It's looking pretty good. I've noticed the type of grass and cutting height make a huge difference. My yard is very dry with warm temps which is making the grass very tough and leaves some stragglers and also a little more wheel tracks. I try to mow between 2.5 and 3 inches and I do notice a better quality cut at 2.5 but I'd rather mow at 3. The dandelions are a pain but I take care of them with chemical warfare. Give it a little time and try different amounts of overlap and maybe mow in different directions. It's strange that you had to trim the blades a little, might have been a little quality control issues. It wouldn't hurt to make a quick check of the rake of the deck but it shouldn't have changed much and not from new blades. Keep us posted on your results.
Mowing Problems with Bx "Fine Cut" rck54p23bx deck cut
- Thread starter Scooby074
- Start date
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cboudreau
New member
Hi guys,
Sorry to hijack this thread, but i think the OP has solved his issues, and this thread has the attention of a bunch of knowledgeable folks! So, I have this same deck also, and last year, I finally got around to installing the mulch kit (at the end of the season). Tonight, I put the deck on to try it out. The cut was horrible.....however, I'm almost positive the blades are on backwards.
So, here is where my problem developed.
I decided to change the blades without removing the deck. It really wasn't too bad, a little awkward, but not impossible. I have the two outside blades changed without much problem. The center blade came off fine, and I flipped it over, and reinstalled it. The problem is that when I tried to tighten the bolt in, it wouldn't tighten....the center blade will spin independantly of the other two....I was blocking one of the outside blades to tighten the bolt in the center.
So in hindsight, I could block the center blade to tighten it, which should do the trick.
One other thing....on each of the blades there is a think metal "cap" that fits over the assembly....kind of a housing. On the center blade, this cap seems to be looser than the others....there is some play in the cap after the blade is on snug.
Any thoughts that anyone has would be appreciated. I'm going to have another run at it tomorrow night.
Chris
Sorry to hijack this thread, but i think the OP has solved his issues, and this thread has the attention of a bunch of knowledgeable folks! So, I have this same deck also, and last year, I finally got around to installing the mulch kit (at the end of the season). Tonight, I put the deck on to try it out. The cut was horrible.....however, I'm almost positive the blades are on backwards.
So, here is where my problem developed.
I decided to change the blades without removing the deck. It really wasn't too bad, a little awkward, but not impossible. I have the two outside blades changed without much problem. The center blade came off fine, and I flipped it over, and reinstalled it. The problem is that when I tried to tighten the bolt in, it wouldn't tighten....the center blade will spin independantly of the other two....I was blocking one of the outside blades to tighten the bolt in the center.
So in hindsight, I could block the center blade to tighten it, which should do the trick.
One other thing....on each of the blades there is a think metal "cap" that fits over the assembly....kind of a housing. On the center blade, this cap seems to be looser than the others....there is some play in the cap after the blade is on snug.
Any thoughts that anyone has would be appreciated. I'm going to have another run at it tomorrow night.
Chris
While it is possible to change the blades with the deck on its much easier and far more safe to take it off. With a little practice it doesn't take very long either. I would suggest taking all the blades off and reinstalling them first cleaning up the surface where the blade contacts the cone over the spindle. Depending upon the deck (mines a 60") the blade goes on first, then two concave washers that curve up towards the blade on the outsides, then one more washer that has 6 sides cut in to the inside. This needs to be installed correctly to slide on the hexagonal spindle shaft, then finally the bolt to tighten the blade. This is why one blade is not tightening for you and I'm sure something is not right on the other for the cone over the spindle to be loose. If you don't have any luck tomorrow I would suggest a new thread. There's lots of people on here that can find some great pictures that help immensely. Good luck!
OP
Scooby074
Super Member
Chris, my advice is to take the deck off and check your blades.
The metal "cone" is a dust shield and likely is out of position on the centre blade. This cone will be pinched between the blade and the spindle when the bolt is tightened correctly. You wont be able to move it independently.
you need to torque the centre bolts to about 85 ftlb. Jaming a 18" or so 2x4 between the blade and the metal housing works. You dont want them super tight in case you hit something hard while mowing.
Are you leaving a track in one place, like the centre blade isnt turning.. or is the cut just bad overall?
The metal "cone" is a dust shield and likely is out of position on the centre blade. This cone will be pinched between the blade and the spindle when the bolt is tightened correctly. You wont be able to move it independently.
you need to torque the centre bolts to about 85 ftlb. Jaming a 18" or so 2x4 between the blade and the metal housing works. You dont want them super tight in case you hit something hard while mowing.
Are you leaving a track in one place, like the centre blade isnt turning.. or is the cut just bad overall?
cboudreau
New member
Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll pull it off tonight and try again. It looks like the dust sheild slides over the spindle, so it doesn't get pinched between the spindle and the blade....not sure why that is.
On mine, there is just the spindle, with the dust sheild over it. The blade sits right on top of that, then a washer and the bolt....that's it...no other washers.
The cut was bad overall....I'm almost sure the blades were backward...that was the problem with the cut.
It still doesn't seem right to me that the center blade/bolt/spindle will spin when the outside blade is blocked. Does this sound right to you?
Chris
On mine, there is just the spindle, with the dust sheild over it. The blade sits right on top of that, then a washer and the bolt....that's it...no other washers.
The cut was bad overall....I'm almost sure the blades were backward...that was the problem with the cut.
It still doesn't seem right to me that the center blade/bolt/spindle will spin when the outside blade is blocked. Does this sound right to you?
Chris
The belt tension will only hold so much and then start to slip. You will have to block each blade individually. Now I remember there was only one washer per blade on the 54. I'm still pretty sure it is notched to slide on the spindle. The dust shield should be sandwiched between the blade and the spindle only allowing it to spin when the blade does.
OP
Scooby074
Super Member
The dust shield fits over a step in the spindle where the threaded hole is for the bolt.
The bore hole in the blade then fits over this same step.
The bolt, with its single washer sandwiches the , blade and dust shield together against the step in the spindle.
Once everything is in the right spot and properly tightened it should be very hard to move the dust shield indipendant of the blade.
I can see the belt slipping on the centre bolt. You really got to isolate the specific blade your tightening.
The bore hole in the blade then fits over this same step.
The bolt, with its single washer sandwiches the , blade and dust shield together against the step in the spindle.
Once everything is in the right spot and properly tightened it should be very hard to move the dust shield indipendant of the blade.
I can see the belt slipping on the centre bolt. You really got to isolate the specific blade your tightening.
Jeff F.
Gold Member
The blades will need to go on with the flat side down towards the grass and the curved part up towards the tractor. They will cut when on upside down, just not very well. Since you have the deck off, you might as well take a file to the blades and break out the grease gun.
cboudreau
New member
Hi guys,
Thanks for the responses. Pulled off the deck last night and the blade went on fine when I was able to block the middle blade. Took it out for a test run, and it seems to be cutting fine now.
C
Thanks for the responses. Pulled off the deck last night and the blade went on fine when I was able to block the middle blade. Took it out for a test run, and it seems to be cutting fine now.
C
radioman
Super Member
I know I am late, but when you reinstalled the center blade, did toy double check that both washers is curved right way on blade?
