Scag Turf Tiger with 60" Desk

I have owned a Scag Turf Tiger with a 60 inch blade for 8 years now. This mower has its positives and negatives, but overall I am very satisfied with it.

First, I will mention the positives. Most important in my opinion is the quality of the cut it makes. After completing mowing my lawn, it looks like it’s been done professionally. In fact, I notice a lot of the local landscaping companies have this type of mower, so the very high quality should be expected. This mower is equipped with zero turning radius, meaning you can get into tight spots and turn the thing on a dime. It also means that the job will be done much quicker. I have a very large lawn, about the same size as my neighbor. I can consistently complete my mowing job several hours ahead of how fast my neighbor can. Turning is done by means of two actuators with handles attached to them; it turns out to be a very good design. It has a nimble feel to it while feeling very solid as well.

This mower does have its share of negatives, though. First, it is very pricy. I paid about $3,000 for my mower, which to me is quite a bit. At least you get good value for your money. Another negative is that it rides very rough. You can purchase an optional extra thick cushioned seat but it only helps a little. If the ground is very dry, it can be quite jolting if you have a rough yard. Additionally, the mower deck is not designed to float very well. In other words, many mowers have their deck that moves with the subtle contours of the ground. This deck is essentially fixed to the frame. If you need to lower the cutting depth to 2 ½ inches or less, you will need to lift the deck with the pedal as you turn so the floating wheel doesn’t cut into your lawn and leave a bare streak. Blade changes can be quite a chore. This mower has three blades. They are difficult to remove. You will need to buy an add-on called a blade buddy. This tool fits over the end of the blade to keep it from rotating while you remove the bolt from above. As well, you will need a wrench torque wrench as the blade needs to be tightened to an exact PSI.

All in all, this is not a perfect mower. Its design needs tweaking a bit, but at the end of the day it will have your lawn looking professionally mowed.