My new SCAG!!!!! [Archive] - LawnSite.com™ - Lawn Care & Landscaping Business Forum

Runner

05-13-2003, 09:44 PM

Oh, he'll build SOMETHING out of it!!! :p

Congratulations, and you just took one Giant leap forward, as you are in a whole new caliber, now. This machine will be SO much more productive for you than just the wb. After doing a yard or place with this, you'll be READY to grab a trimmer. Again, congratulations, and I wish al the best to ya.;)

FrankenScagMachines

05-13-2003, 09:50 PM

crazygator, just a hitch for pulling carts and things around.

justmowing, it looks better when clean (like new really)

yardman hahaha.. i dunno just yet...

Alex, I still have it. They will make a great team!

mikeshere it does a great job. Lots of power!!!!

mikesjumping, maybe dunno.. left foot has a safety switch on it and right foot runs speed pedal...

Heller, thanks, $2600 for her. Yes I'm very very proud! The idea is to go after larger accounts and several commercials next year.

Runner I've been mowing with it non stop since I got it home and sharpened the blades and cleaned the deck. I am not sure if it has ever had the deck cleaned and blades sharpened but it cut lousy until that was done! LOL....

It is a sweeeett machine, and love the power and sound of that Kohler Command 22hp. Awesome machine and very fun to operate! Single direction stripes look weird but double direction ones look fine.

FrankenScagMachines

05-13-2003, 09:54 PM

I let this grass go a loonnng time to get this tall (so I could try the beast on it). Single pass at probably 6mph. Had to go over it a second time to get the stragglers and clumps. I'd like to make some baffles for the front of this deck and the w/b deck to prevent this type of thing. Also a striping kit is in order!

johnhenry

05-13-2003, 09:59 PM

congrats Eric. Hope you have a great year with it

65hoss

05-13-2003, 10:18 PM

...and now if you just had some customers.

Auroris

05-13-2003, 10:22 PM

Congratulations BHB!

Hope your investment pays off well this season.

Best Wishes,

Cole

mike9497

05-13-2003, 10:26 PM

i had 2 three wheeler exmarks.great for hills but the lines sucked.got rid of one and working on getting rid of the other.good luck with it.go after accounts with hills thats where they shine.well at least in my area.

Runner

05-13-2003, 10:58 PM

Ahh,... was that picture taken at night?:cool:

Imow4u2

05-13-2003, 11:06 PM

Congrats BHB your really moving up in the world! Don't forget to update your sig. with the new edition to the family!:D

FrankenScagMachines

05-13-2003, 11:09 PM

Thanks, I have quite a few customers. The reason I got this (other than it being a great deal haha) is because I was running out of time in the week to get everything done because of the w/b being underpowered and slower. It does seem good on hills, not as good as the w/b but better than the Z's I've tried. It is a nice mower. My only complaints so far- deck design, length and lack of true zero turning! It's not so bad turning away from buildings and fences like you'd think. It's pretty quick around turns and not quite as easy to tear the grass with as zero turns. It isn't quite as maneuverable as a Z but I think the good and bad equal out. If I could only have one rider I guess it might be this one, but depending on the properties. I do really dislike the third wheel streak, but I can put up with it. It just looks goofy.
The pic was taken at dusk. I'd taken several more alittle later but they didn't turn out. Rest assured I'll get plenty tomorrow ;) :)

And I get paid to drive this machine? :p :cool: :D :) :cool:

FrankenScagMachines

05-13-2003, 11:10 PM

Originally posted by Imow4u2
Congrats BHB your really moving up in the world! Don't forget to update your sig. with the new edition to the family!:D

Oh yeah thanks for reminding me! I thought of that when I was cleaning the grass off the deck and under the cover, but forgot LOL.

LAWNGODFATHER

05-13-2003, 11:25 PM

Originally posted by 65hoss
...and now if you just had some customers. Yeah it was easy to come up with that $2600 since he doesn't pay any bills cutting his 10 customers, now he is more productive and turning mowing into rocket science.

