Kubota G1800S front wheels mattgr grass down so it doesn't cut

jas67 · Jul 16, 2008

I recently purchased a Kubota G1800S (4 wheel steer) with hopes of replacing my Simplicity Javelin Zero Turn mower. The ZTR has traction issues on my sloping property, but is otherwise a great machine. I has a nice even cut.

The Kubota G1800S doesn't have the traction issues, and the 4 wheel steering makes it nearly as maneuverable around the many obstacles on my property as the ZTR.

The downside, is that it mats down the grass with the front wheels, so that the grass the front wheels has passed over doesn't get cut. After a day or so, that grass stands back up, and is higher than what was cut. Due to this, I am highly dissatisfied with the cut.

The G1800S is somewhat heavier than the Javelin ZTR, and a lot of more of that weight is on the front wheels than the Javelin ZTR, which like all ZTR's has most of its weight over the rear wheels

I would prefer to keep the G1800S over the ZTR, as it will provide me with year-round use with the addition of a snowblower attachment should I decided to sell my B7100 when I'm done with the major landscaping projects I'm doing. The ZTR, like any ZTR is a grass-cutting machine only.

I have read that "high lift" blades may help with this. I looked into Gator blades, but they don't seem to be available.

Has anyone else has this issue and solved it?

Thanks in advance,
jas67

EastTexFrank · Jul 17, 2008

This is a problem I've never found a satisfactory answer to. In my case it's even worse because I have a rear finishing mower so I run over the grass with 4 tires before the mower gets to cut it.

I tried changing out to high lift blades and there might have been a
"slight" difference. Also in my experienc R4's might be slighly better than turfs because of their footprint but then again, that might just be wishful thinking on my part.

The only things that I have found that make any difference at all is to slow down (give the grass more time to spring back up) and cut it more often ( so the effect is less noticible). Both are answers I'm sure that you don't want to hear.

I was at the dealer on other business 3 weeks ago and took the opportunity to look at a Scag Tiger ZTM. Now that machine might be the answer to my problem but I don't think I can slip that one past my wife at the moment so I'll be very interested in any other replies that you might get.