Riding mower guys.. Bad grass cutting.

[cstreit]

I have a Craftsman rider mower with a 42" dual blade deck. Problem is I'm getting a very uneven cut. The center of the cut about 14" isn't getting cut at the same level as everything else.

Blades are sharp and the belt APPEARS ok. Why would the center not cut well, any ideas?

It ends up looking ridiculous with alternating strips of grass that are 1" higher than the next strip. if I cut it the opposite direction I end up with a "checkerboard" effect!

[Rot 911]

You didn't by any chance just sharpen the blades and install them upside down ?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Kurt V
You didn't by any chance just sharpen the blades and install them upside down ?

That, or like the Craftsman LT1000 lawn tractor that came with my house, the blade spindle is loose on the one that's cutting lower.

[cstreit]

THat's the one I have Pat... Were you able to move it up and down by hand? This one came with the house too, lol.

Kurt, I double checked that, heheh...

[fastpat]

Originally posted by cstreit
THat's the one I have Pat... Were you able to move it up and down by hand?

On one of the blade spindles, two of the @#%&# bolts have fallen out and it's jacked up waiting on me to try to put it back together. I'm going to use it to pull some lawn treatment carts around, or to mow areas that I don't or can't mow with my bigger Deere 757 Z-Trak machine. I'm mowing almost 4 acres, including two small orchards, so it would take me forever with the older machine. I have the bolts and a new mower deck belt to put on. You can get on Sears web site and down load an exploded diagram with all the parts listed too.

This one came with the house too, lol.

Yeah, and I've gotten the idea why both previous owners left them too.

[cstreit]

Well my spindles are tight and the blades sharp... It seems that right in the center the grass is too long... I wonder if it's as simple as tire pressures being off? Perhaps they're matting the grass down... I'm pretty sure I measure the cut length and verified it being off though, going to have to do some test cuts and be sure.

Sure is aggravating though!

[red-beard]

Show pictures

[dean]

I hate to say it but the problem is you have a Crapsman lawn mower. I have a Skag and the cut is awesome

[cstreit]

I'll snap a few tomorrow when it's light...

Dean, bbbbut it was FREE.... *sigh* you get what you pay for...

[fastpat]

Originally posted by dean
I hate to say it but the problem is you have a Crapsman lawn mower.

Yeah, that's it. Maybe he can trade it in on a Murray.

I have a Skag and the cut is awesome

I've heard lots of good things about Skag mowers. I almost looked at Ferris mowers, with their suspension system the ride would have been pretty plush, but the Deere support system is so extensive that pulled me to them. I have the air seat suspension kit on order, so that should smooth out the ride. I can't mow at full speed on my terrain, it's not smooth enough, until the kit arrives.

[cstreit]

I went through the mower tonight, oil change, cleanup, lube, etc...

I found that the deck is height adjustable on each side, so I'm going to measure the blade heights and reset it, it's off by 1/2" or so I think. In addition I'm going to reset tire pressures and see if that helps. Everything else looked good....

[Oh Haha]

What's up with the tire pressures? I have noticed my mower mats the grass down. Is there really a difference by changing pressures? I'm not realy concerned about the rake of my lawnmower.

[dean]

Chris,

I sounds like you paid the right price for your mower.

I looked at an Exmark mower also. It was not as heavy duty as the Skag. The Skag is a young mans mower however. It beats the ***** out of me. I don't really like mowing so I do it as fast as I can. I have about an acre of grass and I can be done in 30 mins or so.

[dean]

Originally posted by Oh Haha
What's up with the tire pressures? I have noticed my mower mats the grass down. Is there really a difference by changing pressures? I'm not realy concerned about the rake of my lawnmower.

The tire pressure has to be close to even or it can change the height of the deck causing an uneven cut

[Oh Haha]

No shi'ite?
I hate to admit it but I just figured the soft ground and suspension would keep things even. DOH!!!!!!
Well, that pretty much explains my crappy cutting job. I'll be checking 'em tonight. Is there a best pressure for these tires? Hard as a rock or softer better?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by dean
Chris,

I sounds like you paid the right price for your mower.

I looked at an Exmark mower also. It was not as heavy duty as the Skag. The Skag is a young mans mower however. It beats the ***** out of me. I don't really like mowing so I do it as fast as I can. I have about an acre of grass and I can be done in 30 mins or so.

I think the same company makes most of the air suspension kits for ZTR mower seats, which I assume your Skag is. That same pounding effect is what slows me down. I also have read that you can air down the tires to 5 psi for a bit more ride cushioning, but I haven't done that yet. I want to install the seat kit first.

[dean]

Originally posted by Oh Haha
No shi'ite?
I hate to admit it but I just figured the soft ground and suspension would keep things even. DOH!!!!!!
Well, that pretty much explains my crappy cutting job. I'll be checking 'em tonight. Is there a best pressure for these tires? Hard as a rock or softer better?

Maybe 15 to 25 lbs. Your manual might say or do a Google.

[dean]

Originally posted by fastpat
I think the same company makes most of the air suspension kits for ZTR mower seats, which I assume your Skag is. That same pounding effect is what slows me down. I also have read that you can air down the tires to 5 psi for a bit more ride cushioning, but I haven't done that yet. I want to install the seat kit first.

I don't have a riding Skag. I forgot this was a riding mower thread. I have a walk behind commercial Skag. Sorry for the confusion.

[jyl]

Don't forget the corner balance.

[mede8er]

I'm pretty sure Timmens has a 3.6 conversion kit for your mower....