The Scag Liberty Z zero turn mower is a residential grade machine that is perfect for the homeowner with a couple acres of grass. It is built with a commercially inspired design and from highly recognized brand. If you are a homeowner and looking to upgrade to a zero turn, the Scag Liberty Z is a good place to start.
In this article, we will be going through a comprehensive Scag liberty z review. It is considered to be a quality mower with a number of features. It has been appreciated by many customers as per the reviews that are available across the internet.
Below we will take a look at the entire Scag Liberty lineup.
Scag Liberty Z Overview
| SZL36-18FR | SZL48-21FR | SZL52-23FR | SZL61-26KT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Size | 36″ deck | 48″ deck | 52″ deck | 61″ deck |
| Engine | 18 HP Kawasaki FR600 | 21 HP Kawasaki FR651 | 23 HP Kawasaki FR691 | 26 HP Kohler 7000 Series PRO |
| Drive System | Hydro-Gear ZT2800 | Hydro-Gear ZT2800 | Hydro-Gear ZT2800 | Hydro-Gear ZT3100 |
| Fuel Capacity | 3.5 gallons | 5.5 gallons | 5.5 gallons | 5.5 gallons |
| Speed | 7 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph | 7 mph |
| Suspension | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Warranty | 5 year or 750 hour residential | 5 year or 750 hour residential | 5 year or 750 hour residential | 5 year or 750 hour residential |
| Price | $4,783 | $5,042 | $5,249 | $5,923 |
New 2020 Upgrades
- Completely new, upgraded look
- New seat look and design with added armrests
- Foot operated height of cut lever is redesigned
- Improved overall comfort of machine
- Same great specs
Power
ThisScag libertymower is powered by Kohler 7000 series or Kawasaki FR series engine. These engines are reliable brands and proven engines. Both of these will last a homeowner a long time.
This mower comes with the HydroGear ZT2800 (36″, 48″, or 52″) or HydroGear ZT3100 (61″) transaxles. The ZT2800 transaxles are considered residential grade by HydroGear's standards. This is the highest end of residential transaxles they offer. The ZT3100 is the first step into the commercial transaxles in HydroGear's offering.
If a 61″ deck isn't too large for your yard and you can spend the extra money this is a huge reason to make the upgrade. These ZT3100 will outperform and outlast the ZT2800 transaxles in most cases.
The Scag Liberty Z has a forward speed of 7 MPH and 5 MPH reverse. This is pretty good for a residential mower in it's price range. It isn't the faster mower on the market, but definitely better than most riding mowers.
Overall, this mower has a lot of power and will be a great option to maintain your lawn throughout the year.
Cut Quality
The mower has a unique cutter deck and it is designed for delivering those beautiful cuts, use after use. Further, the deck has been designed for durability and longevity.
This deck also features sealed bearings. This is a debatable topic between sealed and greasable bearings. However, on most residential mowers the sealed bearings are just fine. This also helps to lower the amount of time spent on maintenance.
The mower deck is incredibly strong and it has facilities for adjusting cutting heights without getting down from the seat. This has been redesigned from last year and looks better and is a little easier to adjust the height of cut.
This mower has a quality cut for it's price range. It doesn't quite have the cut quality of the slope nosed Velocity deck but it is still a great cutting machine.
Durability
Since the mower has been designed to handle tough and demanding cutting tasks, you can expect it to be durable and long lasting when compared to some other products in its price range. The cutter deck is strong and fully fabricated and the entire frame is very solid. This also could go a long way in enhancing the overall life of the mower considerably.
Comfort
There is no doubt that comfort matters a lot when using a mower and it would be interesting to have a closer look at the comfort characteristics of this mower from Scag Liberty.
It comes with a contoured, padded and high-back seat. This is a huge upgrade over the previous Liberty model. The seat on the old model was a bit lagging. This new model also has armrests.
I can't review a Scag without mentioning the aesthetics of the seat… however you may be surprised with this one. I actually like the design of the new seat on the Scag Liberty Z. It finally has a bit of an eye catching and modern design to it.
Compared to the previous model, the seat (and mower in general) is so much better in terms of appearance and comfort.
Aesthetics
The overall looks, appearances and ergonomics of the mower again are quite impressive. It certainly is a combination of looks and toughness. The color of the mower is also strikingly attractive.
This is probably going to be the new wave of Scag's design. I think they really hit it out of the park with this one. It is an awesome looking mower and let's be honest… as a homeowner that is something that really matters.
I'm very impressed with the new black colors incorporated into the design. It makes the machine to tough. I love it.
Build Quality
The main frame is made from tubular steel. Hence, users can be sure that it will offer unmatched strength, longevity, and power. You will also like the drive spindles as they are designed for heavy-duty work. They are made from quality aluminum and also have sealed ball bearing. This helps in high-quality performance every season and for many years at a length.
Safety
The Scag Liberty offers excellent stability. This is because of a low center of gravity. Further, the extra wide stance of the mower also contributes to the safety attributes positively.
The mower also has all of the standard safety features found on other mowers. This mower is a safe option.
Our Rating
| Performance: |  (4.2 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Durability: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Comfort: | (4.2 / 5) |
| Price: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.1 / 5) |
Price
There are four models of Scag liberty z mowers and they are 36 inches, 48 inches, 52 inches and 61 inches. They are priced approximately at $4,785, $5,040, $5,250 and $5,923 respectively.
Overall this is a pretty good price compared to other mowers in this price/spec range. They definitely aren't the cheapest option but they have a quality machine with great specs. It is a pretty good option if your budget can afford it.
Wrapping it up
On the whole, whether it is the design features, ergonomics, looks, performance, cutting prowess, motor power or durability, there are reasons to believe that the Scag Liberty Z zero mower could be the right choice.
It is a solid overall mower than many homeowners will love. If you have about a 2 – 5 acres lawn this will be a perfect zero turn lawn mower for you. Overall, it is a well built machine and will help many people with their lawn maintenance needs.
What Do You Think?
Do you have the new Scag Liberty Z? What is your experience with it? If not, would you be interested in getting this mower? Leave us a comment below. We love hearing from you!
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For more information on this mower check outScag's official site. To find a dealer near you check out theirdealer locator.
Images are fromScag.
