Scag Power Equipment SWZ User manual

MODEL SWZ
OPERATOR’S MANUAL
THIS MANUAL CONTAINS THE OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY INFORMATION
FOR YOUR SCAG MOWER. READING THIS
MANUAL CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ASSIS-
TANCE IN MAINTENANCE AND ADJUST-
MENT PROCEDURES TO KEEP YOUR MOWER
PERFORMING TO MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.
THE SPECIFIC MODELS THAT THIS BOOK
COVERS ARE CONTAINED ON THE INSIDE
COVER. BEFORE OPERATING YOUR MA-
CHINE, PLEASE READ ALL THE INFORMA-
TION ENCLOSED.
PART NUMBER 03044

FAILURE TO FOLLOW SAFE OPERATING PRACTICES
MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
* Keep all shields in place, especially the grass discharge chute.
* Before performing any maintenance or service, stop the machine and
remove the spark plug wire and ignition key.
* If a mechanism becomes clogged, stop the engine before cleaning.
* Keep hands, feet and clothing away from power-driven parts.
* Read this manual completely as well as other manuals that came
with your mower.
REMEMBER - YOUR MOWER IS ONLY AS SAFE AS THE OPERATOR!
Hazard control and accident prevention are dependent upon the awareness,
concern, prudence, and proper training of the personnel involved in the
operation, transport, maintenance, and storage of the equipment.
lways use the entire serial number listed on the serial number
tag when referring to this product.
WARNING:
This manual covers the operating instructions
and illustrated parts list for:
SWZ36-14KA with seri l number of 3230001-3239999
SWZ36-14KH with seri l number of 3240001-3249999
SWZ48-14KA with seri l number of 3250001-3259999
SWZ48-14KH with seri l number of 3260001-3269999
SWZ48-14KAE with seri l number of 3270001-3279999
SW48-16BV with seri l number of 3280001-3289999
SWZ-14KA with seri l number of 3300001-3309999
SWZ-16BV with seri l number of 3310001-3319999
SWZ-16BVE with seri l number of 3320001-3329999
SWZ-18BV with seri l number of 3330001-3339999
SWZ-20CVE with seri l number of 3340001-3349999

1
SIGNAL WORDS
This symbol means Attention! Become Alert!
Your Safety is Involved!" The symbol is used with
the following signal words to attract your attention
to safety messages found on the decals and through-
out this manual. The message that follows the
symbol contains important information about safety.
To avoid injury and possible death, carefully read the
message! Be sure to fully understand the causes of
possible injury or death.
Signal Word:
It is a distinctive word on safety decals and through-
out this manual that alerts the viewer to the existence
and relative degree of the ha ard.
The signal word DANGER denotes that an ex-
tremely ha ardous situation exists on or near the
machine that could result in high probability of death
or irreparable injury if proper precautions are not
taken.
The signal word WARNING denotes that a ha ard
exists on or near the machine that can result in injury
or death if proper precautions are not taken.
The signal word CAUTION is a reminder of safety
practices on or near the machine that could result in
personal injury if proper precautions are not taken.
INTRODUCTION
Your mower was built to the highest standards in the
industry. However, the prolonged life and maximum
efficiency of your mower depends on you following
the operating, maintenance and adjustment instruc-
tions in this manual.
We encourage you to contact your dealer for repairs.
All Scag dealers are informed of the latest methods
to service this equipment and provide prompt and
efficient service in the field or at their service shop.
They carry a full line of Scag service parts.
A replacement Operator's Manual is available from
your Scag Servicing Dealer or by contacting Scag
Power Equipment, Service Department, at P.O. Box
152, Mayville, WI 53050. Please indicate the com-
plete model and serial number of your Scag product.
USE O OTHER THAN ORIGINAL SCAG
REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL VOID THE
WARRANTY.
The Right and Left, Front and Rear of the
machine are referenced from the operators perspec-
tive when in the normal operating position and facing
the forward travel direction.
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
READ THIS OPERATOR'S MANUAL and
instructions furnished with attachments.
Perform only those maintenance procedures de-
scribed in this manual. If major repairs are ever
needed or assistance is desired, contact an Author-
i ed Scag Dealer. To ensure optimum performance
and safety, always purchase genuine SCAG replace-
ment parts and accessories.
Your safety and the safety of others depends signifi-
cantly upon your knowledge and understanding of all
correct operating practices and procedures of this
machine.
WARNING:
CAUTION:

