SCAG Mower Won’t Start or Engage Blades? PROBLEM SOLVED!

In order to determine why your mower’s blades aren’t turning, you should inspect the mower deck’s clutch, switches, and anything else that supplies electricity to the clutch.

When the deck belt, tensioner arm, and spring are worn, the PTO switch is malfunctioning, the clutch is broken, the battery is low, the safety switch is malfunctioning, or the fuse is blown, SCAG mower blades won’t engage or turn on.

Don’t mess with with your SCAG without first taking all necessary safety measures. The ignition key and spark plug wires must be disconnected. Stop any motion before proceeding.

The Blades on the SCAG Mower Won’t Start or Engage

SCAG Mower with a Faded Deck Belt

The belt on the mower has to be inspected. The belt engages the deck pulleys, which in turn spins the mower blades. The SCAG deck belt can become worn and cause the blades to become unmovable if the belt slips on the pulleys.

Cracks, fraying, or a glazed, shiny appearance are all signs of a worn or defective SCAG deck belt. Similarly, a deck belt that has seen better days may now rest excessively in the pulley grooves.

Substitute a worn SCAG belt for a new one. The blades may still turn, but they may only do so at slower rates. The quality of the cut will suffer as a result.

In order to create suction under the deck and raise the grass for an even cut, a high blade speed is necessary.

The SCAG Deck Mower’s Belt Came Off the Pulleys.

If the belt has slipped off the pulleys and the mower blades won’t spin, check the belt’s condition as well as any potential causes of the slippage, such as a broken pulley, a worn tensioner arm, or a missing spring.

Here’s a rundown of what’ll keep the SCAG belt from staying on the mower deck.

A SCAG Mower’s Idle Arm and Spring Had Worn Out

The idler pulleys are kept in place by a tensioner arm and spring. There will probably be a pulley on one side of the bracket and a spring on the other.

Over time, this wear on these parts might cause the belt to vibrate loose from the pulleys. A spring can either snap or lengthen. Wearing out the opening in the bracket might also weaken the tensioner.

The SCAG Idler Pulley’s Worn Bearing

The pulleys on the mower deck contain bearings. Over time, the pulley may become worn. Due to this, the pulley might no longer be firmly aligned to the mower deck.

Instead, the pulley can shake due to a broken bearing. When a pulley rocks back and forth, the belt can slip off.

When a pulley is failing, you can detect it by rotating it by hand gently and checking for resistance or a bearing noise. Hold one end of the pulley and the other and observe if there’s enough slack for the pulley to rock.

You can depend on a high-quality pulley to maintain its stability while docked. If the pulley assembly’s bearing is worn out, it must be replaced.

SCAG Mower with a Bad PTO Switch

The clutch of a lawnmower is powered by battery energy, which is accessed via the PTO switch. The inability to turn on the blades is a direct result of a faulty switch.

Verify the switch’s continuity by turning it on and off. Switch out the on and off for a pause.

SCAG Mower with a Bad Clutch

Power is transferred from the engine to the blades via the drive belt via the PTO (Power Take Off) clutch. A worn or malfunctioning clutch that can’t turn the blades over needs to be replaced.

Learn more about clutches and their functions in A Look at How Lawn Mower Clutches Work.

The SCAG Lawnmower’s Weak Battery

The battery activates the clutch solenoid, which in turn starts the mower blades spinning. Weak batteries cannot supply enough power to engage the clutch.

First, use a multimeter to determine the battery’s voltage. In theory, a completely charged 12-volt battery will register around 12.7 volts. If the readout is lower than this, it’s time to charge the battery.

When you read 5 Things That Are Draining the Life of Your Lawn Mower Battery, you’ll learn about the most typical causes of a dying battery.

To recharge a SCAG battery, plug it into a battery charger. Put on safety glasses and gloves to guard against electrical shock before proceeding.

To use a charger on your riding mower or zero-turn, do as follows:

• Get at the terminals and batteries. A screwdriver may be required to access the battery. Depending on your vehicle, the battery may be located either beneath the hood or the seat. It is not recommended that you take the battery out of its housing.
• It is recommended that the positive cable be connected first while charging a battery. The plus sign cable, or the red cable, is this one. Connect the wire to the terminal labeled “+” on the battery.
• Join the negative end of the cable to the battery’s negative post. To be more precise, this is the negative-sign cable (also known as the black cable).
• Make sure you don’t get electrocuted by touching anything that isn’t covered in rubber.
• The voltage and current output of the charger can be adjusted to suit your needs. Lawn mower batteries typically have a voltage of 12 volts. The rate at which a battery is charged is sped up by a boost in amperage. The recommended starting point is 2 amps, with a maximum of 10 amps. A modest, steady charge is preferable.

If the battery isn’t holding a charge, you’ll need to get a new one. Batteries for 12-volt lawn mowers are available at most home improvement and auto parts stores. The SCAG mower dealer close to you might also stock batteries.

Don’t forget to bring your dead battery with you. In most cases, you’ll have to pay a core fee if you don’t bring in your old battery. The average cost of a core in a store is between $15 and $25.

Lack of a Working Safety Switch on a SCAG Mower

As part of the operator presence system, a SCAG’s seat features a safety switch. The operator’s presence is detected by the seat switch, which is located under the seat.

The lawn mower’s blades are equipped with a safety feature that prevents them from starting unless the operator is there.

The operator may not be detected if the seat switch is defective. If the seat switch fails, the safety system will keep the blades from starting.

If you suspect a faulty seat switch, you can either test it with a multimeter or temporarily disable the safety switch. Do not risk your safety by using a mower if the safety switch is not attached.

Never use machinery without first ensuring that all of the safety switches are in place and operational.

A SCAG Mower’s Fuse Has Blown

A blown fuse could be to blame when you find that the clutch is not receiving electricity from the battery. SCAG zero-turn electrical systems are safeguarded by the fuse.

If a fuse blows, you should replace it with another fuse of the same size. In the event that you continue to experience fuse blowouts, I advise you to have the electrical system of your mower inspected by a SCAG service dealership or a lawn mower repair shop.