Chutes up or down

[guntruck]

I was wondering who leaves there chutes on there mowers up or down? I personally have had mine all removed or fixed so they would stay up. We just got a complex and dont want to be hitting out windows and such but i want the grass dispersed evenly and nicely. Virtually everyone i've seen has removed theres and i was just wondering what the majority here does and why. As always its a pleasure =)

[Eric ELM]

Before I had OCDC, I left mine off. When I turned by a house or flowerbed, I would always turn so the clippings and/or forein objects would blow out into the lawn. I still normally have the OCDC open and still turn this way, but at least I have the option to close in it a seconds notice if I have to go between 2 beds or see people or a car in the area on the discharge side. I then close it and just stop until they get out of the way. You can never be to safe. ;)

Objects can still fly out, even with a mulch mower with no discharge opening.

[bob]

I don't use them on my Grasshoppers. I do have a restriction plate that I use going between beds.

[lsylvain]

I Leave the shutes on and drill a small hole in them for a wire atached to the mower to hook too. This holds the shute up and when I need it down i just give it a kick and it falls down.

[AVRECON]

UP! Until I go some place where there are cars, like a commercial property with traffic. I have taken out a couple of windsheilds before. Damn that hurt LOL!

[mdb landscaping]

the first thing i did when i took delivery of my scag walk behind, was to take the chute off. hasnt been on since then.

[kutnkru]

I fasten the chute up using a bungee cord from the top of the chute when its upside down across the bottom and then attach the other end to the belt cover on the deck.

Good Luck this season!
Kris

[George777]

I need to ask this question. Why do ya all keep your side discharge chutes up? I would think this would be unsafe.

[Freetime]

We keep ours up most of the time but, leave them on just for the reason as stated above. Them there winders is spensive. One claim and (The we love yo money insurance company) will drop you like bam.

mow,mow,mow yo self quickly to de bank!

[kutnkru]

Fer bagging LOL.

Actually I like to mow with the chutes up when we are doing large area mowing. This way you can cut at a faster speed, avoid clumping/wind-rowing, and still create a quality cut.

Is there a risk?? Absolutely. But lets not forget that every time you engage the blades thers a risk of danger to you. If a blade breaks it could come flying out underneath the deck aimed for your ankles.

Good Luck this season!
Kris

[brandy]

My experiance with commercial mowers tells me that they designed these machines to be operated with the chutes up, but when safty calls it will go down. I don't know about you guys but most of the places I cut grass there is nothing to shoot out because of the cleanlyness of the properties! We will stop and turn off the blades when ever there are people present!!

[SMB]

Oh boy, I can see another "Trimmer Guards On or Off" discussion starting up here. ;) We keep ours UP! It doesn't clump nearly as bad, the grass is spread more evenly, and you can go faster! By the way, we take the guards off of our trimmers also! :cool:

[Roger]

I've been using a w/b for five years. I took the deflector off immediately. Later I remounted when I was having trouble keeping clippings out of mulched beds. But, I didn't like the rows, clumping, etc, so I took it off.

A year and half ago, I dug it out again. I worked with it again to try to solve the problem above, but was more determined. Eventually, I took both bolts out, replacing with a long bolt through both brackets. This enabled me to freely flip the deflector up or down. I would use it 99% of the time up, but stop to put it down when needed. Then I mounted an 8" long handle off the rear of the deflector, so that I could reach it more easily while walking beside the machine. I couldn't tolerate the stopping/starting to flip up or down. This proved to be the best - I can keep nearly a normal forward pace, still moving along side to flip the deflector. But, I only use it down when I'm concerned about flying clippings, or safety.

If anybody has a good answer to a handle, I'm happy to listen!

Roger

[joshua]

keep them up, it dispeares the grass more evenly and and blows it father out, not straight down at the gound causing it to lump where it hits. after you run it a strip or 2 in your yard put the shut up and see the difference.

[eslawns]

Until last year I kept them up all the time. My mower threw something into a moving car, and I want to reduce the chance of it happening again. If there are people around, the chute gets closed. Eric is right, stuff can still come out of there. That's why we have insurance.

