Scag or Deere

[turfman33]

I am a John Deere guy, but I got a flier through the mail yesterday about the Scag. Awesome looking machine if I may say so. now I know the answer's I get will probably be from Scag or Deere owners that are attached to their machine, but what do you find better and why? Later I will be going for for first Z. Looking at John Deere but would like opinion's.

Thanks

Steve

[longviewlawncare]

I also have been a long time deere guy. The only good thing deere has going is the 7-iron deck which is sweet. But the scag has alot more good features. In my opion though if you can get an examrk go that way. By far the best cut i have seen. i just traded in 2 walkbehinds for a new exmark 48" TTHP today and love it. Good luck though

[Flex-Deck]

I am JD thru and thru - I have seen scag at a dealer that is about 35 miles away - my JD dealer is 2 miles. I get great service at JD.

The scags I saw were very very well built, as are the JD's, so I guess I would get either one, but the determining factor would be dealer support, and service.

My JD dealer has parts on hand, and in those rare instances they do not, they loan a mower, and have the part by 10:30 the next morning, and usually have the mower out by 12:00

Nice thing about JD is it is rare that I even have to take one into the shop - I run diesel 455's and 332, - Water cooled - need to change injectors every 3000 hrs, and water pumps go out at about 2500 hrs. - So now I just take them in at 2500 hrs and put a new water pump on and injectors -

Thanks, Brad ---- Please visit our sponsor forum Flex-Deck, and the other sponsor forums as well - The companies in the sponsor forum section on the home page do support this site.

[FrankenScagMachines]

JD doesn't have alot to offer in the commercial world :rolleyes:
Scag makes a super w/b but their riders do not seem to have the same magic about them. Can you get anything else like eXmark there?

[mklawnman]

Scag here.
Deere has always lagged behind in the commercial market. Seem like they copy another manufacturer or buy a lawn mower and spray green paint on it and call it a Deere. The new Z's are built by Deere with the help of Great Dane engineers which Deere bought out last year. The newer Deere Z's look to be good mowers, still question some things they do on their new Z's like putting shrouding around the engine, when one bad mistake into a tree could bend the shrouding around the engine bay fairly easily. The scag i have has a nice beefy back end and is easy to access. The new Scag line of Z's are better than ever, with 16CC pumps on the Turf Tigers and a lower center of gravity than the older ones, plenty of engine choices and also built tough with great reliablity.
Yes Deere has been around alot longer than Scag, but if your choices are between Deere and Scag go with the Scag you will be much happier, I think, others may disagree. If its between Scag, Toro, Exmark etc do some research and DEMO the machines yourself to see which one suits you the best.
Matt

[Flex-Deck]

Just demo both - then if you really want to make the machine efficient we can get you a flex-deck and you will be the most efficient mower in your area.

[grassdaddy]

I tried both,both with 27lc/61".now I'm fairly happy with my scag w/b,but now that jd ztr was easy to operate,I actually liked how it ran better than turftiger.But,I'm not sold on those stamped decks.When jd offers a fab dec(kubota offers both)I MIGHT consider one.You need to demo both,THEN RUN OUT AND BUY A HUSTLER SUPER Z,they ride better,run much faster, and cost 7700 for a 25/60 and hold more fuel,and have best warrenty that I know of.

[Mark P]

;) Ive seen the JDs, our local exmark dealer is a big JD dealership and pushes the JDs over his exmarks, IMPO JD don't come close to the cut of the exmark, I have a 52 Scag Hydro i bought last season and i think it cuts better than the exmark walks, but Scag riders don't compare to the big reds....i demoed exmark, and scag and took both machines home, sharpened blades and the scag to me outcut the exmark but both have a verynice cut, i have a friend who runs a JD walk beltdrive its ok but not in the same league as the scags,exmarks, or toros.......JMO Marks Mowing Service

[yardman1]

Bhb, I was just wanting to know if you have ever ran a scag rider, besides the one that got that you never rebuilt. Don't knock it until you try it.I have all scags and have had great results with them, I am going to buy another one very shortly.

[Mark P]

;) Yes ive ran the Scag riders 2 both 52TT and i just couldn't get the quality of cut as the Exmarks,and Toros gave, I have several buddys who run nothing but Scag's and there very happy with them JMPO.......Marks Mowing Service

[hoffmanlandscaping]

I've ran both JD's and Scag john deere makes a great mower for the home owners and their tractors are top natch but as far as the commercial equipment I'm all for scag. Though I've heard alot about the 7 iron deck. I've had too much good luck with Scag's product. Very durable great service great cut. I was very suprised when I had a recall on my turf tiger the dealer came out fixed the so called problem and scag supplied a new set of blades for the hassal now thats service and we all know that is just as important as the mower itself. Also just wondering what problem you had with the riders? I love mine. BHB how old was the rider you tried and what are you comparing it too? I run a 52" hydro SWUZ 2000 model and a 61" turf tiger 2002 model.

