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About to purchase a Tiger Cat II....Right decision?
#1
M
mac0822
M
mac0822
Hello,
I'm about the pull the trigger on a 61' Tiger Cat II with the 29hp Kohler EFI engine. I was quoted $9,500. I'm just a homeowner with 2 acres, with the possibility of mowing my parents 3 acres at some point (they're not getting any younger). I have been researching mowers non stop. I kept coming back to the Tiger Cat II.
My basic question - is there something comparable for a cheaper price? $9,500 is an overkill, but every time I look at something for less, it doesn't seem to compare.
Also, other than scalping....is there really any reason to get a smaller mower? I just don't see why I'd get a 48 or 52, when a 61 is not much more money.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
I'm about the pull the trigger on a 61' Tiger Cat II with the 29hp Kohler EFI engine. I was quoted $9,500. I'm just a homeowner with 2 acres, with the possibility of mowing my parents 3 acres at some point (they're not getting any younger). I have been researching mowers non stop. I kept coming back to the Tiger Cat II.
My basic question - is there something comparable for a cheaper price? $9,500 is an overkill, but every time I look at something for less, it doesn't seem to compare.
Also, other than scalping....is there really any reason to get a smaller mower? I just don't see why I'd get a 48 or 52, when a 61 is not much more money.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
#2
C
clay45
C
clay45
Uneven ground, lots of gaps between trees too small, larger trailer; those would be considerations on dropping down a size. Otherwise enjoy the wider cut. Sounds like a great mower and once you've enjoyed a commercial machine you won't regret the purchase.
#3
S
Steve0853
You will like your Tiger Cat. I have owned a Turf Tiger for the last 5 years or so and it's a 61 inch with a Kohler 31 HP liquid cooled. I prefer Kohler Engines. The 61 inch cut will be great unless you really have a lot of tight spaces and if you will be cutting up to 5 acres, you'll really need the 61.
You are right about $9,500 being a lot for a mower, but if you spend $5,000, you'll be replacing it in a few years and you won't enjoy using it nearly as much.
My son and I did a lot of research before selecting the Turf Tiger for our small lawn mowing business. We think Scags are the best value for the money even though they are pretty pricey.
S
Steve0853
Hello,
I'm about the pull the trigger on a 61' Tiger Cat II with the 29hp Kohler EFI engine. I was quoted $9,500. I'm just a homeowner with 2 acres, with the possibility of mowing my parents 3 acres at some point (they're not getting any younger). I have been researching mowers non stop. I kept coming back to the Tiger Cat II.
My basic question - is there something comparable for a cheaper price? $9,500 is an overkill, but every time I look at something for less, it doesn't seem to compare.
Also, other than scalping....is there really any reason to get a smaller mower? I just don't see why I'd get a 48 or 52, when a 61 is not much more money.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
You will like your Tiger Cat. I have owned a Turf Tiger for the last 5 years or so and it's a 61 inch with a Kohler 31 HP liquid cooled. I prefer Kohler Engines. The 61 inch cut will be great unless you really have a lot of tight spaces and if you will be cutting up to 5 acres, you'll really need the 61.
You are right about $9,500 being a lot for a mower, but if you spend $5,000, you'll be replacing it in a few years and you won't enjoy using it nearly as much.
My son and I did a lot of research before selecting the Turf Tiger for our small lawn mowing business. We think Scags are the best value for the money even though they are pretty pricey.
#4
jekjr
jekjr
I own three Tiger Cats which are pretty much identical to the Tiger Cat II. We cut a whole lot of grass. I personally have never seen a mower that will touch one in tall stemmed grass especially. They have more pros than they do cons for sure. We run the 52" mowers with the Kawasaki engines. I personally have never seen anybody in my part of the woods that have had a problem with the Kawasaki motors. I have seen several that have had problems with the Kohler engines on various brands of mowers.
If there was a better mower sold in my area I would be running them. For my business model the Tiger Cat with the 22HP Kawasaki and 52" deck does me an incredible job.
$9,500 is about $1,000 more than I remember us paying for the regular Tiger Cats. Course ours are the Kawasaki 22 hp and 52" deck so that might be the difference.
With a 52" deck we can cut an acre of Bahia grass in under an hour with one mower......
Also one other thought. I have a friend that has a Tiger Cub which is the predecessor of the Tiger Cat that is over 20 years old and he runs it all of the time cutting his grass. He cuts an acre or more with it.
I have never seen a mower that will cut grass with the Scag with the Velocity decks.
If there was a better mower sold in my area I would be running them. For my business model the Tiger Cat with the 22HP Kawasaki and 52" deck does me an incredible job.
$9,500 is about $1,000 more than I remember us paying for the regular Tiger Cats. Course ours are the Kawasaki 22 hp and 52" deck so that might be the difference.
With a 52" deck we can cut an acre of Bahia grass in under an hour with one mower......
