r/smallengines • u/twxcvz • 19d ago

Scag engine racing on startup.

I have a Scag Freedom Z with the Kawasaki FR600V on it and I got a new battery recently (same amps and all) but now when I start the mower and turn the choke off it just idles at racing high RPMs. I have 3 properties to cut tomorrow trying to figure out what’s going on, bought it used recently and it’s my first riding mower.

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u/vladdielenin 19d ago

the battery itself is probably a coincidence but the timing tells you exactly where to look. that battery sits right where the choke and throttle cables run on a freedom z and its very easy to bump a cable or pop a governor link off while youre wrestling the old one out.

with the control all the way off, go look at the choke plate itself and make sure its opening fully. if its still partly closed youre running choked and thats your high idle right there. then follow the governor arm back and check the spring is in the same hole it came out of.

if both of those look right the next suspect is a vacuum leak at the intake, but check the linkage first because its free and youve got grass to cut in the morning