Scag SFC30 Walk Behind Mower Review

Scag has jumped into the large commercial self-propelled mower game. This is a trend that was started by Toro/Exmark several years ago and other manufactures have begun joining in. The 30″ mowers are the perfect mower for landscapers that don't need a smaller deck size enough to justify a commercial walk behind mower or stand on, but need something a little quicker than a traditional push mower.

The efficiency of these mowers are definitely quite a bit better than a residential push or self-propelled mower. They are also built much better and

Spring is in the air, the birds are chirping and the grass is growing. What does that mean? Time to mow the lawn. If you're looking for a new mower or just want to get an idea of what's on the market, I'm going to give you a rundown of one of the more well-regarded mowers on the market: the SCAG SFC30

About Scag

SCAG is considered one of the premier manufacturers of lawn and turf management equipment including riding mowers, stand-on mowers, blowers and spreaders. SCAG has been producing equipment since 1983 and also offers a “build your own mower” offer where you can choose your combination of deck, engine and accessories to suit your needs. The SCAG SFC30 walk-behind mowers is one of SCAG's more popular products given its various features and functionality.

Comparison

The Scag SFC30 is the newest mower to join the commercial push mower market. The closest comparisons to this mower are the Ferris FW15 and the Toro Turfmaster. Check on the full comparison of these two mowers.

The Scag and Toro are extremely similar in terms of specs. There are a few design and feature difference but nothing too important.

Mower	Scag SFC30	Ferris FW15	Toro Turfmaster
Engine	Kohler 224CV	Honda FXV390	Kawasaki FJ180V KAI 179cc Commercial
Engine Power	7 hp	10.2 hp	6 hp
Engine Displacement	224 cc	389 cc	179 cc
Starter	Manual	Manual	Manual
Ground Speed	FWD – 4 mph REV – N/A	FWD – 4 mph REV – 2 MPH	FWD – 4 mph REV – N/A
Transmission	GT MV 702 Transmission	Peerless axle with differential chain driven by Hydro-Gear RT-310 pump and motor	Variable speed, Rear wheel drive
Fuel Tank	1 Gallon	.55 Gallons	1 Gallon
Number of blades	2	2	2
Cutting Width	30 Inches	32 inches	30 inches
Wheel Weight	Front – 9 in Rear – 10.5 in	Front – 10.5 in Rear – 13 in	Front – 9 in. Rear – 10.5 in.
Deck Material	14 and 12 Gauge steel	14 and 12 Gauge Steel	13 Gauge Steel
Weight	213 lb	280 lb	170 lb
Warranty	2-year unlimited hour 3-year engine warranty	2-year unlimited hour 3-year engine warranty	1-year unlimited hour 3-year engine warranty
Price*	$2,427	$3,299	~$2,199

Power

One thing I like about the SFC30 is the engine power for its size. The SCAG SF30 has a Kohler 224 CV, recoil-start, which gives it a lot more power than your average walk-behind but with mobility. It is definitely a much smaller engine than the Honda engine on the Ferris FW15 but, it is still a good engine given the size of the Scag.

It contains a GT MV 203 Transmission, providing smooth operability while allowing for a steady pace of up to 4 mph while mowing and reliability of cutting regardless of the circumstances. Honestly, I'm not very familiar with this transmission but it seemed to have a good amount of power. Hopefully, it will hold up well but only time will tell.

Features

• One of the nice features of this mower is that it contains a blade brake clutch which allows you to disengage the blades without stopping the machine in case you encounter an obstruction but need to keep mowing
• It has a total fuel capacity of 1 gallon which allows you to do a decent amount of mowing on a single tank
• It's drive tires and caster wheels are made of glass-filled polypropylene, which makes them extra durable with a longer life span

Cut Quality

I like the double blade design and the large, 30″ cutting width this mower offers, which allows you to get more lawn mowed more quickly. It's designed for side discharge, mulching, or bag clippings, with a discharge chute and deck plug to easily transition between settings. The bag capacity of 2.5 bushels. The deck is made of extra strong-fully fabricated welded steel and there's a hand lever and pin combination to easily control the deck height in 1/4″ increments.

Durability

The SCAG SFC30 is made for durability. The deck is made of 14 gauge, grade 100, military grade steel deck with 12-gauge spindle reinforcement plate to withstand the heavy impact of unexpected debris. It also comes with a 1/4″ trim side reinforcement bar for extra protection from impacts.

Given the quality of the welding and the deck composition, a properly cared for SFC30 should last a long time. If there are any chips in the paint, it may be liable to rust given the steel composition.

Comfort

For a large walk-behind mower, I find it to be rather easy to use and easy on the body. The handles are oversized with internally routed cables to prevent snags while adjusting. You don't need tools to adjust the handles, and they can be adjusted to a maximum height of 45″, with lower heights being easily accommodated.

Another attribute that improves comfort are the ergonomic hand controls located on the handle. The blade engagement levels, blade speed and mower speed are all easily controlled on the handles, and the levers are made to be comfortable gripped while mowing. Given that this is a walk-behind mower, there is no suspension to absorb shock. Then again, at 4 mph, you probably won't encounter too many high speed bumps.

Aesthetics

SCAG's signature colors are black and orange, which is a great color combination if you like Halloween all year long. Seriously, though, the mower is built for function and durability but is made to be compact and streamlined for an industrial mower, with an easily removable access plate in the front for engine cleaning and maintenance

Build Quality

As already noted, the quality materials used give this mower an edge as far as durability and longevity. SCAG offers a 2-year commercial machine warranty for the frame and structural components such as oil reservoirs, electrical switches, and wheel motors, and a 3-year or 500 hour non-commercial warranty that covers the same components.

Pros

• Pros of the SFC30 include its ergonomic design and adjustability, its versatility regarding mowing functions, its powerful engine and drive train, its large cutting width and its durable construction

Cons

• Cons of the SFC 30 are that its at the more expensive end of the walk-behind mower spectrum and that it is larger than other walk behind mowers, which may make it harder to store and transport

Our Rating

Performance:	(4.5 / 5)
Cut Quality:	(4.2 / 5)
Durability:	(4.5 / 5)
Comfort:	(4.3 / 5)
Price:	(4.0 / 5)
Overall:	(4.3 / 5)

Price

The starting MSRP of this mower is $2,427.

Wrapping It Up

If you're like me and enjoy a well-made mower that can tackle any lawn height and is made to last, then the SCAG SFC30 is for you. With its easy to operate deck and blade adjustment levers and its smooth performance, its easy to see why this mower is considered one of the better walk-behind mowers out there

What do you think?

Thanks for taking the time to check out this SCAG SFC30 review. I hope you have a better understanding of the SFC30's operability, and please let me know if you have any questions or how you can get a hold of one yourself.

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For more information on this mower check out Scag.

Images are from Scag.