[Richard Martin]

I keep my deflector chutes on but up. If we get around people we stop mowing until they are clear. Remember, your personal liability (not the insurance company) is greatly increased if someone gets hurt because you removed or allowed to be removed a safety device from a peice of equiptment.

[Mowman]

Walker SD, I run mine down on the first pass, then flip it up for the second. I double cut most of the time. I think it looks better after the second pass. It doesn't take that long to do, most of my jobs are 15,000 sq. ft. or less. I can lay down some AWESOME stripes doing this. Larger 1-2 acre property's I run it up and only make one pass.
Mowman

[lawrence stone]

This spring I am making OCDC's for my 44 & 52" machines.

I was going to make a metal block off that pivots in the
mounting for the metal baggers controled by a manual choke cable for $3 available at the Auto Zone.

[Premo Services]

I keep the chute up and it seems that the chutes were designed to be kept up ,although this is dangerous. I close it in a situation when people,cars are around,where it would be unsafe to operate with it up. I have noticed a much better cut with the chute up.It seems like something needs to be done about how lousy the mower cuts with the chute down, in the safe position.

[awm]

I always use to leave it off but the z throws things so much harder that I decided to put one on.Rocks or whatever
sound like bullets .Id sure hate to hurt somebodies
pet or worse a youngun.LATER ON

[OBRYANMAINT]

up and/or off

[Chopper Lover]

The reason they are up or off is because the grass distributes better as it is discharged from under the mower deck. Since it distributes better it makes the lawn look nicer and does not leave little windrows (hay making term) that are considered unsightly.

Is it unsafe? Yes, but then so is speeding and everyone does that too. Does that make it right? No. If all my friends jumped off a cliff would I follow them? Sure, the flight isn't bad, it's the landing that sucks!

I keep mine up, but able to put down should I need them to be.

Mark

[eggy]

We dont use our walk behind much anymore..but isnt Scag crazy, if you raise the discharge lid up it is right in front of the muffler??????? Off it is....or breath fumes...hmmmm

[Charles]

I use to keep it up most of the time. Now for saftey reasons I keep it down. You dont know what is in that grass and who wants to keep paying for windows and holes in vynl siding? Or hit cars. You may go for months or years without hitting something then you may do it over and over. better to put safety first in everything you do.

[lawnman_scott]

I keep my chute in the garage somewhere........

[HOMER]

Up and down, up and down, up and down!

I got control over the situation! :D

[GroundKprs]

Chute up = better productivity, chances of damage to property & injury to people greatly increased.

Chute down = less productive, less mess in some areas, peace of mind.

Use your head? Always up, always down, a judicious combo?

When my truck gets machine-gunned by a mower jockey running full bore with no chute, I don't bother to stop and criticize, because I have found it not to be useful. They don't care. But the dozens of other drivers near me get a great impression of the mowing industry!

[HOMER]

Thats right Jim they do!

When I'm mowing a commercial property and there are cars passing by I close my OCDC. I know they think that craps fixin' to spray all over them or their cars but it sure doesn't. I have seen several look down and look kinda surprised to see nothing coming out from the chute.

All ya'll running open chutes, all the time, really need to figure out a way to install a blocking plate or something similar to an OCDC, it really is safer and will protect you from Mr. Lawyer one of these days.

[GroundKprs]

Hummer plant is only 20 minutes away. Maybe I can swipe a tripod & machine gun to mount in truck and shoot back at them, Homer. You want one, too?

[kutnkru]

Wheres Kirby for the gif.s of those two faces machine gunning each other to death when you need him??

Kris

[yardsmith]

Surprised I'm the only one to mention it yet,but depending on your town & competition, DON'T let OSHA catch you with chutes removed or tied back. They consider that to be "tampering/modifying/bypassing a safety device"-couple a hundred bucks if they bust you.
That being said, you risk the odds everyday. Myself, I have a spring on my WB chute that keeps it down. I have removed the spring, & now I can keep it up OR down depending on traffic, people, etc. I like having availability for both, & it stays out of the way just fine in the up position.
I'm trying to make an OCDC (sp?) for my Bobcat Z this spring.
My Bobcat was a pain to move chute up & down 'on the fly', but I fixed that.
I drilled a hole in the outside corner of the side of the chute, & got/made a hook about 18-24" long & it lays by my feet. I can pick it up, reach over & pull the chute up without having to get out of the seat, (which shuts the blades off).

