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Fastrak Cuts Like Garbage

#1

K

keg99

I have a new 60" Fastrak that cuts terrible. The dealer agreed and so did the factory rep. They installed a hi-vac system (baffles) and high lift blades. It cuts a bit better, but still cuts like cr_p. To get a good cut, I have to go at no more than half speed. Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions (beside selling and getting something different, which is my current plan)?


#2

M

mechanic mark

Sounds like blades are installed upside down.


#3

K

keg99

Yep. That's exactly how it cuts. I even got off the mower twice to check, thinking that had to be the problem. But no, the blades are on correctly. It's just the worst of any mower I have ever owned. I have about 5 acres to cut and need to be able to get it done quickly. Thinking of a Ferris, Toro or Gravely.


#4

breagler

breagler

Aside from checking on the blades being installed correctly, are you running the mower at full throttle for the entire mow? This may seem to be a dumb question but I've known a few people run the mower at half throttle to save gas and complain about the cut. These machines are designed to be run at 100% for proper cooling.


#5

K

keg99

Another good suggestion. And yes, I do run it at full throttle. I even bought an rpm gage to double check that it is running the rpm it should. It is as the manufacturer recommended. Sharp blades, blades installed correctly, throttle at full, . . . what else is there you can do. It is weird that the mower would cut so badly. Anyway, I will have to buy something else. Nothing like running half speed when you're looking at acres to cut.


#6

M

MParr

keg99 said:
Another good suggestion. And yes, I do run it at full throttle. I even bought an rpm gage to double check that it is running the rpm it should. It is as the manufacturer recommended. Sharp blades, blades installed correctly, throttle at full, . . . what else is there you can do. It is weird that the mower would cut so badly. Anyway, I will have to buy something else. Nothing like running half speed when you're looking at acres to cut.
Click to expand...
How do you have the deck set? Level all around? Rear slightly higher than the front?
Something isn’t right with your setup.
I will tell you that Rotary brand 6083 will perform better on your mower. However your deck needs to be setup properly. Your engine RPMs need to be set exactly as the engine
manufacturer specifies.
Your maximum throttle RPM should be 3,600 with no load.

6083

6083
www.rotarycorp.com www.rotarycorp.com


#7

B

bertsmobile1

Not every bale & deck combination will give a give cut on every type of grass.
It could just be the wrong deck & blade combo for what is coming out of your soil


#8

7394

7394

Are ya trying to cut too tall of grass all at once ?


#9

M

mechanic mark

Commercial Mowers

www.kubotausa.com www.kubotausa.com


#10

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

keg99 said:
Yep. That's exactly how it cuts. I even got off the mower twice to check, thinking that had to be the problem. But no, the blades are on correctly. It's just the worst of any mower I have ever owned. I have about 5 acres to cut and need to be able to get it done quickly. Thinking of a Ferris, Toro or Gravely.
Click to expand...
I have a ferris 3100z with 60" ICD deck and gator blades. I can cut at full speed unless the grass is tall and it does a good cut. 36hp helps too.


#11

bkeller500

bkeller500

my guess is your ground is rough and at higher speeds the deck is bouncing up and down more than you realize. You say at half speed the cut is better which means the set-up may be OK.


#12

vintagefred

vintagefred

keg99 said:
Another good suggestion. And yes, I do run it at full throttle. I even bought an rpm gage to double check that it is running the rpm it should. It is as the manufacturer recommended. Sharp blades, blades installed correctly, throttle at full, . . . what else is there you can do. It is weird that the mower would cut so badly. Anyway, I will have to buy something else. Nothing like running half speed when you're looking at acres to cut.
Click to expand...
Is it possible the deck and motor pulleys are not correctly matched to give the proper blade rpm? Doesn't matter how much you rev the engine if these pulleys are wrong size (or slipping). Also check deck belt tensioner.


#13

mow1

mow1

Are the blades turning in the right direction? Sounds like a problem from the factory.


#14

Moparjoe499

Moparjoe499

keg99 said:
I have a new 60" Fastrak that cuts terrible. The dealer agreed and so did the factory rep. They installed a hi-vac system (baffles) and high lift blades. It cuts a bit better, but still cuts like cr_p. To get a good cut, I have to go at no more than half speed. Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions (beside selling and getting something different, which is my current plan)?
Click to expand...
Do yourself a favor and get your money back before it's to late.


