With a zero-turn mower, you can efficiently halve the time necessary to mow your lawn, get a fantastic cut, and handle vast grass areas at once. All of this is made possible by a zero-turn mower’s ability to turn with a turning radius of zero because of the independent operation of its front and back wheels, each controlled by a separate handle. These heavy-duty mowers are excellent for more significant residential and commercial grade sites where you need to access every corner as they offer incredible power and high speed.
Many kinds of zero-turn mowers are currently available in the market, depending on build and design or power source. We have brought one such product that is Scag Freedom Z for you today, hoping to answer some questions, if not all. We have provided some genuine Scag Freedom Z reviews to understand better, so let us delve in.
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Scag Freedom Z Reviews • Are they worth the hype?
With regards to popular brands available in the market currently, Scag is relatively recent with its inception in 1983, Wisconsin, and stepped foot in the industry with a one-gear driven lawn mower. Since then, Scag has risen to the top and emerged as one of the leading brands in the United States, with over 50 model designs and an exciting range of zero-turn mowers.
Apart from quality and innovative design, the success of Scag can be attributed to a highly user-friendly design making it ideal for people who are fresh to stepping into the world of heavy-duty lawn mowers and do not want to be intimidated. One of the lowest maintenance and versatile brands makes it extremely popular with all buyers.
Professional landscapers or landowners with sizable yards will benefit most from the Scag Freedom Z. With its comfort and quality while covering more extensive acreages, this entry-level commercial mower shines. Available in two deck sizes of 48″ and 52″, these mowers have Kohler 7000 series PRO V-twin engines for dependable performance and a 6.5-gallon fuel tank to let you spend your time outdoors without having to stop frequently to refuel. Let’s discuss Scag Freedom Z’s characteristics and what makes it unique.
Build
Heavy-duty zero-turn mowers are constructed to last. The Scag Freedom Z fits this description thanks to its fully welded and fabricated tubular steel main frame that delivers commercial-grade quality. Although it is more affordable to stamp metal sheets into the correct shape by bending and chamfering them, this method lacks the accuracy and control of fabrication, which entails cutting, drilling, or welding the objects. The 7-gauge steel adds additional robustness to the cutting deck skirt. Finally, the mower is powder coated with commercial grade paint to increase longevity while creating an attractive gloss finish.
Engine
A fully pressurized Kohler 7000 PRO Series V Twin engine provides commercial-grade performance for the Scag Freedom Z. The 48″ and 52″ models of these air-cooled engines have an engine output of 24 HP and 26 HP, respectively. The 6.5-gallon gasoline tank for break-free mowing times, which means you wouldn’t need to refuel very frequently, is another feature that can save you time and keep you productive, in addition to speed and the quality of the cut. Additionally, the convenience of refueling is made more accessible by the broad filler neck.
Drive System
The Scag Freedom Z has dual Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 transaxles for dependable power and performance. Charge pumps, metal gears, and spin-on oil filters are all parts of the transaxle, which allows power to be delivered to the drive wheels seamlessly. The cooling fans regulate temperature changes to prolong equipment life, and the steel oil filter guards shield the filters from damage.
The Ogura PTO Clutch brakes are used for outstanding blade engagement, quick starts and stops, industry-leading torque values, and no slippage in demanding situations. To ensure that you don’t have to replace these clutches for a long time, they also possess an adjustable air gap that can be used to restore the specifications in case of wear and tear.
Cutting Deck
The Scag Freedom Z has two cutting widths of 48 and 52 inches built of two 10 gauge entirely fabricated and welded steel for increased durability. Around the spindle mounting location is an 11 gauge reinforcement to improve stability. The cutting heights are easily adjustable with the comfort of being in the operator’s seat with a foot-operated pedal deck lift system and switching the key to the cutting height you prefer. The cutting height range offered is 1.5 to 4.5 inches with 0.25-inch increments.
Safety features
Given their strength and weight, zero-turn mowers should be used with great caution to prevent mishaps. Safety is integrated with a fixed-position Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) and a lower center of gravity for improved support and stability. Large, enhanced-traction drive and caster tires provide a comfortable ride. The Freedom Z also has an Interlocked Parking Brake System, which prevents the mower from operating while the parking brakes are applied to avoid skidding when parked on slopes.
Operator’s Comfort
Being comfortable while mowing for long periods is crucial because heavy-duty equipment can significantly increase operator fatigue due to vibrations. This is made feasible with carefully constructed, bolstered seats and fold-down armrests. With an extra-large foot plate and strong footing provided by the extruded metal tread, mounting and dismounting this mower is also a breeze. This mower’s few grease locations not only make maintenance simpler but a pre-programmed digital hour meter that runs.
At the same time, the engine runs and also reminds you of your upcoming maintenance schedule. Additionally, the design is small and straightforward to store, and Scag offers warranties and customer support so that you may purchase the Freedom Z with assurance.
