Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 27?

[wisconsinbadger]

Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 27?

Hello everyone I'm new to the forum but it looked like there were a ton of very knowledgeable people on here so I figured this would be a great place to go for an honest opinion on Scags. Im looking at a 2005 Turf Tiger 52" cut with the Kohler Command Pro 27 hp. Does anyone have experience with these engines? It seems like the majority of people would rather have the Kawasaki but it seems that both of these are good engines with minor problems overall. It only has 300 hours on it and at $6500 I feel like its a good deal but the Kohler motor worries me for some reason, should it worry me or is it as reliable as the Kawi? Also does the Air vs Liquid Cooled engines really make much of a difference? I will only be using it to mow around 2 acres once or maybe twice a week. Thanks everyone and have a great day!!

 

[Mad Mackie]

Re: Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 2

Hello everyone I'm new to the forum but it looked like there were a ton of very knowledgeable people on here so I figured this would be a great place to go for an honest opinion on Scags. Im looking at a 2005 Turf Tiger 52" cut with the Kohler Command Pro 27 hp. Does anyone have experience with these engines? It seems like the majority of people would rather have the Kawasaki but it seems that both of these are good engines with minor problems overall. It only has 300 hours on it and at $6500 I feel like its a good deal but the Kohler motor worries me for some reason, should it worry me or is it as reliable as the Kawi? Also does the Air vs Liquid Cooled engines really make much of a difference? I will only be using it to mow around 2 acres once or maybe twice a week. Thanks everyone and have a great day!!

The Turf Tiger has a horizontal crankshaft engine and for the most part with a 27 Kohler Command has been a good machine. The mower deck is driven initially by the electric clutch, then a V belt to a gearbox which turns a driveshaft, which in turn connects to a 90 degree gearbox. The output of the gearbox is connected to the L/H spindle which drives the other spindles with another V belt. The hydraulic pumps are also horizontally mounted and driven by a V belt. There is a common hydraulic reservoir that feeds both pumps and there is a return filter in the hydraulic system. This is a good system providing that periodic maintenance has been performed. If this machine is liquid cooled, I would look carefully at the radiator for condition. At the asking price, I would expect a machine in almost perfect condition with no operational problems. Look under the deck for condition, the V belts for condition, look for oil leaks on the engine, under the engine and around the hydraulics. Ask the seller for the maintenance records.
Have the seller operate the machine for you and let you test operate it and observe the hourmeter to see if it is operating. On some Scag machines the mower deck must be engaged to get the hourmeter to record the time.
Should you need manuals for this machine, you can get them at the Scag website in the manuals section on the left. You will need the model and serial number of the machine to get the correct manual.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

 

[wisconsinbadger]

Re: Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 2

Thanks a lot for the input, when I head back to the dealership I'll have to see if I can get any maintenance records. It appears to be in really good shape but the homemade deck washing hookup kind of bothers me.

 

[Mad Mackie]

Re: Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 2

Clean looking machine, from what I see in your pics, this is the manual. http://www.scag.com/OpManuals/STT/2005STTOPMAN/2005 STT Operators Manual 03164 Rev 1.pdf
looks like the ROPS was removed as the mounting brackets are on the machine with the bolts.
In my area there are lots of Turf Tigers many of which have had the ROPS removed or didn't come with ROPS.
This machine has the Advantage deck, later models have the Velocity deck, not sure what the difference is other than different blades. I use the Advantage blades on my Velocity deck, the Oregon aftermarket blades for the Advantage deck last longer for me than any other blade to include OEM Scag blades.
Bear in mind that Scag had a run of bad hourmeters, I had to replace mine several years ago. My meter shows 230 hours but machine has 350 hours more than the meter shows.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

 

[BobInTennessee]

Re: Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 2

This machine has the Advantage deck, later models have the Velocity deck, not sure what the difference is other than different blades.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

Just to make it somewhat clearer, the Velocity deck is somewhere between 4-5 inches longer (front to back) which gives that much more discharge opening (better when mowing somewhat wet turf). This information came from my local Scag dealer in Johnson City, TN (Home #1 Pro-Gold dealer in Tennessee) when I purchased a used 2005 SST61A27CH which I dearly love:biggrin from him last fall.

A little history ... I'm just a homeowner that's been using Cub Cadets for years now, even a "tank" at one point; borrowed a neighbor's Kawasaki liquid-cooled SST last year when CC was in the shop and fell in love :biggrin:

.... Bob ....

PS .... I believe the blades for the 61" A & V decks are the same; at least as far as length, thickness, width and center hole size. The blades for the big Briggs engine are the ones that are substantially heavier (read beefed-up).

 

[Fish]

Re: Looking at low hour Turf Tiger 52" cut, should i worry about the Kohler Command 2

Yes, and hourmeters are easy to unplug, so I wouldn't trust the hourmeter reading too much.