[JJ Lawn]

There is a real simple solution the chute up or down problem.

Bag or mulch.

And as for mowing with the chute up and taking a chance of serious injury or property damage, some of ya better not be calling other folks SCRUBS. You have no right to criticize other people, if you can't follow a simple safety practice.

The chutes are put on the mowers for a reason and if you don't use it, it is irresponsible and not very professional IMO.

Off soap box, and waiting for the flames.

Jim


[Edited by JJ Lawn on 03-17-2001 at 01:53 PM]

[REO]

I use Exmarks and York Sheet Metal ( Yorksheet.com) makes adjustable deflector shields. I like them because from the seat you have 5 settings.

[GLM]

Shoots down or bagger on. Lawyers are way to scary to mow shoots up. Keep it safe and trouble free!

[skyphoto]

I keep mine up or I mulch!

[lawnman_scott]

JJ? Bag them all? how many lawns do you do a day?

[Redmowers]

Thats what bungee cords were made for to keep the somtimes annoying things (discharge chute)out of the way.It spends most of the time in the up position ,but is there when conditions require it.I see a OCDC being installed very soon for this season.

[HOMER]

Jim,

Put me on the list for a cannon or two!
I agree also that if your chute has been taken off then you really have no respect for persons or property. How can you control what your doing? You can't. Everyday you mow is a day that has the potential for disaster, unless you mow pastures, then the cows might be in trouble! Go to your local welding shop and have somebody fabricate a shield of some sort that you can control. I passed by a guy the other day that was mowing with his chute towards the road, blowing crap all over the place. I would have stopped if he had hit the ol Dodge, I managed to have a clear lane and move over. He obviously didn't care that he could damage something.

There is a time and a place for everything. If you mow anywhere around people and personal property, which you have to, then you should either install a mulch plate, bag it, or leave the deflector on to do it's job.........as best it can.

[guntruck]

Well Homer i couldnt agree more. However if we look at the grim reality those words are only gonna fit in a perfect world. When i drive down the road i see people everywhere constantly with there chutes up. It amazes me the lack of care or attention shown to the fact at hand. I will admit the chute on my chariot is gone, scag=gone, toro=gone, but i do the best i can to look ahead in the lawn for any objects and am always careful around traffic and any children. With that being said it also is amazing to see companies like brickman and tru-green with there hispanics blazing turf with those very same chutes GONE!!! Now you would think a nationwide company must focus on OSHA standards and safety procedures much more than the average professional. I on the other hand am looking at this matter a little differently now, hence the reason for the post. Thank you for your input fellers!!

[JJ Lawn]

Originally posted by lawnman_scott
JJ? Bag them all? how many lawns do you do a day?

No, I mulch 95% of the time.

Am I to assume that by asking how many yards I do is to imply that I can be more productive by leaving chute up? The risks of possibly causing harm to a child or anyone is not worth it to me. If I only do one yard a day I am going to do it as safely as possible.


When I used to work for a Telco, we had a decal on our dash of out trucks that said:

"The demands of the service, or the importance of the job are never so great that we cannot do the job safely."

Good words to work by.

Jim

[MDSMAN]

We take all of chutes off cause it seems to through the grass better and you dont have to worry about bending the chute on something. but it is alot more dangerous for shooting unseen objects out.

[JJ Lawn]

Homer,

Thanks for the support, but it looks as if we are still the minority. :)

But at least I know, no one will get hurt on one of my jobs because I didn't give a darn, or have the mentality that it always happens to the other guy. Accidents do happen but, most of them can be prevented by a simple act, like leaving a chute on a mower.

Jim

[JJ Lawn]

And for you folks that check you yards before you mow... think about this.

