Need help fixing up RP21600 Big Six Ninja

[RochsDog]

Maybe there's a way to secure a small bracket with a nut and bolt to keep the adjuster in place. Going past the highest notch was just an idea, I personally haven't tried it but it seemed like it would work. The highest level is still scalping your lawn???

I have a very deep texas san augustine lawn. The tall skinny Snapper wheels sink into the lawn leaving the deck deep in the grass.
On the highest deck setting the mower is cutting 2/3 to 3/4 of the grass blade.(instead of 1/3) Cutting this much of the grass also overwhems the mulching blade so I had to put the side discharge plastic back on the mower.
Picture of grass taken 2 days after mowing.

Since I mowed 2 days ago and struggled with it cutting too deep, I have raised it beyond the last notch and tie-wrapped it in place.

 

[Snapperfreak]

That's some serious grass

 

[shacky]

Good to see others have same mower. I have to give it a try with level adjustment past the end. I thought it was going to be easy solution.

Love Snappers and want to get this one back in rotation.

 

[shacky]

Speaking of overloading mulching blade I notice my Snapper always struggled with tall dense grass. The Hi Vac deck isn't the best for mulching - even though that's how mine was configured. Later they came out with a flared deck lip - instead of having that lip around bottom edge go inside cutting area it was flared the other way to outside. I picked up a beat up version of the flaired deck to swap engines. I had hit a metal septic vent pipe at my old house and bent the shaft.

I really wanted to use that flared deck but it was in bad shape - luckily the engine was in great shape.

I think the Hi Vav decks will always do better job with bagging or side discharge than with mulching. The Hi Vac deck keeps too much grass in cirulation hence the overload. It cuts the crap out of the grass into tiny mulch but sometimes overloads - adding to uneven cut or those anoying stray strands.

My Honda HRX does a better job in mulch mode. But I love good old American Snappers!!!

 

[shacky]

Got my steel wheels today. Wow do these have heft!!!

 

[Snapperfreak]

Nice! Ya those are seriously heavy duty.

 

[shacky]

I took this drive plat off to get rust off and paint it. But what do I do with the deck? I'm tempted to keep going and paint whole thing but really don't want to go that far. Is there a touch up paint I can use here? Thoughts and advice welcomed.

 

[Snapperfreak]

I'm not aware of an exact match for that paint that's available today. U could try emailing snapper but I think that will be tough to find. I have done a couple full restos and the biggest problem with repainting with spray paint is it just doesn't stick like the original finish. Even with sandblasting, primer, paint and clear coat it's not the same. Powder coat would be nice but probably a lot of money. Here's my opinion and others may differ but I'd paint that plate if u want and leave the deck as is, just a good clean up with either soap and water and/or simple green.

 

[shacky]

I like the way you're thinking!

Thanks!!!

 

[Snapperfreak]

Sure thing. It would be neat to powder coat an old snapper. I don't think I'll be doing any full restos anytime soon though. I'm happy with finding good old ones, a little rough is ok. And I just hate what snapper has become. The trash that's sold in Walmart etc. nothing like the old ones. I'm completely stuck in the past when it comes to snapper. I do wish I still had my '98 that I bought new. I'm referring to the snappers that don't even look like snappers anymore.