1600T doesn’t doesn’t cut thick grass

[Oldsled]

I have a JD 1600T wide area mower. It doesn’t cut thick or taller grass. The blades slow down so you have to really slow down to get a decent cut. It only has 700 hours on it and has always been this way. A $70,000 mower shouldn’t be like this. My 72” Kubota will cut through anything at high speeds. Is it the hydraulic system?

 

[jeff9366]

You have a 134" FINISH MOWER. It is not a Rotary Cutter.
Most customers for this machine would be golf courses, mowing at least weekly.
Have you read the Owner's Manual for Deere's mowing specs?


My 72” Kubota will cut through anything.
What Kubota product are you referencing?


1) How thick, how tall is the grass?

2) Is the grass dry or wet when cut?

3) Have you had the mower blades sharpened?

4) Is the parking brake disengaged?

5) Have you changed the HST filters and the engine fuel and engine air filters?
Filters should have been changed at least twice.

John Deere 1600 Turbo​

2002 - 2006 Front-mount mower

Engine Detail
Yanmar 4TNE84T
turbocharged diesel
4-cylinder
liquid-cooled horizontal-shaft inline
Displacement	1994 cc 121.7 ci
Bore/Stroke	3.31x3.54 inches 84 x 90 mm
Power (gross)	64 hp 47.7 kW

Dimensions
Wheelbase	60 inches 152 cm
Length	132 inches 335 cm
Width	84 inches (transport) 213 cm
Width	134 inches (mowing) 340 cm

 

[seville009]

Don’t know anything about that mower, but in general, raise it to the highest level and then mow. After that, just lower it a bit each time you mow until you get it to your desired permanent height. At that point, you should be able to mow at normal speed

 

[ruffdog]

Does it have mulching mowing decks/blades on it? Those are not good for deep grass. For thick grass you need the clippings to get out from under the deck quickly (like a side discharge deck) otherwise you will bog the mower down.

 

[Rustyiron]

I think you're expectations were a little "off".
Jeff's post above is right on. Even if you had 1000 hp the blades need to spend a certain bit of time over the grass it's passing over for an acceptable cut. Slow down and increase your mowing frequency especially in the springtime growing frenzy. Then you should be able to fly.
Technically, it is possible to stall the hydraulically driven mowers as there's probably some protection for the machine.

 

[zzvyb6]

My guess would be that you have the blades on backwards. Try running the motor the other way.

 

[Oldsled]

You have a 134" FINISH MOWER. It is not a Rotary Cutter.
Most customers for this machine would be golf courses, mowing at least weekly.
Have you read the Owner's Manual for Deere's mowing specs?


My 72” Kubota will cut through anything.
What Kubota product are you referencing?


1) How thick, how tall is the grass?

2) Is the grass dry or wet when cut?

3) Have you had the mower blades sharpened?

4) Is the parking brake disengaged?

5) Have you changed the HST filters and the engine fuel and engine air filters?
Filters should have been changed at least twice.

John Deere 1600 Turbo​

2002 - 2006 Front-mount mower

Engine Detail
Yanmar 4TNE84T
turbocharged diesel
4-cylinder
liquid-cooled horizontal-shaft inline
Displacement	1994 cc 121.7 ci
Bore/Stroke	3.31x3.54 inches 84 x 90 mm
Power (gross)	64 hp 47.7 kW

Dimensions
Wheelbase	60 inches 152 cm
Length	132 inches 335 cm
Width	84 inches (transport) 213 cm
Width	134 inches (mowing) 340 cm

We change all the filters and keep the factory John Deere blades sharp. We mow twice a week in the spring until the growth slows down.

You have a 134" FINISH MOWER. It is not a Rotary Cutter.
Most customers for this machine would be golf courses, mowing at least weekly.
Have you read the Owner's Manual for Deere's mowing specs?


My 72” Kubota will cut through anything.
What Kubota product are you referencing?


1) How thick, how tall is the grass?

2) Is the grass dry or wet when cut?

3) Have you had the mower blades sharpened?

4) Is the parking brake disengaged?

5) Have you changed the HST filters and the engine fuel and engine air filters?
Filters should have been changed at least twice.

John Deere 1600 Turbo​

2002 - 2006 Front-mount mower

Engine Detail
Yanmar 4TNE84T
turbocharged diesel
4-cylinder
liquid-cooled horizontal-shaft inline
Displacement	1994 cc 121.7 ci
Bore/Stroke	3.31x3.54 inches 84 x 90 mm
Power (gross)	64 hp 47.7 kW

Dimensions
Wheelbase	60 inches 152 cm
Length	132 inches 335 cm
Width	84 inches (transport) 213 cm
Width	134 inches (mowing) 340 cm

1. We mow twice a week until it slows down in late June. I don’t mow the grass when it’s wet because I don’t want to tear up the lawn.
2. We sharpen the blades often and our belts are tight.
3. It’s not in park.
4. We change filters on a scheduled basis. One of our employees is a John Deere certified mechanic.

 

[Oldsled]

Does it have mulching mowing decks/blades on it? Those are not good for deep grass. For thick grass you need the clippings to get out from under the deck quickly (like a side discharge deck) otherwise you will bog the mower down.

We run factory original blades.

 

[Oldsled]

My guess would be that you have the blades on backwards. Try running the motor the other way.

This isn’t the case. The cut would be awful.

 

[Oldsled]

You have a 134" FINISH MOWER. It is not a Rotary Cutter.
Most customers for this machine would be golf courses, mowing at least weekly.
Have you read the Owner's Manual for Deere's mowing specs?


My 72” Kubota will cut through anything.
What Kubota product are you referencing?


1) How thick, how tall is the grass?

2) Is the grass dry or wet when cut?

3) Have you had the mower blades sharpened?

4) Is the parking brake disengaged?

5) Have you changed the HST filters and the engine fuel and engine air filters?
Filters should have been changed at least twice.

John Deere 1600 Turbo​

2002 - 2006 Front-mount mower

Engine Detail
Yanmar 4TNE84T
turbocharged diesel
4-cylinder
liquid-cooled horizontal-shaft inline
Displacement	1994 cc 121.7 ci
Bore/Stroke	3.31x3.54 inches 84 x 90 mm
Power (gross)	64 hp 47.7 kW

Dimensions
Wheelbase	60 inches 152 cm
Length	132 inches 335 cm
Width	84 inches (transport) 213 cm
Width	134 inches (mowing) 340 cm

We have Kubota ZD1511 diesel engine and 72” deck. It’s my 3rd Kubota and it runs circles around the John Deere. We mow over 10 acres and I am perplexed why this mower doesn’t perform. I have talked to the service manager at a JD dealer near the Twin Cities metro area and it didn’t help. Our local golf course has the same mower and mine performs better than theirs. I wonder if it’s a hydraulic issue. I bought the mower with one year on it and it’s been working the same way all along.