Uneven Grass Cutting

[fireman4074]

I have a craftsman DYS 4500. It is a 46" cut. When cutting grass with sharp baldes, one side cuts properly and the other side will cut but leaves grass half cut. The deck is level. Blades are new. The side that is not cutting right is the side that throw the grass out. Could it be something going on with the mandrel? What do I need to check?

 

[Baby Grand]

Any chance the blade on the side that isn't cutting well got put on upside down so the sharp edge is on the trailing edge and the lift wing on the advancing edge?

Also (longshot / wild speculation) is the deflector installed on the chute opening? I know the one time mine was off, a lot of air & clippings flew up vertically, so maybe if it's off the grass doesn't get lifted as well?

 

[fireman4074]

I double check to make sure the blades are on right and they are. Yes the deflector is installed.

 

[xtn]

Mine acts that way when I let too much of the clippings build up under the deck near the exit chute. It effectively necks down the size of the exit such that the grass cannot come flying out as well as it should. See anything under there that might restrict your flow to the exit chute?

Another idea is to check belt tightness and pulley function to make sure that blade is turning full speed like the other one.

 

[fireman4074]

There is no buildup on the chute or under the deck. Grass is flying out good. How do i check the belt tightness and pulley friction?

 

[brin]

Can you remember hitting anything with the mower deck...it does not take much and you can warp the deck and it will cut uneven like that ...it happened to me on my Craftsman and I ended up having to sell it since a new deck was way too expensive..It also could be a bent spindle.

 

[fireman4074]

I did hit a tree root in my yard but after that it was still cutting fine until recently. Before I got it back level, the side that hit the root was cutting lowering but the other side was still cutting grass not clippin' it. When I cut in reverse, it will cut great both sides are cutting.

 

[brin]

I took my craftsman to Sears at that time and it was a 46 inch deck and they leveled the deck up and cut some grass on their parkway and checked it again on a level surface and it was level and that is when they said it was a warped mower deck.

Apparently when you hit something hard enough it bends the metal deck..but the bend is not visible to the naked eye...that is why they call it a warped deck...It never did cut right after that and I sold it.

 

[xtn]

There is no buildup on the chute or under the deck. Grass is flying out good. How do i check the belt tightness and pulley friction?

I'm not familiar with your model. Maybe somebody else can imstruct you, or the info may be in your owners manual.