Also one other thought. I have a friend that has a Tiger Cub which is the predecessor of the Tiger Cat that is over 20 years old and he runs it all of the time cutting his grass. He cuts an acre or more with it.
I have never seen a mower that will cut grass with the Scag with the Velocity decks.
#5
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
The Tiger Cat II has a lot of upgrades compared to the Tiger Cat, thus the price difference.
This is not to look down at Tiger Cats or Tiger Cubs as there are thousands of these machines in service.
Just got my Tiger Cub out of storage, I did nothing to it last fall other than drain the fuel, run the carb dry and remove the battery.
So I have spring stuff to do to it and clean the deck. Oh well!!!:laughing::biggrin::smile:
This is not to look down at Tiger Cats or Tiger Cubs as there are thousands of these machines in service.
Just got my Tiger Cub out of storage, I did nothing to it last fall other than drain the fuel, run the carb dry and remove the battery.
So I have spring stuff to do to it and clean the deck. Oh well!!!:laughing::biggrin::smile:
#6
NorthBama
NorthBama
I purchased my Toro Z Master in 2007 and it has been a good machine but I wish I had spent the extra money for the Tiger cat
#7
D
ditz
D
ditz
I personally would not recommend buying one for only personal use. I have a Tiger Cat and it is a very well built machine which is why I bought it. The damn thing has an intermittent fail to start problem and the dealer does not seem to give a crap. It has been in the shop once and they found no problem. Most of the time it seems to start just fine but sometimes if I shut it off in the middle of a mowing for some reason it just won't start when I return. It just seems dead.....no click or anything. I got to believe that it is one of the safety lock out switches of the starter switch. I read in another thread that there seems to be a problem with a relay behind the dash close to the starter switch. This thing has less than a hundred hours and to spend this kind of money for a mower and then have this kind of problem and the dealer is ignorant of a fix is just terrible. I changed the oil this spring and I went to the dealer to get a new oil filter and they sold me the wrong one and I had to go back and exchange it. How stupid can a dealer be?
I would not buy another Scag. Too bad as they seem to be very well built machines.
I would not buy another Scag. Too bad as they seem to be very well built machines.
#8
D
ditz
D
ditz
I personally would not recommend buying one for only personal use. I am mowing less than an acre and a half so it does not get used very heavy and it has only been used for a little over one season here in Middle TN. I have a Tiger Cat and it is a very well built machine which is why I bought it. The damn thing has an intermittent fail to start problem and the dealer does not seem to give a crap. It has been in the shop once and they found no problem. Most of the time it seems to start just fine but sometimes if I shut it off in the middle of a mowing for some reason it just won't start when I return. It just seems dead.....no click or anything. It will usually start after I let it sit for a couple of hours as if nothing every happened. Very frustrating. I got to believe that it is one of the safety lock out switches of the starter switch. I read in another thread that there seems to be a problem with a relay behind the dash close to the starter switch. This thing has less than a hundred hours and to spend this kind of money for a mower and then have this kind of problem and the dealer is ignorant of a fix is just terrible. I changed the oil this spring and I went to the dealer to get a new oil filter and they sold me the wrong one and I had to go back and exchange it. How stupid can a dealer be?
I would not buy another Scag. Too bad as they seem to be very well built machines.
I would not buy another Scag. Too bad as they seem to be very well built machines.
#9
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
I'm 73 and have been wrenching since I was 12. There is no such thing as a perfect machine!!!!
There is no such service department that puts out 100% repaired equipment!!!
Servicing dealers vary in quality from less than 1 to around 9 out of 10.
The customers attitude has a lot to do with the turn around time and quality of service that comes out of most servicing dealerships.
Bear in mind that I had been on the other side of the counter for a lot of years and now that I'm retired, I find myself in line with a very varying sort of folks!
As for Scag machines, the cranking relay has been problematic, there are other machines that use the very same relay and some of them have similar problems with these relays.
My last job was as an aircraft mech and the dealer had recently sold a new 7 million dollar aircraft to a customer that they were not familiar with. This customer turned out to be the biggest pain in the rear that I had dealt with in recent years. The director of maintenance was afraid of this customer and put him on me. Long story short, there is a reason why my coworkers nicknamed me "Mad Mackie"!!!! The aircraft owner and I had a good chat which at times got "hot", but settled down after he realized at least for the moment that he was out of line. When the aircraft was delivered, the pilot thanked me and handed me an envelope from the owner with a nice note and two one hundred dollar bills. I sent a thank you note to the owner, we are still friends although at very different social/economic levels.:laughing::biggrin::smile:
There is no such service department that puts out 100% repaired equipment!!!
Servicing dealers vary in quality from less than 1 to around 9 out of 10.
The customers attitude has a lot to do with the turn around time and quality of service that comes out of most servicing dealerships.
Bear in mind that I had been on the other side of the counter for a lot of years and now that I'm retired, I find myself in line with a very varying sort of folks!
