So I got this scag super Z for a barter...Not sure who got the better end of the deal

[monster318]

Ok so this guy I work with has this scag super z with a 52'' deck on it sitting in his shed for about 5 years...From what I understand, the motor is hurt in some way..He claims it keeps mashing the spark plug gap shut....and thats all I know about it at this time.

It was a barter deal to replace the power steering pump in his plow truck...a 1991 Chevy Blazer....Basically he just wanted me to make the truck ready for next winter...

Now what is making me nervous is that I am reading alot of people online on other forums saying this model scag are complete junk and the only good thing on most of them is the Kohler Motor on them, which in my case might have major issues..or minor...havent picked the mower up yet...so I am not sure..

it cost me total $100 to fix this plow truck...not including fuel to trailer the truck to and from my house (about 20 miles each way)

Do you think I should still get this mower or just tell him the keep the mower and pay me in cash??

 

[Cpjlube]

I'm thinking a Super Z, even with a bad engine,is worth more than 100.00. Check CL and see. I haven't seen a complete high end zturn for under 400 with a bad engine. The ones I saw in the 400 range are whipped and destroyed.

 

[davesl708]

If it is smashing the spark plugs then the wrong plugs have been installed. If it is only one plug possibly and object inside the cylinder.
Try installing the recommended plugs and you may have a very good deal.
May have to pull the head and see if the pistons were damaged.

 

[Gator6x4]

I thinking someone has put the wrong spark plugs in the Scag. The first thing I would do is remove the plugs and run a compression check on both cylinders. If compression is okay buy a couple of shorter plugs and see if the thing will start. I have a neighbor with a Scag and he mows a lot of grass with it.

Here is the manual in case you want to do some reading before you pick it up. Request Rejected

 

[monster318]

Well I got some good news!!...I got a working Scag!! :laughing:

Well we made the deal I mentioned above, Got the scag home and first thing I did was pull both spark plugs out...Neither one of them was mashed shut, one had some oil deposits on it and other looked perfect. I put some fresh gas, new spark plugs, and a new battery in it, and it fired right up. It ran great for having sit for 8 years, drove it off the trailer and around the yard for a good 10-15 minutes, no smoking, knocking or any other abnormal noises...Until I turned the deck on...and it began to vibrate horribly, basically tried to shake itself to death and would pull a **** of a load down on the motor to the point where it would want to stall... I shut the deck back off, checked the belt tensions and everything was good there...Jacked the mower up and took the blades off and OMG :shocked::shocked::shocked: They had been sharpened so much that their was basically nothing left to them at the tips of the blade but tapered back to wide the closer you got to the blade bolt....there was no way there was any balance to them at all..I got 3 new blades and two new belts for the deck and the thing mows and runs like a raped ape:cool2:

It has 1100 hours on it...and from what I understand...that is nothing for a commercial grade mower??

 

[Jarrod32]

That is a nice win for you...