Man I hope you can fly through those 10 yards so much faster now that you have spent all your money.

Things to look for;

Snow plow

Lights

Striping accessory

Cup Holder

Ash tray for spare change

Umbrella canopy

Welder holder

Trimmer holder

Blower holder

Flex Decked 52" Scag off to the side with Toro hooked to it.

Towed home made grass catcher

And more to come..............

Frankenscag....It's A------L-I-V-E!!!!!!!!!!!

DLCS

05-13-2003, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
Yeah it was easy to come up with that $2600 since he doesn't pay any bills cutting his 10 customers, now he is more productive and turning mowing into rocket science.

Man I hope you can fly through those 10 yards so much faster now that you have spent all your money.

Things to look for;

Snow plow

Lights

Striping accessory

Cup Holder

Ash tray for spare change

Umbrella canopy

Welder holder

Trimmer holder

Blower holder

Flex Decked 52" Scag off to the side with Toro hooked to it.

Towed home made grass catcher

And more to come..............

Frankenscag....It's A------L-I-V-E!!!!!!!!!!!

RFLMAO:p

don't forget the OCDC ! But I bet he makes it into a walkbehind.

nelbuts

05-14-2003, 12:17 AM

BHB does that unit have a cable for steering or chain? If it is a cable check it often. Used to have 2 of the 61" and 3 48" years ago. BTW if you get reall tall stuff just crank up the deck a little and cut then recut lower. Good luck this year and get some darn work.

Soupy

05-14-2003, 12:19 AM

BHB, I thought you needed a truck? Don't tell me you went and spent your money on the first cool thing that crossed your path.

You need to think more about what you need most at this point in your business and buy the toys later.

LAWNGODFATHER

05-14-2003, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by DLCS
But I bet he makes it into a walkbehind.

Ok you got me beat with just that 1 sentence.

Yeah I forgot the OCDC...

crazygator

05-14-2003, 08:06 AM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
And I get paid to drive this machine?

Not unless you get more than the handful of customers you have! :D

Are you going to drive around on the streets with a banner flying in the wind for your advertising now? :p :angel:

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by crazygator
Not unless you get more than the handful of customers you have! :D

Are you going to drive around on the streets with a banner flying in the wind for your advertising now? :p :angel:

Great idea! Or better yet, offer free rides to new customers!!! hahahaha..............:p ;)

crazygator

05-14-2003, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
Great idea! Or better yet, offer free rides to new customers!!!

Why do I get the feeling you are not really joking about that? ;)

lawncare3

05-14-2003, 11:39 AM

Good luck with ur new baby. ;)

Glad to see the muckers @ the bank finally got things worked out. :)

Have a great time mowing 2 day. :)

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 12:17 PM

There you are Chris. Was wondering when you'd respond :D
Very soon I will be building a striping kit for it of some sort, maybe chains. I need to move the deck to the top set of holes also. Cutting at 3" with it in the middle set doesn't work because the front of the blades are higher than the back and it cuts lousy and discharges poorly. May just go with a striping flap but want to try something alittle different.

geogunn

05-14-2003, 01:14 PM

bhbaby--I noticed a crank like a boat trailer winch on the rear end. what is that for? cranking the rear end up in the air while trailering?:confused: if so, aroundhere the guys just place a board over the front of the deck and under a trailer rail.

GEO

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 01:59 PM

geometro-- that crank is for lifting the deck up. It actually pivots the engine frame and deck up, not just the deck. It is balanced so you can tip the back end up to work on it, or have the deck up to clean or change blades. Very handy. Also works good to lift the deck just alittle to transfer weight to the drive tires for more traction, or cutting first pass a tad higher, or trailering (keep from bottoming deck out on gate). The winch doesn't have a dog-ear latch like a boat winch, it is setup somehow so you just turn it either direction, very cool!

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 02:03 PM

The dynamic duo, in need of cleaning but ready to work.

geogunn

05-14-2003, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
geometro--

HA! good come back!:D

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
-- that crank is for lifting the deck up. It actually pivots the engine frame and deck up, not just the deck.