[Mark P]

:blob4: I have 2002 Scag SWUZ 52 Walkbehind like i said i think they make one of the best walkbehinds outhere, i know i love mine, i run doubles and it cuts awesome.....Marks Mowing Service

[Husker1982]

I run all Deere equipment. I have 3 ZTR's now and 1 w/b. I use to run all Exmark and have changed over to deere. If you have any questions about the deere email me. Deere makes very good equipment and like others say demo demo demo and you will see ;)

[robert payer]

**************************************************** SCAG
****************************************************

[chaos270]

Grassdaddy
The stamped deck is the selling point on these JD mowers. I personally love the Ferris machines, but I think I am going to order a 797 instead of an IS 5000 since my nearest Ferris dealers are all over 45 min one way. While Deere has two dealers within 15 min.
As for choosing a mower choose your dealer not your mower. Exmark, Scag, Ferris, and Deere all perform competitively they all have their little idiosyncrasies.

Turfman
If you like your Deere dealer stick with him, when mowing service counts and chances are you already have a working relationship with them. The more loyal you are to a dealer the more likely he or she is to bend over backwards when you get in a jam. Guys have talked of mechanics staying late to get their machine back out on the grass and my favorite the no questions asked loner. Something I experienced first hand running a Scag TT for another LCO, cracked an engine bracket due to an exceptionally rough contract, dealer gave us a brand new TT for the two days he had our machine.

[EJK2352]

Exmark!!!!!!!!!!! If you have a dealer close I would take a hard look at the Exmark line. Just go check out their forum here on lawnsite.com. They are the most customer oriented company out there. They are the number 1 commercial mower for a reason, they listen when their customers talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) ;) :) ED

[FrankenScagMachines]

I was running a friend's 61" Turf Tiger, probably about a 2000 model year. It was a good machine and cut good, I'm not knocking it but you gotta admit that it seems the red ones have beat the orange ones hands down in the rider dept.

[John Gamba]

Here Is My Vote. Turf tracer with 23 Kohler 52 Ultracut deck, Lazer EPS 60' Ultracut Deck.
KILLER COMBO!!!

[FrankenScagMachines]

Originally posted by John Gamba
KILLER COMBO!!!

Looks like one...:)

[DLCS]

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
JD doesn't have alot to offer in the commercial world :rolleyes:


Your so full of ****. How many of the new JD commercial mowers have you demoed? When I say new, I'm talking 2002 and newer? Don't knock it till you tried it. Maybe your alias"Sirstripesalot" has demoed one.:rolleyes:

The best features of my 757 is the 7 Iron deck, ease of cutting height adjustment with the dial knob and most important the support I get from my dealer. I like the Scags too but I don't have a dealer anywhere close to me.:(

[imalandscper]

Demo - Demo - Demo - after that - Dealer support - Dealer support - Dealer support. I love my scags but when i moved into a defferent area i had a REALLY bad experience with the scag dealer here and now i am gonna run some bobcats. All because of dealer support (and a good cutting machine of course). Hands down dealer support decided my buy.


Andy

[turfman33]

Got to admit guys, my Dealer is awesome. Can't find fault there. He even offered me to take out a 60" JD a few months back but I didn't have the trailer space. I plan on getting a bigger trailer to. Made a mistake there when I got the trailer. I went to small. didn't know about the site then. thanks for the comments.

Steve

[mag360]

Scag advantage deck (on 61in 25hp turf tiger) honestly performs better than anything else I've used (grasshopper, exmark, bunton, toro, goodall) in thick, wet grass while leaving perfect smooth cuts in any variety of grass types found in the northeast (at least).... But, since the competition may be reading this---stick with deere. (In all honesty I expect much better equipment will be coming off the deere line since the merge with great dane, the company started by Dane Scag himself)

[Art Stubbs handy 58]

I have ran Deere for many of years now, but I'm so tire of the non performance i'm getting from my $10,00 to $12,00 "GREEN" mixed match Machinces that they put there name on......

I have Demmoed Scag, Kubota,Exmarc and Looking to Demo a Farris...... So far Scag has my vote for the $$ vs the equipment you get....

So when Deeres decides to start to focus on the Commercial end a little more instead of letting MTD do the work for them maybe, just maybe i will go back to "GREEN"

So Scag has my vote over the Deere...

[Meg-Mo]

I have used several different kinds of mowers including these.

[Husker1982]

I have ran Deere for many of years now, but I'm so tire of the non performance i'm getting from my $10,00 to $12,00 "GREEN" mixed match Machinces that they put there name on......
Wow where do you get yours for $10.00 and $12.00 at.

So when Deeres decides to start to focus on the Commercial end a little more instead of letting MTD do the work for them maybe, just maybe i will go back to "GREEN"
Please tell me what Deere's you have. Also MTD does no commercial equipment for Deere!:nono:

[Art Stubbs handy 58]

IF MTD does not do Commercial then why do Cub Cadet for one Deere for second, White for thirds. Well any way so on and so on, purchase and use parts from them?????

