Export thread

So even my dealer questioned this, and I really didn't pay it any mind being that it really didn't matter to me, but how exactly is the scag safety setup supposed to operate.

Should I be able to get up with the arms in the neutral open position and the parking brake on with the engine running still, or will it always shut off? I know it shuts off when I get up due to the seat sensor, but some mowers allow you to "park" and disengage the PTO for you, letting you get off to remove obstacles, then hop back on and release the brake, then reset the PTO.

I am pretty sure engaging the park brake even while sitting on the mower and setting the park lock shuts the engine off as well.

Just a curiosity I had. It may be set up right. And it really doesn't matter to me, but it just seems like I will put more wear on the starter this way, if I can't hop off and pick things up from time to time with park locked and arms open.

Hope that sounds right.

Thanks!

it should work with pakring brake set, steer levers in open locked position and pto disengaged. Should be able to get out of seat with engine running. On mine that's how it works.

Even the dealer mentioned that, they had to have wired something backwards. I will have to check it out. If anyone has any ideas on what to look at let me know.

Just looking at the wiring diagram for Scag Freedom Z Pro.
Other Scag ZTRs above the level of Freedom Zs have the electronic control module that controls all the safety circuits and have safety switches that are two terminal and a cranking relay.
The Freedom Z and Pro do not have the electronic control module nor the cranking relay. In their place, the electrical system is wired to use safety switches that are four terminal and basically a double switch. This removes the electronic control module and the cranking relay, but does add more wiring.
Your Scag dealers service department will need to become knowledgeable of the systems on the Freedom Z models and how they differ from the higher level machines. With the added wiring, the electrical diagram is a little more difficult to read, but still logical.
They way that I read the diagram and your problem, either the seat switch or the PTO switch may be defective or wired incorrectly in the engine shut down circuit, (white wire on the diagram) This wire, when grounded, will shut the engine down.
When I need to read electrical diagrams, I enlarge sections of the diagram on my copy machine, then put the pieces back together so I can more easily read them.
Have fun!!!:laughing: I always do!!!

Thanks. I will start hunting down wires this weekend when I mow again. I would hope to see, since the parking brake lever seems to cause the problem, that it's only a wire installed backwards.

There is a diagram with my manual but it's black and white. I will try and make sense of it, and see what happens. I'll report back to the shop what it was, and hopefully they correct it in the future. This is a high end shop, the Freedom Z was probably their lowest tier mower there. I still love the mower though.

You can download the manual here from Scag and the wiring diagram is in color.
Request Rejected

Ok after mowing today, I looked at all the switches and they appear to be installed correctly. However Here is what I noticed. I am able to put the arms in the Neutral / parked position, and engage the parking brake with the unit running, however as soon as I attempt to get off the seat the mower dies... in Park, PTO off, at any throttle.

Makes me wonder if there is just an issue with the Seat sensor.

Also, after looking at the diagram of wiring, it looks little different as the plugs all have wires coming out of the 1 side of the plug, as opposed to the view that shows 2 going in 1 side and 2 on the other.

Also, There doesn't appear any way to wire this incorrectly. It's part of a harness and 1 side has a clip that clips onto the unit in a one way fashion. It is possible the seat switch would be the problem?

Or, is this unit supposed to shut off when you come out of the seat regardless?

Thanks,

Homer

As I read the wiring diagram for the seat switch, I think that the engine shutting down when the operator gets off the seat with the engine running, levers out, brake lever on, PTO off, is the way the system is wired.
This is different from higher level Scag machines as the operator may get off the seat and the engine will continue to run providing the same conditions are met.

My Freedom Z works like post #2. Handles out, brake set, PTO off - it stays running. In fact I let it idle and cool off when I'm done every time while I crank up the back pack blower and blow the grass off it.

Just looking at the wiring diagrams of the Freedom Z Pro and older Freedom Z models, the Pro and closely related models have a different wiring and safety switching setup from all other Freedom Z models. At the moment I don't have the time to expand the wiring diagrams and trace their operation, but I will do so later on.

That explains it then. Mine falls in the serial # range G1900001.

Thanks for checking into it guys. I don't have my serial number in front of me, I started to e-mail their CS this week and they needed it as well so I decided to wait till this weekend when I have it out. I still haven't tried to unplug it and plug it back in, a sort of reset if you will.

Either way, I need it to idle in park, so I will have to at least figure out a way to bypass it or bypass it with the PTO off anyway, knowing well it's a safety issue, but it's not practical as is right now. Perhaps I can order a different model switch if that's the issue.

Even lower end ZTR's let you get up in park, so I really think it's just something out of spec somewhere.

Ill keep an eye out for anything you find.

Homer

I found my registration card and my exact model is the SFZ52-25BS . I e-mailed Scag this morning, but probably won't hear back for a couple of business days. I am am going to mow today, I will pull the harness off of the seat switch and do some tests to see if I can figure out why the engine is dying when I get up in park. Since it runs fine with me sitting in the seat parked and neutral, I really think it's gotta be a seat switch wiring issue or the switch itself. Maybe a little love tap with the old screwdriver will clear things up

I will update if I somehow fix it.

Well, how about this for chance. I backed it out this morning and parked it getting ready to check for continuity on the switch and make sure it was operating as it should. Locked the brake, arms to neutral, then hopped up and the damn thing kept running.

I sat down 3 times and repeated it, even started it again, and it kept running. So I am at a loss.

I removed the plug for the seat switch, it was packed with the electrical grease, maybe it was preventing a good connection somewhere? I really don't know. Tried it again when I finished mowing, and it's working now. Guess it's just a good day for me.