#15

L

lbrac

It would seem that if the mower rep has admitted the cut is poor, they and the dealer should be more involved in identifying a solution. If the rep isn't sufficiently experienced, a factory specialist should be involved. Let this be their problem to resolve. It isn't likely that you are the only person having an issue with this model if it is a design problem, but something could be out of spec on your specific mower. What mower were you using before getting this one? Was it cutting well in the same area? Can you show the rep/dealer a good cut with the old mower (if you still have it)?


#16

Its Me

Its Me

Moparjoe499, not being mean when I say this, is it the mower or is it you asking it something that it cannot do, meaning, is the field rough, wet, tall grass, cutting at a high speed, deck all the way to the ground, I have a repair shop and see these thing that will give all the mower a bad rap from the owners, no matter what brand you use you can use it for what it is not designed to do, consider taking a real assessment of what you have Infront of you and consider if it is rough the at high speed fast forward cutting the deck will be pulled back after it passes over the obstacle it will lung forward, (that breaks most of the belts) and to add if you are cutting down to the ground makes bites in the ground, consider the left blade cuts the grass and pushes to the center blade, it cuts and swirls the grass from the left side then sends it to the right one doing the same thing until it is discharged, hope this helps you to look through this and see if you see anything that might fit the description of what can cause your problem, I also cut 5 acres but have a Scag, Turf Tiger with a 72'' deck, now they are designed for commercial work so consider a home owner buying one and take care of it, it would last you a life time, I also have a 501 dixon that I sold to a fellow when I had a Mower shop in the 80's, he gave it to me and I cleaned it, painted it and still cut grass with it, it was the first Hydraulic mower that Dixon came out with, hope this information might help and you have some good grass cutting experience, Joe​



#17

T

texasvet

keg99 said:
I have a new 60" Fastrak that cuts terrible. The dealer agreed and so did the factory rep. They installed a hi-vac system (baffles) and high lift blades. It cuts a bit better, but still cuts like cr_p. To get a good cut, I have to go at no more than half speed. Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions (beside selling and getting something different, which is my current plan)?
Click to expand...
Buy a SCAG if you can handle the sticker shock. Be advised though, they are built like a tank &!can leave ruts if the ground is still wet from a heavy rain.

If you buy a SCAG, you will never have to buy another mower. 😃


#18

T

texasvet

Its Me said:

Moparjoe499, not being mean when I say this, is it the mower or is it you asking it something that it cannot do, meaning, is the field rough, wet, tall grass, cutting at a high speed, deck all the way to the ground, I have a repair shop and see these thing that will give all the mower a bad rap from the owners, no matter what brand you use you can use it for what it is not designed to do, consider taking a real assessment of what you have Infront of you and consider if it is rough the at high speed fast forward cutting the deck will be pulled back after it passes over the obstacle it will lung forward, (that breaks most of the belts) and to add if you are cutting down to the ground makes bites in the ground, consider the left blade cuts the grass and pushes to the center blade, it cuts and swirls the grass from the left side then sends it to the right one doing the same thing until it is discharged, hope this helps you to look through this and see if you see anything that might fit the description of what can cause your problem, I also cut 5 acres but have a Scag, Turf Tiger with a 72'' deck, now they are designed for commercial work so consider a home owner buying one and take care of it, it would last you a life time, I also have a 501 dixon that I sold to a fellow when I had a Mower shop in the 80's, he gave it to me and I cleaned it, painted it and still cut grass with it, it was the first Hydraulic mower that Dixon came out with, hope this information might help and you have some good grass cutting experience, Joe​

Click to expand...
I agree, I have 2 acres that I cut with my SCAG Cheetah 60” cut. I put my headphones on & get it done in 1 1/2 hours if I’m in a rush; 2 hrs if I’m taking my time.

$11K was a lot for a mower, but I should never need another mower.