Deere does use MTD mower decks for there commercial push mowers.... i know for sure and they buy various parts from MTD for other parts of there "Commercial" Equipment.

Not to get into an argument, nor a your right I'm wrong contest.
My Father worked for Deeres for 36 years, and have several members of my family still work at Deeres and they do know what goes into the equipment , So when, say 15 years ago when Deeres still made Deeres," Then Nothing runs like a Deere" then i would say they were the Best but not now...

Last year purchased two 495's with a few attachments so for $10,000 to 12,000 you could wrap up into a Deere, and i buy mine from my local dealer in Waterloo, Ia. thanks :D

[Flex-Deck]

Art - I have been JD thru and thru for years also, but am starting to wonder? - Are the new decks under your 495's as quiet as the 455's or do they have a loud whine to them - I understand that John Deere cheated and went to the straight gears and the decks are now loud kind of like Kubota (where you need ear protection)

[Swampbeast]

I have not had a lot of experience with JD commercial mowers, but what little I have had (mowed for about 2 months with a 60 inch JD ZTR) I did not like it. This is my own personal preference, I vastly prefer the SCAGs. Very very very tough machines, marvelously built, and the SCAG company stands behind thier products. I have never had a problem with warranty problems. Plus my dealer is great about service.

So, I vote for SCAG.

Hey DLCS, I like your signature! "Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake." Ha ha! Very good!

:cool:

[Flex-Deck]

I have always been thru and thru JD but have noticed in the last 10 yrs or so that there are a lot of good quality mowers out there.

We will have scag represented by a local dealer at the Flex-Deck BBQ on Mar. 29 - We will have Flex-Decks on 595-495-455-318 JD tractors, and JD belt drive 36" wb - eXmark Hydro Viking 36 - eXmark 52 TTHP - eXmark 36" TTHP -

We will also have a 9 1/2 foot mowers setup on a 455 JD - 22HP diesel with a 15 HP Kohler running the extra deck which is up front where you can see it. Not like those pull behind deals where you neck gets cricked etc. http://Wide

[Husker1982]

Stubby commercial? 727, 737, 757, 777, 797 for ZTR's
HD45, HD75, GS30, GS45, GS75 for WB's
JX75 for push mowers
(These are commercial machines from JD) Believe me I am not trying to argue but there is no MTD here nor there.

[GCS LawnService]

chaos270

I have priced the John Deere 797 with a air ride seat and the JD Dealer priced the machine at $10,500.00. What the quoted price on your John Deere 797?

"Nothing Runs Like A Deere" :blob2:

[Husker1982]

I am getting my 797 on 3/26/03.

[GCS LawnService]

Husker1982

How do the JD Dealers have the 797's priced up there in Michigan?

"Nothing Runs Like A Deere" :blob2:

[Husker1982]

I am getting mine for $9,900 but that is because I buy alot of equipment through my dealer. I am the only commercial cutter that he sells to that I know of as far as Deere equipment goes. I know that another guy got a quote for one for 10,500 as well.

[lee b]

$9800 for 797 with 60" deck and $10400 for the 72".

[GCS LawnService]

Did any of ya'll get the air ride seat? The price for 10,500 did include the air ride seat. The air ride seat is a 500.00 option but they say it is worth every penny.


I just got done with commercial tile floor in my new enclosed trailer. The tile is bright green and yellow and I laid it in a checkerboard pattern. Pretty darn sharp even though it's mine!


"Nothing Runs Like A Deere" :blob2:

[Husker1982]

Lee are your prices with or without tax? The air ride seat is not included in my price.

[GCS LawnService]

Husker1982

My price was without tax.


"Nothing Runs Like A Deere" :blob2:

[Husker1982]

Mine was $9,900 OTD.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Get a red mower.

[Husker1982]

Had em. I take a the green ones.

[Husker1982]

and i mean these green ones

[mklawnman]

$9,800 for a 60inch deck on a 797?? :eek: WOW, was at my Scag Dealer on Friday, they were selling a brand new Turf Tiger 61inch 27LC KAWI for $8,500 plus tax and set up of course, but thats still less than a Deere.
Man those Deere's are expensive. Makes ya wonder about why in this area where I live why Scag is more popular than Deere's?
Anyways Demo the machine and go with what you prefer.
Matt

[Husker1982]

Well matt the 797 has a 29 horse liquid cooled with digital fuel injection. No i would say real nice since the same motor comes on a SCAG for the same price. You can get a 777 with a 27 horse liquid cooled but once you go FI you will never look back.

[mklawnman]

Yeah I know Scag offers a 29Kawi I think with the EFI now and I've heard that EFI is more efficent. But yeah bigger engine will equal higher price.
Matt

[Husker1982]

The fuel injection will pay for it self ( the difference anyway) easily. I had Exmarks with EFI and loved them, but now sold them to get JD's which I love even more.:D

[Scag48]

Exmark is the solution to the problem