RuffCut
New member
Last year I bought a Craftsman GT5000 25/48 last year after previously owning and wearing out two other 2 blade riders (the red Wal-Mart ones). After studying prior to buying I was convinced I was was getting an upper tier consumer grade mower, but knowing it wasn't commercial grade. The problem I'm running into is, that with normal grass height, dry afternoon conditions, chlorophyl that would be expected with spring grass, I'm having a huge problem keeping the deck discharging as it should. Have removed the blades and had a mower tech verify they are discharge type blades as opposed to mulching. Have scraped the deck clean underneath. But I find that all areas under the deck that don't actually have the blade turning through it become packed with grass buildup. I realize that discharging grass across a 48" deck can get tough, but I feel that this is building up too rapidly. It's built up to the point that it's cost me a secondary drive belt already this year (a $44 belt btw). I mow with the deflector raised 45 degrees with a bungee, but that only helps with not making "wind rows" of grass in the yard, and doesn't decrease the buildup underneath the deck. Electric blade clutch engaging fine and blade speed seems good. You can actually hear the suction under the deck, but somehow it just doesn't move clippings across and out of the deck as well as expected. I was actually able to mow my lawn faster with the 42" two blade mower faster due to the fact that I could get a clean cut with greater ground speed. Has anyone else experienced this and found anything that helps? Thanks in advance...
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