As for Scag machines, the cranking relay has been problematic, there are other machines that use the very same relay and some of them have similar problems with these relays.
My last job was as an aircraft mech and the dealer had recently sold a new 7 million dollar aircraft to a customer that they were not familiar with. This customer turned out to be the biggest pain in the rear that I had dealt with in recent years. The director of maintenance was afraid of this customer and put him on me. Long story short, there is a reason why my coworkers nicknamed me "Mad Mackie"!!!! The aircraft owner and I had a good chat which at times got "hot", but settled down after he realized at least for the moment that he was out of line. When the aircraft was delivered, the pilot thanked me and handed me an envelope from the owner with a nice note and two one hundred dollar bills. I sent a thank you note to the owner, we are still friends although at very different social/economic levels.:laughing::biggrin::smile:
#10
D
ditz
D
ditz
Assuming the relay is the problem what are the odds of getting a new one that functions as it should?
I do appreciate the position of the dealer and the manufacturer. I have worked in the Automotive industry for many years and believe me they are not forgiving of problem parts. They charge their suppliers tens of thousands of dollars for just one problem part. The quality requirements of the automotive industry are far less forgiving than the Airplane industry. The last place I worked hired a quality manager out of the Airplane industry and he failed with a just a few months. Over the years my tolerance has been reduced concerning poor quality.
I do appreciate the position of the dealer and the manufacturer. I have worked in the Automotive industry for many years and believe me they are not forgiving of problem parts. They charge their suppliers tens of thousands of dollars for just one problem part. The quality requirements of the automotive industry are far less forgiving than the Airplane industry. The last place I worked hired a quality manager out of the Airplane industry and he failed with a just a few months. Over the years my tolerance has been reduced concerning poor quality.
#11
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
In my many years as a mech I preferred boats and aircraft as I found cars, trucks and heavy equipment not challenging enough to keep me interested. I have never seen an experienced auto mech that made the grade or had the patience to become a competent marine or aircraft mech. Several that I was involved with training had to be untrained and retrained which was a long and difficult process only to have them go back to their former situation where they made more money and were less accountable for their screw-ups.
Back to Scag,
If you follow the flow of electricity on your machines wiring diagram, you will see that there are many connections, terminals, switches, a solenoid, electronic control module, fuses and ground connections involved with just the engine cranking circuit. It all comes to sufficient battery voltage, good connections, good switches and a good ground to keep the electrical system functioning properly. In the cranking circuit, when there is a high resistance condition somewhere, the cranking relay is the weak point and it starts with intermittent cranking and then a failure of the relay.
The key switch supplies the power to the cranking relay when in the start position. If all the safety circuits are correct, the electronic control module which also needs power and a good ground to function, will ground the cranking relay which then allows power to the starter motor relay. The starter motor relay then provides high amperage power to the starter motor.
I have serviced machines that were two years old with 70 hours that had electrical problems. Many folks think that they can just shut off the engine in the fall and expect the machine to function in the spring without any thoughts to charging the battery and cleaning the battery terminals, let alone the fuel problems.
Back to Scag,
If you follow the flow of electricity on your machines wiring diagram, you will see that there are many connections, terminals, switches, a solenoid, electronic control module, fuses and ground connections involved with just the engine cranking circuit. It all comes to sufficient battery voltage, good connections, good switches and a good ground to keep the electrical system functioning properly. In the cranking circuit, when there is a high resistance condition somewhere, the cranking relay is the weak point and it starts with intermittent cranking and then a failure of the relay.
The key switch supplies the power to the cranking relay when in the start position. If all the safety circuits are correct, the electronic control module which also needs power and a good ground to function, will ground the cranking relay which then allows power to the starter motor relay. The starter motor relay then provides high amperage power to the starter motor.
I have serviced machines that were two years old with 70 hours that had electrical problems. Many folks think that they can just shut off the engine in the fall and expect the machine to function in the spring without any thoughts to charging the battery and cleaning the battery terminals, let alone the fuel problems.
#12
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a Scag Tiger Cat or Tiger Cat II from a reputable Scag dealer. Reputable in both sales followup and servicing.
My Scag Tiger Cub(2008) has been repowered from a Briggs ELS engine to a Briggs Commercial Turf Engine which has the Cyclonic Air Filtration System. As I use a collection system most of the time, I have found this air filtration system to be very effective at filtering the incoming air. Every 15 to 20 hours I remove the filter and tap it to loosen the collected dirt. I change the filter generally around 80 to 100 hours. I am very pleased with this engines performance and fuel economy.
I also have a Hustler X-ONE with a Kawasaki FX730V engine. This is a 2012 model with a rear discharge deck and primarily used in an old cemetery. The Kawasaki has the two stage air filtration system, but it is not exposed to as much dust and dirt with the rear discharge deck, however the entire machine and the operator get covered with dust while mowing the cemetery.
