So many ZTR's?(conculsion)

[landry]

So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

Well I could not wait for advice any longer. Today I purchased a SCAG Turf Tiger (23 hp -52 inch deck) and my first impressions are great! It seems over built and most important to me is the ease of maintance. The horizontal engine design makes the belts, pumps and clutch super easy to get to and maintain as compared to a vertical engine design with the belts hidden under the machine. The shaft drive to the deck is a clean and simple design that should be long lasting. The method of blade removal with a single long bolt that most of the time can be remove from the top( yes this requires an impact wrench) is refreshing. Looking foward to putting on some hours so I can switch all oils to Mobil One.....Landry

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

I bought the Scag TT also but I got the 61 in deck. Just turned 60 hrs and am very satisified. I switched to Amsoil at 56 hrs and moved the filter off the motor (simple remote filter setup, not the amsoil stuff) in order to get some more cooling. My motor is the kohler 25 air cooled. Rich

 

[landry]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

How did you (and where did you) find an adaptor for the oil filter? Did you convert the oil filter to a larger automobile oil filter while you where at it? I have the 23 hp Kohler. I did pop for the remote Kohler "commerical" air filter, the double elements should really shine when the dust starts to fly ....Landry

 

[rja]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

Ready for a long post? I purchased a aux tranmission filter from PermaCool for a F350 diesel truck. This had a remote filter base and hose. Unable to find a good location for installing this unit and not wanting to through away 70 bucks, I decided to install it on the Scag. I went back to PermaCool and purchased a universal spin on adaptor. I got some metal braces from the local hardware store. Purchased the next larger size filter (amsoil sdf15?). Removed the filter from the motor, replaced it with the spin on adaptor. (I did not remove the factory cooler so I had to file down the spin on adaptor in order to get it to mount) Mounted the bracket by the right wheel (there were two unused holes there), and mounted the filter base on the bracket. The only real problem I had was that the filter must be mounted with the top end lower than the bottom end. If not done this way, the oil will drain out of the filter and you will not get the full benifit of the additional oil in the system. I also added a CoolCollar from JCWhitney on the filter itself. Setup seems to work ok. The filter gets real hot but it must be doing some cooling to the oil. I checked with Kohler and they felt that this system would maintain the correct oil pressure for the motor. Rich

 

[rja]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

I forgot about the air filter. Is the kohler double air filter using a K&N filter? I have read a lot of posts that indicate that K&N filters allow too much dirt to pass into the motor when they are new. I opted for the amsoil foam filter. Havn't tested the oil yet, so I will not know until the end of the season how well the filter is working. Rich

 

[landry]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

The Kohler air filter's first element is paper. The second element is inside the first and is composed of what looks like cotton. The dealer swears that the inside "cotton" filter is not to be oiled. This seemed strange to me not to oil it but I also have used K & N filters for so long I may be warped on the subject. I not not have any written instructions on the filter itself, but after close inspection this "cotton" is different from K & N in that it is not wrapped in screen, so I will do as instructed and leave dry. I will look into the remote oil filter set up like you just so I can use a auto Mobil 1 oil filter. If the oil does get too hot, with the remote oil filter setup a add on oil cooler would be a snap!.... Landry

 

[GlennT]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

Can you provide me with additional information about this air filter? I have a 20 HP Kohler Command engine on a mower and my local dealers say that there is no better air filter available. Dust is getting through to the engine even though I clean the filter each time I mow.

 

[skent]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

If you don't mind me askin'. Whad she set ya back. In the next few years I plan on making that my next purchase.

Steve

 

[RMulkey]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

Landry,

Congradulations on the mower. You won't be sorry you went the extra $$. I bought a 61" scag TT with the 22Hp Liquid cooled Kawasaki motor about 2 years ago. No issues so far. The thing is built like a tank. The 3/8" plate on the mower deck has saved me a few times. I can mow about 2ac/hour. I use it for turf and pasture. Does a great job. I did add 'slime' to the tires to help with small leaks caused by running over construction debris.

 

[landry]

Re: So many ZTR\'s?(conculsion)

GlennT, I do not have the part number for the air filter kit but it was in a Kohler factory parts box and I watched my dealer pull it off the shelf ( he had a half dozen in stock). The cost was 100 dollars installed with the purchase of the SCAG. If all else fails I could call my dealer for the part number. Skeat, the cost of the mower was just under $7800. After shopping around it's cost was approximately the same as Exmarks. The layout of the shaft drive to the mower deck was the deciding factor for me. RMulkey, I agree, the mower deck seems to be made as heavy as my bushhog! My rougher parts of the yard are still too wet to mow because last week we got 18 inches ( not a typo) of rain down here. Cannot wait to try the tough stuff....Landry