Help Me Cut My Grass

Aug 05, 2006 9 Replies

I've been putting up with something that is beginning to irritate me. I have a 42" rider. The mower-wheels are in from the spread of the deck. As a result, as I cut a path, the front wheels 'mat' the grass some - enough that the cutting-blades do not cut the as they go over the 'matted' grass. As a result, I look back and I always see a, say,



4" swath, that I then have to make a second cutting trip over a slightly different path so the wheels do not 'mat' the same grass again, and then the blades do cut that grass.

Anyone experience this? And if so, do you have a trick to avoid this aggravation?



Dumb question, huh?



Jethro


Go on a diet - lose weight - and put wider tires on the front with lower air pressure.

You can also try new blades with higher lips to lift the grass up better.

Be careful not to weed-wack your walnut tree too, right Sarge?

These are called high lift blades. They will pull up the blades better for a better chance at getting cut. They also will throw the cut grass out further from the deck because they generate more wind. Also - really sharp blades will likely help your problem, as will slowing down in your speed. I have this issue too sometimes and slowing and replacing blades helps me. Tomes

Clarification: 'They will pull up the blades better for a better chance at getting cut.' means the grass blades get pulled up.....

Thanks for replies. I'll check out both possibilities. I replaced my blades this year - mulching (criss-cross) style. I thought they are 'high lifting', but I'll check. Slowing down does help a bit.

Jethro

I suggest these to everyone. They are high lift, but they do not pick up rocks anywhere near as bad as regular blades, are thicker/stronger/last longer. They are harder to sharpen, but the edge lasts longer also. I have been told I have about an acre or so (180' X

270') to mow and average 5 or 6 days between mowings. I have to sharpen my blades twice a year. You can get them for riders and for push mowers.

Gator Blades at Northern Tool

Jethro wrote:

I've been putting up with something that is beginning to irritate me. I have a 42" rider. The mower-wheels are in from the spread of the deck. As a result, as I cut a path, the front wheels 'mat' the grass some - enough that the cutting-blades do not cut the as they go over the 'matted' grass. As a result, I look back and I always see a, say,

4" swath, that I then have to make a second cutting trip over a slightly different path so the wheels do not 'mat' the same grass again, and then the blades do cut that grass.

Anyone experience this? And if so, do you have a trick to avoid this aggravation?

Dumb question, huh?

Jethro

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