. That is not a deal and I understand, only the factory Manufacturer can help here. Mower has about 56 hours on the engine.
They have replaced the carb with no help and I don't know where they are with it now. Supposedly a factory rep has looked at it several times but I still have no mower.
So far I can not get Scag to back up their product.
I need a mower that will run or money back.
Mad Mackie
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Give us a quick recap of the problems with your Tiger Cat and what engine is on it.
Mad Mackie in CT
Sorry to hear about all the problems with your Scag. I have been researching ZTRs' for months and I haven't heard many having problems as bad as yours. Maybe you could apply the Lemon Law to your situation! Although it may only apply to automobiles. I am still leaning toward a Scag myself. I have been looking at the the 52" Tiger Cat and Cheetah, but I like the Bobcat and Ferris too. The Ferris steering seems very touchy to me, but i could probably get used to it. Anyway good luck getting the Scag fixed and hopefully right for the last time!
Yea the Scag brand ZTR was tops from what little I researched when I bought it. A friend of mine works for a big city Parks Department and they contract with different landscape companies that use Scag brand mowers as well as other brands. He has personally owned a Scag mower for 12 plus years and has had a little trouble but in all it is still running.
However, any brand mower can lose their quality control. This may be what is starting to happen with Scag. I have been told that there are other Scag owners with machines built in the last few years and they are having similar problems.
Some of the problem may lie with a challenged repair shop too.
The big question is whether Scag is going to stand behind their product. So far I can say no !
How many of you are willing to go without your mowers for 5 months in mowing season ? (the clock is still ticking) 6 months ??
A quick recap ..........
STC52V 27CV Kohler
The first year my Scag mower was great. I would buy another if I could be assured it would continue to run properly.
Problems started last January when I got the mower out to mow the weeds ( I am in Texas).
Mower ran fine for awhile and then I killed the engine and took a break. When I tried to start the engine again, mower would not start. Nothing happend when I turned the key.
No sound at all. At first I thought I did not have all controls positioned to pass the many safety switches but that was not it. I researched the no-start issue and found a safety switch may be the culprit. I started with the seat safety switch, crossed wired it and engine started right up. I finished mowing and then took the mower to a shop in Mesquite Texas where I bought the machine.
I told the shop what I had done and that there is ALSO an oil leak and the engine has backfired since I bought the mower when I kill the engine.
A few weeks go by and I started calling (at least once a week) for a status. After 6 WEEKS go by, the repair shop actually called me to say the mower was ready. They had found the seat Saftey switch was corroded. They cleaned the switch and all was working, so they said. They did not find an oil leak and I forgot to ask about the backfire.
The shop did apologize for the delay on repairing my machine and said they performed some additional routine maintenance on the mower.
So.. I picked the mower up, mowed for 30 minutes, stopped the engine, it backfires as usual. OK that was never a real problem anyway.
30 minutes or so go by and I try to start the engine and.........nothing... no sound from the machine when I turn the key.
6 weeks in the shop and this happens all over again. I am not making this up.SO I DECIDE TO TAKE MY MOWER TO ANOTHER SCAG DEALER SHOP.
I tell the second shop my story and the problems. Now the real circus stories begin with the mower.
All of my account may not be in the exact order of "events" but....
After a few days the second shop calls to say we have the mower running and are looking into the backfire. A few days latter, the shop tells me they are going to have to order another carburetor (for a mower less than a 2 years old and few hours). I call every week for a status. 4 weeks later the carb is installed and the shop says the mower is ready.
I drive to the shop to pick the mower up and the engine is not running smooth. I leave the mower. A week later the shop calls to say mower is ready.
(By the way in the middle of all this mower problems, I am having to borrow a mower to keep my yard mowed).
I pick the mower up on a Friday and drive 90 miles to my country getaway to mow there. I have a tractor with a mower, but I prefer the Scag ZTR.
I mowed the "usual" 30 minutes and the engine starts to surge........I had driven the mower off my trailer and never put the ramps up. I barely got the mower back on the trailer at which time it died and would not start again. The following Monday I return the mower to the repair shop. The shop said the mechanic was off but would have him look at the mower first thing the next day. I send emails to the shop asking for a status but very seldom get a reply. No call from the shop for a week or so, and then I get a call saying mower is ready for pickup, that they had found a "small twig ?) in the carburetor.
OK, I go to pick the mower up and come home to mow. Mower runs for a short time and begins to surge again and dies. Later I try to start the mower and get a no start. I have to jiggle the key and every once in a while the starter makes a noise. Finally the engine starts and I took the mower back to the shop the same day.
Later I was told there seems to be a solenoid problem with the starters and there may be a recall in the future.
So far I have driven to the shop to discuss the mower problems, pleaded for another mower and was told there is no Lemon Law with mowers. I even ask to trade the mower in and from my previous posts you see the insulting reply. Offered me $4000 against the $8000 I paid less than 2 years ago. I told the Dealer I would give them $2000 and my mower for a 61" Cheeta they had on the floor and was kindly told no way.
Several weeks ago I was told the mower was ready and I ask, "are you sure "? I was told yes.
Drove to the shop, the mechanic was off (it was a Monday) but mower is in the yard. I get on the mower, hit the key....nothing at first and then engine starts.
The engine Sounds like crap and when I go to move forward the engine nearly dies. I think well maybe the engine is cold so I go to drive the machine onto my trailer and it barely had enough power to get onto the trailer. I immediately drive the mower back off the trailer and into the shop. As you can imagine I am ticked off. Another mechanic checks the machine and says "something is not right.
The factory rep supposedly has looked at my mower several times, but I have not received any offers for restitution to date.
AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE A MOWER
I have read your posts both here and on the "tractor" Forum and it really sounds to me more like an engine problem than a mower problem. I can definateluy understand your frustration and cant say that I would feel any different if this happened to me but it really doesnt sound like a Scag issue beyond the fact that there is a Scag dealer working on your mower.
Have you thought about contacting Kohler?
Have you thought about contacting Kohler?
Know I have not. You would think that The repair shop or Scag even would do so.
The engines are mechanical so it just takes a mechanic that may be above average in experience.
The repair shop did contact me to this afternoon to say they have the engine running right but want to keep the mower a few days more to make sure.
They did say they took the carb apart amongst other things but do not know what the problem was.
I will post the results for all to benefit.
This has been a nightmare.