I own an Ariens 1028 RER . I have a pretty small lawn (.28 acre) which slopes gently and steadily away. I have two completely different grasses , but both types are thick and hearty even in dryer times of the year.
I am finding myself mowing this lawn almost twice every time I try to mow. There's leave behinds, stepping and just flat out missed rows . Today I walked off two twelve foot and one 20 foot length that I had just gone over but where the lawn was essentially uncut. It was a tiny bit damp from the cooler evening temps, but nowhere near being too wet to cut. If I run over it again, it cuts it.
It has recently sharpened blades on it, new belts, and I've recently revisited and adjusted tensioners and the deck itself. I'm running out of things to try to adjust to improve the output of what is seemingly a perfectly working mower.
This replaced a low-end toro recycler push mower that I was using up until two years ago. I have some tight spaces in between fences and garden beds, which is the main reason I bought the 28-inch wide rider - convenience. But this poor mowing has me thinking about making another change.
I'm at the point where I'm feeling the need to ask; are these small rear engine riders really for someone else? Am I just asking too much from this? Are these for tiny, flat yards with no bumps and few sharp turns?
Frustrated.
Edit:
Next door neighbor 1: has 34-inch Deere RER, outperforms mine but leaves lots of stepping on turns. I'm convinced if he slowed down he'd be fine. I, however, am mowing in speeds 1 and 2. He hates going slower than 4.
Neighbor 2: 'varna zero turn. Not a blade of grass missed.
Neighbor 3: 42" craftsman LT1000 - perfect mow on an almost car on copy lawn.
In the past I've never had an issue with: 42-inch or 36-inch mowers at my parents place. Also a flawless cut from a 48" deck over all sorts of terrain at my in-laws place, using an ancient beater of a tractor.
These are the things which make me frustrated at my current situation.
I am finding myself mowing this lawn almost twice every time I try to mow. There's leave behinds, stepping and just flat out missed rows . Today I walked off two twelve foot and one 20 foot length that I had just gone over but where the lawn was essentially uncut. It was a tiny bit damp from the cooler evening temps, but nowhere near being too wet to cut. If I run over it again, it cuts it.
It has recently sharpened blades on it, new belts, and I've recently revisited and adjusted tensioners and the deck itself. I'm running out of things to try to adjust to improve the output of what is seemingly a perfectly working mower.
This replaced a low-end toro recycler push mower that I was using up until two years ago. I have some tight spaces in between fences and garden beds, which is the main reason I bought the 28-inch wide rider - convenience. But this poor mowing has me thinking about making another change.
I'm at the point where I'm feeling the need to ask; are these small rear engine riders really for someone else? Am I just asking too much from this? Are these for tiny, flat yards with no bumps and few sharp turns?
Frustrated.
Edit:
Next door neighbor 1: has 34-inch Deere RER, outperforms mine but leaves lots of stepping on turns. I'm convinced if he slowed down he'd be fine. I, however, am mowing in speeds 1 and 2. He hates going slower than 4.
Neighbor 2: 'varna zero turn. Not a blade of grass missed.
Neighbor 3: 42" craftsman LT1000 - perfect mow on an almost car on copy lawn.
In the past I've never had an issue with: 42-inch or 36-inch mowers at my parents place. Also a flawless cut from a 48" deck over all sorts of terrain at my in-laws place, using an ancient beater of a tractor.
These are the things which make me frustrated at my current situation.
, but is the blade installed correctly? Every season I will have a least one unit with the blades installed upside down.