Both the Briggs commercial Turf and the Kawasaki FX engines run great, each having their own running characteristics. The Hustler has 350 hours and the Scag has 900 hours with 450 yours of this time on the repower engine.
I don't recommend a Kawasaki FS engine as it has the basic air filtration system installed and as ZTRs are dusty operating by virtue of their design, I feel that the Kawasaki FS engine doesn't have sufficient air filter capacity to deal with the dust produced during machine operation.
Just my thoughts!!:laughing::biggrin::smile:
My Scag Tiger Cub(2008) has been repowered from a Briggs ELS engine to a Briggs Commercial Turf Engine which has the Cyclonic Air Filtration System. As I use a collection system most of the time, I have found this air filtration system to be very effective at filtering the incoming air. Every 15 to 20 hours I remove the filter and tap it to loosen the collected dirt. I change the filter generally around 80 to 100 hours. I am very pleased with this engines performance and fuel economy.
I also have a Hustler X-ONE with a Kawasaki FX730V engine. This is a 2012 model with a rear discharge deck and primarily used in an old cemetery. The Kawasaki has the two stage air filtration system, but it is not exposed to as much dust and dirt with the rear discharge deck, however the entire machine and the operator get covered with dust while mowing the cemetery.
Both the Briggs commercial Turf and the Kawasaki FX engines run great, each having their own running characteristics. The Hustler has 350 hours and the Scag has 900 hours with 450 yours of this time on the repower engine.
I don't recommend a Kawasaki FS engine as it has the basic air filtration system installed and as ZTRs are dusty operating by virtue of their design, I feel that the Kawasaki FS engine doesn't have sufficient air filter capacity to deal with the dust produced during machine operation.
Just my thoughts!!:laughing::biggrin::smile:
#13
D
ditz
D
ditz
My Scag does have the FX730 Kaw engine and I sure have no issue with any function of the machine and I am quite pleased with the machine in general. The machine functionality does me no good unless it starts. In the first place our winters are usually short and the mowing season tends to be long. I don't generally emty the gas from the carb as I not found it to be needed for the short cold season. The battery is maintained with a battery tender over the winter. The mower will start just fine and then if I shut down the mower during the hour and 15min mowing session sometimes it will not turn over or even click. I do believe it might be one of the interlock switches but from what you have said I am leaning toward the relay being the problem. Sometimes it takes 30min. to function again and sometimes it takes 6 hours before it will again function. Then the issue will not show up for 2 or 3 weeks or maybe the next week. I am no EE but I do not think it is the battery but I have been wrong before. I am not a mechanic either. I am a quality engineer by trade. I have hacked around with cars, mowers, motorcycles, bicycles and hot rods for 60 years. Actually since the autos and Motorcycles have become so electrified I tend to let others mess with my more complicated machines. For years I have wired around all those "safety" switches. I have not done that to this Scag.......yet
#14
John R
John R
I bought a Tiger Cat II 61" last spring with the Kaw engine, it's a great mower.
#15
55TBird
55TBird
I am a home owner and mow about 4-5 acres of country yard. Very rough, challenging mowing with rocks, roots, stumps, ditches and a 15 ft cliff that I learned to not get too close to. I spent about 5K for a mower when I moved there and I always regretted not spending more for a more durable mower. And the 19 hp Kawasaki engine was ok but still bogged down climbing the biggest hill and when the grass got too long (because my mower was always in the shop!) It was a commercial mower but not a Scag. Anyway, you get what you pay for and if a mower is durable, paying extra will pay off over the long haul. I suffered with my old mower, always getting by by having it repaired and saying "someday....someday I'll get a better mower." I started this year by having to pour $2,000 into repairs and after the first mowing it would not start! !@#* I had had enough and went to the Scag dealer and bought a 2017 Turf Tiger II with a 61-in deck and a 35hp Briggs Vanguard engine.
I don't mow to live but I live to mow. Why should the pros be the only one's to have Turf Tigers and Tiger Cats? Overkill? Nah.
I don't mow to live but I live to mow. Why should the pros be the only one's to have Turf Tigers and Tiger Cats? Overkill? Nah.
#17
Sweats
Sweats
Okay, that does it. I just started a thread asking opinions about the difference between the Cheetah suspension deck and the Tiger Cat II seat. I was looking pretty hard at the TCII already but somewhere between the feedback I've already received, the opinions on this post, the number of posts that compare the TCII against the Turf Tiger with no mention of the Cheetah, and the photo above (man you must be excited, Mac0822!), I need to just go ahead and pull the trigger on the TCII too. I'm sure the Cheetah is a great mower; after all, it's a Scag. The Turf Tiger looks awesome, but it's out of my budget. Nope, it's the Turf Tiger II for this guy. Mac0822, I sure hope you enjoy yours and thanks for helping me make my decision.
