Was able to use my mower tonight. I was very impressed with the power of the engine and capacity handling of the deck. Knowing I got the smaller engine option I went in skeptical, but only in the heaviest of grass did I notice any issues. And I haven't mowed my yard In over 4 weeks, so some areas were super thick.
I didn't time myself directly, but the hour meter says 1.4 hours now. My previous best was 2 1/4 hours. So I am going to be saving a lot of time, because today I slowed down over the high grass areas.
Grass clippings are somewhat clumpy, but like I said I was making hay out there. The cut looks amazing otherwise, but no evidence of a striping kit at all. I mowed at 3 1/4, which my old mower would have crapped out at. I checked my deck level ness before I mowed and it was almost perfectly level without any pitch, maybe a 1/16 down in the rear.
The controls are a lot stiffer then my old worn out toro, but much more responsive. I found the seat very comfortable and my feet are supported nicely to support myself when things get rough. I will be getting the insert, mind as we'll have the best ride possible! That is if I can find a dealer to sell me the items, hard to find online. The deck really discharges the grass quickly and lays down a carpet like cut. My dogs like to carry small tree limbs and such around the yard and mowed over a few of these such items. Shot these items out like a rocket, even with the chute down.
Afterwards I got out the leaf blower to get all the tall grass clipping off the top,of the deck. They all blew off nicely except for around the outside spindle next to the discharge chute. The mounting hardware for the chute didn't allow me to get in there and clean it out, I had to dig in with my hands and got most of it. If this issue remained I might remove the safety cover from that spindle.
Overall grade.... "A"
Mowed a under a demanding condition with ultimate success!
