Finally picked up a used Scag V ride with 640 hours. It was a clean machine. When i test drove it before buying it seemed fine except when turning felt a little jerky but overall ran and drove great. I was used to gravely stand ups and have never driven a v ride so i figured it was a little different. Well now its got 700 hours and I'm having some issues. It seems like it was like this when i bought it i just couldn't feel it on flat ground. When it gets on a slope going sideways or turning on a slope and trying to go uphill both wheel stutter really bad and will then just stop. It will just shake and stutter really bad. You can't notice it on flat yards but on any slope it just can't do it. And I'm not talking crazy slopes just a slight incline. So a few weeks go by and i start noticing the wheel motors leaking on both sides. Left side worse than right. So my question is has anyone had this problem? I don't wanna replace stuff that i don't need but its getting irritating. This is my only mower and need to run yards this week. Im going to change hydro oil tomorrow to see if it could be the filter. But both wheels do it just as bad but it will still drive and turn pretty good. thanks in advance for advice
A few comments and suggestions:
Clean around the wheel motors, operate the machine to see exactly where the oil leak(s) really are coming from.
You may need to remove the wheels to inspect and clean up the oil.
Inspect the pump drive V belt, if oil is getting onto it, then it will slip, this is the upper V belt.
The lower V belt is the deck drive V belt, it may have oil on it so inspect it also.
Post the model and s/n range of your machine.
If you don't have a manual, get the machine model and s/n numbers, go to the Scag website, scroll down to manuals, find and download the manual.
Use the correct Scag hyd oil filter, 20W50 engine oil, non synthetic.
When the hyd filter is removed, the reservoir will also drain out about 2.5 qts., be ready for this.
As the hyd filter installs vertically, fill it with oil, let it soak up the oil and vent the air bubbles, install it.
Fill the reservoir to the full level, let it sit for 20 minutes or so before you start the engine.
Start the engine with the hyd reservoir cap off. Look for the return flow in the reservoir, it will have air bubbles in it.
When the air bubbles stop, put the cap on and operate the machine.
Recheck the oil level and top off as needed.
Wheelmotor seal kits are available.
Well pulled the motors off Monday and took them to a hydraulic shop to get checked out. Pumps were worn out. They said oil smelt burnt and looks like excessive heat to these motors. I'm in it for motors now and bringing the pumps to him Tommorow to check out. I'm hoping those will be rebuild able. Weird thing is I've been mowing with it since I got it 2 months ago and it does decent on flat ground but on slopes forget about it. Looks like the guy who sold it to me was unloading it before it went
