Advise on used Scag 36" walk behind

[RandRlawns]

Hello, I'm new to lawnsite and new to the business. This is my 1st full year and I'm ready to purchase a larger walk behind. I have a new Honda 21" and I want to purchase a used Scag 36" after reading and researching for quite some time. My basic question is how many hours is too many when considering a used Scag? I see them with 800hrs and 1400hrs and still pretty expensive with 400 hrs. I know the best policy is to buy new but I'd rather pay cash for a used one. What are your thoughts? Would you have any other advice on purchasing a used Scag? Thanks in advance for your help.

[pseudosun]

I'm considering getting a scag 36 too, but for next season. I'm using a 2000 exmark that i bought 3 years ago for 800. I thought i messed up because of the way it looked. Muffler gone, lots of paint gone, beat up, bad belts. The only thing i have done to this mower is belts, muffler, oil change. It's alittle tricky to start , but it's strong and reliable, and damn near maintenance free. I think scag will be the same way. Buying the old exmark turned out to be a wise decision. It really depends on the position you're in. If you don't have alot of debt, it may be okay to go new. I say get a used 36 and get the hang of it. You'll have a better idea about what you want on your new mower. The cutting width, belt or hydro drive, grips, engine, etc. That's where i'm at.

[RandRlawns]

Thanks for the reply. So, I've been looking at exmarks the past week. Several more of those on the used market. You familiar with the 36" metro? I could pay cash for it and use it to make the cash to buy a new scag. Yes, I'm operating on very low debt. I appreciate any thoughts.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ed2hess]

Can't go wrong on a scag, which engne is on it? If you don't buy it mind telling me more info about it?

[pseudosun]

yes, i have the metro 36 with a kawasaki engine, and it has served me well. To tell you the truth, i'm not sure of the horsepower, because all the paint is gone. I actually didn't expect this mower to withstand my abuse for this long, especially after it fell out of my truck once. It is my second commercial mower. My first was a quick36, and at the time i thought the quick36 was good; but that was pre EXmark. I lost track of how many spindles and clutches i went through on the quick 36. For some reason, i went through 2 engines in 5 years. When i sold it as is, it had the 3rd engine on it. Maybe it was a fluke , but those briggs engines, didn't last for me, and i stayed ontop of the oil changes and filters. The deck fell apart too. I will never buy something again that i can't get local service on, and that doesn't have a long reputation. Find out who services exmark around where you live. That would be good. Scag, exmark, toro, you can't go wrong.

[RandRlawns]

Originally Posted by ed2hess

Can't go wrong on a scag, which engne is on it? If you don't buy it mind telling me more info about it?

I see 36" scag with 15 and 17hp Kawasaki engines on them. I think it's the fc140v or something like that.
Posted via Mobile Device

[RandRlawns]

Originally Posted by pseudosun

yes, i have the metro 36 with a kawasaki engine, and it has served me well. To tell you the truth, i'm not sure of the horsepower, because all the paint is gone. I actually didn't expect this mower to withstand my abuse for this long, especially after it fell out of my truck once. It is my second commercial mower. My first was a quick36, and at the time i thought the quick36 was good; but that was pre EXmark. I lost track of how many spindles and clutches i went through on the quick 36. For some reason, i went through 2 engines in 5 years. When i sold it as is, it had the 3rd engine on it. Maybe it was a fluke , but those briggs engines, didn't last for me, and i stayed ontop of the oil changes and filters. The deck fell apart too. I will never buy something again that i can't get local service on, and that doesn't have a long reputation. Find out who services exmark around where you live. That would be good. Scag, exmark, toro, you can't go wrong.

Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks for the info. Sounds like x mark is a tough mower. I see them with Briggs, Kohler and Kawasaki engines on them. And a turf tracer with a Honda engine!
Posted via Mobile Device

[pseudosun]

my mistake, there's a kohler on my metro.

[RandRlawns]

Originally Posted by pseudosun

my mistake, there's a kohler on my metro.

Good experience with the Kohler? Or is Taft the one you replaced 3 times?
Posted via Mobile Device

[pseudosun]

Very impressed with kohler. It's the original 2000 engine. It was missing paint and the decal, but still going strong. I think it's a 13 horse. I replaced the briggs engines on the quick 36 (my old mower), so i'm not as confident about briggs. Maybe there was a reason they burned up on the quick36; i don't know. I'm not saying briggs engines are bad; that just happened to be my experience on that quick36.