#18
jekjr
I have never ran the Cheeta either. I have three Tiger Cats and have demonstrated the Turf Tiger a few times. Personally I have never operated a machine that has done a better job for my business model than the Tiger Cat. They are incredible machines.
jekjr
Okay, that does it. I just started a thread asking opinions about the difference between the Cheetah suspension deck and the Tiger Cat II seat. I was looking pretty hard at the TCII already but somewhere between the feedback I've already received, the opinions on this post, the number of posts that compare the TCII against the Turf Tiger with no mention of the Cheetah, and the photo above (man you must be excited, Mac0822!), I need to just go ahead and pull the trigger on the TCII too. I'm sure the Cheetah is a great mower; after all, it's a Scag. The Turf Tiger looks awesome, but it's out of my budget. Nope, it's the Turf Tiger II for this guy. Mac0822, I sure hope you enjoy yours and thanks for helping me make my decision.
I have never ran the Cheeta either. I have three Tiger Cats and have demonstrated the Turf Tiger a few times. Personally I have never operated a machine that has done a better job for my business model than the Tiger Cat. They are incredible machines.
#19
Sweats
Sweats
Hey jekjr (and anybody else who caught it), did I really say "... it's the Turf Tiger II for this guy"? I MEANT, as the photo would imply, the Tiger Cat II. I have a little over five hours on it so far and love it. The only reason I wonder if the TTII would have been a better fit is that its frame seems to be more beefy and I have a rough property with some unexpected horribly rough patches. I've already bounced the deck on my mower several times and wonder if the TTII would hold up better over time. Otherwise, this mower is the bomb to the point of me thinking about doing something to my property to accomodate it.
#20
jekjr
IN MY PARTICULAR BUSINESS MODLE: I find that the Tiger Cat with he 52' deck is incredible. It goes in holes that the 61" won't go. it is incredibly agile and nimble. Some times we load and unload 12 to 15 times a day also. My personal observation as well is that the 52" deck with high lift blades on it will out cut a Turf Tiger with a 61" deck on it with factory blades. (Meaning cut quality).
We ran the Turf Tiger 61" on the same property as the Tiger Cat with a 52" and it was literally noticeable the difference. The Tiger cat would also CUT faster. Although the Turf Tiger will run faster "I think". Anyway the Turf Tiger would not cut clean as fast as the Tiger Cat would in my opinion. Just because it will run X miles per hour does not mean it will cut at X miles per hour......
Also it was a noticeable difference to me in the amount the 61" deck scalped than the 52".
jekjr
Hey jekjr (and anybody else who caught it), did I really say "... it's the Turf Tiger II for this guy"? I MEANT, as the photo would imply, the Tiger Cat II. I have a little over five hours on it so far and love it. The only reason I wonder if the TTII would have been a better fit is that its frame seems to be more beefy and I have a rough property with some unexpected horribly rough patches. I've already bounced the deck on my mower several times and wonder if the TTII would hold up better over time. Otherwise, this mower is the bomb to the point of me thinking about doing something to my property to accomodate it.
IN MY PARTICULAR BUSINESS MODLE: I find that the Tiger Cat with he 52' deck is incredible. It goes in holes that the 61" won't go. it is incredibly agile and nimble. Some times we load and unload 12 to 15 times a day also. My personal observation as well is that the 52" deck with high lift blades on it will out cut a Turf Tiger with a 61" deck on it with factory blades. (Meaning cut quality).
We ran the Turf Tiger 61" on the same property as the Tiger Cat with a 52" and it was literally noticeable the difference. The Tiger cat would also CUT faster. Although the Turf Tiger will run faster "I think". Anyway the Turf Tiger would not cut clean as fast as the Tiger Cat would in my opinion. Just because it will run X miles per hour does not mean it will cut at X miles per hour......
Also it was a noticeable difference to me in the amount the 61" deck scalped than the 52".
#21
55TBird
Wow. Sounds like Turf Tigers suck! And smaller is better too. Glad to hear that because I bought my son a 48" Freedom Z for his place. He's cut twice now and said he cut his mowing time in half. It is a sweet little mower and he is pretty excited about it. He had a cheap box store tractor style mower and I just couldn't stand it! Belt kept breaking and it took a magician to put a new one on without taking half the darn thing apart.
As for me, maybe I should get some high-lift blades too. But based on what I have seen so far, that 35hp engine and drive shaft seem to handle tall grass without too much trouble. I went from a 48 in deck to a 61 in deck and my 3hr mow took me 1.2 hrs Sunday. I wish I had a Tiger Cat but I'll have to suffer along with my Turf Tiger.
I'm kidding of course. I'm glad to hear about how much you guys like your Tiger Cats. I'm pretty impressed so far with everything Scag and I'm glad my son gets to mow with such a good piece of equipment.
