I bought a used gravely hd zt 60 last fall with 100 hrs. I've put Oregon mulching blades on as I've always liked mulching blades. I mow a whopping 1 acre but my old Cub GT had a stripping kit on it and always liked that nice wide-cut look. My question is, I've got the deck sitting ~ 1/4" higher in the front. Understand the dealers like to set them with the front slightly lower than the back. I DO understand their logic. So, does it really matter? I'm looking for the best cut & stripe I can possible get. Older guy, retired so I'm not in a hurry when I mow. Thanks all.
I don’t know about your area, but around here we always set the BACK of the deck 1/4” higher than the front. This has been the manufacturer recommended way for as long as I can remember.
If you are mulching then healing the deck, ( back lower ) will give you a better cut.
If you are throwing then a normal attack angle ( front down ) will throw the grass further & help bag.
Heeled decks are more prone to getting hung up on obstacles like tree roots and stumps .
#4
tom3
With the front down you're cutting the grass once, with the front up you're cutting the grass twice more or less. Might try it both ways and see what you like best, if there is any difference in looks.
If you are mulching then healing the deck, ( back higher ) will give you a better cut.
If you are throwing then a normal attack angle ( front down ) will throw the grass further & help bag.
Heeled decks are more prone to getting hung up on obstacles like tree roots and stumps .
Thank you
previous post now corrected
Pointing out errors is never being a SA it is important that what is on the web is as accurate as we can make it.
#7
Bob E
Having the front of the deck higher puts more strain on the engine.
Thank you
previous post now corrected
Pointing out errors is never being a SA it is important that what is on the web is as accurate as we can make it.
Totally agree that we need to be giving accurate and correct info as possible. Some those U-Tube just plain wrong in my opinion. If happen to post something that is wrong I would highly appreciate being corrected myself. I might have to think as to why I am wrong but I know techs that are highly insulted if someone corrects them.
Personally I learn new things and new ways of doing things every day, that's part of life. Something like how to use the leak down test to test an OHV engine complete cylinder stroke instead of just at TDC which I learned last Summer.
Understand the concept. So far, Kohler 7000 shows no strain between idling & mowing. I'm just looking for cleanest cut I can get, maybe a 'lil stripe for good measure.
My opinion, If you want it to look it,s best set the mower as the manufacturer suggests ,that is generally front down ,then you say time is not an issue, I would either pull a lawn roller as you mow or go over the area again ,pulling the roller.
Stay Safe from down under.
If you are mulching then healing the deck, ( back lower ) will give you a better cut.
If you are throwing then a normal attack angle ( front down ) will throw the grass further & help bag.
Heeled decks are more prone to getting hung up on obstacles like tree roots and stumps .
I would have to imagine that you would be getting some blowout from the front edge of the deck with it angled slightly upward. Any manual that I have seen recommends that the back of the deck be 3/16-3/8" higher in the back than the front. If you can see it this way, it might make sense.... the deck is tipped to the front slightly, so as the pass is made, the grass it cut first at the edge nearest the front of the deck and then anything missed is picked up by the tip of the blade near the back of the deck. While all of this is going on, the airflow in the deck is moving the clippings around, drawing up air from the space at the back of the deck where there is less clippings to process while also standing the freshly cut blades up nice and tall. This works best with high lift blades. When you say Oregon mulching blades, I assume that you mean Gator G3, G5 or G6 blades which are also high lift based on the height of the sail. Your machine and turf will vary. All commercial landscapers that I know use either Exmarks, Gravelys or Ferris mowers, with notched foil or G5/G6 Gators and the deck pitched with the back end up higher than the front. These machines all stripe well at the 3-4" heights that they are cutting at.
Mike.
Nothing is universal
There are lot of variables
However remember that the blades are creating an updraft
With a heeled deck the blades cut at both the front & the back
It is a similar effect to using a twin blade razor
So if you are cutting 1" off the grass , the front of the blade will cut the 1" off then the back lops off another 1/8" to 1/2" depending upon how much you heel .
The result is a cleaner cut.
The downside is you have to mow SLOWER
So far my set-up seems to produce decent-looking results. Gator G5 blades, front slightly higher, and I don't have to mow 5-6 yards/day so I'm not in any hurry. Still 'speriminting with DIY striping ideas. The heavy door mat ripped after ~ 6 hrs.
So far my set-up seems to produce decent-looking results. Gator G5 blades, front slightly higher, and I don't have to mow 5-6 yards/day so I'm not in any hurry. Still 'speriminting with DIY striping ideas. The heavy door mat ripped after ~ 6 hrs.
I made my own striping kit using a piece of unistrut and an old rubber door mat. I was able to clamp it on the bottom of the engine guard using some c-clamps. It only needs to be as wide as the wheels so it worked out decent. Old door mat had ripped and took some metal from the scrap pile at work. Only cost me an hour of time and some spray paint.
