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Scag Liberty Z 48" vs 52" - torn

#1

S

Skyebox

I'm torn between the 48" w/Kawi 21hp and the 52" w/Kawi 21hp - same price point. I'm wondering if the 21hp engine is enough for the 52"? The 23hp is $200 higher. I read that an owner running a Liberty 48" with 19hp Kawi had some power issues and wished he had gotten the larger engine.

I'm a home owner with only a half acre to mow and a hill - thick grass that needs cut twice a week in the rainy seasons. My 20" push mower is just not cuttin' it.

The size 48" with 21hp would be fine for my yard except for the fact that the rear wheel base is 46.5" wide, so it won't be able to get under trees and hedges as well, since the deck is only about an inch wider than the wheel on each side.

Any thoughts, experiences or advice that could help me decide? Thanks


#2

P

P7K3

I have the Liberty with the 52" deck and 21HP Kawasaki, it has plenty of power, the dealer actually anted more money for the 48" as he would have to order it. So for me it was a no brainer.

Good luck withyour decision, either way your getting a great machine.



Skyebox said:
I'm torn between the 48" w/Kawi 21hp and the 52" w/Kawi 21hp - same price point. I'm wondering if the 21hp engine is enough for the 52"? The 23hp is $200 higher. I read that an owner running a Liberty 48" with 19hp Kawi had some power issues and wished he had gotten the larger engine.

I'm a home owner with only a half acre to mow and a hill - thick grass that needs cut twice a week in the rainy seasons. My 20" push mower is just not cuttin' it.

The size 48" with 21hp would be fine for my yard except for the fact that the rear wheel base is 46.5" wide, so it won't be able to get under trees and hedges as well, since the deck is only about an inch wider than the wheel on each side.

Any thoughts, experiences or advice that could help me decide? Thanks
Click to expand...


#3

D

Darryl G

I always recommend getting the biggest engine available. The $200 difference for the 23hp is negligible. Have you ever heard anyone complain that their mower had too much power? Sure the 21hp on the 52 might be sufficient, but why risk it not? With that said, the 48 inch machine should be fine too. You need to trim anyway and the difference of having a little less deck overhang on the trim side isn't likely to make a difference since the trimmer has a swath of around 18 inches.


#4

jekjr

jekjr

Not sure the difference in the engines but we run Tiger Cats commercially with 52" decks with 22 HP Kawasaki engines and have absolutely NO problem with them and we cut Pensacola Bahia Grass all summer on two week intervals. If the 22hps will do that surely a 21 will do all you want to do if you cut as often as you mentioned.

I have seen many people in our area run Kawasaki engines with great results. On the other hand i know of several that have tried the Kohler engines that did not have the same results.


#5

S

Skyebox

Darryl G said:
I always recommend getting the biggest engine available. The $200 difference for the 23hp is negligible. Have you ever heard anyone complain that their mower had too much power? Sure the 21hp on the 52 might be sufficient, but why risk it not? With that said, the 48 inch machine should be fine too. You need to trim anyway and the difference of having a little less deck overhang on the trim side isn't likely to make a difference since the trimmer has a swath of around 18 inches.
Click to expand...

I'm going with the 52" with 23hp Kawi engine. I'm financing with 0% APR, so the extra $2-300 for the engine upgrade is negligible - as you said. May add a bagger someday, but those 2 bagger systems are pricey! Like 1/3 the cost of the entire mower.


#6

L

Luffydog

Prob won't like the nagger after u buy it anyways I would save my $$$$$$


#7

D

Darryl G

Skyebox said:
I'm going with the 52" with 23hp Kawi engine. I'm financing with 0% APR, so the extra $2-300 for the engine upgrade is negligible - as you said. May add a bagger someday, but those 2 bagger systems are pricey! Like 1/3 the cost of the entire mower.
Click to expand...
Good choice I think. Keep in mind that with a machine like that on a lawn of that size it's no big deal to do a quick double cut if you have excess clippings. I just raise the deck up 1/4 to 1/2 inch on the second cut, sometimes only running a few rows where there are windrows of clippings. Also running Gator G5 or G6 mulching blades can help. That's what I run on my machines most of the time now. Different decks though so results may vary.


#8

7394

7394

Wow !!! I just looked on the Scag website, & for this year you can get the 21.5hp FR651V with the 48" or the 18hp.

And it also seems they dropped the Kohler engines altogether. Only Kawasaki* :thumbsup:


#9

B

butwhenido

I bought the 52" inch a week ago and only have around 5 hours on it.
I have about a little over an acre and a half that use to be a hay field and it is an awesome machine so far.


