Land Pride RCD1884 doesn't cut smoothly, any tips?

[th1884]

I am using my new 7' dual spindle RCD1884 to mow springtime fescue pastures. I'm just not getting a smooth, even cut. It's leaving a swatch of partially cut grass in between where the two cutters meet. Has anyone had this problem, and how did you remedy it?

I have a 40hp Kubota, running 2500 engine rpm and 540 PTO rpm. The tractor handles the mower just fine. Ground speed is 3mph. The blades are set at 90 degrees to each other. The mower is tilted slightly higher in the rear than in the front. Mowing about 5" high, grass stems are 20-24" tall and not super dense.

Is it a matter of being first cutting? Does it work better when then grass is older and doesn't have as many stems in it?

 

[oldnslo]

Have you checked to confirm the blades tips overlap a little in the middle on that mower?

 

[jkmfarmer]

Could be the height of the grass. I've never been able to cut grass that high and get a nice cut. I don't have your mower, but with my mower, it seems as tho with high grass, the front of the mower or the tractor tire flattens the grass and then the grass is too long to be sucked back up by the blades as they go over, so I don't get a good cut. Hope you get this issue figured out....

 

[5030]

First thing I'd check is blade length and makes sure both blades are equal in length as well as sone overlap, which is why they are offset in the first place and I'd look to make sure both are ground correctly all the way to the blade tips.

 

[ruffdog]

Looking at the specs for that cutter, it looks like it has 5" of blade overlap and about 11,700 fpm tip speed. I doubt it would ever achieve a look like a finish mower being that it is a rough cut mower. I find that early grass tends not to cut as clean as later grass too.

 

[Hay Dude]

I am using my new 7' dual spindle RCD1884 to mow springtime fescue pastures. I'm just not getting a smooth, even cut. It's leaving a swatch of partially cut grass in between where the two cutters meet. Has anyone had this problem, and how did you remedy it?

I have a 40hp Kubota, running 2500 engine rpm and 540 PTO rpm. The tractor handles the mower just fine. Ground speed is 3mph. The blades are set at 90 degrees to each other. The mower is tilted slightly higher in the rear than in the front. Mowing about 5" high, grass stems are 20-24" tall and not super dense.

Is it a matter of being first cutting? Does it work better when then grass is older and doesn't have as many stems in it?

This should not happen.
Might sound crazy, but it might not have the right length blades on it, or they may be improperly installed.
Or, are the blades really old and worn out at the ends?

 

[5030]

What I'm thinking, either the blades are dull or too short. Only way to make sure on blade length is measure them and the overlap. Shredder blades aren't supposed to be pointy sharp but a a tiny square edge on them. Neither my bat wing nor my flat top leaves any grass streaks ever.

 

[Hay Dude]

Could be the height of the grass. I've never been able to cut grass that high and get a nice cut. I don't have your mower, but with my mower, it seems as tho with high grass, the front of the mower or the tractor tire flattens the grass and then the grass is too long to be sucked back up by the blades as they go over, so I don't get a good cut. Hope you get this issue figured out....

Maybe you need to adjust the level of your mower.
Mine has lock bolts that adjust the front to back tilt of the deck.
I like my mower deck to be just slightly lower in front than the back.

 

[5030]

Just the opposite for me. lower in the back, higher in the front.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I am using my new 7' dual spindle RCD1884 to mow springtime fescue pastures. I'm just not getting a smooth, even cut. It's leaving a swatch of partially cut grass in between where the two cutters meet. Has anyone had this problem, and how did you remedy it?

I have a 40hp Kubota, running 2500 engine rpm and 540 PTO rpm. The tractor handles the mower just fine. Ground speed is 3mph. The blades are set at 90 degrees to each other. The mower is tilted slightly higher in the rear than in the front. Mowing about 5" high, grass stems are 20-24" tall and not super dense.

Is it a matter of being first cutting? Does it work better when then grass is older and doesn't have as many stems in it?

Need to run your tractor at wide open throttle.

 

[dieselscout80]

Maybe you need to adjust the level of your mower.
Mine has lock bolts that adjust the front to back tilt of the deck.
I like my mower deck to be just slightly lower in front than the back.

I’m thinking about changing mine so what do you set it to?

Is 1”, 2” or say 3” equal to slight?

 

[EarPlug]

Need to run your tractor at wide open throttle.

The rear PTO on a Kubota L5740 runs at 540 RPM. The engine needs to be running at approximately 3142 RPM to achieve this 540 PTO RPM. To ensure proper operation of a 540 RPM attachment, it's recommended to run the engine slightly above the 540 RPM mark on the tachometer, typically 550-560 RPM.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’m thinking about changing mine so what do you set it to?

Is 1”, 2” or say 3” equal to slight?

It's not really something set in stone
Check out your owners manual, too
Might be something in there.
Mine is just slightly lower in front

 

[ruffdog]

From tractordata site:

540@2550 rpm

TractorData.com Kubota L5740 tractor information

 

[EddieWalker]

First I would level the mower deck. Having it set at an angle makes it harder for the blades to make a flat level cut.

Look under the deck and make sure that the blades overlap. You should be able to turn the stump jumper by hand when you are under there.

Inspect your blades.

How fast are you mowing? If it's really tall material, the faster you go, the more you will miss in a single pass. My speed for really tall stuff is half the speed of my shorter grass.

 

[th1884]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your suggestions. The blades are new, as is the mower. The blades overlap about 5". When I checked this, I found a clump of shredded grass hanging down from the frame above where the blades overlap. It was about the size of half a football. Definitely big enough to interfere with grass flow. After knocking that off, it helped improve the cut. My previous single spindle cutter had a smooth bottom and the framing supports on top. This mower has a smooth top and the framing members are under the deck, so I need to keep an eye on this. I think it cuts better where the grass isn't so thick, so will chalk some of this up to cutting stemmy spring fescue.

 

[th1884]

Could be the height of the grass. I've never been able to cut grass that high and get a nice cut. I don't have your mower, but with my mower, it seems as tho with high grass, the front of the mower or the tractor tire flattens the grass and then the grass is too long to be sucked back up by the blades as they go over, so I don't get a good cut. Hope you get this issue figured out....

Yup, definitely seeing the tire tracks are contributing to the rough cut.

 

[kneedeep]

Rotary mowers are not good lawn mowers, leave too rough of a cut.
Cut slower and higher at full throttle may help.
Cut it twice a week apart to get it low is my way of using a mower around the yard.

 

[dieselscout80]

It's not really something set in stone
Check out your owners manual, too
Might be something in there.
Mine is just slightly lower in front

I just re-read my Woods C114 owner’s manual and I think I have the front of my C114 to low (or rear to high). It says the maximum rake front to back is 1.75”.