Comparison Grasshopper vs Ferris vs John Deere vs Snapper

[Poopdeck Pappy]

I don't know anything about that model. You will want to find out what motor and what transmission it has. That sounds like it could be an older model. You don't want one with the Gemini transmission. If it has the G2 or T6 transmission, those are fine.

 

[palanzana]

edit ..

 

[palanzana]

Today I got to try these grasshopper

- 226v [new - 2015]
- 620t [780h worked - 2010]


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620t
===

I did not like,
irregular cut
leaving stripes on the grass
underpowered ?


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226v
===

it's fantastic
faster
perfect cut
good traction


We tried to close with a plugg the 226, but with the long grass (20 cm) and the dish to a minimum was under stress and engine shutdown.
I would like a tractor that i can use without side discharge, mulching does not interest me but I wish it did not give me problems with high grass


i have a doubt:
1) Has the 226v shutdown because lacked the internal bulkheads of mulching and the grass accumulated throughout the third blade near the cap?
2) Can i have the same performance of a rear discharge and cut very long grass with mulching kit ?
3) It could be better an is700z rear discharge with mulching kit ?


Photos Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

First of all, just closing off the side discharge does not convert the deck to a mulching deck. A mulching mower has much more baffling under the deck that is designed to keep the grass cut by each blade confined to that chamber. A side discharge deck is designed to cut the grass and move it out the side discharge. The grass cut by the far left blade (when you're looking at it while sitting on the mower) has to travel all the way to the other side of the deck and out the side discharge. When you just close off the discharge chute, all that grass from the other two blades is all forced to the right chamber, which clogs up with all the cut grass. Neither the deck nor the engine is designed to be able to handle that.

Also, a mulching deck uses mulching blades, whereas a side discharge deck does not. The mulching blades are designed to chop the grass into little bits and deposit it into the lawn below it. The blades for a side discharge deck are designed to cut the grass off and, rather than process it into little bits, it just moves it over and out the discharge.

All this is why mower manufacturers sell a mulching kit, which usually include (1) all the baffles needed to create separate chambers under the deck and (2) the mulching blades.

All the above is why the 226v struggled when you shut off the side discharge. All that cut grass was accumulating and had nowhere to go.

Also, mowing tall grass with a mulching deck can be done but (1) you have to slow the mower down a lot (to give the deck sufficient time to cut and process the grass), and (2) the results will never be as good as they would if you were cutting shorter grass.

 

[Ford850]

I think the side discharge will cut the best in taller grass. Followed by the rear discharge deck, and then finally the mulching kit as the least effective. I've read reviews stating the newest rear discharge decks are an improvement over what they offered in the past, but I still prefer the side discharge with high lift blades to provide a better cut.

 

[AxleHub]

Poopdeck pappy, you had a good general description of the different types of decks.

My thoughts are that a rear discharge deck is the preferred deck type if grass cutting is being done on tall grass (defined as longer than 7 inches) . . .. and it does a nice job on regular length grasses. The reason is it provides an exhaust option and an even dispwrsion of clippinfs and not a clumping or "piling" effect like side discharge causes. Also if the mower goes over it and discharges behind it . .it means clippings are not in borders or flower beds.

For normal length grasses (defined as 3 to 5 inches and 6 to 7 inches in diesel powered) my preference is a true mulching deck. A true mulching deck has the metal of the deck formed and shaped specifically for movement of grass towards the blades in a multi-chopping manner and utilizes "lift" to help that process. A true mulching deck has no exhaust chute and has no insertable baffles or plugs because those are already in the deck metal itself. As a result there is little for grass to cling or attach to (inlike insert baffles and plugs). A true mulching deck may also have additional blades to asdist in the finer cutting.

Side discharge is certainly the cheapest to design and build but it does a nice job of cutting if the grass is in the 3 to 4 inch range and it "gets it cut" when in the 5 to 7 inch range or more. but ut us harder on the grass itself because 40 or 50 or 60 inches of grass are funneled thru a 7 to 10 inch chute created more cutting pressure or resistance and more piling in thickness of the clippings. In addition there is the rock/object throwing potential . . And then an added 7 to 11 inches of chute guard that extends to the side creating greater width of mower clearance required. Other than cost savings of a side discharge . . the other primary advantage is for those who desire to "pick up" their clippings by a grass/leaf collection unit . . Of course rear discharge and mulcher typically don't need collection as they more evenly distribute the clippings by their design and don't have clumping or piling.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've used side discharge and rear discharge mowers quite a bit...

The read discharge cuts tall grass much better/cleaner, using less power, because it get's rid of the grass faster.

With side discharge, you have to move all the grass across to exit one side instead of just kicking it out the back...

SR

 

[palanzana]

1) I have the same effect of a rear discharge with the mulching kit (mulching blades - buffles) and tall grass?
2) I risk that the engine does not hold?
3) Can i cut with the deck to a minimum?
4) I have to reduce the speed?

 

[Ford850]

After my comments about rear discharge decks, and then seeing the other positive comments on here, I researched them again. Wow, I'm impressed with the positive reviews of the GH rear discharge. I know I researched before buying last year, and I was thinking I decided against it due to performance, but now I don't think that was it. I think I stuck with the side discharge due to how I mow a lot along wooded areas, and rely on the side discharge to blow leaves off the lawn through the fall. Other than that, the rear discharge looks like the best option.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My previous comments were regarding performance of side vs rear discharge of mowers, but I didn't choose a rear discharge mower for my 725.

I chose a side discharge because a rear would have kept throwing grass and any dirt/dust right back on the motor where the air filter is.

I'm sure it would be fine IF you stay in the grass all the time, next to paved area's, but "I" don't...

SR