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Scag zero turn help?

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by makey98, May 7, 2026.

  1. makey98

    makey98

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    Not sure if this is right forum so let know if I should move. Have a zero turn with 400 hours that shut down on me and if I take it to shop it will be weeks turnaround this time of year. I JUST had it there to get a starter put on.

    I have 8 acres and cut 4-5 with the mower and have already cut several times year. My older son was mowing in the morning and I was messing around with wood and I watch him and heard the mower, sounded perfect no issues. Then couple hours later I called him out to do a different section and he got the mower from the barn and drove it up and it sounded like he had the choke on and then just died but the choke was not on. Tried to restart and it was making a weird sound and would not start. Checked fuel, replaced fuel filter which I was due anyway and I am not sure where to start. Almost sounds like an exhaust gasket leaker or carb gasket leak but would think if it was something like that the failure wouldn’t have been so sudden?
    Pulled the spark plugs tonight and they were both pretty dark all the way down the threads. One plug was wet but the other was dry after I took this video. Any ideas where to start?
     
  2. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Air filter plugged?
    Exhaust tip pinched shut?
     
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  3. makey98

    makey98

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    Has the dual air filter and they both look fine but blew out anyway. Exhaust tip, like maybe got bent ? I’ll check that one. Apparently I can’t post video so trying to figure that out. Thanks!!
     
  4. makey98

    makey98

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    Last edited: May 8, 2026
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  5. ironpony

    ironpony

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    drop the carb bowl and clean it out, main jet got debris in it.............could even be a drop of water. Does the muffler have an anti spark screen?? they plug up with carbon, soot, oil.
     
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  6. RCBS

    RCBS

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    It's tough diagnosing via video but does anyone else only hear one cylinder firing?
     
  7. makey98

    makey98

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    Replace both spark plugs and it fired right up….. BUT…. Low power once blades on and rpm’s falling if cutting. I guess carb clean next?
     
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  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Absolutely!
    Its possible you just got bad fuel...might be worth a drain n refill from a different can/gas station.
    Can you easily drain the carb bowl on that machine?
     
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  9. makey98

    makey98

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    Not sure, we’ll try today!
     
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  10. makey98

    makey98

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    Taking off carb looks like a pain, lots of stuff has to come off to get to it. Not confident it’s worth the trouble just because ran the mower with that same gas for a couple hours with no issues. But 300 hours on the mower and never cleaned carb
     
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  11. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Yes. That's running on 1. Briggs?
     
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  12. Skier76

    Skier76

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    Wonder if it’s running rich. How does the oil smell?
     
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  13. makey98

    makey98

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    Yes.
     
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  14. John D

    John D

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    That’s what I hear
    Could it have dropped a valve
     
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  15. lukem

    lukem

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    Sounds like she's down a hole (firing on one cylinder). I just went through this on my mower.

    Unplug each spark plug individually and see if it changes anything.

    My issue was a dirty carb, but check for spark first because you may have a bad coil.
     
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  16. makey98

    makey98

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    Well verdict is in. Push rod on valve broke loose and bent and wrecked valve. So new head and new push rod, valve. $950 or so. Fun fun.
     
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  17. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Uggg. You used to be able to buy a predator vertical shaft VTwin for like 650. I don't see that available online anymore. Only the horizontal V Twin. Hmm
     
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