Got my 2022 Scag Cheetah

[Gizmo]

I bought this secondhand from a friend, which I thought I kinda don't really need considering that I already got a Case IH. But then again, this feels good. I'm new to this zero-turn mower thing. I noticed that the vibration is less at higher throttles but then I feel pulsing every few seconds and I don't know if it's normal? The fuel gauges also bounce when the blades are engaged. Need your opinions please and no judgments.

 

[MowinMadman]

When the blades engage, the throttle ramps up, increasing vibration because the engine load is from the spinning blades

ZTRs have more weight on the back and less ground contact, which causes more vibration, whereas tractors balance weight evenly with the deck in the middle. Forklift handling frequently results in new mowers, particularly ZTRs, having bent or unbalanced blades

 

[umbra loooooom]

It's completely understandable to wonder about new sensations on a zero-turn mower. From my time around various mowers, that pulsing sensation might be related to how the engine is handling the load from the blades or maybe even a belt or pulley that's not perfectly concentric. As for the fuel gauge bouncing, that's fairly common on mowers when the engine's working hard and vibrations are present. It often doesn't mean trouble, just the fuel sloshing around.

 

[squirrel.foe44]

the vibration is less at higher throttles but then I feel pulsing every few seconds and I don't know if it's normal?

nope, the pulsing every few seconds, especially with less vibration at higher throttle, is not normal for a smooth running engine.
It sounds like a slight misfire or an engine governor hunting for RPM. Could be a fuel issue (clogged filter, bad fuel from sitting, dirty carb/injector), a spark plug starting to go, or an air filter issue. Definitely worth investigating