Mower leaving lines advice

[600_RMK_144]

There are a few things I would check. Doing all of them rather than just one will ensure everything is up to par. 1) Level the deck front to back & side to side. They have a cheap tool that measures your mower blade heights to confirm they are all at the same height. 2) Tire pressures (often overlooked) - Make sure they are all the same. 3) Sharpen the blades, sounds like you already did this. 4) If none of these take care of it, then lastly I would recommend a new belt. Good luck!

 

[m8man]

I keep about ten acres cut almost weekly all season, normal type stuff. The rest I have a friend knock it down with his tractor. My mower deck has the front lower than the back, not sure if that’s how it’s suppose to be or not. Anyway I tried a few things tonight, cutting super slow and wide open throttle, cutting faster, also thicker or thinner areas and the lines are from between the blades. I have 3 blades that leave two lines. They are t where the tires are either. I basically cut it twice to get the lines out. I’ll figure it out but making me “appreciate the cranberry and goose”

 

[euphoric1]

yes, the deck should be lower in front than rear, I favor the high end of spec and set pitch at 3/8 of an inch, that way the leading edge of blade will be cutting the grass, and again thats measuring off of blade tips not deck pan, what's going on there has noting to do with pitch or level

 

[jonesin]

have you checked to see if maybe a bearing is going out and allowing a wobble?

 

[600_RMK_144]

Is it a Toro rider by chance? Toro is known for their OEM/ stock blades being too short (particularly their mulching blades), which causes stripes. On mine, I switched out to aftermarket blades. Sitting them side-by-side the aftermarket ones were just a tad longer. Swapping those (along with the other things mentioned earlier) completely eliminated my stripes. I was having to do multiple passes prior to that and it was very annoying!

 

[euphoric1]

Been with Toro for 30 years, had my own dealership for 11 years, never have I heard of mulching blades being too short, that would be new to me

 

[600_RMK_144]

Been with Toro for 30 years, had my own dealership for 11 years, never have I heard of mulching blades being too short, that would be new to me

Gets mentioned in my Toro FB groups semi-regular. When stripes are brought up. More-so with the mulching blade. And I can say that it definitely was a thing on my Timecutter SS4225.

 

[pclark]

I think every mower leaves stripes, same with the tires. Have you thought about getting goats?

 

[gary_in_neenah]

I think every mower leaves stripes, same with the tires. Have you thought about getting goats?

Well, sheep might be a better choice. They eat the grass and then you can sheer their wool. Nobody wants to wear a "Goat Coat".

 

[whitedust]

PM Euphoric I’m sure he can eliminate your stripes he knows Toro inside out and keeps my Pos Ariens tractor going with bailing wire and welder.

 

[slimcake]

My neighbors love my lawn "lines".... Sorry other than measuring tomake sure your blades are long enough I got nothing...

 

[euphoric1]

QOC (quality of cut) variables
1. proper tire pressure
2. sharp, correct and correctly installed blades
3. proper deck level and pitch, front of deck should be 1/4 to 3 /8 inch lower than back, measured off of blade tips not deck pan, should be exactly level side to side, again measuring off blade tips not deck pan.
4. belt condition and proper tension
5. ground speed and grass conditions especially when trying to mulch
6. proper top no load engine RPM 3650 + or minus 150 RPM
7. damage to deck pan causing tipping of spindle assembly which can easily be identified by rotating blade tip to blade tip making sure each blade tip is at same height as one next to it.

easy peasy

 

[600_RMK_144]

QOC (quality of cut) variables
1. proper tire pressure
2. sharp, correct and correctly installed blades
3. proper deck level and pitch, front of deck should be 1/4 to 3 /8 inch lower than back, measured off of blade tips not deck pan, should be exactly level side to side, again measuring off blade tips not deck pan.
4. belt condition and proper tension
5. ground speed and grass conditions especially when trying to mulch
6. proper top no load engine RPM 3650 + or minus 150 RPM
7. damage to deck pan causing tipping of spindle assembly which can easily be identified by rotating blade tip to blade tip making sure each blade tip is at same height as one next to it.

easy peasy

Great list! I need to do #7 as I feel like something is off on mine.

 

[jshabadu]

Well, sheep might be a better choice. They eat the grass and then you can sheer their wool. Nobody wants to wear a "Goat Coat".

I think goats would be a good choice. Everyone could use a Cashmere sweater!

 

[wiscrev]

I think goats would be a good choice. Everyone could use a Cashmere sweater!

Nah, have a sand yard. I only mow 2-3 times a year that way I have more time for play.

 

[slimcake]

Nah, have a sand yard. I only mow 2-3 times a year that way I have more time for play.

I look at mowing as a relief from the hustle bustle. Something you gave up a long time ago if I remember correctly. How you been wiscrev?

 

[wiscrev]

I look at mowing as a relief from the hustle bustle. Something you gave up a long time ago if I remember correctly. How you been wiscrev?

Doing well, thank you. I didn't give it up---pastor's don't retire. Live in St Germain and serve a LCMS church in Iron River, MI. Also chaplain of four different orgs including the Derby, president of a veterans org that helps vets in Vilas County, sing in a 100 voice choir and do musical theater. My philosophy is "You're only a kid once, so stay a kid as long as you can." BTW, I'm 81. My relief is traveling on the trike, driving grain truck or combining. Haven't done the last two for a while but might get back into it the end of this month in ND to help a good friend.