Step 3: Scrub it with a wire brush or dry soft cloth. Remove the filter and clean it. Keep hands, feet and clothing away from power-driven parts. You can also use an oil evacuator or turkey baster to suck oil through the engine oil fill area. If the blades appear to be fine and if you have not noticed any reduction in the effectiveness of the cut, the blades will not require further attention. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Use the alternate-stripe pattern for best lawn appearance. This will ensure that nothing is overlooked and that all equipment is replaced on time. Before performing any maintenance or service, stop the machine and remove the spark-plug wire and ignition key. A clean and razor-sharp blade is a crucial part of your mower. You must check its condition and clean it several times throughout the season. When the vents get plugged, the fuel tank will cause fuel restrictions. Keep hands and feet away from cutter blades and moving parts. A lanolin-based product such as Fluid Film leaves a non-drying coat. Before working on the machine, ensure that the parking brake is set and that the machine is on flat, level ground. Replace broken fins and clean the cooling fins. While performing maintenance, do not modify the engines governor; over revving the engine can cause permanent and expensive damage to the engine. Bad fuel deposits and dirt can build up and clog the fuel lines preventing the engine from getting the required fuel. I have to be really big on maintenance . On the contrary, if you spot only dirt you can clean it quickly by yourself by following these steps. Replace the battery when it wont hold a charge. This can cause significant engine damage resulting in a large repair expense. Follow the links to more in-depth articles for detailed information on diagnosing and repairing your mower. Be sure to keep your mowers blades sharp. Free shipping. Owners should change the hydraulic oil, the hydraulic oil filter, and the fuel filter at least once a year or after 500 hours of operation. A self-tensioning belt system eliminates belt adjustments, lessening maintenance and extending belt life for longer-term belt-replacement frequency. Use care when backing up. Keep in mind on a Kubota my motor is covered. Determine whether your mower has a tank vent located on the fuel tank or if the vent is located in the fuel cap. When you find the charging system isnt working right, I highly recommend having an experienced mechanic diagnose and repair the problem. POR-15 is one of the more popular options. Step 6: Carefully clean the mower throttle, choke, and terminal on the battery. Owners should consult their manual for a diagram of which lubricant to apply to which area. Once you confirm the bypass valves are not the problem, check for a bad drive belt, broken tensioner spring, or worn tensioner pulley. ", "Simplicity of verbiage and pictures helped.". Contact your local. Exhaust fumes are hazardous and contain carbon monoxide which can cause brain injury and death. Isolate a section of the fuel line you need to check. "I like the easy explanations along with the pictures. Fill the fuel tank outdoors. Your Belt Keeps Coming Off Your SCAG Lawn Mower: SOLVED! Step 3: Before reassembling dry the carburetor with an air dryer. Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operators manual prior to diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Never fill it indoors. Refill the tank with fresh fuel and a fuel additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment to stabilize the fuel, clean the fuel system and reduce moisture. Scag SFC30 Walk Behind Mower Price The starting MSRP of this mower is $2,427. When you find the mower starts to sputter and shut off after a while, you may have a clogged fuel tank vent. This can be from operating the mower too fast, having the mower deck plugged with grass clippings, and running dull mower blades. Keep mower and discharge chute clean. You may have to change it more often if you are running very dirty fuel. Running old gas through your mower can negatively impact its performance. As described above, owners will eventually require oil filters for the engine and hydraulic system, a fuel filter, and coolant for liquid-cooled machines. After the investment you made into purchasing your SCAG mower, its frustrating when it just stops running. Next, locate the blade bolts and use a wrench to loosen them. If your lawn mower cuts the grass into small pieces so you do not need to collect the clippings, you have mulching blades. Change your hydraulic oil at regular intervals as recommended by SCAG. Make sure the plug is gapped following the engine manufacturers specifications. Wet grass reduces traction and steering control. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Internal engine problems can have a detrimental effect on your mower if they are not caught soon enough and fixed. How To Clean Lawn Mower (Step-by-Step Guide), How to Sharpen a Reel Mower Step-by-Step Guide, Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action Review: 2022, 4 Signs that Indicate Your Lawn Mower Is Low on Oil. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaooqW0GJkc&t, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Car5vamdGzE, Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zjHi30bPu0&t, Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOD0xI0qDG8&t, Copyright 2023 SCAG Power EquipmentA division of, Privacy Policy | Terms & ConditionsPatents, A video that outlines the safe and proper operation of your Scag mower is available. Lack of oil can increase friction in your engine causing extreme heat. Varnish and deposits left behind by old gas can interfere with the carburetors function. Thanks for all the tips. It is a great mower for residential and commercial use. A choke is used for cold starts. Step 2: Drain the oil or gas from the gas tank. It is difficult to not scrap into the paint when cleaning the Scag deck and the areas where the paint is missing, the grass sticks more. Spark plug helps to start the mower engine. A thru-bolt design and top-mounted grease Zerk results in easy blade replacement and greasing. Hydraulic fluid is under significant pressure and an unexpected release of fluid can perforate skin and enter the body, resulting in serious medical complications if the fluid is not surgically removed quickly. Read more about why I choose to use Sea Foam in Use Sea Foam Fuel Additive in a Lawn Mower to Stabilize Your Fuel. Start the mower to ensure that the battery is fully functional. Take a look at the new filter and locate the arrow on the side of the housing. Remove the mower's air filter and check to see if it needs replacing. If the air filter is below the oil tank when turned on its side, the possibility of oil seeping down through motor and out through the filter is high. Keep all body parts away from any holes or slots that eject hydraulic fluid at all times. It will get the grime out of the hard to reach areas, that's why people use it on motorcycles. I usually clean all of my equipment off at least once a week. Shanks Lawn Equipment has a large inventory of factory original parts and a wide array of factory diagrams, ensuring that you buy the right type of part for your machine. I recommend replacing your fuel filter annually to reduce the likelihood the filter becomes plugged. Replace a worn or cracked belt. The most common SCAG zero-turn lawn mower problems are: To keep your mower running at its best, regularly clean your mower, check the engine oil and hydraulic oil, clean the air filter, sharpen the blades and scrape the deck. Frequent and routine maintenance is the best way to keep a machine in top condition and prevent costly issues from arising over the long term. Perform routine oil changes as required for your SCAG mower. Albeit the equipment wasn't powder coated like things are now but still. Well, MowersLab recommends you every 25 hours of mower usage you have to clean or replace the mower air filter. Make sure every operator is properly trained and thoroughly familiar with all of the controls before operating the mower. Every few weeks I'll hose the dust/ mud/ grass off of it. Make sure this arrow is pointed in the direction of the mowers fuel flow. Easy-to-service engine compartment and rear drive area. There are too many small areas to spend hours with a tooth brush scrubbing them, so Im sure someone has a good degreaser that after letting it sit, a hose can make them look like new. Any seat-belt system that shows cuts, fraying, extreme or unusual wear, significant discoloration due to UV exposure, dirt or stiffness, abrasion to the seat-belt webbing, or damage to the buckle, latch plate, hardware or any other obvious problem should be replaced immediately. Find a buddy and each of you lift on one of the front caster wheels to get the mower in mid air, then slide the tip of sawhorse under it where the board sticks out. Well, in this guide we are going to show you a step-by-step process of how to clean your mower the right way. Follow this by blowing compressed air through the line to remove it. Grass can get stuck deeper in your lawn mower as well. Install a new fuel line when the clog cant be removed. Sep 7, 2012. I get 5 gallon at a time and just mix in spray bottle either 50/50 or if the mower is really bad I just use it full strength. Cleaning or replacing the air filter is simple lawn mower maintenance that will improve performance and extend the life of your mower. To stop grass buildup under a lawn mower deck, spray the underside with non-stick cooking spray or rub vegetable oil on it. Engine bolts are used to reduce the vibration of the mower when the engine is running, Secure engine bolts and replace any missing bolts. Detailed information can be found at:Your SCAG Lawn Mower is Blowering White, Blue or Black Smoke. Check tire pressures and keep them filled to the manufacturers spec. Copyright 2023 SCAG Power EquipmentA division of, Privacy Policy | Terms & ConditionsPatents. In dusty conditions, more frequent cleaning and replacement may be necessary. For added security, remove the spark plug wire or disconnect the battery. My Scag dealer has cleaned the mower when in for service and he claims he sprays it down with a special chemical/degreaser that he wont tell me and then just hoses it off. Your Shindaiwa String Trimmer Has No Power: SOLVED! For best results, use an air hose with a nozzle or wand to blow away loose grass after scraping. Mow only in daylight or good artificial light. Running with an insufficient engine oil level may have resulted in engine damage like a blown gasket, burnt valve, or damaged internal parts. Slick is good. Solution: Identify a bad ignition coil using