Zero Turn Leaving Streaks

[jay3534]

I have a husqvarna zth 6123 that is leaving streaks when I mow. Tried brand name blades instead of generic and no change. Air in tires is correct / no changes made except blades / deck is level. Any body have ideas?

Thanks

 

[Fuddy1952]

Something has to be off to do that. When I sharpen blades on my two mowers I always stack them together to be sure they're the same. Oregon makes a height gauge, about $10, with mower on flat level allows you to check front to back and side height.

 

[mikester]

I have a husqvarna zth 6123 that is leaving streaks when I mow. Tried brand name blades instead of generic and no change. Air in tires is correct / no changes made except blades / deck is level. Any body have ideas?

Thanks

Scrape the bottom of your deck clean and the streaks will disappear.

 

[jay3534]

thank you for replies / will look at both suggestions

 

[TractorGuy]

Also make sure all blade tips are at the same height. Bad spindle bearings can cause the shaft to run crooked.

 

[Maxify55]

Try greasing the spindles

You've probably spun or blown a bearing.

Tap the old bearings and races out.
Then reinstall shielded (ZZ rated) bearings.

You'll never change them again.

 

[ovrszd]

Hmmmm,,, if he leveled the deck using blade tip measurements wouldn't a bad bearing be detected? Or overcome?

 

[JerryK]

Installing one or more of the blades upside down could do it. It sounds stupid... but all it takes is a few seconds of mind wandering when you are installing them. I have even done it once.

 

[ovrszd]

Installing one or more of the blades upside down could do it. It sounds stupid... but all it takes is a few seconds of mind wandering when you are installing them. I have even done it once.

My elderly neighbor did. His wife asked if I could look at it.... i felt so bad for him. I played it off as no big deal and swapped them. I felt so bad for him....

 

[Fuddy1952]

Ok...we're on vacation but I just thought of something simple and easy to do, and cheap (which is the best). Matter of fact I'll do it at home! 1) park mower on flat level area...asphalt/concrete 2) with ruler measure deck...front,back,left,right. Maybe try at different deck heights so you verify deck is ok. 3)place all 4 wheels on identical blocks. 4) then you can reach under, wiggle blades (bearings ok?). Then rotate blades by hand and front/back/left/right they all have to be the same. You could simply cut a scrap stick of wood as a guide.
Only thing is be 100% sure mower is raised same all around and safe...can't slip off blocks.

 

[westcliffe01]

Spindle flange or blade bent....

 

[ovrszd]

Ok...we're on vacation but I just thought of something simple and easy to do, and cheap (which is the best). Matter of fact I'll do it at home! 1) park mower on flat level area...asphalt/concrete 2) with ruler measure deck...front,back,left,right. Maybe try at different deck heights so you verify deck is ok. 3)place all 4 wheels on identical blocks. 4) then you can reach under, wiggle blades (bearings ok?). Then rotate blades by hand and front/back/left/right they all have to be the same. You could simply cut a scrap stick of wood as a guide.
Only thing is be 100% sure mower is raised same all around and safe...can't slip off blocks.

Not sure how measuring the deck will tell you anything?

Always measure the blade tips to check for level cut. Also rember most manufacturers recommend the front be slightly lower than rear.

Always measure height with deck lowered to the cutting position. That's where the pitch of the blades are most important.

In searching for the subject problem I'd check height of all blade tips. Looking for a spindle that's not perpendicular to the others. Or a bent blade.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If the OP just changed the blades, he could have accidentally put one on upside down. Another thing that will cause that is getting something like a hay string or plastic wrapper around the blade. I would check those things before looking at a bearing assuming that it was cutting ok before the blade change.

 

[ovrszd]

If the OP just changed the blades, he could have accidentally put one on upside down. Another thing that will cause that is getting something like a hay string or plastic wrapper around the blade. I would check those things before looking at a bearing assuming that it was cutting ok before the blade change.

Good points Gary.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Not sure how measuring the deck will tell you anything?

Always measure the blade tips to check for level cut. Also rember most manufacturers recommend the front be slightly lower than rear.

Always measure height with deck lowered to the cutting position. That's where the pitch of the blades are most important.

In searching for the subject problem I'd check height of all blade tips. Looking for a spindle that's not perpendicular to the others. Or a bent blade.

Oregon 42-095 [57] Small Engine Deck Leveling Gauge

This is what I have, and read the instructions. The blade shafts are mounted to the deck. No matter whether it's 1,2, or 3 blades they have to be aligned with deck.
I'm trying to be helpful...maybe Oregon is wrong...but it's common sense. So to cut grass evenly the blades have to be all the same height in every direction.

 

[ovrszd]

I've never used one of those gauges but I see nothing wrong with them. I usually use a deep well socket.

 

[Coyote machine]

To get even cut each blade has to be balanced too. Any hardware or mower shop will have the inexpensive stepped cylindrical blade level checking tool. Every time I sharpen a blade it gets balance checked with the tool before reinstall. I also use a marker to mark each blade as to up side to reduce confusion as to which way the blade mounts on the spindle. It saves time wasted flipping them right side up....

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have installed a blade upside down a time or two when in a hurry but it is easy to see if it is wrong. If you can see the bevel when looking up at the blade, it is on wrong.

I always keep a spare set or two of sharp mower blades. When changing, I take the sharp set and lay them under the mower deck about midway then using an impact gun, remove one, reverse the impact and put the new one on. Toss the dull one from under the deck. I always hand start the blade bolt. This takes me all of 5 minutes to change them out including the time it takes me to raise the mower up using my B26 FEL. Everything I need to do the job is right there where the work starts and finishes.

 

[LD1]

The only thing that ever causes my mower to streak is....
1. a dirty deck. (scrape it clean as someone mentioned already)
2. Mowing too fast

 

[2LaneCruzer]

The only thing that ever causes my mower to streak is....
1. a dirty deck. (scrape it clean as someone mentioned already)
2. Mowing too fast

If I don't have my deck wheels set correctly, like too high, or uneven, I get that on a slope sometimes.