55TBird
IN MY PARTICULAR BUSINESS MODLE: I find that the Tiger Cat with he 52' deck is incredible. It goes in holes that the 61" won't go. it is incredibly agile and nimble. Some times we load and unload 12 to 15 times a day also. My personal observation as well is that the 52" deck with high lift blades on it will out cut a Turf Tiger with a 61" deck on it with factory blades. (Meaning cut quality).
We ran the Turf Tiger 61" on the same property as the Tiger Cat with a 52" and it was literally noticeable the difference. The Tiger cat would also CUT faster. Although the Turf Tiger will run faster "I think". Anyway the Turf Tiger would not cut clean as fast as the Tiger Cat would in my opinion. Just because it will run X miles per hour does not mean it will cut at X miles per hour......
Also it was a noticeable difference to me in the amount the 61" deck scalped than the 52".
Wow. Sounds like Turf Tigers suck! And smaller is better too. Glad to hear that because I bought my son a 48" Freedom Z for his place. He's cut twice now and said he cut his mowing time in half. It is a sweet little mower and he is pretty excited about it. He had a cheap box store tractor style mower and I just couldn't stand it! Belt kept breaking and it took a magician to put a new one on without taking half the darn thing apart.
As for me, maybe I should get some high-lift blades too. But based on what I have seen so far, that 35hp engine and drive shaft seem to handle tall grass without too much trouble. I went from a 48 in deck to a 61 in deck and my 3hr mow took me 1.2 hrs Sunday. I wish I had a Tiger Cat but I'll have to suffer along with my Turf Tiger.
I'm kidding of course. I'm glad to hear about how much you guys like your Tiger Cats. I'm pretty impressed so far with everything Scag and I'm glad my son gets to mow with such a good piece of equipment.
Attachments
#22
jekjr
I am not familiar with the smaller Scags. I have seen them but have not tested one of them out. I know that the Tiger Cat is (From my understanding) the lowest down the food chain that they have the Velocity Deck. That deck is the secret to cutting stemmed grass like Bahia. I ain't seen nuthin that will cut Bahia grass with one.
jekjr
Wow. Sounds like Turf Tigers suck! And smaller is better too. Glad to hear that because I bought my son a 48" Freedom Z for his place. He's cut twice now and said he cut his mowing time in half. It is a sweet little mower and he is pretty excited about it. He had a cheap box store tractor style mower and I just couldn't stand it! Belt kept breaking and it took a magician to put a new one on without taking half the darn thing apart.
As for me, maybe I should get some high-lift blades too. But based on what I have seen so far, that 35hp engine and drive shaft seem to handle tall grass without too much trouble. I went from a 48 in deck to a 61 in deck and my 3hr mow took me 1.2 hrs Sunday. I wish I had a Tiger Cat but I'll have to suffer along with my Turf Tiger.
I'm kidding of course. I'm glad to hear about how much you guys like your Tiger Cats. I'm pretty impressed so far with everything Scag and I'm glad my son gets to mow with such a good piece of equipment.
I am not familiar with the smaller Scags. I have seen them but have not tested one of them out. I know that the Tiger Cat is (From my understanding) the lowest down the food chain that they have the Velocity Deck. That deck is the secret to cutting stemmed grass like Bahia. I ain't seen nuthin that will cut Bahia grass with one.
#23
Sweats
A little while ago you mentioned being glad to have gotten to a place in your life where you could afford a Turf Tiger. While I have not and will not achieve that place in my life, I'm satisfied to be able to sport a Tiger Cat over the traditional riding mower I used before it (that and the tractor, which I still might use when my wife's on the Cat). As far as whether to buy TT's or TC's for business, there's a topic I'll just stay out of completely.
The one point you made about the difference in mow time though, I wanted to touch on that. Before I bought the TC II, I heard and read account after account about cutting (so to speak) mowing times in half using ZTR's. Really, that's hard to swallow, and I was pretty skeptical. So on my first real mow, I covered a little over 4 acres in roughly 3 1/2 hours with my 61" deck. My wife and I used to cut less, about 3 1/2 acres, in about 3 1/2 hours using a combined 120" of mowing surface. So how about that? It's better than half the time. I guess somebody else will have to wear the skeptic title.
Sweats
Wow. Sounds like Turf Tigers suck! And smaller is better too. Glad to hear that because I bought my son a 48" Freedom Z for his place. He's cut twice now and said he cut his mowing time in half. It is a sweet little mower and he is pretty excited about it. He had a cheap box store tractor style mower and I just couldn't stand it! Belt kept breaking and it took a magician to put a new one on without taking half the darn thing apart.
As for me, maybe I should get some high-lift blades too. But based on what I have seen so far, that 35hp engine and drive shaft seem to handle tall grass without too much trouble. I went from a 48 in deck to a 61 in deck and my 3hr mow took me 1.2 hrs Sunday. I wish I had a Tiger Cat but I'll have to suffer along with my Turf Tiger.