2
BEFORE OPERATING
1. Know the controls and how to stop quickly.
2. Do not allow children to operate the machine.
Do not allow adults to operate the machine
without proper instruction.
3. Remove all debris or other objects that might be
picked up and thrown by the cutter blades. Keep
all bystanders away from the mowing area.
4. Keep all shields, safety devices, and decals in
place. If a shield, safety device or decal is defec-
tive or damaged, repair or replace it before
operating. Also, check all nuts, bolts and screws
for proper tightness, to assure the machine is in
safe operating condition.
5. Do not operate the machine while wearing
sandals, tennis shoes, sneakers or shorts. Also,
do not wear loose fitting clothing which could get
caught in moving parts. Always wear long pants
and substantial shoes. Wearing safety glasses and
safety shoes is advisable and required by some
local ordinances and insurance regulations.
6. Fill the fuel tank with clean, fresh gasoline, with a
minimum octane rating of 87. Avoid spilling
gasoline. Gasoline is highly flammable, handle it
carefully.
A. Use an approved gasoline container.
B. Do not fill the tank while the engine is hot or
running.
C. Do not smoke while handling gasoline.
D. Fill the fuel tank outdoors and up to approxi-
mately 1" (25 mm) below the bottom of the
filler neck.
E. Wipe up any spilled gasoline.
7. Before attempting to start the engine, move the
speed adjustment lever into the neutral position,
move the blade engagement switch to the OFF
position, apply the parking brake, and move the
neutral latches to neutral.
WHILE OPERATING
1. Start the engine when the neutral latches are in
the neutral lock position, the cutter blades are
disengaged, the parking brake is on and the speed
adjustment lever is in the neutral position.
2. Do not run the engine in a confined area without
adequate ventilation. Exhaust fumes are ha ard-
ous and could possibly be deadly.
3. Using the machine demands attention. To
prevent loss of control:
A. Mow only in daylight or when there is good
artificial light.
B. Watch for holes or other hidden ha ards.
C. Do not drive close to a drop-off, ditch, creek
bank, or other ha ard.
D. Reduce speed when making sharp turns and
when turning on hillsides.
E. Always be sure of your footing. Keep a firm
hold on the handles and walk---never run.
F. Do not operate where conditions are slippery.
4. The discharge chute must always be installed and
in the down position on the side discharge cutter
deck except when the Scag optional grass
catcher or mulching plate are properly installed.
If the discharge area should plug, shut the engine
off and wait for all movement to stop before
removing the obstruction.
5. Disengage the blades and wait for them to stop
before crossing gravel drives, walks or roads.
6. Shut the engine off and wait until the blades
come to a complete stop before removing the
grass catcher container.
7. Never raise the cutter deck while the blades are
rotating.
8. Always park the mower and/or start the engine
on a level surface. Apply the parking brake to
prevent the mower from moving when you are
not in the operators position.

