914A MMM rear discharge cutting height

PatC · Jun 10, 2005

I have a 1 acre field with new bermuda which we use as a baseball, volleyball, soccer, chipping area, play field. I have to cut it a couple of times each week due to fast growth and wanting to keep it low and have always cut it at 1" with regular lawn mower. Without realizing it, my rear discharge has a 1 1/2 minimum cut whereas the same mower with side discharge has a 1" minimum. In looking at the manual, it calls for lowering simply to to go to cy instead of cx to get to the 1" but the settings for 1 1/2' are different so there must be something very different based on the discharge area. Has anyone had any luck in figuring out how to make a lower cut with rear discharge. I would not be troubled by front being lower (at 1") than rear (at 1 1/2") as I cross cut in different directions each time I cut if it wouldn't harm the mower

I am having to cut it every other day (with setting at 1 1/2 as opposed to every third or fourth day when cutting at 1" with lawnmower) to keep it at the height that I want it at plus older sons want to be able to practice chipping from the fairway and not the rough. Me, I'm generally in the rough seeing how I play very seldom anymore. Rather ride the tractor and play in the flower beds.

Any suggestions or ideas appreciated.

hazmat · Jun 10, 2005

I'm not looking at mine right now, but if the rear wheel assembly is bolted to the deck, you could put a 1/2" spacer between the wheel assembly and the deck to get you to 1". But, I have a strong suspecion that it is welded...

I don't see any reason not to try runing it at 1" front, 1.5" rear. I suspec that the rear doesn't adjust to 1" for one of 2 reasons - Either the wheels would intefere with the deck (rear discharge area) or the engineers figured you needed a minimum clearance above the ground to exhaust all the clippings and air...

Luckily for me this isn't an issue - New England grass likes to be cut at ~3" +/-

Scratchnbell · Jun 10, 2005

Pat, What kind of burnuda did you put down? I'm trying to decide what to use on mine?
Have you looked into reel mowers? Northern tools has a drag behind one. They have an outlet I found somewhere on the net and the 5 reel mower is alot cheaper than the 3 reel mower through that outlet.
Let me know if you find it.
Bob

thcri · Jun 10, 2005

(
Have you looked into reel mowers? Northern tools has a drag behind one. They have an outlet I found somewhere on the net and the 5 reel mower is alot cheaper than the 3 reel mower through that outlet.
Let me know if you find it.
Bob )

I agree the reel mower would be better for that low of length. If you have the 60" 914 mowing at 1" even on fairly flat land you could end up with scalping.

This is what I want some day Gang Mower It's priced at 1,249.00

But for me in my longer grasses it may not work.

murph

Inspector507 · Jun 10, 2005

I don't see any reason not to try runing it at 1" front, 1.5" rear 
I usually mow with it set 1/2" higher in the rear. It does a better job on the rear discharge for me.

PatC · Jun 11, 2005

I purchased a Pennington Brand called Bermuda Triangle (15 Mohawk, 15% Sultan Brand FM-6 and 15% Sydney and the rest filler). It was about $5 a pound and I used 25 lbs on a little over an acre in June of 2003 (suggested 2 to 3 lbs per 1000 feet). I wanted a ballpark (fairway) quality grass that I could one day cut and use for golf chipping if I wanted and I am pleased. I have to fertilize about 3 times a year to get the results I want (13/13/13 first two times and something else in early fall). I should spray with a couple of things to kill the other grasses and weeds but have not to date. Probably will this summer when baseball is over. About ten days after planting I got a 5 inch rain, so I guess I am really blessed to have any grass growing. I have been really please with the grass. We use the acre to practice baseball (10 year old), soccer and play volleyball with friends and generally just as a play area. Bermuda does require more frequent mowing than some but holds up well to abuse (kickball in the rain). I planted this on basic gumbo clay as I ran out of money when I finished leveling the hill side (allowed contractor to push down and cover trees and I have paid for that as I am now using tractor to fill in areas with sand and soil that have sunk). My plans now are to try and find a reel mower at some point in the future (maybe three or four years- after tractor is paid for lol). Good luck with yours. I have attempted to attach photo. Be happy to answer any other questions you may have.