Scag Tiger Cub Hydraulic Drive Quit Working! HELP

RTR

Well-known Member
Was mowing the lawn with my 2007 Scag Tiger Cub Zero Turn yesterday and it was doing fine and all of a sudden got hard to steer. Then it quit pulling all together. Now when it is running (runs perfect) and you move the forward/reverse handles it does nothing, not even a noise from the Hydraulics. The linkages all move fine with the same resistance as when they did work, but now nothing happens. No leaks anywhere and the hoses and components look brand new. Looked in the hydraulic resivoir and there is fluid in there that comes to about 1-2 inches on the "dipstick cap". It's been used to mow 2 acres since 2007. The only other problem it has ever given me was some kind of clutch switch last year that caused the PTO to not work. Its been a great heavy duty mower.

Please help as it is DOA right now and I have grass to cut!
 
Generally speaking, ZTR's use individual hydrostatic pumps to drive the left and right wheel motors. Those pumps must be connected to the engine somehow in order to spin. Did you blow the belt
drive to the pumps? Since this is what we call a catastrophic failure because it was working fine one minute and then totally dead the next..... I would be checking to see how the pumps are being
driven by the engine.
 
(quoted from post at 00:42:09 06/11/16) Generally speaking, ZTR's use individual hydrostatic pumps to drive the left and right wheel motors. Those pumps must be connected to the engine somehow in order to spin. Did you blow the belt
drive to the pumps? Since this is what we call a catastrophic failure because it was working fine one minute and then totally dead the next..... I would be checking to see how the pumps are being
driven by the engine.

Just looked at the owners manual which gives parts schematics. It is belt driven and I will check that first! I didn't notice a loose or broken belt however I couldn't see under it very well.

Thanks for the input!
 
probably throwed belt it unit will not move, if it still moves but wants go in circles you have
most likely lost one of the hyd pumps since you said hoses look fine hydro tranny do not have
hoses. same as any other machine out there other than they are one of roughest to ride.
 
(quoted from post at 03:42:25 06/11/16) probably throwed belt it unit will not move, if it still moves but wants go in circles you have
most likely lost one of the hyd pumps since you said hoses look fine hydro tranny do not have
hoses. same as any other machine out there other than they are one of roughest to ride.

I looked and apparently it threw the belt for some reason. It's so far up by the bottom of the engine that i could BARELY see it and I basically felt it was loose. Tried to pull it to see if it was broke and would come out but it acted like it was still together.....just really loose. I could easily remove it from the "engine" pulley it was so loose. Could not really see anything else under there so idk what caused it or how to get to it to fix.
 
Presumably there is a Service Manual available. A new belt is a must but looking for the cause is also important. The cause may be a badly worn belt. All of this is now in your hands.
 
(quoted from post at 23:33:16 06/12/16) Presumably there is a Service Manual available. A new belt is a must but looking for the cause is also important. The cause may be a badly worn belt. All of this is now in your hands.

I need to find a service manual. Several different Google and eBay searches have yeilded no results. Thanks everyone for your suggestions and help. It's gotten me started!
 
Go to Scag dot com. In upper right corner, click on COMPANY. Then click on Manuals in the drop down box. You need the serial number and model number to locate the correct manual.
 
(quoted from post at 21:37:31 06/13/16) Go to Scag dot com. In upper right corner, click on COMPANY. Then click on Manuals in the drop down box. You need the serial number and model number to locate the correct manual.

Tom, that is for an Operator's Manual (Owner's Manual). I have one of those and it only tells you how to operate the mower with some minor maintenance stuff.

I am wanting to obtain a Shop Repair/Service Manual that tells me how to rebuild and repair all components of the mower.
 
I looked at the first Op Manual for the Tiger Cub and on page 46, the two drive pumps are shown, along with the belt, the drive pulley and the idler pulley. The idler pulley has a tension spring pulling on
it. The L-shaped bracket it is mounted to has a SQUARE hole in it that allows you to stick a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch ratchet into it. That permits you to rotate the idler bracket so that the belt can be
removed or installed. I spoke with Scag's Customer Service Department and apparently there is no factory service manual for your unit. If you have a local dealer, perhaps you can chat with the
mechanic there for additional input.

A word of advice. Install a brand new belt FROM SCAG.
 
Thanks so much for looking into that for me Tom, as I was going to call SCAG at lunch to see what they had to say about the manual and the repair. It just looks like an awful place to get into and I was wanting some instruction to make it easier and so I could do it the right way. I guess I'll just have to tackle it this weekend!

Do you not think the belt that Napa offers would be equally as good? I know some aftermarket parts don't match some OEM parts, but I thought Napa had pretty good quality fitting parts.


(quoted from post at 20:37:23 06/14/16) I looked at the first Op Manual for the Tiger Cub and on page 46, the two drive pumps are shown, along with the belt, the drive pulley and the idler pulley. The idler pulley has a tension spring pulling on
it. The L-shaped bracket it is mounted to has a SQUARE hole in it that allows you to stick a 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch ratchet into it. That permits you to rotate the idler bracket so that the belt can be
removed or installed. I spoke with Scag's Customer Service Department and apparently there is no factory service manual for your unit. If you have a local dealer, perhaps you can chat with the
mechanic there for additional input.

A word of advice. Install a brand new belt FROM SCAG.
 
The Rep at Scag cautioned me about the belt issue. He has had numerous reports of people attempting to use aftermarket belts that have been a problem. As you will notice, this belt bends back and
forth and therefore you need a belt with Kevlar reinforcement to stand up to those stresses. Additionally, there is not much leeway for adjustment. As such, the length of the belt is critical. Too short
and it will not go on without damage. Too long and there will not be enough tension to keep it from slipping. This is a task you want to do just ONE TIME and put it behind you.
 

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