finish mower cut quality

[kossetx]

To me, a finish mower is the way to go in the yard and along the drive and around the gate. My old 2 wheel finish mower on my uneven hilly yard is prone to scalping though. It also tends to scalp when making turns. I've never used it much because of that. Do the newer finish mowers with 4 wheels and an anti scalp roller cut as well as a lawnmower will? By this I mean evenly and not much scalping, you know, the manicured look.

I've concidered adding a second set of wheels to mine but like I said, it's old.

Mark

 

[RobJ]

I think they might be a little better but if you have a lot of bumps and mole hills it's gonna hit bottom a few times. I still catch some as you would expect with a 60"' mower. A little less on a 38" riding mower. I added the scalper wheel to my woods and is a little better. But if I had a perfectly or near flat yard it wouldn't be an issue. You can see I have a ditch and a small hill to mow.

 

[Runner]

I agree with RobJ. I have both a belly mower and 72 inch rear finish mower. The belly mower scalps and leaves a "stairstep" appearance on corners. The rear mower is suspended on it's own four wheels and follows the contours better.

As far as cut quality, it may depend somewhat on the brand/type of mower, but my rear mower is equal to or better than the belly mower.

Also, I think the rear mower (rear discharge) distributes the clippings more evenly than the side discharge belly mower.

Other advantages of rear mower: easier to attach/detach, easier to set up, easier to raise for clearing obstacles (stumps/rocks) and easier to trim around/under trees and bushes.

 

[RobJ]

Also, I think the rear mower (rear discharge) distributes the clippings more evenly than the side discharge belly mower.

QUOTE]

I was replacing the pulleys on my side discharge Woods RM360, one of the pulleys was smaller than the other 2. Thinking it's the one farthest form the side chute to speed up that blade. Nope, it was the one closest to the chute.. go figure.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I first ran my 7 foot finish mower, I had scalping issues. I raised the deck an inch and it's never happened again.

Depending on how rough your area is that you are mowing and how short you want the grass is really what will decide if you scalp or not.

Eddie

 

[kossetx]

When I first ran my 7 foot finish mower, I had scalping issues. I raised the deck an inch and it's never happened again.

Depending on how rough your area is that you are mowing and how short you want the grass is really what will decide if you scalp or not.

Eddie

Gees, I never would have figured that out.

 

[oliver28472]

I have my little 4' set at about 4" and it doesn't scalp. It has a check chain on each side that attaches to the deck near the side link pins and goes up to the tractor at the top link pin.

Check out the other thread here about mowing without a toplink and look at the post by djradz. He has a picture of his check chains.

 

[RobJ]

Gees, I never would have figured that out.

He makes a point thought. Sometimes you can't have your cake and eat it to!!

 

[firemanpat2910]

set it where you want it, scalp it. Unhook finish mower, put on box blade,drag blade, hares, what ever you have. Smooth out the scalped spots, reseed. Go have a beer.

 

[LBrown59]

I have my little 4' set at about 4" .

I keep my mower set at 4''.

 

[kossetx]

If your paying for the mower you can. The question was do they cut almost as well as a lawn mower will. If they don't, I don't need a new one.

Useless info is just that, useless.

 

[NewToy]

I have a 60" LandPride finish mower with the anti-scalping roller on the front and am very pleased with the quality of the cut. It mows just as well as my little Troy built garden tractor or my Honda push mower. My wife trims around our trees and other obstructions with the Honda and I do the rest with the LandPride and honestly can tell no difference in the cut. My finish mower is an AT2660 with side discharge. It has three different blade options, hi, med and lo lift. The hi lift blades cut the best, especially in wet grass but tend to really stir up the dust if really dry. I bought a set of lo-lift for the really dry spells in the summer and they don't kick up near as much stuff but the hi-lifters cut the best overall. They also make mulching blades for it but I haven't tried them. I like the side discharge as I can direct the clippings away from the house. The front roller is a must, I cut a few times without it and went and bought it and it's the ticket.
John

 

[LBrown59]

Useless info is just that, useless.

what info did you tag as usless?
I couldn't find it in the thread?

 

[CDsdad]

I'm happy with my 7' Landpride. The front roller helped when I put it on, but I had already had to raise it an inch or so. I still scalp occasionally. The problem I have the most is the side cutting into the ground when I make a turn on a slope. I just go slow

 

[groundcover]

RobJ, is there a PTO guard missing from your mower ? The safety police will be coming for you ! I know you wont get near it but you never know who might get tangled up . When I was a kid one of the workers on the nursery got his pants caught in a unshielded PTO shaft to a sprayer,wrapped him up and almost took his leg completley off,not a good day ! Years later had a woman get her hand crushed in a potting machine that had a guard removed,they may be a PITA but they are not just there for the lawyers.

 

[EddieWalker]

what info did you tag as usless?
I couldn't find it in the thread?

That was directed at me.

Eddie

 

[RobJ]

RobJ, is there a PTO guard missing from your mower ? The safety police will be coming for you ! I know you wont get near it but you never know who might get tangled up . When I was a kid one of the workers on the nursery got his pants caught in a unshielded PTO shaft to a sprayer,wrapped him up and almost took his leg completley off,not a good day ! Years later had a woman get her hand crushed in a potting machine that had a guard removed,they may be a PITA but they are not just there for the lawyers.

Be quiet man. It didn't have one when I bought it. Actually it didn't. IMO there are accidents, then there are stupid people. I'm not judging the ones you mentioned BTW. Google Bill Engvall stupid people and have a laugh.

But a couple to ponder, if I have a PTO guard on my BH, what about the big hole on the back, I can stick my hand in there easily. Up where we live (true story), a guy lost an arm when he stuck it in a turning baler. He's now a millionair but would a sign have stopped him? Vemeer now has an additional sign. My table saw has the guard removed. If you have ever used Jet TS with its guard you might think it's more dangerous on the TS.

I'm not trying to buck the safety police, but I do try to use as much common sense as possible.

Thanks for checking up on me. I do need a slap every now and then.

Rob

 

[RobJ]

what info did you tag as usless?
I couldn't find it in the thread?

Bad day for someone?

 

[MDM]

I would say there is no difference in the cut, just how each manuvers. If you have a wife that likes to mow, you may want a belly mower. Just ask my fruit trees...they will tell you the same thing.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Thought eddies comment was useful myself. Fair amount of wisdom in that.