Ferris LS2000 - Grass Cuttings in pulleys

[DMDunster]

I could not see a Ferris Sub Forum so I have posted here.

I have just logged up 100 engine hours on a Ferris LS2000, 30HP Briggs with a 61" deck. I cut about 30 acres all up, usually in about 5 acre sections. Just completed a 5 acre section yesterday. It took about 4 hours running time. The ground speed is dictated by how rough the paddock is. About half was done at max speed, half at low speed. Uses about 5.5 litres of petrol per running hour.

The grass is now very dry, about 12 to 18" high but quite thin. The cuttings are coming over the top of the deck and bunching up around/underneath the pulleys. These cuttings get quite hot through friction and I am paranoid about starting a grass fire, but I need to get the grass down for our fire season. This is the 3rd cut of this section since September (our Spring season).

Has anyone put some type of rubber guard/deflector across the front/top of the deck to keep the cuttings out of the pulleys? It needs to be flexible to allow for deck clearance from the frame above when the deck is raised.

I was considering 1/4" thick x ~ 4" rubber in maybe 3 overlapping sections bolted to the vertical front deck stiffener.

Any other options?

 

[Cpjlube]

15 to 18 inches is tall for a lawn mower. I'm assuming you have the deck setting high.
The rubber strips might be the cheapest option. You might also try different blades. They make "high lift" blades or you could try gator blades. The gator blades seem to chop up the grass a bit better. That might keep the grass flowing out the shute.

 

[kevin37b]

Sound's like you need some sort of a deflector from the front of the deck , and up at an angle . This would knock the tall stuff down and under the deck .Maybe mount it to the lifting frame instead of the deck . Let it hang down enough to bend the tall stuff over right before the deck gets it . If I understand correctly, the tall stuff is basically breaking off and falling on the deck .You need something out front to lay that grass over instead of breaking it off . You need some sort of framework with belting hanging off the front where it doesn't interfere with the deck . A little long winded , just trying to think it through .

 

[Carl_NH]

Hi There,

I have the IS2000 52" non ICD deck (sloped nose) that you probably have. Clippings and leaves do get in the pulley area I blow them out after each use but never accumulated so much to cause concern or heat buildup.

Others have removed the pulley covers on left and right spindles - that seems to reduce the build up and allow more air flow.

One suggestion is to get 4 of these magnets 18" Magnetic Holder and attach a nylon netting to the back side of the magnet and then the magnets to the deck and underside of the operator platform. You can cut the magnet also to fit if needed.

This would be easy to remove when not needed, and clean up too

 

[art]

You might do best dropping the rubber out front of the axle's. To use a relatively stiff rubber like old baler belting would knock it over and maybe break some of the taller grasses off if mature enough.