#10

7394

7394

butwhenido said:
I bought the 52" inch a week ago and only have around 5 hours on it.
I have about a little over an acre and a half that use to be a hay field and it is an awesome machine so far.
Click to expand...

Cool, don't forget to do your early oil change. I did mine just under 10 hours & changed the filter as well.

PS: my Toro has the same 21.5 hp Kawasaki. I love it.


#11

D

Darryl G

butwhenido said:
I bought the 52" inch a week ago and only have around 5 hours on it.
I have about a little over an acre and a half that use to be a hay field and it is an awesome machine so far.
Click to expand...
Congratulations. I hope it treats you well.


#12

B

butwhenido

7394 said:
Cool, don't forget to do your early oil change. I did mine just under 10 hours & changed the filter as well.

PS: my Toro has the same 21.5 hp Kawasaki. I love it.
Click to expand...

Not a chance in the world I am going to forget that first oil change and filter!


#13

7394

7394

:thumbsup:


#14

B

butwhenido

Darryl G said:
Congratulations. I hope it treats you well.
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Thanks


#15

7394

7394

butwhenido said:
Yes, they did drop the Kohler engines on the Liberty Z but the Patriot still has them for sure.
I just bought me the Liberty Z with the FR651v about a month ago and even though I have only put 5 hours on it I am happy with it.
I have a little over an acre and a third and have cut it a few times already even when it really didn't need it!
Sachs are awesome!
Click to expand...

I have the same engine, wait till you get about 50 hours on it, on mine the gas usage improved noticeably. That engine is a beast.


#16

B

butwhenido

7394 said:
Cool, don't forget to do your early oil change. I did mine just under 10 hours & changed the filter as well.

PS: my Toro has the same 21.5 hp Kawasaki. I love it.
Click to expand...

The Scag manual says 20 hours and the Kawasaki manual says 8 hour? Confusing but I'm going to go with the 8 hours.
Thanks


#17

B

butwhenido

Darryl G said:
Congratulations. I hope it treats you well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, me too!


#18

B

butwhenido

7394 said:
I have the same engine, wait till you get about 50 hours on it, on mine the gas usage improved noticeably. That engine is a beast.
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That'll be nice!
It cut my mowing time considerably as it is. Well, I was using a 1641 Cub Cadet!


#19

7394

7394

butwhenido said:
The Scag manual says 20 hours and the Kawasaki manual says 8 hour? Confusing but I'm going to go with the 8 hours.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes when in doubt, follow the engine maker Kawasaki recommendations. :thumbsup: They are the ones warrantying that engine.

butwhenido said:
That'll be nice!
It cut my mowing time considerably as it is. Well, I was using a 1641 Cub Cadet!
Click to expand...

Yes I thought so as well..


#20

cpurvis

cpurvis

Yes when in doubt, follow the engine maker Kawasaki recommendations. They are the ones warrantying that engine.
Click to expand...

When the mower manufacturer and engine manufacturer recommendations are different, I go with the more conservative of the two.

I learned this the hard way.


#21

jetech

jetech

butwhenido said:
The Scag manual says 20 hours and the Kawasaki manual says 8 hour? Confusing but I'm going to go with the 8 hours.
Thanks
Click to expand...
I just bought a Liberty Z 48 with the Kawasaki. The Scag manual seems a bit flaky. In the maintenance chart it calls for oil change only at 8 and 50 hrs, then oil and filter at 100 hrs. In the INITIAL RUN-IN PROCEDURES of the manual it calls for oil and filter at 20 hrs. Seems like they need to review the manual. I have filters and oil on hand so I plan to change both around 8 hrs. This is a fantastic mower.


#22

7394

7394

The 8 hour oil change is important. The engine comes to you with 'break-in' oil in it. Do NOT wanna leave that in there longer than the 8 hour period. Or the oil filter that is full of that oil as well.

After that I change mine at end of each mow season, or @ 50 hours. Always with new oil filter too.


Remember you have (two) HG 2800 pumps on your Liberty that drive the rear wheels, & they require a change of both oil filters & the 20w-50 oil Scag recommends @ 50 hours. After that I believe next service for the pumps is 400 hours.

Enjoy your new machine. That is the same size Z I'm thinking about getting as well.


#23

jetech

jetech

7394 said:
The 8 hour oil change is important. The engine comes to you with 'break-in' oil in it. Do NOT wanna leave that in there longer than the 8 hour period. Or the oil filter that is full of that oil as well.

