Crazy Old Man Needs Help with Turf Tiger

[Randy-ellis]

This machine is going to kill me. It breaks down every time I start it. I can usually figure out what it needs, but this time I'm confused. Turf Tiger with 29 hp Kawasaki engine, but now, the mowing deck locks up when you pull the PTO switch out to engage. Smoke pours out of the rear of the machine, telling me the belt that drives the clutch is burning. I checked the clutch, and I think it is alright. I then disengaged the clutch belt in the rear and the drive belt on the deck. To my way of thinking, the drive shaft should turn freely now, but it does not. It would not turn with a pipe wrench on it. Am I missing something, or is my problem in one of the transfer units on either side of the drive shaft?
Geez....confused in Venice Florida Many thanks in advance for anybody that can get me on the right side of this issue.
Randy-Ellis

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

This machine is going to kill me. It breaks down every time I start it. I can usually figure out what it needs, but this time I'm confused. Turf Tiger with 29 hp Kawasaki engine, but now, the mowing deck locks up when you pull the PTO switch out to engage. Smoke pours out of the rear of the machine, telling me the belt that drives the clutch is burning. I checked the clutch, and I think it is alright. I then disengaged the clutch belt in the rear and the drive belt on the deck. To my way of thinking, the drive shaft should turn freely now, but it does not. It would not turn with a pipe wrench on it. Am I missing something, or is my problem in one of the transfer units on either side of the drive shaft?
Geez....confused in Venice Florida Many thanks in advance for anybody that can get me on the right side of this issue.
Randy-Ellis

If the drive shaft will not turn, it is a good probability the gear box is locked up. First release tension on PTO deck belt and make sure all spindles and pulleys move freely. Have you been periodically checking the gear box oil by removing the fill plug? Did you know you had a gear box with a Scag that has the drive shaft set up? I burned up a gear box years ago when I wasn’t aware of it on my Scag.

 

[StarTech]

There is also a drive shaft (PTO) spindle that should be grease where you are greasing the deck along with the two u-joints (may be sealed units). Scag doesn't list the u-joints as a separate item and I have never look into replacing them.

Now the spindles bearings are L44649/L44610 Bearing and cone sets or Scag 481022 if you wish to pay their ridiculous price. Usually on heavy used deck spindle can be hard to get them apart due thread damage but the PTO spindle should come apart fairly easy. Also there is two grease seals that need replacing when you rebuild the spindle. Both of these seals are available from your Rotary dealer.