I'm kidding of course. I'm glad to hear about how much you guys like your Tiger Cats. I'm pretty impressed so far with everything Scag and I'm glad my son gets to mow with such a good piece of equipment.
A little while ago you mentioned being glad to have gotten to a place in your life where you could afford a Turf Tiger. While I have not and will not achieve that place in my life, I'm satisfied to be able to sport a Tiger Cat over the traditional riding mower I used before it (that and the tractor, which I still might use when my wife's on the Cat). As far as whether to buy TT's or TC's for business, there's a topic I'll just stay out of completely.
The one point you made about the difference in mow time though, I wanted to touch on that. Before I bought the TC II, I heard and read account after account about cutting (so to speak) mowing times in half using ZTR's. Really, that's hard to swallow, and I was pretty skeptical. So on my first real mow, I covered a little over 4 acres in roughly 3 1/2 hours with my 61" deck. My wife and I used to cut less, about 3 1/2 acres, in about 3 1/2 hours using a combined 120" of mowing surface. So how about that? It's better than half the time. I guess somebody else will have to wear the skeptic title.
#24
jekjr
We cut 4 acre places often with two Tiger Cats in an hour to an hour and a half which translates into 2 to 3 hours with one. One thing that slows so many people down with the Zero Turns is that they cut grass in round and round passes. The speed with a zero turn comes (in my humble opinion) when one makes about two laps around the property and then starts striping in back and forth passes.
The longer straighter runs you make the more time it shaves off of the total it takes to cut a property.
Cutting with a tractor type mower most people do go round and round. However as quick as a zero turn will turn around the round and round makes it take much longer.
jekjr
A little while ago you mentioned being glad to have gotten to a place in your life where you could afford a Turf Tiger. While I have not and will not achieve that place in my life, I'm satisfied to be able to sport a Tiger Cat over the traditional riding mower I used before it (that and the tractor, which I still might use when my wife's on the Cat). As far as whether to buy TT's or TC's for business, there's a topic I'll just stay out of completely.
The one point you made about the difference in mow time though, I wanted to touch on that. Before I bought the TC II, I heard and read account after account about cutting (so to speak) mowing times in half using ZTR's. Really, that's hard to swallow, and I was pretty skeptical. So on my first real mow, I covered a little over 4 acres in roughly 3 1/2 hours with my 61" deck. My wife and I used to cut less, about 3 1/2 acres, in about 3 1/2 hours using a combined 120" of mowing surface. So how about that? It's better than half the time. I guess somebody else will have to wear the skeptic title.
We cut 4 acre places often with two Tiger Cats in an hour to an hour and a half which translates into 2 to 3 hours with one. One thing that slows so many people down with the Zero Turns is that they cut grass in round and round passes. The speed with a zero turn comes (in my humble opinion) when one makes about two laps around the property and then starts striping in back and forth passes.
The longer straighter runs you make the more time it shaves off of the total it takes to cut a property.
Cutting with a tractor type mower most people do go round and round. However as quick as a zero turn will turn around the round and round makes it take much longer.
#25
Sweats
I probably should have mentioned, when I wrote how long it took to mow with our Tiger Cat, that much of the area is unbearably bumpy. A large section was row cropped before we bought it. So, we go slowly - very very slowly. I cut exactly as you explained, a couple of laps around the perimeter, then straight lines otherwise. It's THAT bumpy; not all of it mind you, but enough to kill our time, regardless of the mower we use. I'm thinking about tilling the whole section, or asking a local farmer I know to disc and harrow it.
Sweats
We cut 4 acre places often with two Tiger Cats in an hour to an hour and a half which translates into 2 to 3 hours with one. One thing that slows so many people down with the Zero Turns is that they cut grass in round and round passes. The speed with a zero turn comes (in my humble opinion) when one makes about two laps around the property and then starts striping in back and forth passes.
The longer straighter runs you make the more time it shaves off of the total it takes to cut a property.
Cutting with a tractor type mower most people do go round and round. However as quick as a zero turn will turn around the round and round makes it take much longer.
I probably should have mentioned, when I wrote how long it took to mow with our Tiger Cat, that much of the area is unbearably bumpy. A large section was row cropped before we bought it. So, we go slowly - very very slowly. I cut exactly as you explained, a couple of laps around the perimeter, then straight lines otherwise. It's THAT bumpy; not all of it mind you, but enough to kill our time, regardless of the mower we use. I'm thinking about tilling the whole section, or asking a local farmer I know to disc and harrow it.
#26
55TBird
Sounds like a box blade would help. Takes soil off the high places and leaves it in the low places. Go back and forth and it will get smooth.
55TBird
I probably should have mentioned, when I wrote how long it took to mow with our Tiger Cat, that much of the area is unbearably bumpy. A large section was row cropped before we bought it. So, we go slowly - very very slowly. I cut exactly as you explained, a couple of laps around the perimeter, then straight lines otherwise. It's THAT bumpy; not all of it mind you, but enough to kill our time, regardless of the mower we use. I'm thinking about tilling the whole section, or asking a local farmer I know to disc and harrow it.