#19

M

mdupre07

Its Me said:

Moparjoe499, not being mean when I say this, is it the mower or is it you asking it something that it cannot do, meaning, is the field rough, wet, tall grass, cutting at a high speed, deck all the way to the ground, I have a repair shop and see these thing that will give all the mower a bad rap from the owners, no matter what brand you use you can use it for what it is not designed to do, consider taking a real assessment of what you have Infront of you and consider if it is rough the at high speed fast forward cutting the deck will be pulled back after it passes over the obstacle it will lung forward, (that breaks most of the belts) and to add if you are cutting down to the ground makes bites in the ground, consider the left blade cuts the grass and pushes to the center blade, it cuts and swirls the grass from the left side then sends it to the right one doing the same thing until it is discharged, hope this helps you to look through this and see if you see anything that might fit the description of what can cause your problem, I also cut 5 acres but have a Scag, Turf Tiger with a 72'' deck, now they are designed for commercial work so consider a home owner buying one and take care of it, it would last you a life time, I also have a 501 dixon that I sold to a fellow when I had a Mower shop in the 80's, he gave it to me and I cleaned it, painted it and still cut grass with it, it was the first Hydraulic mower that Dixon came out with, hope this information might help and you have some good grass cutting experience, Joe​

Click to expand...
You are right. The FasTrak is a residential mower with commercial hydros. Not designed for 6 acres. You need an X-One or a Super Z for this amount of grass.


#20

Moparjoe499

Moparjoe499

breagler said:
Aside from checking on the blades being installed correctly, are you running the mower at full throttle for the entire mow? This may seem to be a dumb question but I've known a few people run the mower at half throttle to save gas and complain about the cut. These machines are designed to be run at 100% for proper cooling.
Click to expand...
Run your mower wide open. That's what the governor is for. Don't run a vacuum. Let the grass fertilize your lawn instead of spending money buying fertilizer. People get all anal about the way their lawns look just because their neighbors spend extra money just trying to impress their neighbors. And here is the fall, they have to have a leaf blower and a vacuum. BUY A CHAINSAW AND CUT THE FREAKING TREES DOWN. NO MORE LEAVES IN YOUR GUTTERS EITHER, THERE, PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!!!


#21

Moparjoe499

Moparjoe499

keg99 said:
I have a new 60" Fastrak that cuts terrible. The dealer agreed and so did the factory rep. They installed a hi-vac system (baffles) and high lift blades. It cuts a bit better, but still cuts like cr_p. To get a good cut, I have to go at no more than half speed. Anyone else have this experience? Any suggestions (beside selling and getting something different, which is my current plan)?
Click to expand...
I have a John Deere 1435 diesel with a 72 inch deck that I have had for 10 years. I am totally satisfied with the way it runs and cuts. There are probably other mowers that are comparable. Make sure you keep checking the oil level in the deck gearbox, oil is cheaper than having to replace the gears. I grew up on a farm and we had to learn how to take care of equipment.


#22

K

keg99

Regarding the type of grass, it cuts bad on any type. Or should I say, it does not discriminate.
Regarding the height, it cuts bad on most any height. If really tall and thick, then I understand it will not cut well at full speed. I have been mowing for over 40 years and been through many style and brands of mowers. This one just does not work right. I have the deck level and set at 3.5".

Thanks for the comment about Ferris cutting well at full speed. I need to cut at full speed so I can get the job done. Recommendations of mowers that truly do cut good at full speed are most appreciated. I will be shopping for a new 60" zero turn mower right after the first of the year to get ready for spring.


#23

7394

7394

Cutting @ Full Speed helps other things as well. Provides the engine with plenty of cooling air. & Keeping the Hydros cooler as well.


#24

Moparjoe499

Moparjoe499

keg99 said:
Regarding the type of grass, it cuts bad on any type. Or should I say, it does not discriminate.
Regarding the height, it cuts bad on most any height. If really tall and thick, then I understand it will not cut well at full speed. I have been mowing for over 40 years and been through many style and brands of mowers. This one just does not work right. I have the deck level and set at 3.5".

Thanks for the comment about Ferris cutting well at full speed. I need to cut at full speed so I can get the job done. Recommendations of mowers that truly do cut good at full speed are most appreciated. I will be shopping for a new 60" zero turn mower right after the first of the year to get ready for spring.
Click to expand...
You should make sure you don't have the blades upside down. People have brought mowers to me with the blades upside down and wondered why it won't cut good. 👍


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