Belly mower does a ragged job - why?

[sunandsand]

you've already expended considerable energy & time on this. get new blades installed, have existing sharpened & swap out occasionally. only way to tell if problem is blade related. don't understand the hesitation to replace
that would have been my 1st move on this whole progression
good luck

You are quite correct. It simply didn't occur to me that the blades would be so dull after 75 hours or so of mowing grass. These are the original blades, so I didn't really have a good idea of how long I could expect them to stay usable.

Now I do. I'm ordering a set of new blades and will put them on the shelf. In 50 hours or so of mowing time, I'll see if I need to swap them out, and if so, I will do it. As you say NEXT TIME, my first stop will be to look at the blades.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[sunandsand]

Mike... at what RPM is the tach marked for the PTO?

The picture back a frw posts indicate 2800 is the recommended setting, not 2600.

Tach on my B2601 isn't marked for optimum PTO speeds. Red line is about 2,800.

Manual says rear PTO turns 540 RPM when engine is doing 2,768 RPM.

Mid PTO turns 2,500 RPM when engine turns 2,753 RPM.

That tells me the sweet spot is 2,750 to 2,770 RPM.

Translation - For best results, pour on the coal and let 'er rip!

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[sandman2234]

I love it when a plan comes together! (somebody else said that, I just quoted it).
David from jax

 

[Midniteoyl]

How long did it take you to put on them 75 mowing hours?

 

[big bubba]

You are quite correct. It simply didn't occur to me that the blades would be so dull after 75 hours or so of mowing grass. These are the original blades, so I didn't really have a good idea of how long I could expect them to stay usable.

Now I do. I'm ordering a set of new blades and will put them on the shelf. In 50 hours or so of mowing time, I'll see if I need to swap them out, and if so, I will do it. As you say NEXT TIME, my first stop will be to look at the blades.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

please don't assume i am an expert in those regards...i usually learn the hard way then adjust
only suggestion is to be safe under the deck when removing blades, etc. i prefer timber blocks to jack stands.
i've done it a few times in my youth, but would never recommend crawling under & sharpening blades attached.
just to state obvious, sorry

 

[4570Man]

You are quite correct. It simply didn't occur to me that the blades would be so dull after 75 hours or so of mowing grass. These are the original blades, so I didn't really have a good idea of how long I could expect them to stay usable.

Now I do. I'm ordering a set of new blades and will put them on the shelf. In 50 hours or so of mowing time, I'll see if I need to swap them out, and if so, I will do it. As you say NEXT TIME, my first stop will be to look at the blades.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

50 hours is still way past optimal sharpness. I’d say more like 20 hours or less.

 

[sandman2234]

50 hours is still way past optimal sharpness. I’d say more like 20 hours or less.

20 hours if you like the comment your bride made when you did it right after the blade change!
David from jax

 

[CH4Ohio]

Tach on my B2601 isn't marked for optimum PTO speeds. Red line is about 2,800.

Manual says rear PTO turns 540 RPM when engine is doing 2,768 RPM.

Mid PTO turns 2,500 RPM when engine turns 2,753 RPM.

That tells me the sweet spot is 2,750 to 2,770 RPM.

Translation - For best results, pour on the coal and let 'er rip!

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

Glad it's working better.

10-4 on "pour on the coal"!

Every Kubota tach that I've ever seen has a mark showing PTO RPM speed. Yours doesn't look like this?

 

[sunandsand]

Glad it's working better.

10-4 on "pour on the coal"!

Every Kubota tach that I've ever seen has a mark showing PTO RPM speed. Yours doesn't look like this?

View attachment 711684

Yes, it has a little red square at 2,800 rpm.

On every other vehicle of the many, many vehicles I have ever owned equipped with a tachometer, the red line/red mark is the top allowable RPM for the engine. I'm talking cars, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, exceed red line and you'll blow it up.

I went and looked through the Kubota manual and I didn't SEE a red line! (I may have missed it, or it may not be possible to get there under load.)

In any event, 2,800 rpm seems to be the design target speed for the engine. Henceforth, that's where the needle will be and I'll wear my ear protectors (I do anyway).

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[CH4Ohio]

Understood. But it's not like a car or motorcycle. You can't red-line or over-rev the engine by running it at WOT. Like a motorboat, chainsaw, lawn mower, snowblower, etc., it's designed to run at WOT.

Thanks for the follow-up info. Happy mowing!