If you are looking for an excellent zero-turn mower, Bad Boy mowers should be at the top of your list. These mowers are known for their various mowing speeds and versatile performance. Maverick ZT mowers are ideal for both residential and commercial use. However, it is a more popular mowing option for homeowners.
With all its great features, the Maverick series of Bad Boy lawnmowers could be better. Users might encounter common issues with the mowing deck, engine, and hydraulic system.
Most of these common Bad Boy Maverick problems are not associated with manufacturing defects. These engine and hydraulic issues can be avoided with proper and regular care. This blog post delves into these issues and possible remedies.
Most Common Problems with Bad Boy Maverick
Table of Contents
The Bad Boy Maverick is just like any other zero-turn lawn mower. It requires thorough and ongoing maintenance to avoid the development of complex clogginess in the filters or carburetor.
Without proper care, simple issues will develop into unfixable problems. So, keeping an eye on the internal parts of your Bad Boy Maverick is recommended.
1. Mower Won’t Start
Starting failure is a common issue for the vast majority of zero-turn mowers. It is usually associated with a bad battery and faulty spark plugs. Also, there are multiple engine issues standing behind the starting failure. But you should start by checking the air filter. It might be clogged and prevent air from reaching the carburetor.
The same applies to the fuel filter. It might be jammed with dirt and debris. This prevents adequate levels of fresh gas from reaching the engine for combustion.
Aside from cleaning or replacing these filters, you should check out the spark plug. In most cases, cleaning will be less helpful. So, getting a new plug is recommended, considering that spark plugs are not expensive.
2. Greyish Emission
In general, you are not supposed to see any sign of emissions coming from this bad boy mower’ exhaust. But if you spot smoke from the engine or the exhaust direction, this should be alarming. Smoky emissions may vary in color and, subsequently, in their causes.
Greyish or black smoke is usually associated with an internal engine oil leak. In this case, finding and fixing the cause of the oil or gas leak will end this problem. Minor or accidental motor oil spills sometimes cause this problem. This cause can be easily fixed by tilting the Bad Boy Mower’s body.
3. Inefficient Hydrostatic Transmission
Hydraulic issues are not uncommon for almost all zero-turn lawnmowers. So, the Maverick model is no exception. This mower has no automatic or manual gear but relies on a hydro transmission for moving and speeding.
Generally, this type of transmission offers smooth operation. However, this hydraulic system lies under a lot of pressure and heat. This calls for excessive and fast wear and tear of its components.
But before checking the internal components, you should add hydraulic fluid. Insufficient fluid makes this system malfunction. Then, inspect the tensioner arm, which is responsible for adjusting the tension of the drive belt. This component might require some extra grease.
4. Power Loss
The causes of this issue are similar to those of starting failure. So, whenever your Bad Boy Maverick suddenly loses power, you should thoroughly check out the filters. Start by cleaning, but getting replacements is easy and affordable if the debris is stubborn.
But this is not all; you can replace the filters and still face the same issue. If so, you should inspect the flywheel. When working properly, this component stores extra energy. So, once the Bad Boy Maverick goes torque, the flywheel releases the stored power. Typically, when it malfunctions, there will be a sudden power loss.
5. White Emission
While black smoke is more common on Bad Boy’s mowers, blue or white smoke is more serious. It is an indication of internal burning of the air-cooled engine oil. This can happen when you overfill the engine’s crankcase with oil. Also, it can be a sign of using incorrect oil.
All in all, blue and white smoke requires revising the oil levels and type. Ignoring this issue will lead to undesirable complications in the engine and more expensive costs.
6. Poor Steering and Turning
Poor steering is an irritating problem that can disturb your mowing sessions. It may also jeopardize your safety, as you might hit something. So, if your Bad Boy Maverick struggles with turning and steering, you should look deeply into the mower deck.
Inspecting the cutting deck requires checking the proper balance of both sides. If there is some imbalance in the deck, it is usually an issue with a wrong-bent blade spindle. The spindle keys are mainly responsible for transmitting the engine power to the deck blades.
The effect of malfunctioning spindles reaches the deck belt and deck height. Unfortunately, bent or broken spindle housings are unfixable. They must be replaced.
7. Rough Running
It would help to suspect a bad spark plug when the engine fails to run smoothly. If this fix does not tackle the issue, you should look at the filters, specifically the air and oil filters. A malfunctioning carburetor can also cause rough running.
8. Transaxle Troubles
This mechanical part plays a major role in transferring the energy of the starter motor into forward and reverse motion. When this compact item malfunctions, you will experience a rough ride. Additionally, you will notice uneven cutting.
Most of this part’s problems are related to transmission fluid levels. Moreover, the hydraulic charge pump is to blame when the transaxle malfunctions.
9. Fuel System Leaks
Many users think fuel leaks are only associated with damaged tank caps. This is a major cause, but not the only one. For some users, debris buildup will only clog fuel lines and filters. However, such debris will restrict the fuel flow and cause fuel leaks. When this buildup becomes moist, it will cause tearing in the lines.
10. Engine Issues
You might be surprised to experience unexplained engine vibrations throughout different mowing sessions. This is usually a result of loose engine bolts. So, do some severe inspection until you determine the location of missing or loose bolts. Then use your scrench for some tightening.
11. Unbalanced Mower Blades
This is the main culprit for deck vibration. One of the blades has become unequally balanced. This makes the mower shake and vibrates while driving. Keeping the weight of both blades the same is possible through appropriate sharpening.
12. Difficulty Driving Straight
This issue is associated with improper tire pressure or poor tire alignment. You can refer to the manufacturer’s manual to adjust these values. While at it, inspecting the clutch lever for worn clutch cables is worth checking. Also, a certified lawn mower repair shop can be helpful in this matter.
13. Decreased Cutting Speed
This problem might be related to a bad drive belt or improper engagement of the blades. In the first scenario, you will need a replacement belt that is properly installed and tightened. Also, go through the blade engagement settings explained in the user manual.
14. Formation of Grass Clumps
This issue indicates a problem with the blades. It is either associated with improper blade sharpness or mowing the grass while still wet. Luckily, both problems are easy to address and fix.
15. Bogging Down on Inclined Areas
Again, this is associated with a dirty spark plug or a malfunctioning carb. Also, it might be an issue with plugged filters. So, thoroughly check all these components to clean what needs cleaning and replace what is faulty.
16. No Driving, even when Running the Engine
This might be a simple problem as leaving the parking brake engaged. You can quickly disengage the brakes. Also, ensure you’ve set the driving levers into the forward adjustment.
Bad Boy Maverick Problems: are they a deal breaker?
Bad Boy Maverick zero-turn mowers are an excellent choice for residential and commercial mowing. Despite the abovementioned problem, these mowers are not demanding servicing.
Keeping the filters clean and using fresh fluids and fuel stabilizers will decrease the chances of various engine issues. It is also essential to use the machine in ideal mowing conditions.
Also, different electrical and battery issues can be avoided if you keep the battery terminals free from corrosion. Also, giving a dead battery a proper charge is an excellent way to prevent an unnecessary replacement.
Generally, an accurate understanding of the typical Bad Boy Maverick problem helps you find the best remedies and fixes without much waste.
Marvin is an expert in farming equipment with a strong background in agricultural engineering. He graduated from Kansas State College of Agriculture, where he received a degree in Agricultural Engineering and specialized in farm equipment design and maintenance.
