Service Manual

5 - 2 Service Dealer’s Guide to Great Quality of Cut
Troubleshooting Quality of Cut
Clogged Chute (Bagging or Side
Discharging Only)
1. Check for an alternate blade. A low lift blade on a
bagging mower may have an increased tendency
to plug. Install a higher lift blade if available.
2. On bagging mowers, the air exhaust may be
restricted. Ensure that the bag is not caked with
dirt and the air exhaust screen is not clogged.
Dribbling
Dribbling is caused by the same factors as clumping.
Use the same steps to remedy this problem.
Ragged Cut
1. Weed content—Some weeds and weedy grasses
are very difficult to cut cleanly, leaving a poor
looking lawn. Remove the weeds from the lawn or
improve the grass stand in the lawn.
2. Grass variety-Some types of grass can be difficult
to cut. Certain varieties, such as Annual Rye and
Bahia are tough, stringy, and are difficult cut
cleanly no matter how sharp the blade.
Scalping
1. Raise the height of cut to avoid high spots.
2. The lawn may need to be graded or rolled to
remove high spots.
3. Level mower side to side.
4. Adjust anti-scalp devices.
5. Adjust gage wheels on floating or semi-floating
decks.
6. Reduce ground speed, either in turns or on
straight runs.
7. Change cutting pattern. Sometimes approaching a
high spot from a different angle resolves the
problem.
8. If the mower attachment scalps only on turns, slow
down. High speed turns can cause the side of the
mower on the inside of the turn to lift or bounce
and this makes the outside edge dig into the
ground. Centrifugal force will apply in direct
relation to the speed.
Stair Step or Sawtooth Cut
Check mower for level side to side.
On multi-blade mowers, verify all blades are at the
same height.
Stragglers
1. Check the blade pitch. See the Operator's Manual
or the section "Checking and Adjusting the Blade
Level" of this manual for adjustment instructions.
2. If the mower is equipped with an accelerator or
mulch fan, replace it with a blade stiffener as used
on some bagging mowers. Not all mowers require
this.
3. Try a lower height of cut.
4. Check for heavy foot traffic in area affected.
Heavy traffic will compact the grass.
Streaking
1. Check the blade pitch. See the Operator's Manual
or the section "Checking and Adjusting the Blade
Level" of this manual for adjustment instructions.
In severe cases, adjust mower pitch to zero (level,
front to rear).
2. Check for the correct blade—a bagging blade
used when mulching may cause excessive
turbulence.
3. If the mower is equipped with an accelerator or
mulch fan, replace it with a blade stiffener as used
on some bagging mowers. Not all mowers require
this.
4. Try varying the height of cut.
5. Multi-blade decks may leave a streak when
turning in uncut grass when the effective direction
of the mower eliminates the blade overlap. This
may happen in long, curved cutting patterns. Try
making the turn from the opposite direcrtion, if
possible.
6. Verify the correct blade overlap if a multi-blade
mower leaves a streak between blades when
traveling in a straight line. This can happen when
the blades have been sharpened numerous times,
making them too short.