Mowing Staying Straight

[Bob K13]

I recently purchased a Kubota F3680. For the life of me I cannot keep a straight line with the rear wheel steering. Does anyone have a tip to stay straight or is there a front mount mower that they recommend that will mow a straight line? Im willing to pay the price for a decent mower.

 

[MicroPilot]

I recently purchased a Kubota F3680. For the life of me I cannot keep a straight line with the rear wheel steering. Does anyone have a tip to stay straight or is there a front mount mower that they recommend that will mow a straight line? Im willing to pay the price for a decent mower.

What is it about the rear turn that makes keeping a line difficult? Is it that the mower reacts in the opposite direction of the steering input? Is the length from steer wheels to front of deck long enough that the steering input is multiplied and exaggerated by the mowing deck?

 

[CBW1999]

In theory, mowing on flat, even terrain- you can mow a straight line at a reasonable speed.

I have an old Toro Groundsmaster with rear steering. I have found that any slight plat in the wheel translates into a noticeable drift in the back. Also, any little bump that you may encounter, even if not noticeable- may cause you to shift the weight forward and that momentary decrease in ground pressure will cause drift.

Thankfully, I was given this mower as a "project", so I have little money in it. Otherwise I would have shot myself several times. Rear steering is really best suited for flat, even ground. Even a gradual hill can be a problem for me.

If the terrain is not the issue, and the adjustments are correct, then probably practice will be the best help. Rear steering is defiantly soomething that takes getting used to.

 

[CBW1999]

In theory, mowing on flat, even terrain- you can mow a straight line at a reasonable speed.

I have an old Toro Groundsmaster with rear steering. I have found that any slight play in the wheel translates into a noticeable drift in the back. Also, any little bump that you may encounter, even if not noticeable- may cause you to shift the weight forward and that momentary decrease in ground pressure will cause drift.

Thankfully, I was given this mower as a "project", so I have little money in it. Otherwise I would have shot myself several times. Rear steering is really best suited for flat, even ground. Even a gradual hill can be a problem for me.

If the terrain is not the issue, and the adjustments are correct, then probably practice will be the best help. Rear steering is defiantly soomething that takes getting used to.

 

[beenthere]

I recently purchased a Kubota F3680. For the life of me I cannot keep a straight line with the rear wheel steering. Does anyone have a tip to stay straight or is there a front mount mower that they recommend that will mow a straight line? Im willing to pay the price for a decent mower.

I'd say it is technique, not the equipment. Look at the end target (where you are going), not the mown line or edge of the mower deck. i.e. lengthen the distance if your aim.

Similar, some people drive a car down the road by looking at the road just in front of the car. Always correcting (too much) whereas looking further down the road will make for fewer and more subtle corrections.

 

[bigtiller]

Exactly what Beenthere said.
I used to till gardens with an all-wheel-steer tractor and found that the harder I tried to go straight the crookeder I went.

 

[Bob K13]

The power steering is so easy to work it seems any tiny bump makes the line change. It may be technique but it is a nightmare to me. I try to pick a line in the distance but that does not work either. My property is rolling which compounds the problem.

 

[Bob K13]

I am ready to shoot myself!!

 

[LarryD]

I changed from a standard riding mower to a ZTR several months ago.

If I had driven on the road like that the cops surely would have pulled me over. Now I can move right along and the universe is back in sync.:thumbsup:

You'll get the hang of it.

 

[Grrrr]

It is possible.

All of the combines, forage harvesters etc of the world are rear wheel steer.

They all go in a straight line.

You should see what happens the first time someone steers are combine with a 40 foot cutter deck on the front