3
9. If the cutting blades should strike a solid object
or the equipment should start to vibrate abnor-
mally, stop the engine, disconnect the spark plug
wire, and check immediately for the cause.
Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.
Check the machine for damaged or defective
parts. Repair any damage before starting the
engine or operating the cutter deck. Be sure the
blades are in good condition and the blade bolts
are tight.
10. Reduce speed and exercise extreme caution on
slopes and in sharp turns to prevent tipping or
loss of control. Be especially cautious when
changing directions on slopes.
DO NOT operate on steep slopes. To check a
slope, attempt to back up it (with the cutter deck
down). If the machine can back up the slope
without the wheels slipping, reduce speed and
use extreme caution. ALWAYS FOLLOW OSHA
APPROVED OPERATION.
11. Do not touch the engine or muffler while the
engine is running or soon after it is stopped.
These areas could be hot enough to cause a burn.
12. Before leaving the operators position or leaving
the mower unattended, move the speed adjust-
ment lever into the neutral position, place the
neutral latches in the neutral lock position, apply
the parking brake, and move the blade engage-
ment switch to OFF. Shut the engine OFF and
remove the key.
13. Do not pass or stand on the grass discharge side
of any mower with the engine running. Stop
operation when another person approaches.
14. Use only Scag approved riding attachments.
Scag Approved Riding Attachments:
RS-ZT
Using unapproved attachments, (especially "stand-
up" riding attachments) may be ha ardous.
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark
plug to prevent accidental starting of the engine
when servicing, adjusting or storing the machine.
2. If the mower must be tipped to perform mainte-
nance or adjustment, remove the battery, drain
the gasoline from the fuel tank and the oil from
the crankcase.
3. To reduce potential fire ha ard, keep the engine
free of excessive grease, grass, leaves and accu-
mulations of dirt.
4. Be sure the machine is in safe operating condition
by keeping nuts, bolts, and screws tight. Check
the blade mounting bolts and nuts frequently to
be sure they are tightened.
5. If the engine must be running to perform a
maintenance adjustment, keep hands, feet, cloth-
ing and other parts of the body away from the
cutter deck blades and other moving parts.
6. Do not overspeed the engine by changing gover-
nor settings. To be sure of safety and accuracy,
have an authori ed dealer check maximum engine
speed with a tachometer.
7. The engine must be shut off before checking the
oil or adding oil to the crankcase.
8. Allow the engine to cool before storing the
mower in any enclosure such as a garage or
storage shed. Make sure the fuel tank is empty if
the machine is to be stored in excess of 30 days.
Do not store the mower near any open flame or
where gasoline fumes may be ignited by a spark.
WARNING:
WARNING
FALLING HAZARD
USE ONLY SCAG APPROVED
RIDING ATTACHMENTS
SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL
481109

4
9. Always store gasoline in a safety-approved, red
container.
10. Be careful when servicing the battery as it con-
tains acid, which is corrosive and could cause
burns to skin and clothing.
11. Batteries release explosive gases when being
charged or discharged. Keep batteries away
from any source of sparks and/or flame.
12. Make sure all hydraulic connections are tight and
all hydraulic hoses and lines are in good condi-
tion before starting the machine.
13. Hydraulic fluid is under high pressure. If you
need service on your hydraulic system, please see
your authori ed Scag dealer.
INITIAL RUN-IN PROCEDURES
(FIRST DAY OF USE OR APPROXI-
MATELY 10 HOURS)
1. Check the belts for proper tension at 2, 4 and 8
hours. Adjust as needed.
2. Check the steering control rods and the speed
control for neutral adjustment. (See Adjust
ments, page 6-8)
3. Check the tires for proper pressure.
Caster Wheels 25 psi.
Drive Wheels 15 psi.
4. Check for loose hardware. Tighten as needed.
5. Check the safety switches for proper adjustment:
* The engine should crank and start if the
machine is in neutral, the PTO engage-
ment switch is OFF and the parking brake
is ON.
6. Apply lubricant to all the grease fittings. Lubri-
cant was applied at the factory. This is just a
precautionary check to make sure that all the
fittings have been lubricated.
MOWER OPERATION
-NOTE-
Use gasoline with an octane rating no less than
87.
* The speed adjustment lever must be in
NEUTRAL.
* The blade clutch switch must be in the OFF
position.
* The neutral latches must be in the neutral
lock position.
* The key switch must be on.
* The parking brake must be on.
3. Start the engine:
* Choke as required. If the engine is cold, pull
the choke knob out. When the engine starts,
slowly push the choke in. If the engine stalls,
repeat the above operation. When the engine
is warm, choking may not be necessary.
4. Engage the cutter blades by lifting and pushing
the blade cluch switch into the ON position. Pull
the switch to the OFF position to disengage the
cutter blades.
-NOTE-
When PTO is engaged or (possibly) disengaged,
a squealing sound rom the underside o the
machine is normal. It is caused by the electric
clutch plates meshing as the mower comes up to
speed. For best equipment li e, engage the
clutch with the engine at 1/2 throttle, not under
ull load.
1. Read and understand the safety instructions
before attempting to operate this machine.
2. Before starting the engine:
* Check the oil level in the engine and the
hydraulic reservoir.
* Fill the fuel tank with clean, fresh, lead-free
gasoline.
* Open the fuel valve on the bottom of the
fuel tank.

5
If you are not familiar with the operation of the
hydrostatic drive and zero turn feature, practice
turning and maneuvering with the hand controls
before engaging the blades.
5. Release the parking brake. Move the speed
adjustment lever to the desired mowing speed.
-NOTE-
Top speed is suggested only or transport!
6. While squee ing the steering brake levers with
both hands, release both neutral latches.
7. When the steering brake levers are released, the
machine will travel straight. To make a right
turn, squee e the RH lever. To turn left,
squee e the LH lever.
8. TO STOP, squee e both levers, lock the neutral
latches, and move the speed adjustment lever to
neutral.
9. To move the machine in reverse, squee e up on
both steering control levers.
10. To "freewheel" or move the machine around
without the engine running, turn the dump valve
levers located at the back of the pumps to the
"freewheel" positions.(see Figure 1). To operate
the machine the dump valve levers must be
returned to the closed positions.
ire pressure can be adjusted for
WARNING:
Dump Valve Levers
(normal position)
SGB112
Figure 1 Dump Valves
CUTTER DECK BELT ADJUSTMENTS
-NOTE-
The hydro drive belt is spring loaded and does
not require adjustment.
1. Remove the belt cover.
2. Adjust the cutter deck drive belt using a belt
tension gauge. Adjust the belt so that the belt
moves 1/2" with 10 pounds of pressure. Adjust
the tension by tightening or loosening the J-bolt
nut. (See figure 2)
SC400G
BELT
WASHER
"J" BOLT
NUT
CUTTER DECK DRIVE BELT TENSION
ALIGNMENT IDLER - L.H.
END OF L-SHAPED
BRACKET
Figure 2 Deck Drive Belt Adjustment
-NOTE-
Due to initial belt stretch and to prevent the belt
rom slipping, check this adjustment a ter the
irst 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours o operation.
3.Adjust the RH blade drive belt using a belt
tension gauge. Adjust the belt so that the belt
moves 1/2" with 10 pounds of pressure. Adjust
the tension by tightening or loosening the J-bolt
nut. (See figure 3)

6
"J" Bolt
Nut
Belt
Deck
Washer
Figure 3. Cutter Deck Belt Adjustment R.H.
4. Replace the belt cover.
CUTTER DECK ADJUSTMENTS
Due to the many cutting conditions that exist, it is
difficult to suggest a cutter deck setting that will
work for every lawn. There are two adjustments
that can be made on these decks, pitch and height.
PITCH is the angle of the blades (comparing front
to rear). A 1/4" downward pitch (front of deck
down) is recommended for best cutting perfor-
mance.
HEIGHT is the nominal distance the blade is off of
the ground. This measurement is made with the
blades pointed side to side and distance is measured
between cutting tip and ground. (Also see Blade
Height Adjustment)
Changes to the cutting height can be achieved by
repositioning the cutter deck. (This adjustment will
also effect the pitch of the deck). There are three
available positions (see figure 4).
SC405G
LOW CUT (1 3/4"- 3")
HIGH CUT (3 1/4"- 4 1/2")
MID RANGE
(2 1/2"- 3 3/4")
CUTTER DECK HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
Figure 4 Cutting Height Adjustment
Caster spacers also can be repositioned to change
cutting heights and to change the pitch of the deck.
(See figure 5)
SC406G
PIN SPACERS
REPOSITIONING SPACERS
Figure 5. Caster Wheel Spacers
BLADE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
Adjusting the blade height can be done by moving
any number of the five smaller 1/4" spacers on the
blade mounting bolts to the top of the spindle shaft or
below the spindle shaft.
-NOTE-
All blades should be positioned equally.
For best cut and discharge, a minimum of three
spacers should be installed between the blade and the
spindle. (See figure 6)

7
CUTTER BLADES
Do not sharpen beyond 1/3 of the width of the blade.
(See figure 7)
-NOTE-
Dress the blade with a ile. Using a wheel
grinder may burn the blade. Check the balance
o the blade. I blades are out o balance, vibra-
tion and premature wear o spindle assembly can
occur. See your authorized Scag dealer or
blade balancing or special tools, i you choose to
balance your own blades.
SC407G
Figure 6. Blade Spacers
SC4O8G
ANGLE BLADE BACK
DO NOT CUT IN
X MUST NOT EXCEED
1/3 BLADE WIDTH
X
30
Figure 7. Blade Sharpening
NEUTRAL ADJUSTMENT
1. Raise the drive wheels off the ground and block
the caster wheels.
2. Remove the speed control spring and the steer-
ing control rod from the machine. (See figure 8)
Steering Control
Rod
Spring Handle Bellcrank
SC160G
Bolts
Figure 8 Neutral Adjustment
3. Loosen the wing nut and let the speed adjust-
ment bearing lever fall away from the cam.
4. Start the engine and observe the drive wheels. If
the drive wheels are rotating, Loosen the bolts
on the neutral adjustment handle and move the
handle up or down until the wheels are in neu-
tral. (See figure 8)
5. Tighten the bolts on the neutral adjustment
handle. When tightening the bolts, hold the
bellcrank to prevent it from moving and throw-
ing off the neutral adjustment.
6. Turn the engine off.

8
STEERING CONTROL ROD
ADJUSTMENT
-NOTE-
This adjustment is made to allow the steering
control levers to be moved out o the neutral
latch without engaging reverse.
1. Connect the steering control rods into the steer-
ing control levers on the handle. Do not install
the hair pin at this time.
2. Turn the swivel joint on the steering control rods
until the swivel joint is centered in the slot in the
bellcrank.
3. Remove the steering control rods from the
machine. Install the speed control spring onto
the swivel joint. Reinstall the steering control
rods onto the machine and secure using the hair
pins.
-NOTE-
Be ore proceeding with this adjustment be sure
that the tire pressures are correct. (see page 4)
and that the neutral adjustment and the steering
control rod adjustment have been completed.
1. Engage the neutral latch on both steering control
levers and move the speed adjustment lever into
the neutral position.
2. Position the speed adjustment lever so that the
bearing just contacts the speed adjustment cam.
(See figure 9)
Steering Control Rod
Speed Control Spring Bellcrank
SC161G
Swivel
Joint
Speed Adjustment
Cam
Bearing
Speed
Adjustment
Bearing Lever
TRACKING ADJUSTMENT
3. Tighten the bearing securing the speed adjust-
ment bearing lever and repeat on the opposite
side.
4. With the machine on a flat level surface, start the
engine and place the speed adjustment lever into
the speed that will most often be used.
5. Squee e the steering control levers and release
the neutral latch. Slowly release the steering
control levers allowing the machine to move
forward.
6. If the machine pulls to one side, put the speed
adjustment lever back into the neutral position
and turn the engine off.
7. On the side that the machine pulled toward,
loosen the wing nut securing the speed adjust-
ment bearing lever and move the bearing 1/16"
away from the cam. Start the engine and recheck
the tracking. Adjust as needed.
8. If tracking cannot be achieved, contact your Scag
servicing dealer.
PARKING BRAKE
1. Adjust the parking brake so that when the brake
hand lever is against the stop on the handle bar,
the brake levers on the brake shaft weldment are
against the stops on the engine deck.
Adjust the brake only enough to hold the
machine. Excessive force may cause damage
to the machine or brake components.
2. Adjust the brake actuator rod on either side of
the machine to obtain proper brake adjustment.
CAUTION: