Hi all,
After enduring an 11 year old Craftsman which has all but imploded, I was in the market for either a good used commercial or a new "commercial" (think Ariens Ikon XL or Toro HD) ZTR with a power bagger for my 1/2 acre lawn. Then my friend told me of his friend who was selling a Scag Wildcat "about 5 years old, with a new Kohler engine about 200 hrs old." I took a look and very clean, no leaks, runs strong, no odd noises, everything works, nothing loose, clean fluids. It also had a very nice three bag blower, and my buddy to vouch for it all. The hour meter was questionable as the display is half busted and read something like E003.3. Didn't have any documentation including the manual. He was asking $4400 and we settled at 4K even. Gave me a bunch of extra blades and filters. I figured I was good to go. What could go wrong right?
I had it garaged for a few days before I had to move it, and lo and behold, it has quite a nice hydro leak at the end cap seal. Oh well, sh*t happens. Buy a new seal kit and read all about how to re-seal a BDP-10. I am a pretty well-equipped DIY'er who used to wrench professionally, so as long as I can find parts I'm ok. While underneath I noticed the wheel motor also has a super slow leak. Ok whatever.. more seals and more time.
To prep, I looked for the manual online based on the s/n and WTF?.. this is a 2006 model???? That got me suddenly thinking about the hour meter.. the first digit "E" could be a 5 or a 6 or even an 8, but I cannot believe a machine this clean could have been running for 5K+ hours. But if it has, shame on me. So despite it looking nice, it leaks, is old, and this friend of a friend appears shadier by the minute. Reading all the "how many hours is too many" threads did nothing to help my paranoia lol.
Used Scags sell at a premium in my area (CT) and any Scag that works with a blower would not start at less 3-5K... from the standpoint that it was only a few years old it appeared to be a pretty good deal. However with all of the above, I am really wondering if I got taken for a ride and dazzled by a pressure washer special... in which case I'm gonna punch my friend square in the head and probably abscond with most of his beer
Armored up and ready for the "dumba$$" comments! Thanks!
After enduring an 11 year old Craftsman which has all but imploded, I was in the market for either a good used commercial or a new "commercial" (think Ariens Ikon XL or Toro HD) ZTR with a power bagger for my 1/2 acre lawn. Then my friend told me of his friend who was selling a Scag Wildcat "about 5 years old, with a new Kohler engine about 200 hrs old." I took a look and very clean, no leaks, runs strong, no odd noises, everything works, nothing loose, clean fluids. It also had a very nice three bag blower, and my buddy to vouch for it all. The hour meter was questionable as the display is half busted and read something like E003.3. Didn't have any documentation including the manual. He was asking $4400 and we settled at 4K even. Gave me a bunch of extra blades and filters. I figured I was good to go. What could go wrong right?
I had it garaged for a few days before I had to move it, and lo and behold, it has quite a nice hydro leak at the end cap seal. Oh well, sh*t happens. Buy a new seal kit and read all about how to re-seal a BDP-10. I am a pretty well-equipped DIY'er who used to wrench professionally, so as long as I can find parts I'm ok. While underneath I noticed the wheel motor also has a super slow leak. Ok whatever.. more seals and more time.
To prep, I looked for the manual online based on the s/n and WTF?.. this is a 2006 model???? That got me suddenly thinking about the hour meter.. the first digit "E" could be a 5 or a 6 or even an 8, but I cannot believe a machine this clean could have been running for 5K+ hours. But if it has, shame on me. So despite it looking nice, it leaks, is old, and this friend of a friend appears shadier by the minute. Reading all the "how many hours is too many" threads did nothing to help my paranoia lol.
Used Scags sell at a premium in my area (CT) and any Scag that works with a blower would not start at less 3-5K... from the standpoint that it was only a few years old it appeared to be a pretty good deal. However with all of the above, I am really wondering if I got taken for a ride and dazzled by a pressure washer special... in which case I'm gonna punch my friend square in the head and probably abscond with most of his beer
Armored up and ready for the "dumba$$" comments! Thanks!