Mowing 60" MMM always full of grass

[doughboy09bravo]

Hello all, I live in Vermont and we have had the wettest spring on record. I finally decided to use my new mower with my new tractor GC2400. I have noticed a couple things about this that make my mind go crazy. I have noticed a perfectly straight line in the middle of my mowing path that the blades seem to miss. It is more defined with longer grass (like I said rain = long grass) I go very slow to make sure I get a good cut. (I'm an old Simplicity guy who made his lawn look like a golf course every weekend) I have checked the blades and there are no chips on the cutting edge. I am lost as to what might be causing it. Any ideas?
Also does anyone know a trick for keeping grass from sticking to the bottom of the deck? Like I said its wet so I understand that it wont be perfect by any means just hopefully a little better.
I take the deck off after each time I mow and hit it with a pressure washer to clean it off (I want to keep it like new) just looking for any ideas like a teflon paint or some other trick you might know to make it come off easier!
Thanks!

 

[HellBender]

I picked up some mower deck Teflon spray at Home Depot. I started doing this two seasons ago on my garden tractor and it definitely helps keep it cleaner. It don't clog up like it used too. Even with water rolling around the tires in the pouring rain. I just got a CG2600 and waiting on delivery. I'm not mowing with it till it gets a coat.

 

[irvingj]

Tim, that's a tough one- sounds like you just have wet grass, which will stick to anything... but about the best thing I've found is Liquid Glass, or similar, synthetic wax. Very durable, very slick; stuff just slides off with water or air, for the most part.

But anything under a mower deck is going to have a hard time staying put. I know others have used Pam, WD-40, all sorts of stuff, same idea as trying to keep a snowblower clean I suppose. But it'll all wear off pretty quickly.

One other thing I do, which was mainly for being able to park my 2310 in a narrow spot, was to remove the flapper-thing. I'm convinced I get better dispersal that way, with less on the underside-- but then again, my grass tends to be pretty dry due to the sandy backfill that was used around my house when it was built. You might want to try that to see if it makes a difference. Walt

 

[smstonypoint]

I take the deck off after each time I mow and hit it with a pressure washer to clean it off (I want to keep it like new)

I don't have your mower, but based on what I have heard (from dealers) and read (on TBN), frequent washing of mower decks isn't a good idea -- grit can be forced into the spindles, causing premature wear. As a consequence of these warnings, I clean my deck with compressed air.

Just my :2cents:.

Steve

 

[FDuce]

Is the deck adjusted properly? It should be adjusted so the lead edge is slightly lower then the back edge. I had an issue with my Encore leaving a row like you are talking about and that fixed it. As for stuff sticking, there is a type of spray on graphite that I heard about. Supposed to be fairley durable and last about half a season under commercial use. I heard about it in conversation though and dont know the exact name of the product.

 

[bakerg]

With all the rain here and all the long grass I'm getting the same issue with the strip of grass. I think it is caused by the roller wheel in the front middle of the mower deck. With the grass being so long and wet the roller is pressing the grass down and the grass is not springing back up in time to be cut off. I found this weekend that the mower cut great but grass was not as long or wet like before.:thumbsup:

 

[DougM]

(( I think it is caused by the roller wheel in the front middle of the mower deck. ))

I think if ur deck is adjusted this low it should be re adjusted up

 

[blackd]

(( I think it is caused by the roller wheel in the front middle of the mower deck. ))

I think if ur deck is adjusted this low it should be re adjusted up

As I was cutting this AM in the very dry grass here, I came to the same conclusion. His deck is too low

 

[doughboy09bravo]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Sorry I didnt reply sooner, my wife went out and had a baby and I guess I had to get off the tractor and go with her lol
I will try the adjusting the deck height and see what I can find out. I am leaving the grass a little long on purpose but will adjust the blades down and the deck up.
I asked at Home Depot about a silicone paint or teflon spray and they didnt know of anything. I will keep trying.
As far as the line I pulled the deck off and found a chipped blade from a rock, my guess. I hit it with the angle grinder and will hopefully get to try it tomorrow. It is raining again.

 

[HellBender]

I found the stuff I used.

Clean Machine All Purpose Non - Stick Machine Protectant

Unfortunately Lowes (where I got it - not HD) don't have it anymore. It leaves a hard dry slick film that will last the season. I treated my deck the past two seasons. I have yet to treat my deck this year but my deck has yet to clog. Even as wet as the grass has been. I found other stuff but they look like they need to be resprayed every time you mow. Who wants to do that?

'Look Here'
Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

 

[boggen]

grass is to tall
mower deck set to low
going to fast
not enough throttle
you may not have the correct blades on your deck
wheels/rollers on tractor and/or deck pushing grass down and not allowing to be pulled back up.
mower deck is plugged up with to much wet grass


there are different type of blades, out there. some blades have a better "suction power" to pull grass up and up into the blades to be cut. i do not remember the 3 or 4 types. would need to go back to the local tractor dealer. (lowers, home depot, Menard) is not a lawn mower / tractor dealer. they might sell them but not primary trade of business.

for myself. mostly medical problems won't let me get to the grass and have it cut before it gets to tall. and will need to make 2 to 3 passes rarely but some times 4. to mulch everything up, and cut out the streaks that get left behind and kinda spread out the cuttings. and then it normally takes 2 to 3 more times of letting the grass getting a little tall and cutting it like normal to get things back to were they should be for a lush green lawn.

also be easy on how much you sharpen blades. they should not be razor sharp. but actually kinda dull and not be able to cut yourself by running your finger over the cutting edge. have found that if i do kinda of 45 degree edge on cutting edge both from bottom and top of blade. maybe a little steeper angle than that. the blades tend to stay pretty good and sharp for a few mowings. and mowings for me is *ughs* i want to say 4 to 8 acres each time.

other words you cutting edge is not at the very bottom of the blade. but within the middle of the thickness of the metal of the blade. it works for me. granted i am not golf course perfect yard. but long haul. it works for me.

 

[HellBender]

I found the Clean Machine at my local Sears. Picked up three cans. I put two heavy coats on my deck since its brand new. Used two cans and saving one for reserve.


Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

 

[doughboy09bravo]

I found the Clean Machine at my local Sears. Picked up three cans. I put two heavy coats on my deck since its brand new. Used two cans and saving one for reserve.


Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

The local Sears around here said they dont have it and cant order it. I will do it online when the wife isnt looking and I have the CC#.
Thank you for all your help, I mowed this past weekend after it hadnt rained for 4 days straight and it did a fairly good job, I noticed with really high grass it missed a few lines but I'm going to chalk it up to being too tall.
BTW to the second to last guy, I have been mowing for a very long time, I always go slow and take my time, like I said my yard used to look like Fenway park with the stripes and checker boards etc..I'm a former Simplicity owner.