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my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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Posted by robert.snyder IN (My Page) on Tue, May 26, 09 at 16:37
Model STC48V-19KAI serial C1602194 bought in 2006.
Sunday the 24th after about 30 minutes of mowing my SCAG tiger cub smelled like gasoline for a second, died 10 seconds later and then, after about 30 more seconds BURST into FLAMES and burned to the ground. This was used for my yard and had very low hours.
Here's some pictures
http://picasaweb.google.com/grimshady/SCAG_burnedup#
Doesn't look like I"m in the recall...so what the heck!!
You dont know how it feels to watch helplessly as your 6 thousand dollar mower burns to the ground before your eyes..Water just made the flames worse (the fire department was spraying it). Must have lost a fuel line I guess somehow and had raw gas feeding the flames... dont know what sparked it since the muffler is on the back and the flames were, well, I guess everywhere on the engine...but seemed like a lot of flames between the engine and the seat.
Anyone have any recommendations besides call SCAG, my dealer, my insurance company (wonder if they will pay this much money for a mower)?? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Pictues of burned SCAG
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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WOW!! Lucky it wasn't near any buildings, especially
your house. I have a friend who finished mowing his
lawn with his John Deere rider and parked it in his
attached garage, like he always did. Well a few minutes later it burst into flames and took the house with it.
I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you make out okay
with the insurance. Obviously there was a problem
with your machine, but even if a machine is functioning
properly, EVERYONE should always shut their machine down in the open,away from buildings and only bring it in after it has cooled. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
(I can't believe the fire dept. would pour water
on what was obvioudly a gasoline fed fire). |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Call Scag-(920)387-3150.Ask for Jerry Bailey. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Sorry for your lost. Let this be an eye opener for the rest of us to have a fire extinguisher that used for ABC fires in the shed, garage, or even on the equipment itself. I have two in the garage, two in the house and one in the shed. You may never need them but when you do it can save a bunch IMO. This may have nothing to do with your problem, but again I cannot stress doing a pre and post quick inspection of our equipment before and after uses. Especially looking for raw gas, oil leaks, and hydraulic leaks, all of these can be a fire hazard if leaking in the right spot. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| SCAG is being cooperative but they want to work WITH my insurance company...so sounds like they dont want to just hand me a new mower...dont know how thats any better than just dealing with my insurance company by itself. Maybe the deductable can be waived or something.. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Thanks for this post. I am now letting my mower cool off outside before I bring it into the garage. I never would have thought about the possibility of the machine catching on fire. I hope that you get a new mower soon. I am actually thinking about purchasing a SCAG Freedom Z at the end of this season. Hopefully this was just a fluke issue and not a design flaw. Good luck. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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To close out the SCAG part of this thread..SCAG has made its final decision.
They are willing to sell me a tiger cat for 6200 + tx. I'm guessing that's about 800 less than what most folks can get one for...Unfortunately, the price still puts me out 1K of insurance deductible. So, SCAG has made a minor gesture towards helping me but nothing close to replacing the mower. So, since I have to pay minimum 1K, and insurance will pay "replacement value" I'll be buying up and into a different brand. I'll have the old 48" deck probably still good to sell as well as most of the front parts of the mower...could be that drive motors are good too but will have to take a look. Thanks everyone for following this thread. I consider the matter closed but would invite anyone to continue to post their experiences with SCAG or any other mower that may have an potential fatal flaw. I've been chastised, in another forum, for not keeping up with my preventative maintenance (although I have met or exceeded whats listed in the manual). When its your business or your life on the line I think it prudent to do more and now I know that both are at risk and that the manufacture wont do much to back you up. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Geeze, I always sweep off my Toro Timecutter and back it into the garage right away. After reading this I just might consider letting it sit outside for awhile. Glad you weren't hurt. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| How did it happen? The only way I can think of is that gas leaked from the fuel line onto the hot engine. I am surprised they are not offering you a new one, no questions asked. If I was SCAG management, I would want to finish with this case as soon as possible and not have the customer start posting pictures on the internet and writing stories abou what happened. This has the potential of hurting them far more than it hurt you. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| I'm still not convinced that ethanol is not causing a lot of fuel line failures. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Could be ethanol, Looks like a gravely just burned over on the lawnsite forum also. It was a 2001 with pretty low hours. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| Good decision to go out and buy another brand when u can't get satisfaction from the manufacturer. The only votes they understand are green. |
RE: my scag tiger cub burst into flames!
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| I had the same problem happen to me. I was able to save my mower. this is what I discovered upon examination of the problem. The culprit in my instance was the wiring harness that connects the battery (part #482543) had vibrated apart. This shuts the power down to the ignition module allowing raw fuel to be pumped into the cylinders until they overflow into the exhaust. When the fuel hit the hot exhaust it burst into flame. When I saw where the flames were originating I shut off the fuel valve and then cranked the engine over till all the fuel was expelled from the cylinders and exhaust. Now as part of my prestart check list check that plug to ensure it is connected and have gone as far as to tape it together with electrical tape to ensure that it stays connected. After speaking with my small engine repair man he explained the same thing is possible if one of the spark plugs become fowled. That cylinder can pump raw fuel directly into the exhaust. I'm sure Scag will do nothing for you of any great signifigance. Remember they're main goal is to sell you a new mower. I will stick whith scags but when I upgrade i will go to a larger model probably with a diesel engine. |
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