I bet the guys on here who say a turf tiger is a piece have not owned many others kinds of mowers. You will have problems with every mower that you run if you run hard. Scag Turf Tigers are the best full size Z on the market. I dont like the cubs or the wildcat much, but I love the Turf tigers. I just bought two more brand new ones and have never had a problem out of any of the tt. We run these machines 80% mowing medians and right of ways. If you are going to have a gearbox or a shaft problem, we would have it. Did you buy the mower new? Sure its not anything else jumping on the machine.