Scag Tigercat dies

[Bryan Taylor Johnson]

my tigercat with only 185 hours, less than 3 yrs old dies when, I stop, turn blades off, put steering arms in neutral, pull park brake on, it dies sometimes when I stand up off the seat. ive had it to the dealer 3 times in the last year. when it dies it wont start back up. it acts like the battery is unhooked. just got back from the shop and I got off to move a limb and it died. it had to sit 20 min before it would start back up. the dealer replaced the ignition switch once. the last time they replaced the safety module. some times it goes 2 months before acting up again. it is a 32 mile round trip every time I take it to the shop. has anybody had this problem with their scag?

 

[Mad Mackie]

Did your dealer ever replace the seat switch? The seat switch is the controlling switch in the electrical portion of the machine safety circuits. Look at the wiring diagram in the back of your owners manual and you can trace the safety circuits. The parts department at my local Scag dealer has a box of seat switches on the counter along with other frequently requested parts like fuel filters, start solenoids and more. The seat switch that Scag uses is very common to many other makes of machines, I keep a spare in my parts stash.

 

[ILENGINE]

what little I have worked on the Scags it seems the seat switch is the controller of all things scag. it won't start, will die if you look at it wrong etc.

 

[Steve0853]

I have a 2 year old Turf Tiger that did the same thing a few times. Instead of constantly diagnosing and replacing the seat switch, I simply used a small sheet metal screw and made it permanently "on". No more mystery failures to start.

 

[Mad Mackie]

what little I have worked on the Scags it seems the seat switch is the controller of all things scag. it won't start, will die if you look at it wrong etc.

You are correct. The seat switch on Scags has a dual purpose, one being in the primary safety circuit and two in the engine cranking circuit, but all in conjunction with the safety interlock module. The cranking relay and the key switch are next in the troubleshooting process.
The seat switch is an easy item to replace, but the electrical connector must be removed first and it has a locking loop on it that must be carefully lifted before the connector can be disconnected.
I have bypassed the seat switch on my Ingersoll 4018 GT so the engine will keep running when I'm off the seat and being a hand controlled machine, I can move the tractor while standing beside it, however I am not an advocate of bypassing seat switches and I will not do it to any customers machine regardless of their insistence to do so!!!

 

[Bryan Taylor Johnson]

I read your answers to my tiger cat problem. It sounds like the seat switch is the problem. I called the dealer today and ordered one. I have bypassed it for now and it is working ok so far. I just hated to pay so much for a mower and have it quit when I need it the most. this is my first zero turn commercial mower and I did not expect to have problems so often. It's just one problem that was not properly diagnosed the first time. I am a auto tech and I know it's not easy to fix the problem the first time, but I think when the SCAG dealer couldn't get it to act up they thought it was all in my head. Thanks for your input to my problem. I hope and pray the switch takes care of it.

 

[Mad Mackie]

The seat switch is in a spot where it is subject to dust particularly if a collection system is installed. Folks that pressure wash these type machines that have unsealed electrical systems increase electrical problems on their machines. I keep a test jumper in my tool box and install it when I'm troubleshooting a machine and need to operate the mower deck. Intermittent electrical problems are always a pain to deal with.

 

[Bryan Taylor Johnson]

The seat switch is in a spot where it is subject to dust particularly if a collection system is installed. Folks that pressure wash these type machines that have unsealed electrical systems increase electrical problems on their machines. I keep a test jumper in my tool box and install it when I'm troubleshooting a machine and need to operate the mower deck. Intermittent electrical problems are always a pain to deal with.

When I get through mowing I always blow the grass and dust off my scag with my leaf blower. When I wash it with water I always make sure the engine is cool and I keep water away from the carb and electrical the best I can. I did notice the safety module the dealer installed has no water tight connectors. You would think that wiring that can be exposed to water and so much dust would be better sealed. I would never use a pressure washer on my mower. I just hope the seat safety switch is the problem because it is an easy fix. I just wish the dealer had replaced it first. I have talked to a lot of SCAG owners that love their mowers. I like my mower but this one problem almost makes me think I bought a lemon. I'm just glad I don't mow for a living because I don't have a good backup mower. I was so desperate that I was going to give SCAG manufacture a call and see if they couldn't help solve my problem. Thanks everybody for your help. BTJ

 

[billymagg]

When I get through mowing I always blow the grass and dust off my scag with my leaf blower. When I wash it with water I always make sure the engine is cool and I keep water away from the carb and electrical the best I can. I did notice the safety module the dealer installed has no water tight connectors. You would think that wiring that can be exposed to water and so much dust would be better sealed. I would never use a pressure washer on my mower. I just hope the seat safety switch is the problem because it is an easy fix. I just wish the dealer had replaced it first. I have talked to a lot of SCAG owners that love their mowers. I like my mower but this one problem almost makes me think I bought a lemon. I'm just glad I don't mow for a living because I don't have a good backup mower. I was so desperate that I was going to give SCAG manufacture a call and see if they couldn't help solve my problem. Thanks everybody for your help. BTJ

The Christian Campground where I mow, just purchased a two year old Scag Tigercat to replace one of our 35+ year old John Deere F935s, and I'm really glad I found this thread, as I also do quite a bit of our own maintenance. So Bryan, I am supposing all is well??

 

[Mad Mackie]

We'll have to wait and see how Bryan fairs with his TC, hopefully it is just the seat switch.
billymagg, I think that you will find the Tiger Cat to be an excellent machine. Should you need info on the TC, get the model and serial numbers of the machine, go to scag.com, in the L/H column there is a link to manuals, click on it. Click on STC Scag Tiger Cat and find your serial number group. The manual is a pdf download that you can save and or print. The wiring diagram in in the last pages of the owners manual portion, I suggest that you print it as it is good to make notes on it that will make understanding the electrical system easier as you become more familiar with the machine.
As a retired mech I no longer have the dealers parts dept available, so I stock parts for my own machines to keep service down time to a minimum.
I certainly hope that Bryan's dealer stocks seat switches, if they don't, I suggest that he find a quality servicing dealer. The seat switch may not be the culprit, but on Scags if the seat switch isn't functioning correctly, then the machine won't function. I even stock a new electronic control module, something that some Scag dealers don't stock and at $119 each, you will probably not find anyone like me who does this. I even stock new electric clutches for my machines! Some of this attitude that I have comes from having been an aircraft mech in the US Army and what I had to beg, borrow or steal to keep in my secret parts stash to keep them flying!!! Could be why my fellow soldiers nicknamed me Mad Mackie and a few unmentionables!!!
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile: