Scag Power Equipment SWZ User manual

OPERATOR'SMANUAL
FROM SERIAL NUMBER 60001 TO 69999
MODELSWZ

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.
* Keep others off the tractor (only one person at a time).
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.
WARNING
This manual covers the operating instructions
and illustrated parts list for:
All SWZ Machines
with a serial number of xxx60001- xxx69999
Always use the entire serial number listed on the serial number
tag when referring to this product.

1
Your mower was built to the highest stan-
dardsintheindustry.However,yourmoweris
only as safe as the operator. Carelessness or
operator error may result in serious bodily
injury or death. Hazard control and accident
prevention are dependent upon the aware-
ness, concern, prudence, and proper training
of the personnel involved in the operation,
transport, maintenance, and storage of the
equipment. Makesureeveryoperatorisprop-
erly trained and thoroughly familiar with all of
the controls before operating the equipment.
- Scag Power Equipment -
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
•READ THIS OPERATOR'S MANUAL and
instructions furnished with attachments.
•A replacement manual is available from your
authorized Scag Service Dealer or by contacting
Scag Power Equipment, Service Department at
P.O. Box 152, Mayville, WI 53050. Please
indicate the complete model number and serial
number of your Scag product.
•Perform only those maintenance instructions de-
scribed in this manual. If major repairs are ever
needed or assistance is desired, contact an autho-
rized Scag dealer. To ensure optimum perfor-
mance and safety, always purchase genuine Scag
replacement parts and accessories. NEVER use
“WILL FIT” replacement parts and accessories
made by another manufacturer. THE USE OF
UNAPPROVED REPLACEMENT PARTS
OR ACCESSORIES COULD VOID THE
WARRANTY.
EQUIPMENT SAFETY
•Know the controls and how to stop quickly.
•Clear the work area of objects (wires, rocks, etc.)
that might be picked up and thrown.
•Disengage power to attachments when transport-
ing or not in use.
•DO NOT change the engine governor settings or
overspeed the engine.
•Take all possible precautions when leaving the
machine unattended, such as disengaging the
mower PTO engagement switch, stopping the
engine, and removing the key.
•Keep the machine and attachments in good oper-
ating condition, and keep safety devices and
shields in place and in working condition.
•Keep all nuts, bolts, and screws tight to be sure
the equipment is in safe working condition.
•NEVER store the equipment with gasoline in
the tank inside a building where fumes may
reach an open flame or spark. Allow the engine
to cool before storing in any enclosure.
•The machine and attachments should be stopped
and inspected for damage after striking a foreign
object, and the damage should be repaired before
restarting and operating the equipment.
•The discharge chute must be installed and in the
down position on the side discharge mower except
when optional grass catcher is completely in-
stalled. If the mower discharge ever plugs, shut
the engine off and wait for all movement to stop
before removing obstruction.
•Clean grass, leaves, and lubricant spills from
surfaces after use to prevent spontaneous com-
bustion.

2
•When using the mower, proceed as follows:
1. Mow only in daylight or in good artificial
light.
2. Never make a cutting height adjustment
while the engine is running.
3. Shut the engine off and remove key when
removing the grass catcher or unclogging
chute.
4. Check the blade mounting bolts for proper
tightness at frequent intervals.
•Do not touch engine or muffler while engine is
running or soon after it is stopped. These areas
could be hot enough to cause a burn.
•Only use Scag approved riding attachments.
Scag Approved Attachments:
RS-ZT
Using unapproved attachments, (especially
"stand-up" riding attachments) may be hazardous.
WARNING:
DO NOT operate on steep slopes. Reduce speed
and use extreme caution. ALWAYS FOLLOW
OSHA-APPROVED OPERATION.
•Watch out for traffic when crossing roads or oper-
ating near roadways.
•Handle gasoline with care - it is highly flammable
•Use an approved gasoline container. Never remove
the fuel cap or add gasoline to a running or hot engine
or an engine that has not been allowed to cool for
several minutes after running. Never fill the tank
indoors and always clean up spilled gasoline.
WARNING
FALLING HAZARD
USE ONLY SCAG APPROVED
RIDING ATTACHMENTS
SEE OPERATOR'S MANUAL
481109
OPERATOR SAFETY
•NEVER operate the machine without approved
ventilation. Exhaust fumes are dangerous. DO
NOT run the engine indoors.
•DO NOT allow children to operate the machine.
Do not allow adults to operate the machine
without proper instruction.
•DO NOT mow when children and others are
around. When using any attachments, never di-
rect the discharge of material toward bystanders
nor allow anyone near the machine while in
operation.
•Before attempting to start the engine, follow all
starting instructions.
•BEFORE leaving the operator’s position, disen-
gage power to attachments.
•Before making any repairs or adjustments, dis-
engage power to attachments. STOP THE EN-
GINE AND REMOVE KEY.
•DO NOT operate the machine while wearing san-
dals, tennis shoes, sneakers or shorts. Always wear
long pants and substantial shoes. NEVER wear
loose fitting clothing which could get caught in
moving parts. Wearing safety glasses and safety
shoes is advisable and required by some local
ordinances and insurance regulations.
•Do not stop or start suddenly. WHEN OPERAT-
ING ON A SLOPE, TRAVEL ACROSS THE
GRADE, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, NEVER
UP OR DOWN.
•Reduce speed and exercise extreme caution on
slopes and in sharp turns to prevent tipping or loss
of control. Be especially cautious when changing
direction on slopes.
•Stay alert for holes, rocks, and roots in the terrain
and other hidden hazards. Keep away from drop-
offs.

3
HYDRAULIC SAFETY
•Keep body and hands away from pin holes or nozzles
that eject hydraulic fluid under high pressure. Use
paper or cardboard and not hands to search for leaks.
•Hydraulic fluid escaping under high pressure may
have sufficient force to penetrate skin and cause
serious injury. If foreign fluid is injected into the skin,
it must be surgically removed within a few hours by a
doctor familiar with this form of injury or gangrene
may result.
•Make sure all hydraulic fluid connections are tight and
all hydraulic hoses and lines are in good condition
before starting the machine.
•Hydraulic fluid is under high pressure. If you need
service on your hydraulic system, please see your
authorized Scag dealer.
INITIAL RUN-IN
First Day of Use or approximately 10 hours.
3Check for proper operation of the safety interlocks.
3Check belts for proper tension at 2, 4 and 8
hours; adjust as needed.
3Check speed control neutral adjustment. Adjust if
necessary, (see Adjustments, page 9) so that
engine will not start unless speed control lever is in
neutral and blade clutch is disengaged.
3Check steering control neutral and adjust, if
needed, as indicated in the Adjustments Section.
3Check tires for proper pressure (see Adjustments,
page 9).
3Check for loose hardware. Tighten as needed.
3Grease machine fittings:
•2 caster wheel bearings
•2 caster wheel pivots
•2 or 3 spindles (bearings)
•1 or 2 deck idler pivot arms
•1 engine idler arm pivot
•2 speed control shafts
•2 neutral cam weldments
•2 pivot weldments, pump control

4
Fuel Valve
(Open position is Down)
SGB108
1. Open the fuel valve.
SGB108
2. Pull speed control lever to NEUTRAL position.
3. Pull the mower PTO engagement switch down to STOP
position.
-NOTE-
Neutral latches must be in NEUTRAL
LOCK position for startup.
4. Turn key switch on.
-NOTE-
Some engines are recoil start models, oth-
ers are electric; manual choke locations
will vary.
BEFORE STARTING
3Check belts for:
•Proper tension
•Fraying and wear
•Twisting
•Cracking
3Check initial tension of the cutter blade drive belts.
If belts are not properly tensioned, see Adjustments,
page 6&7.
3Check oil levels in the engine and hydraulic
reservoir.
3Fill the fuel tank with clean, fresh lead-free gasoline.
-NOTE-
For best engine performance, SCAG rec-
ommends using gasoline with an octane
rating no less than 87.
TO START ENGINE
-NOTE-
Read and understand the instructions on
safety before attempting to operate the
mower.
ON
OFF
CHOKE
FAST
SLOW
START
STOP
NEUTRAL
FAST
SLOW
Starting Engine
Blade Clutch In
Stop Position
Key Switch On
Neutral Latch Position
(both handles)
Speed Control
In Neutral Throttle
Adjustment
SGB104

5
TO START ENGINE - cont'd
5. Start engine and choke as required. Adjust throttle to
desired engine speed.
6. Pull out and push up the mower PTO engagement switch
to engage the cutter deck.
MOWER OPERATION
-NOTE-
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.
Choke
SGB114
Kohler And Briggs & Stratton
Drive
Position
Neutral Position
Steering
Control
Lever
Steering
Control
Rod
Neutral LatchShift Lever
1. With steering control lever in neutral, move the speed
control lever into the first notch from the neutral position
for initial operation.
2. While squeezing steering control levers with both hands,
release both neutral latches. When steering control
levers are released into drive position, mower will travel
straight.
-NOTE-
The zero turn feature is shown by squeezing
up full on one steering control lever while
releasing the other. The wheel on the side
the lever is squeezed, will turn in reverse.
3. To make a right turn, squeeze up on the RH lever; to turn
left, squeeze up on the LH lever.
4. Shift speed control lever for desired mowing speed.
-NOTE-
Top speed is suggested only for transport!
5. TO STOP wheel drive, squeeze both steering levers to
the neutral position and lock with the neutral latch. Then
move speed control lever to neutral position.
-NOTE-
Be sure area is clear before backing up.
6. To move the machine in reverse, squeeze up on
both steering control levers.
7. When operating on a slope, travel across the grade,
never up and down.
8. Before turning the engine off, be certain the blade
clutch switch is in the OFF position, neutral latches
are in NEUTRAL position, and speed control lever
is in NEUTRAL.

6
CAUTION:
Stop engine and remove key from ignition before
making any adjustments. Wait for all moving parts
to come to a complete stop before beginning work.
BELT TENSION
-NOTE-
The Hydro Drive Belt is spring-loaded and
does not require adjustment.
To adjust the cutter deck drive and blade belts:
1. Remove the belt cover.
2. To adjust the cutter deck drive belt: Adjust the nut so that
the belt moves 1/2" with 10 pounds of pressure. (See
figure below).
Cutter Deck Drive Belt Tension Alignment-
Idler - L.H.
ADJUSTMENTS
AFTER OPERATION
1. Shut off engine.
2. Recheck cutter drive belts for proper tension, align-
ment, and any signs of rubbing. Correct and adjust as
necessary.
To "freewheel" or move the mower around without the
engine running, rotate both dump valve levers located
at the back of the pumps to "freewheel" positions,
approximately 1/2 a turn (see figure below). Levers
must be returned to original position to operate the
mower.
Dump Valve Levers
(normal position)
SGB112
-NOTE-
Bolts will not always be in this position.
To close the dump valve, rotate until bolt
stops.
RH Belt Tension
Adjustment Idler Engaugement Idler
Tension Check
Point
Nut
"J" Bolt Belt
End Of L-Shaped
Bracket
Washer
sgb004

7
CUTTER DECK ADJUSTMENTS
Due to the many conditions that exist, it is
difficult to suggest a setting that will work for every
lawn. There are, however, two adjustments that
should be made on the cutter deck: 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 better cutting
performance.
HEIGHT is the nominal distance that the
blade is off the ground. This measurement is made
with the blades pointed side to side and distance is
measured between cutting tip and ground.
Adjusting the blade height can be done by
moving any number of the five smaller spacers on
the blade mounting bolts to the top of the spindle
shaft or below the spindle shaft. All blades should
be positioned equally (see Spindle Illustration, p. 8).
ADJUSTMENTS (cont'd)
3. To adjust the blade drive belt: Using a belt tension
gauge, check the belt tension so that the belt moves 1/2"
with 10 pounds of pressure.
Adjust the tension by tightening or loosening the J-bolt.
BELT ALIGNMENT
Belt alignment is important for proper performance of your
Scag mower. If you experience frequent belt wear or
breakage, see your authorized Scag service dealer for belt
adjustment.
Blade Drive Belt Tension Check
4. Replace the belt covers.
Belt Tension Adjustment - Idler, R.H.
"J" Bolt
Nut
Belt
Deck
Washer

8
For cutting in the lowest position, mount the
cutter deck in the top hole (A). For cutting in
the highest position, mount the deck in the
lowest hole (C). Setting the cutter deck height
will be determined by the type of cutting
conditions.
Caster spacers also can be repositioned to
change cutting heights and to change the pitch
of the deck (see figure below).
To adjust caster spacers, raise the deck and
remove pin and caster wheel. Reposition
caster spacers as needed then replace caster,
top spacers and pin. Make the same adjust-
ments on the other caster wheel.
TAPERED BEARING SPINDLE ASSEMBLY
The cutter deck is shipped with one spacer on top
of spindle and four underneath (see figure below).
-NOTE-
For best results, keep the cutter deck
high in relation to the engine deck and
the blades low in the cutter deck; ie. 3 or
4 spacers below the spindle shaft.
Additional range to the cutting height can be
achieved by repositioning the cutter deck in
relationship to the engine deck. This adjustment
also effects the pitch of the deck. There are three
positions for mounting the cutter deck (see figure
following column).
ADJUSTMENTS (cont'd)
Hex Nut-Torque
to 75 Lb-Ft Cutter Blade
Spacer 1/4"
Spindle
Shaft Cutter
Deck
Spindle
Assembly Hex Head
Bolt / Nut
Cutter Blade
Spacers1/4"
Washer
Hex Head Bolt Cutter Blade
ABC
Spacers
Pin
Repositioning Caster Spacers
Repositioning The Cutter Deck