Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Boat Engines, Flood Control, & Census.

All the hydro stat tractors push hard, even though you are bypassing the fluid you are still turning the hydro unit. The exception to that is the older heavy models that had a hi/neutral/low axle, they pushed just like a manual shift unit.

Mostly one only moves the unit a few feet so it isn't a big deal, there probably is a sticker on there somewhere saying "do not tow", my take on that is that even in bypass mode there could be damage done at a higher speed.

 

Thanks for the reply. That sounds like what I'm feeling/hearing... a pretty heavy rolling resistance, along with some gear noise. I haven't noticed a sticker.. yet.
I haven't ever had or even driven a zero turn before. I'm somewhat nervous maneuvering past our vehicles to get to the garage, and then into its fairly tight quarters inside the garage. I was thinking of just rolling it in until I gain confidence.

 

A ZT is pretty intuitive with a little practice. Start it up and at just off an idle speed do a little practice in the driveway or yard without the blades running. It won't take long for you to get the hang of it, just move the controls slowly and the machine will respond in kind.

After you get more comfortable pick the engine speed up to around half throttle, warning -- you probably will have a big grin on your face by this time.

These machines make mowing fast & fun, you will never want to mow with a tractor again.

 

I thought the Scags rolled hard as well when bypassed. The unified gear motor/ hydro pumps seemed like they were not completely in bypass.

Are these the Hydrogear 3400 units?

The Toro units, both the unified pumps/gears and the separate pumps and gear motors push much easier than the Scags.

 

Yes... I did a practice session today, at about 1/4 throttle. Spent about a half hour riding around the back yard with blade off, and then about 20 minutes cutting (also at low throttle). But I don't try to get too close to obstacles yet. I'll practice some more tomorrow. After a very rainy July and August, it's cooler and much drier now so grass is growing slowly. I was actually cutting very little grass, so low throttle was no problem.

 

Just remember, small engines are designed to run most efficient at full or close full rpms (3000 rpms+/-)

After you get confident, start to move up in the rpms.

 

Mine is the same when the hydro oil is cold - when it is warm -- no problem with dragging it out from under our addition where it resides. When it is below about 45-50 degrees outside - dragging this baby scag (as I named it) -is a bitch. thank heaven I don't use it much when the temps are that low

 

You could do what I did several years ago - when learning on my first ZT (older Ariens) ,. I contacted several of my neighbors and told them I would mow their yards for free, and I would fix anything that I tore up. Good thing -most of the 3 or 4 I cut were CRAP to begin with, and any skids I made were not noticeable anyway.
You WILL love this "little performer". I have a very newer Honda self-propelled, and this Scag actually gives me a nicer looking cut than the push Honda -even when bagging with the Honda.

 

I have a Honda self-propelled also that I bought about 4 years ago after I gave my then 10 year-old Snapper self-propelled to my son after he bought a house. I had an older Honda before that Snapper, but oil got low and I didn't know it... engine seized. Both of my Hondas and that Snapper were models with the blade clutch .
This other Snapper I just got rid of was my first rider. It's almost 17 years old. I had replaced the drive clutch once before, and it needs it again. But it is still usable. I gave it to a buddy a few days ago . . .

 

BTW... We DID get the 15% discount . My wife is 28 years USAF retired. Also, I see you are B52 related... my nephew is a B52 Engineer working refurbishing and upgrades design at Tinker.

 

Growing up, our neighbor never gained confidence with his tractor and bush hog. He would always bush hog about 1/2 throttle....or less. You would hear him hit the same rock pile as the time before and choke the ole Massey Ferguson diesel tractor out. He would restart it and grind them rocks until he got off of them. This went on for the 35 years I lived beside him

 

This is the new one. I ordered the hurricane mulch kit with it, but that's on backorder. I had the mulch kit on my Snapper since Day One, and the guy I gave it to received a spankin' new standard style OEM blade along with the mower... New Old Stock..
One thing that's poorly designed on this Scag... the valve stems for the front wheels are on the inside (if in rolling fwd position) and the width of the wheel mount bracket makes it very difficult to check pressure. In fact, I couldn't check pressure because none of my 3 guages would fit. I ordered a new one that hopefully will get in there...

$22 AZUNO Digital Tire Inflator with Pressure Gauge, 200 PSI, Heavy Duty Air Compressor Accessories, w/Rubber Hose Lock on Air Chuck and Quick Connect Coupler

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NVT36P9?ie=UTF8

 

I had a Bobcat mower, I didn't like it. I sold it when I bought a used Hustler, I like it. I was talking to a buddy who mows yards for a living and has 4 Scags, he said you'll like that Hustler until you ride a Scag.

There's a reason you see all the mower trailers with Scags on them and they're so hard to get. Enjoy the new ride

 

I worked on the B52's at Ellsworth. Actually it was on the ECM systems on the 52's. After about a year in SD, I went back for more training to work on the RC-135M's. Ten more months of "state of the art" electronics training, -then off To Kadena to work on (and Fly as a crewmember). At that time there was only 11 of these planes in the whole Air force. Today the original 6 (tail No's 62-4131,32,34,35,38 and 39) I worked and flew on are still flying plus there are about 20 or so of these planes. I wanted it to be a career but the "Boss" (aka wife) had other plans. Here is a pic of one today:

 

Update...
I did another practice session yesterday, cutting in the backyard closer to obstacles than the day before, and chopping up leaves. I also cut in the front yard.. nearly went in the ditch .
Overall I felt much more comfortable and confident than before... except for the ditch near-miss.
I also learned that free-wheeling is easier pushing backwards than forward.
The ditch is in the front at the street. It's dry since we haven't got any rain in about 3 weeks. The ground slopes toward the ditch over several feet. I'll have to experiment with the best approach to cut as close as I can without going in. It never holds more that a couple inches of water (after the rain stops), but the bottom and lower part of the slope can stay very mucky for days or weeks when we're getting rain daily.

 

STOP! YOU'LL GIVE @RustyGreen and @koditten A HEART ATTACK!

 

I thought that was @koditten doing a test on some new hydro's he just installed

 

You know, after closer inspection of the .gif, it does look like @koditten in those overalls!