After that I change mine at end of each mow season, or 50 hours. Always with new oil filter too.


Remember you have (two) HG 2800 pumps on your Liberty that drive the rear wheels, & they require a change of both oil filters & the 20w-50 oil Scag recommends 50 hours. After that I believe next service for the pumps is 400 hours.

Enjoy your new machine. That is the same size Z I'm thinking about getting as well.
Click to expand...
I got the oil changed this weekend a bit early but this was recommended by my Scag dealer, so it has new oil and filter. Where are you seeing that the ZT-2800 hydros require oil and filter at 50 hrs? The maintenance chart in the manual shows 100 hrs and then every 400 hrs?

BTW avoid using the ampersand in posts as it prevented me from replying or previewing my post. The system thinks this is a link and being a new user it would not allow me to reply.


#24

BlazNT

BlazNT

jetech said:
I got the oil changed this weekend a bit early but this was recommended by my Scag dealer, so it has new oil and filter. Where are you seeing that the ZT-2800 hydros require oil and filter at 50 hrs? The maintenance chart in the manual shows 100 hrs and then every 400 hrs?

BTW avoid using the ampersand in posts as it prevented me from replying or previewing my post. The system thinks this is a link and being a new user it would not allow me to reply.
Click to expand...

2 more post and all will be good.


#25

jetech

jetech

BlazNT said:
2 more post and all will be good.
Click to expand...
Nope, has nothing to do with the amount of posts. Has to do with the post I was replying to having ampersands in the body of the post.


#26

D

Darryl G

jetech said:
Nope, has nothing to do with the amount of posts. Has to do with the post I was replying to having ampersands in the body of the post.
Click to expand...

Once you are past 5 posts it won't matter.


#27

BlazNT

BlazNT

7394 said:
The 8 hour oil change is important. The engine comes to you with 'break-in' oil in it. Do NOT wanna leave that in there longer than the 8 hour period. Or the oil filter that is full of that oil as well.

After that I change mine at end of each mow season, or @ 50 hours. Always with new oil filter too.


Remember you have (two) HG 2800 pumps on your Liberty that drive the rear wheels, & they require a change of both oil filters & the 20w-50 oil Scag recommends @ 50 hours. After that I believe next service for the pumps is 400 hours.

Enjoy your new machine. That is the same size Z I'm thinking about getting as well.
Click to expand...

After 5 post the @ means nothing.


#28

7394

7394

jetech said:
I got the oil changed this weekend a bit early but this was recommended by my Scag dealer, so it has new oil and filter. Where are you seeing that the ZT-2800 hydros require oil and filter at 50 hrs? The maintenance chart in the manual shows 100 hrs and then every 400 hrs?
Click to expand...

I read it on a one of the sites, possibly Hydro-Gear site. And a fellow / friend owner said same thing.


#29

7394

7394

Re: Scag Liberty Z 48" vs 52" - torn ( Hydros service @ 100 hours )

7394 said:
The 8 hour oil change is important. The engine comes to you with 'break-in' oil in it. Do NOT wanna leave that in there longer than the 8 hour period. Or the oil filter that is full of that oil as well.

After that I change mine at end of each mow season, or @ 50 hours. Always with new oil filter too.


Remember you have (two) HG 2800 pumps on your Liberty that drive the rear wheels, & they require a change of both oil filters & the 20w-50 oil Scag recommends @ 50 hours. After that I believe next service for the pumps is 400 hours.

Enjoy your new machine. That is the same size Z I'm thinking about getting as well.
Click to expand...

Correction, Scag Liberty states @ first 100 hours for hydros service. I apologize for the bad info.


#30

B

butwhenido

7394 said:
The 8 hour oil change is important. The engine comes to you with 'break-in' oil in it. Do NOT wanna leave that in there longer than the 8 hour period. Or the oil filter that is full of that oil as well.

After that I change mine at end of each mow season, or @ 50 hours. Always with new oil filter too.


Remember you have (two) HG 2800 pumps on your Liberty that drive the rear wheels, & they require a change of both oil filters & the 20w-50 oil Scag recommends @ 50 hours. After that I believe next service for the pumps is 400 hours.

Enjoy your new machine. That is the same size Z I'm thinking about getting as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, this is exactly what I am going to do. I'm just getting around to the 50 hour mark and I did change it and filter at the 8 hr mark.
Great machine, should had bought one a long time ago.


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