Finish Mower Question

[PSDStu]

Just got done using my new PRD6000 mower and the cut is excellent!

One thing I noticed is that when backing up to mow under something that the mower tends to want to drift to one side or the other and doesn't really backup very straight without having to sort of wrestle with the steering wheel a little.

I suspect that this is due to a combination of having to rotate the 4 wheels on the mower and also because of the type lower hitch style that Woods uses on the mower that allows the mowers lower hitch points to kinda move up and down a little bit. My stabilzer arms are tight, and the

My rotary cutter actaully backs up much straighter and doesn't have the sort of slop the finish mower does when backing up to mow something.

Maybe it's just me.....?

 

[RoyJackson]

Sounds like your sway links aren't tight enough.

 

[PSDStu]

Thanks Roy.

I made sure they were tight........ but might be worth checking again.

 

[RoyJackson]

Thanks Roy.

I made sure they were tight........ but might be worth checking again.

When I tighten mine, I lift the 3PH and move the mower side to side. If there's too much movement, I snug the turnbuckles up while the cutter is raised. You may have to loosen your adjustable lifting link to do this. And just snug those turnbuckets to allow a little movement. Don't forget to tighten the lift link up again...and make sure the mower is fairly level.

Is this mower new for you...first time you've used it?

Mine does move around a bit, but I can't say it's any more then the cutter.

 

[PSDStu]

When I tighten mine, I lift the 3PH and move the mower side to side. If there's too much movement, I snug the turnbuckles up while the cutter is raised. You may have to loosen your adjustable lifting link to do this. And just snug those turnbuckets to allow a little movement. Don't forget to tighten the lift link up again...and make sure the mower is fairly level.

Is this mower new for you...first time you've used it?

Mine does move around a bit, but I can't say it's any more then the cutter.

Ditto on your tightening procedure.....and yes it's a new mower and first time I have used it.

I think part of the reason that this particular mower tends to move around more then my cutter us because of the design of the mowers lower hitch setup. It's not a fixed setup like the cutter.... but rather it floats like top link attachment point. Also... where the tractors lower lift arms attach there is alot more gap between the outside of the tractors lift arms...and the inside of the mowers hitch point....might be kinda hard to picture....and I may try and sanp a couple of pics to better explain.

 

[Runner]

I'm a total newbie with the RFM myself, and I've also been trying to get the hang of backing the Frontier GM1072R around. I've had the same issues as you. I particularly notice it when I want to trim next to a tree or post. I will run past it, then, try to back up beside it to get close and the mower wants to move a little one way or the other.

Tightening the links helped, but some of the movement is just due to the fact that the casters need a certain amount of "arc" to make their turn around to be going the other direction. I've found that I originally tended to overcorrect on the steering. When I saw it going the wrong direction, I'd turn it back the other way, but by that time, the casters had made their turn and now it was going too far the other direction, i.e., about to run into the object I'm trimming around.

The things that helped me are: tighten the side links, give the mower some room for the casters to get turned around before you start backing up, try not to overcorrect and practice.

 

[PSDStu]

I hear ya about the practicing.....I have over corrected and wrestled to get the mower right where I want it when trying to back up and mow around a tree or fence post.... guess it's just going to take some getting used to..... and I think your right about the casters trying to get rotated around..... I may try and lift the mower a little and see if that helps with getting the casters to rotate easier around....

 

[GordNovo]

I'm a total newbie with the RFM myself, and I've also been trying to get the hang of backing the Frontier GM1072R around. I've had the same issues as you. I particularly notice it when I want to trim next to a tree or post. I will run past it, then, try to back up beside it to get close and the mower wants to move a little one way or the other.

Tightening the links helped, but some of the movement is just due to the fact that the casters need a certain amount of "arc" to make their turn around to be going the other direction. I've found that I originally tended to overcorrect on the steering. When I saw it going the wrong direction, I'd turn it back the other way, but by that time, the casters had made their turn and now it was going too far the other direction, i.e., about to run into the object I'm trimming around.

The things that helped me are: tighten the side links, give the mower some room for the casters to get turned around before you start backing up, try not to overcorrect and practice.

Plus I find that it helps to not put the full weight of the mower on the 4 wheels. I run the RFM at the #3 mark on the position control lever for the best maneuverabiity around the yard. This technique also cuts down on castor wheel marks on the grass when cutting in extremely damp/wet conditions.

GordNovo