Manufacturer Specifications
- 48” and 52” cutting decks.
- Cutting height range of 1.5” – 4.5”.
- 20″ x 10″-10″ drive tires.
- 11″ x 6″-5″ caster tires.
- Kohler 7000 series engine.
- 6.5 gallons of fuel capacity.
- Hydro-Gear ZT2800 Transaxle drive system.
- Forward ground speed of 8 mph.
- Reverse ground speed of 5 mph.
Advantages
Besides the vast array of features and design details we discussed earlier, it is worth mentioning some more things that the Scag mowers do right. We have listed those down below.
- Similar to any zero-turn mower, it is highly maneuverable.
- Capable of reverse mowing.
- Low center of gravity for increased unit stability, especially for sloping landscapes.
- Easy cutting height adjustment and a wide range of cutting heights are available.
- All the controls are positioned within the operator’s reach to the convenience of access.
- Also, a storage tray and cup holder are integrated into the fuel tank.
- The self-adjusting belt system correctly upsets the drive and deck belts for prolonged service life.
Disadvantages
These high-performing gas mowers can be difficult to get used to for some buyers due to loud rattling and vibrations, and being a substantial investment may leave people feeling disappointed. So it is worth your time to go through these problems that previous buyers have faced.
- Some buyers have complained about the loud noise the mower makes.
- Buyers also mention the dealers and distributors not being pleased with the customers.
- Dry weather conditions can produce a lot of dust, making it uncomfortable for the operator.
- Low-hanging branches could be struck by the ROPS and inadvertently hit you.
- Buyers also mention the dealers and distributors not being pleased with the customers.
Customer feedback | Scag Freedom Z Reviews
Buyers have been impressed by not just the model we discussed but other lineups from the brand and say, “This mower was purchased for my landscaping business. It is an excellent mower. I was persuaded by the lightweight and low center of gravity. Moreover, I own an SWZT 36. Scag makes the best mowers! I’ve tried several various brands, and Scag is just superior.”
This buyer gives an insight into what it is like to own the Freedom Z for an extended period, and it is a relatively positive remark as they mention, “My Freedom Z has been in my possession for the past six years. I trim a little more than an acre of grass and four acres of a rural, uncultivated field home to every weed found in the Southeast. Everything has worked flawlessly except for a little unexplained issue with the safety cutoff switch. Fantastic stuff!”
While another buyer is vocal about the features they appreciate and the features, they do not. They say, “This mower is wonderful; I bought it with 141 hours on it to use for my lawn and my lawn care business. Although its 6.5-gallon fuel tank isn’t huge, it makes the most thanks to its efficient fuel. I like that there are very few grease points, and everything is sealed, so I only need to replace the fluids.
The only feature I wish it had was foldable ROPS so I could go under the trees, but it’s not a big deal because I end up trimming anyhow. So far, it has performed superbly with fantastic cut quality even at speed with the 27 HP motor, and I am delighted.”
And then we finally meet a buyer with the ultimate buyer’s remorse with several purchases gone wrong for them. They mention in great disdain, “My dealer and Scag gave me the cold shoulder and abandoned me after I bought three brand-new Scags, each of which had issues. Spending a hefty amount on a lawnmower to have the engine smoke and no one reply to your calls or emails is not a nice feeling. Be skeptical of what you read when looking for a mower, and conduct more research.
Ownership of three brand-new scags in a single year has been a bad experience for me. I wouldn’t be creating these videos or publishing these comments if Scag offered better customer service. Still, since so many people now conduct their research online, I don’t want to see anyone else get burned and taken advantage of like I did.”
FAQs | Scag Freedom Z
Is Scag Freedom Z a commercial mower?
The Freedom Z is an entry-grade commercial mower with powerful engines and mechanisms to maximize output.
Does Scag Freedom Z have grease points?
Yes, but those are limited in number for ease of maintenance.
What kind of oil is used for Scag Freedom Z?
The manual user states to use unleaded gasoline that is clean, fresh, and has a minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol content of 10%. E85 fuel is not recommended because it will seriously harm the engine.
What is the difference between Freedom Z and Liberty Z?
The Liberty Z is categorized as a residential mower while the Freedom Z is a commercial grade, but they aren’t much different. The significant differences are with the fuel tank capacity of either 3.5 or 5.5 gallons, a more comprehensive deck size range from 36” to 61” with the smaller deck sizes having an engine output of 18 HP to 27 HP for the most prominent deck sizes.
Closure
Scag is a dependable brand that has effectively risen to compete with the leading brands being relatively new to the business. They manage to do it with thoughtful innovation and stellar performance. The Freedom Z is one lineup that combines power and unique features for an all-rounder zero-turn mower that might be worth your time and money. It is up to you to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons.
But as buying a zero-turn is an important financial decision for many, we would always recommend doing adequate research so that you can be savvy buyers aware of what they are looking for. Please contact us in case of any further doubts or queries, and have a great shopping experience.
