Blades getting a weird cut and looking for advice

[bob kopczynski]

Thanks for any help. this started late last fall and i thought t was just dull blades. but this week i scraped and greased the deck,sharpened and balanced the blades,leveled the deck and got the same cut as in the fall. see photo's. the buildup occurs on the right side outside blade. this is an X360 with the 48inch edge deck and 3 jd mulch blades and the jd mulch kit. i have had it for 8 years and it usually mows beautifully.

 

[bertsmobile1]

To me it looks like you are taking too big a cut or cutting the grass in the morning when it is damp.

 

[cruzenmike]

Is the engine running at full throttle? By that, I mean, do you know if the engine is running at the RPM set by the factory? I had an issue with cut quality and come to find out I was running about 400prm too low. As engine speed slows, so does your blade top speed. It is especially important with mulching blades that you have every bit of engine power and blade speed. It is also important to follow these simple recommendations:

1) Always mow at full throttle
2) Slow your ground speed (allows time for clippings to be cut and pushed back down into the turf)
3) Only now when grass is completely dry (more effort is needed to cut wet grass and wet grass likes to clump reducing airflow under the deck)
4) Follow the 1/3 rule (attempting to remove more than 1/3 of the grass reduces cut quality)

Mike

 

[bob kopczynski]

you know i will have to check that but hadn't thought of it. i mowed at 2-1/2 inches a couple days apart with the same results. no unusual noises or vibrations coming from the deck. i always mow in the afternoon when it is dryed out. but i will have to look into the throttle adjustment.