Why did you replace the deck belt?
Pulleys have sealed bearings, how did you lube them?
The spindle bearings can be lubricated and should be at 40 hour intervals with the correct grease.
Why are you changing blades so often?
Are you installing the blades correctly?
Are you torqueing the blade nuts to 75 FTLBs?
Engine bogging down or deck bogging down?
Did you purchase this machine new?
Did you burnish the clutch prior to mowing with this machine? Some mower manufacturers burnish clutches prior to delivery to the dealer, Scag does not do this and they put an instruction sheet in with the operators manual describing this procedure.
Burnishing the clutch is a procedure where the clutch is engaged/disengaged at lower engine speeds progressively to higher engine speeds to seat the high torque surfaces in the clutch.
A slipping clutch from either lack of burnishing or out of adjustment will overheat and this heat is transferred into the deck drive belt causing it to slip and prematurely fail.
Scag uses springs to hold tension on the belts and sometimes these springs can loose their strength even on a low time machine.
The deck on newer Scag machines needs a particular high lift type blade. I have found OEM Scag blades to be OK, Stens aftermarket blades to wear out soon and too soft. I now use an Oregon 91-600 series blade although not a direct replacement for the Scag blade. I'm pleased with the performance and durability of the Oregon blades and I will continue to use them.
I suggest that you get some Sea Foam fuel additive and pour some into the fuel tanks of your machine. mix this additive to the strong side of the ration on the label. There may be some crud buildup in your carb and the Sea Foam additive may clear it out. I have to do this several times a season on my Tiger Cub particularly if the machine is not run for several weeks due to weather or other circumstances. I put 100-150 hours on my TC per season and most of the time the collection system is installed. I also have other machines that I mow with.
In your owners manual in the lube section are recommendations for spindle lube. I still have several tubes of Shell Alvania #2 grease but Shell has discontinued this grease. My local Scag dealer now stocks Mobilix #2 for spindles. You can use the correct spindle grease on the entire machine but not the other way around as chassis grease is not desired in the spindles.
Mad Mackie in CT
I bought the machine "new". It' didn't appear to have any use on it, however, the hour meter read 46.5. I was told that the key was left on and it took 46.5 hours for the battery to die. I had a few issues when I first bought the machine with it running, was told it sat for a while and carb got gummed up. The shop cleaned the carb and it has run good since then.
I must say that I didn't read about "burnishing" the clutch, or really anything to be honest. I asked the dealer several questions before leaving along with anything that I needed to do before I used the machine. Their response was no, go start cutting grass.
When I replaced the belt, I didn't actually measure, however, there didn't seem to be any diff. in the length if any at all. I have four set of scag blades, 3 of the regular high lift, and one of the style like the oregon gator blades.
What do you think the problem could be? What can I do to check?
When I bought my Turf Tiger my dealer went thru the whole machine with me. With that said he told me the engine has to be running for the hour meter to work. I think your dealer is blowing smoke or at least he is trying to. Just my $.02