an ohmmeter to check for a break in continuity. Then, I have a little 1700 psi electric pressure washer I use to clean it off about once a week. DO NOT use E85 fuel. I think the added pictures are important, they clarify the, "Cleaning and spraying the business end of the deck is a good idea. A SCAG lawn mower will start and then die when the air filter is plugged; the fuel flow is restricted; the spark plug is dirty; the engine oil level is too high or too low; the engine is put under an increased load, or the engine overheats. Most people know problems can develop when your engine oil becomes too low, but dont know you can also have problems if there is too much oil in the crankcase. Keeping the underside of the deck well painted and as smooth as possible will help way more than not taking care of it. There are a number of items to inspect and replace when maintaining a Scag mower and keeping track of all of them can be difficult if only some are done at a time. Wear heavy gloves while working around the blades; if inspecting the blades will not be a part of the maintenance, sheathe the blades while you work on the machine. Be alert for holes, rocks, roots and other hidden hazards in the terrain. Clean and quiet operation is ensured whether you're using the EVZ at home or on the job. Remove these foreign materials. Fits: Carlisle, Wright Mfg. Batteries are easily accessible from various locations on all models. Cold galvanization compound is a highly water resistant treatment for unpainted metal surfaces. You may have developed an engine oil leak or have a problem in your engine where it is using or burning oil. Out of all the lawnmower brands in the market, Scag Mowers solidified its place in the industry by manufacturing top-notch lawn care tools since 1983. Some minor problems to be checked are a plugged air filter, too much oil in the crankcase, or a bad engine gasket. Use a stick or other device to remove clogged material after the engine has stopped running and the blades have stopped turning. After inspecting the electrolyte level, replace the caps and fasten the connectors. I'm a lawn mowing expert and gardening enthusiast. Wearing safety glasses, safety shoes and a helmet is advisable and is required by some local ordinances and insurance regulations. I love taking care of lawns and gardens, and I'm always looking for new ways to improve my skills. Clean all components making up the carburetor. Stop the fuel flow. 7 Tips to Help You Get Started. DO NOT mow on wet grass. They can also be punctured by a foreign object or the clamps used on the lines. Other more serious items to look for are a low engine oil level or internal engine problems. Other problems that can cause your mower not to start can be a bad spark plug or electrical issues like a bad battery, corroded wiring, a bad switch, or a faulty charging system. Step 5: If you find any debris and other obstacles the air hose remove it and use a flashlight and make sure that there is no exiting obstacle and it can easily pass the oil. A failed or leaking fuel pump will no longer draw fuel from the tank to move it to the carburetor. Owners should change the hydraulic oil, the hydraulic oil filter, and the fuel filter at least once a year or after 500 hours of operation. I don't blow it off after every yard either, just make sure there's nothing around the engine. I've used Pam, wd40, oil or whatever I could spray under deckafter 5 minutes it's gone. Low blades are also worse for the grass, since they scalp the dirt and tear grass out by the roots. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. If you are not sure whether the filter can be washed, check the manual. Gas tanks require vents for air to pass through. Allow extra distance to stop. Point the hose at your drain pan and unscrew the end. Wet grass reduces traction and steering control. The cutter deck is BUILT. You may be able to get your SCAG mower to start, but after running for a while, it just quits and shuts down. Step 1: Find the air filter and remove the cover. Some people swear by it, but others find that grass sticks even more to this coat. One of the main reasons you invested in your SCAG mower is for its nice cut. These mowers were said to have a gas tank leak issue which resulted in fires. If after performing these tests, you find you have a bad battery, replace your battery. By using our site, you agree to our. DO NOT allow children to ride or play on the machine; it is not a toy. To check a slope, attempt to back up it (with the cutter deck down). Inspect mowers used for small home lawns (once or twice a week) at least once a month. DO NOT turn sharply. Parts and labor aren't included in those fees. Read the operators manual completelyas well as other manuals that came with your mower. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Make sure you are running your SCAG at a high engine speed. turn this week. And set it at least one hour. This starves the engine of air and can cause it to quit running. NEVER leave the machine running unattended. And repeat this process until removing all dirt. Simple oil-drain system features a drain hose for clean, easy oil changes. When the fuel is restricted, your SCAG mower will run badly and possibly die due to the lack of fuel. Ultimately it's whatever works best for you. 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