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What causes strips of grass being left uncut. Blades feel sharp to me.

Loose blade bolt.
Bent blade.
Deck belt tension.
Grass buildup.
Blade installed up side down.

I agree with the previous post, especially the part about grass built up on your deck.

And don't forget the obvious; mowing too fast for conditions present ...

Yup, grass build up or the blades are on upside down.

having the same issue. i mow at 3.5 to 4''. always mowed well for me and now leaving lines. new belts i sharpen blades daily. i do hear a bit of a clunk when i first turn the blades on not sure about that but getting frustrated cutting everything twice. cleaned deck an new belts and blades whats next? also how tight should you run the belt. thanks, dave

davevfla said:

having the same issue. i mow at 3.5 to 4''. always mowed well for me and now leaving lines. new belts i sharpen blades daily. i do hear a bit of a clunk when i first turn the blades on not sure about that but getting frustrated cutting everything twice. cleaned deck an new belts and blades whats next? also how tight should you run the belt. thanks, dave

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This might help: http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/cub-cadet-forum/17490-rzt-s-cuts-poorly.html

read that thread no real help there sounds like that was a homeowner model. i have a 48'' scag and it is the 17 hp so it does have the power just not quite sure about this uncut grass i have the mulching deck closed. i have even taken the blocker off and still the same problem 2 stripes between the blades.

davevfla said:

read that thread no real help there sounds like that was a homeowner model. i have a 48'' scag and it is the 17 hp so it does have the power just not quite sure about this uncut grass i have the mulching deck closed. i have even taken the blocker off and still the same problem 2 stripes between the blades.

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Sure you have the right length blades?

Coyote Machine said:

Sure you have the right length blades?

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Bought a Hustler Raptor 08/2015 from Lowes and it has been leaving a strip of uncut grass since the first day I used it.

Tried leveling the deck, cleaning the deck, 3 different sets of blades, adjusting tire pressure....
It would always start out okay and after about 15 minutes start leaving the strip uncut.

I did notice a chattering sound and when I turned a sharp curve and the edge was worse.

So, I sprayed the belt with auto belt dressing and the cut was a little better and the chattering not so often but it still left a strip, just not as distinct.

Yesterday, replaced the belt and the tension spring for the idler.

No more uncut strip. Mowed for 2 hours and never had any uncut strips and curves were nice and even.

Also, the nut holding the pulley for the idler was so tight I had to use a 5' pipe on a 2' BB to loosen it. Seemed odd for a self locking nylon nut.
Didn't notice if that was keeping the pulley from turning freely. Just warning you if you change the belt/pulley that was the hardest part.

Since I clean the deck after every use I think for the first 15 minutes the blades were spinning okay.
Once the grass built up inside the deck the blades started chattering/slipping and it would leave the uncut strip.

I've already had to put a tube in one of the tubeless tires. No holes or damage to the tire, rim leaks.
And the deck seems to accumulate grass that's packed like concrete worse than most.
One of my neighbors has a 52" commercial version he paid $7K for and he is having the same problem on one side of the deck.
The local Hustler dealer has been been no help and only contacted him after he gave up and complained to Hustler.
You'd think with all the complaints about Hustlers leaving uncut strips they'd have figured out more than recommendations to "Level the deck" "Inflate the tires".
Maybe, "fix the fabricated deck" they brag about in the advertising?
Would I recommend the Raptor? No.
But you have to love that Kawasaki engine.

I have found that a lot of 3 blade mowers will leave uncut strips if blade corners are worn. This is more evident if you are making a turn somewhere in the 45 degree range. They can be razor sharp and still do it. When making a turn you are feeding the grass right at the point of minimum overlap. Older Cub Cadets were the worst for this.

Firstly the one thing every one else failed to mention, blades worn past their limit.
A lot of 3 blade decks are quite shallow front to back so have little room to accomodate blade overlap.
Thus a small amount of wear and you have mowhawks where the blades just don't cut.

As for belt tension.
Decke where you have a pto belt from the mower to a double pulley then another belt for the blades generally give a better cut.
This is simply because they have more contact on the middle pulley.
I see a lot of decks where the side pulleys have 180 degrees of contact with the belt but the middle pulley has about 60 degrees.
Thus the middle pulley slips and the blades turn slower which plays havock with the airflow under the deck.
I have even seen an owner reroute his belt because he thought it had too many bends in it which was breaking the very expensive belt .
The 20" shorter belt was also a lot cheaper.

If you are running a Tiger Cub mower which I understand you are, then you have blades that are worn out or are too short. Possibly you have a bolt on your center blade that is not tight as well.