I think you just answered my question...in other words you don't have a hydraulic deck lift on that thing? I had assumed that since it looked like the three wheeled gravely, that it was built like the three wheeled gravely with the hydraulic deck lift. oh well.

the three wheeled gravely is very popular in my area. great for trimming under and around things. and they do well even on smaller properties. I passed on one two years ago for a killer price and have regretted ever since. thanks.

GEO

LAWNGODFATHER

05-14-2003, 02:37 PM

I love it, a couple days ago he was complaining how lousy his WB cut so he went out and bought another of the same brand same style deck that had already proving to be a bad cutter for him, that shows excellent intelligence.

DLCS

05-14-2003, 03:08 PM

I was thinking the same thing LGF. He calls them the dynamic duo, must not be too dynamic one of the is for sale. Now, all he needs is to find the duo some work. lol

lawnkid

05-14-2003, 03:18 PM

Nice machine there BHB. What ever happeed to that Dixie you were gonna buy? Or te standing mower you were gonna try and make? Anyway, hope it works out fir you. Also one more thing, don't you need a bigger trailer now too to fit both on. I woulda bought a truck first though. :rolleyes: Good luck anyways with the new toy.

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 05:53 PM

geo- electric lift kit optional, I think it's around $325. The winch works fine.

LGF it cuts alot better than the w/b. The w/b cuts great, it just needed more power in the spring growth, so it cut bad when it didn't have enough power.

DLCS that was before I got this mower, now I gotta keep the w/b because there are a few areas the 61" will not get through the gate but the 52 just barely squeezes through.

lawnkid, thanks, that guy decided to keep his Dixie as well as the guy with the Z master :rolleyes: For alittle more money I got a machine with same engine and same deck size but about 5300 less hours. The 61", 52" and 21" (all that I use) fit on the trailer but it is very very tight. Since I don't bag anything I will be OK for now. I don't really wanna talk about the truck thing alright...

DLCS

05-14-2003, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
LGF it cuts alot better than the w/b. The w/b cuts great, it just needed more power in the spring growth, so it cut bad when it didn't have enough power.

You must have forgotten. Heres a refresher. I don't think power has any thing to do with it.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46037

nelbuts

05-14-2003, 07:25 PM

BHB I have to stand up for my Scags here. I am sorry you just don't know how to use that WB or you are cutting too tall grass with the mulch plate on. The way you have the deck mounted to the frame and spacers on the spindle yokes make a big difference. So don't bad mouth the Scags as I have used them for over 18 years and the Bahia grass down here is every bit as tuff as you cut. In fact in Sep. one yard of the stuff will dull a set of blades.

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 07:31 PM

For one- I exaggerate quite a bit.
For two- I found a few things I can do that help the cut alittle better. Keep deck cleaned good and sharp blades (duh). I realized the RPM on my w/b were not quite as high as they should be from the factory so I turned it up a bit. That helped a bit. But it still doesn't cut great in taller grass. The 61" rider does better, I think because the larger blades and deck give the grass more room to get sucked up and cut and the bigger discharge opening eliminates clumping. I still think they should both have baffles put in them but they do fine right now. The rider also has more than enough power to keep the blades spinning at full speed even in bad conditions and it doesn't give a bad cut in tall grass like the w/b, probably due to the larger blades and more power to spin the blades. Now that the rider is the main mower, and seems to have less of the problems the w/b has, I can deal with the w/b for the areas I need to use it, it does OK. Doubles are good in spring growth if you have power to spin them, but single regular blades do great on the rider even in tall grass (but not on the w/b) and single regulars do fine on the w/b this time of year. I'm still thinking about making baffles for these decks and still would like a larger engine on the w/b. But the rider is cutting my time by about 40-50%.

Things to look for:
striping attachment
OCDC
snowplow
tow hitch
maybe lights
maybe stereo (with headphones jack)????
cup holder
maybe trimmer holder
blower- simple, just hang on the armrests :p
possibly some sort of blower powered catcher, soon will make brackets for the catcher I have that I made (6 cu. ft. side catcher).

