All,
One last-ditch adjustment tonight.
In an effort to mimic the setup on the Fastrak I used this weekend, I put the stock standard-lift blades back on and pitched the deck UP about 1/4 inch at the front. I set the deck at exactly the same location I measured the Fastrak.
I set at 3.25" and started mowing, about 2 hours after a thunderstorm with a heavy downpour. This was about 3 days worth of growth. Very similar to the conditions I mowed last Saturday.
Know what? No clumps. As a matter of fact, no significant clipping load either. I was watching a spray out the chute, instead of the stream I've seen. Much more like what I would expect from cutting only a few days worth of growth. And somewhat consistent with the cut on the Fastrak. There were a fair number of stragglers left behind, which is why I moved away from the standard-lifts in the first place (and something I didn't notice with the Fastrak).
Virtually no clippings on me, very little on the mower, and only a light dusting on the driveway when I got done. First "clean" cut I've had all year, single pass.
Did the blades make the difference?
Deck pitch?
Did I perhaps cut higher than 3.25" and not take as much off as I normally would have?
I dunno. But now I have a tough decision to make. My dealer has made me an offer to get in to the Fastrak that would result in me losing very little on the Raptor SD trade, just a very marginal depreciation for one year's use. I did enjoy the Fastrak and it definitely felt like a more stout machine, though engine was the same and other components were similar to the Raptor. I just need to decide if it's worth another $1800 beyond what I already paid, or do I take the chance keeping the Raptor.
One new thing tonight - something is wrong with the right stick on my Raptor. It's gotten very tight, particularly when engaging the parking brake...
One last-ditch adjustment tonight.
In an effort to mimic the setup on the Fastrak I used this weekend, I put the stock standard-lift blades back on and pitched the deck UP about 1/4 inch at the front. I set the deck at exactly the same location I measured the Fastrak.
I set at 3.25" and started mowing, about 2 hours after a thunderstorm with a heavy downpour. This was about 3 days worth of growth. Very similar to the conditions I mowed last Saturday.
Know what? No clumps. As a matter of fact, no significant clipping load either. I was watching a spray out the chute, instead of the stream I've seen. Much more like what I would expect from cutting only a few days worth of growth. And somewhat consistent with the cut on the Fastrak. There were a fair number of stragglers left behind, which is why I moved away from the standard-lifts in the first place (and something I didn't notice with the Fastrak).
Virtually no clippings on me, very little on the mower, and only a light dusting on the driveway when I got done. First "clean" cut I've had all year, single pass.
Did the blades make the difference?
Deck pitch?
Did I perhaps cut higher than 3.25" and not take as much off as I normally would have?
I dunno. But now I have a tough decision to make. My dealer has made me an offer to get in to the Fastrak that would result in me losing very little on the Raptor SD trade, just a very marginal depreciation for one year's use. I did enjoy the Fastrak and it definitely felt like a more stout machine, though engine was the same and other components were similar to the Raptor. I just need to decide if it's worth another $1800 beyond what I already paid, or do I take the chance keeping the Raptor.
One new thing tonight - something is wrong with the right stick on my Raptor. It's gotten very tight, particularly when engaging the parking brake...