Sounds like a box blade would help. Takes soil off the high places and leaves it in the low places. Go back and forth and it will get smooth.
#27
cpurvis
cpurvis
Disking is the way to go but then you've got to reseed. Seed is expensive.
#28
55TBird
Sweats, when mowing the area I call "the big hill" I thought it went really fast and it seemed I made fewer trips, so I counted the strips. The area is about 80 yards long and about 30 yards wide on one end and 20 yards wide on the other end. The wide end is a 21 degree slope so I mow the area straight up and straight down. In other words it's so steep I can't mow the length sideways, so I make lots of turns.
Long story short, I mowed 50 strips with the 61 in deck. My old 48 in ztr would require 63 strips. So, mowing 13 fewer passes in that one little area was pretty surprising to me. And, that's not factoring how fast I can run up the hill with 35hp vs. chugging up it with 19 hp. Turn-around per time is the same but I'm doing that 13 fewer times too.
Then there is a walking path I mow. It is a loop around the property that is 10-ft wide and roughly 1/2 a mile long. It took 3 passes with my old 4-ft mower and only two now with the 5-ft deck. So, I'm cutting my time in half, and that's comparing two zero turn mowers. I also have rough places so I'm not going as fast as I could go....but mowing is so much nicer with the Scag I don't feel the need to get it over with. It's much more enjoyable.
I've always found mowing satisfying. Not only making it look good, but finding the most efficient, logical pattern and conquering the challenging parts like ditches and hills. Having a great piece of equipment makes a world of difference too.
55TBird
A little while ago you mentioned being glad to have gotten to a place in your life where you could afford a Turf Tiger. While I have not and will not achieve that place in my life, I'm satisfied to be able to sport a Tiger Cat over the traditional riding mower I used before it (that and the tractor, which I still might use when my wife's on the Cat). As far as whether to buy TT's or TC's for business, there's a topic I'll just stay out of completely.
The one point you made about the difference in mow time though, I wanted to touch on that. Before I bought the TC II, I heard and read account after account about cutting (so to speak) mowing times in half using ZTR's. Really, that's hard to swallow, and I was pretty skeptical. So on my first real mow, I covered a little over 4 acres in roughly 3 1/2 hours with my 61" deck. My wife and I used to cut less, about 3 1/2 acres, in about 3 1/2 hours using a combined 120" of mowing surface. So how about that? It's better than half the time. I guess somebody else will have to wear the skeptic title.
Sweats, when mowing the area I call "the big hill" I thought it went really fast and it seemed I made fewer trips, so I counted the strips. The area is about 80 yards long and about 30 yards wide on one end and 20 yards wide on the other end. The wide end is a 21 degree slope so I mow the area straight up and straight down. In other words it's so steep I can't mow the length sideways, so I make lots of turns.
Long story short, I mowed 50 strips with the 61 in deck. My old 48 in ztr would require 63 strips. So, mowing 13 fewer passes in that one little area was pretty surprising to me. And, that's not factoring how fast I can run up the hill with 35hp vs. chugging up it with 19 hp. Turn-around per time is the same but I'm doing that 13 fewer times too.
Then there is a walking path I mow. It is a loop around the property that is 10-ft wide and roughly 1/2 a mile long. It took 3 passes with my old 4-ft mower and only two now with the 5-ft deck. So, I'm cutting my time in half, and that's comparing two zero turn mowers. I also have rough places so I'm not going as fast as I could go....but mowing is so much nicer with the Scag I don't feel the need to get it over with. It's much more enjoyable.
I've always found mowing satisfying. Not only making it look good, but finding the most efficient, logical pattern and conquering the challenging parts like ditches and hills. Having a great piece of equipment makes a world of difference too.
#29
jekjr
After you get the farmer to disc it, get something like an old set of bed springs or a section of tall chainlink fence and drag over the property several times with something like an ATV or riding lawn mower and it will make it totally smooth.
jekjr
I probably should have mentioned, when I wrote how long it took to mow with our Tiger Cat, that much of the area is unbearably bumpy. A large section was row cropped before we bought it. So, we go slowly - very very slowly. I cut exactly as you explained, a couple of laps around the perimeter, then straight lines otherwise. It's THAT bumpy; not all of it mind you, but enough to kill our time, regardless of the mower we use. I'm thinking about tilling the whole section, or asking a local farmer I know to disc and harrow it.
After you get the farmer to disc it, get something like an old set of bed springs or a section of tall chainlink fence and drag over the property several times with something like an ATV or riding lawn mower and it will make it totally smooth.
#30
C
clay45
C
clay45
I rototilled some of mine for the same reason. It helped a lot but its no tennis court.