[GreenBlade]

I have been having this problem since I purchased my mower in August, but I love it so much I don't know what to do. It's a love/hate relationship.

I mow mostly tall fescue & kentucky bluegrass lawns here in east tennessee. My brand new scag tigercat is leaving a strip of grass on the inside of the left tire. It will also leave major stragglers. On some lawns more than others.

I have taken it to the dealer twice now. I have to take it again anyway do to the recent recall on most Kawasaki engines I'm sure is affecting a lot of you. I will get them to take a look again.

Until then however I want to try a few things:
1)Blades: What blades does everyone use? I have heard a lot about Gator blades.
2)Baffle: I am aware about the adjustable baffle. What would be the best setting? What do most of you do? I had moved it down to 3 1/4 or 3 1/2 I believe. I cant tell a huge difference. I think I might try to move it up.
3) Anything you guys can think of!

 

[TNGrassCutter]

Sharp blades, high lift blades, correct pitch, clean underside of deck.
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[GreenBlade]

Will do. Besides the last one; new mower!

 

[GMLC]

Has it been dry where you are? If so dry fine fescue has caused problems all over the country with all types of mowers. You may have to wait til next season to see how it cuts.

I run high lift blades with the front skirt in the middle position on my Scags.
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[ashgrove landscaping]

Scrape the deck at least twice a week and keep the blades sharp and your speed appropriate for the conditions. The high vacuum of those decks makes a huge mess under there. Easy trade off for how well they cut though.

 

[TNGrassCutter]

Scrape the deck at least twice a week and keep the blades sharp and your speed appropriate for the conditions. The high vacuum of those decks makes a huge mess under there. Easy trade off for how well they cut though.

Just a thought, it may need to be scraped twice a day. I mowed yesterday while everything was pretty soaked from 2 days of rain and scraped two 5 gal buckets full out of my deck after 4 hours of mowing.
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[GreenBlade]

Thanks for the tips. This is my first scag so I am dissapointed in the cut quality. Don't get me wrong, it can lay down some beautiful stripes. I chose scag because I always heard nothing but good things. The cut quality as of now however, compares to my Cub Cadet I had before this 😩.

I was also thinking maybe cutting height & speed. I cut at 3 1/2. I know you're suppose to cut high. I lowered it down to 3 1/4. Slight difference. As far as speed goes. I'm 3/4-full speed most the time I mow. I now mostly flat ground so I figure this wouldn't and shouldn't affect the performance.
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[orangemower]

I'd wait until spring. I think you'll see a big difference when the grass is standing up and growing. Fescue is the hardest grass to cut because it always wants to lay down. If the lawn is somewhat thin then you'll really notice it.

 

[GreenBlade]

That's my plan. Being so close to the end of the season; I don't want to fool with it too much. It'll still be under warranty in the spring if the problem persists. I'll adjust the baffle up & get the blades sharpened up & balanced b4 the end of this season.

I've tried to get the blades off, but the spindles spin even with the blades blocked!
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[myblacktruck]

That's my plan. Being so close to the end of the season; I don't want to fool with it too much. It'll still be under warranty in the spring if the problem persists. I'll adjust the baffle up & get the blades sharpened up & balanced b4 the end of this season.

I've tried to get the blades off, but the spindles spin even with the blades blocked!
Posted via Mobile Device

There is a long bolt that goes all the way through the blades with a nut on top. When we change ours it's a 15/16 wrench on top 15/16 socket on bottom with a breaker bar. If you have an impact gun the nut on top. We have a scag tiger cat and cheetah, both are 61 inch cut and I have scag eliminator blades on the cat, and G-6 blades on the cheetah. I like the G-6 blades better so when the eliminator's are wore out I'll buy more G-6's

 

[BigFish]

Thanks for the tips. This is my first scag so I am dissapointed in the cut quality. Don't get me wrong, it can lay down some beautiful stripes. I chose scag because I always heard nothing but good things. The cut quality as of now however, compares to my Cub Cadet I had before this 😩.

I was also thinking maybe cutting height & speed. I cut at 3 1/2. I know you're suppose to cut high. I lowered it down to 3 1/4. Slight difference. As far as speed goes. I'm 3/4-full speed most the time I mow. I now mostly flat ground so I figure this wouldn't and shouldn't affect the performance.
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I'm a mechanic, not a cutter, but when you say "3/4 speed etc" do you mean the engine is at 3/4 speed? If so, that could be part of the problem. You wanna keep the engine and blades runnin at top speed all the time!

 

[GreenBlade]

I'm running full throttle, but 3/4 speed meaning control levers 3/4 the way.

I just finished up mowing today. I was mowing farely thick grass, but nothing I wouldn't think a scag couldn't handle. It was leaving not only strips, but "chunks" so to say of grass. It frustrates me, but then I say I'm not going to take it on carouse I know I'm on their nerves.
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[knox gsl]

Drop your deck to 3" full throttle with a clean deck, if that doesn't do it I have no idea what to tell you. I have a good friend runing a 52" wildcat and it cuts great even with dull blades here in Knoxville. He is like most of us around here and gets a little of everything, fescue, bermuda, zoysia, and lots of crab grass. What dealer did you get it from?

 

[GreenBlade]

I always here to mow high. I bought mine at boones creek out door power. A scag pro gold dealer.
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[piston slapper]

Your experience and your expectations are not on the same page...
I realize its a new mower...I've seen a bunch of new mowers that were not properly adjusted...it won't perform if its out of adjustment...
Check engine speed...belt tightness...and make sure the blades are RAZOR sharp...
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[CowboysLawnCareDelaware]

How is the mower cutting? Were you mowing weekly or bi-weekly?

Michael

 

[JCLawn and more]

It almost sounds like your deck might have to much pitch in either direction. If you can set a level ontop of the spindle that might be the easiest way to tell, or measuring the blade tip height in the front and the back. Also check that the tire pressure is where it should.
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[herler]

You haven't gone over the entire machine, have you?

You need to do that, before even taking it out for the first cut.

New machines coming off the assembly line today are almost never up to specification.
Sad, but true.

You have to check them over piece by piece, every spring, every nut, every zerk...
Check and make sure everything is exactly the way it's supposed to be.

Bring your toolbox.
You will likely need it.

Your experience and your expectations are not on the same page...
I realize its a new mower...I've seen a bunch of new mowers that were not properly adjusted...it won't perform if its out of adjustment...
Check engine speed...belt tightness...and make sure the blades are RAZOR sharp...
Posted via Mobile Device

That's right.
Check everything else, too.
Tire PSI as one example.
e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

Once it's all up to spec., we can talk again.
Until then there's not much sense in it, we just don't know...