:D :dizzy:

FrankenScagMachines

05-14-2003, 07:32 PM

Originally posted by nelbuts
BHB I have to stand up for my Scags here. I am sorry you just don't know how to use that WB or you are cutting too tall grass with the mulch plate on. The way you have the deck mounted to the frame and spacers on the spindle yokes make a big difference. So don't bad mouth the Scags as I have used them for over 18 years and the Bahia grass down here is every bit as tuff as you cut. In fact in Sep. one yard of the stuff will dull a set of blades.

I'm not badmouthing them, I own two, one of them I just bought. Why would I badmouth them? Read the reply I just typed up........

LAWNGODFATHER

05-14-2003, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
I exaggerate quite a bit.

Aint that the truth!!!!!!!:blob1:

mag360

05-14-2003, 11:24 PM

Congrats---I always wanted one of those

(glad you passed up on that truck)

FrankenScagMachines

05-15-2003, 08:33 AM

LGF your addition to the sig line is funny, I'll remember that ;)
Chip, thanks. They are fun to drive, IMO maybe more so than a mid deck ZTR. When I put it side by side with the little Scag, it's not that much longer, but it would be more comparable to a w/b and castering sulky, except it doesn't have true zero turn. The reverse arm on the hydro foot pedal is set too far back so I will either make something to reach it easier or make a reverse button that uses a small linkage to reverse but have it set right by the forward pedal, for faster direction changes. Sometimes it's better to do a 3 pt. turn, that is mostly why I'd do that. Other times you have to do small circle turns then turn the other way to straighten it out. You can do a 180 but it divots. I may put alittle more air in the tires and see if it divots less. I'm currently working on a striping kit to help hide that third wheel mark, either flap like on the w/b or a chain setup. Thinking about chains. Want to try something different and the flaps are hard to install w/o taking off the deck which is a very difficult on this beast. Thought about a floating roller mounted under the engine/foot rest area something similar to a Checkmate, but I don't see it surviving well backing up the trailer gate, etc. seems like it would be too easy to rip off. If it was a floating deck I'd definately go with a roller on the deck itself but that won't work. So the chain is a definate possibility right now...

sbvfd592

05-15-2003, 03:10 PM

Congats eric :cool:

lawncare3

05-15-2003, 03:11 PM

Eric,

Why does ur tire on ur wb look like the sidewall has been peeled away and there is only a tube left?

DLCS

05-15-2003, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by lawncare3
Eric,

Why does ur tire on ur wb look like the sidewall has been peeled away and there is only a tube left?

Yeh, I noticed that too. Whats up with that?

FrankenScagMachines

05-15-2003, 08:46 PM

Thanks Joe

I had just washed the mowers so I guess part was dry part wet and the way the light hit it?? The tires are like new...

Green in Idaho

05-15-2003, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
The dynamic duo, in need of cleaning but ready to work.

But there is ONLY one BHB! How you gonna operate both of those at the same time?

LAWNGODFATHER

05-15-2003, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by Green in Idaho
But there is ONLY one BHB! How you gonna operate both of those at the same time? Yeah, he's going to hook the Scag 52" wb to run right along with the 61" deck.

LAWNGODFATHER

05-15-2003, 09:47 PM

He's going to refine this design............

crazygator

05-15-2003, 09:57 PM

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
He's going to refine this design............

Thats too funny LGF. I had very similar thoughts as well..... hahaha!

I wonder is Sean would change BHB's nickname on lawnsite to "Frankenscagboy"? hehe :D

FrankenScagMachines

05-15-2003, 10:56 PM

it is a thought LGF, but I'd have to slow down because of the 52" not having enough power. I wonder if loosening the hydro dump valves would work OK for extended periods of time? Remember the 32" w/b I made from a rider? I think I'm going to put an angled quick removal hitch on it to tow it behind and beside of the STHM. That would give another 3/4 acre/hr productivity and should still stripe good being as it has a roller :D Take off hitch and have a w/b.