On the back side of my house there is a 3 inch piece of bailing wire, that went through the siding and stuck a 1/4 inch into the hardboard underneath. (I leave it there as a reminder) This happened about 12 yrs ago, way before I was in the lawn business and I was using a 21" mower without a chute. Can you imagine what that could have done to a person? Possibly killed them.

I also walk my yards before I mow, but unless you are Superman, It is real doubtful that any one would have found that piece of wire. So please think safety and put those chutes back on before it happens to you. Or someone else.

Jim

[HOMER]

The grim reality is that one of these days somebody is going to get on here and say, "Well, it really will happen, listen to my story"!

I'm not looking forward to it by no means and hope it never happens. If we think we're invencible we better take another look.

I picked up a rock a couple years ago. I was mowing out in the country and had a guy helping me, he was trimming around a pond. I heard the blades hit something pretty hard. I had hit a rock that was in the tall grass beside the driveway. I watched that rock travel all the way across that pond directly in line with the guy, it was like it was in slow motion and there was not a thing I could do because he couldn't hear me yelling if he wanted to. Luckily for him and me both it fell short about 10 ft. but it was right in front of him. I've never hit a rock that size that flew that far, I could literally see it the entire way. The least that would have happened to the fella was a big knot on his head, the worst could have been ..........well........a lot worse!

I hope if something bad does happen that the person will be man enough to get on here and tell everybody, it might change some opinions.

[Eric ELM]

When I did smaller lawns, I had one where I could go between the fence and the garage, but just barely. If I pulled in the chute was facing the garage, so I always put down the OCDC going into this situation.

Why? Because a friend of mine many years ago when I was still in High School was mowing next to his garage. It had a chute deflector on it, but he hit a small piece of baling wire which still flew out and hit the garage and bounced back into his eye. He lost his eye from this and to this day, he has that piece of wire on his key ring as a reminder.

I keep the OCDC down when next to anything that could make something bounce back and I always wear saftey glass type glasses when I'm doing anything that could affect my vision. I realize you don't need to be a rocket scientist to do this, but you do need to use common sense when working around equipment that has blades spinning as fast as these commercial mowers spin. I agree a mower mows much niceer without a chute deflector, but an OCDC is the best second thing to a deflector. Put something on your mowers so you are safer. An OCDC should fit about any mower that has a flat top on the discharge side of the deck. You might think an OCDC is expensive, but it's peanuts compared to a lawsuit which makes insurance go up. I couldn't live with knowing I messed up someones body from a mistake that could of been avoided.

BE SAFE
Eric

[John DiMartino]

Since Miy Dixie doesnt have a deflector,I mow chuteless,but whenever im facing the road,or anywhere a person/vehicle/pet /car is,I lower the OCDC,and drop my RPM"S and speed a little until Im well past the danger,then i raise it and go full bore.I wish it had a deflector-but it would hamper the mowers dispersion of clippings.According to Dixie-we all should be running the OCDC down wwhenever the blades are engaged,unless a bagger is attached.This is clearly not practical,and I dont know one guy with a Dixie that uses the OCDC like that including myself.I guess this makes me a careless operator.

[Chopper Lover]

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Mark

[Edited by Chopper Lover on 03-18-2001 at 06:27 PM]

[Acute Cut]

I'm with you 100% Homer and JJlawns. I have one job that i discharge chuteless. It is a 3 acre field out in the coutry. All residential and commercial accounts get bagged. This year i am/have switched over to the mulch kit. I admit that last year i ran with quite a bit of NO chute down. It does spread them nicely, but i have found this year that the mulch kit does JUST AS GOOD. honest.

Alls it takes is one small rock to even hit a kid in the eye or face. He will go and run to mom crying. First of all you WILL feel horrible about hitting the kid. Unless it is your own i suppose. lol (jk) Second, Moms gonna come running out the house and ........... well, you get the idea. Use protection. We use protection in every other aspect of our busniess. Plugs, glasses, steel toes etc. Why then would we open up the most dangerous part of our mower to the public?

[HOMER]

I agree,

I also know I've rode this horse long enough but I want to add one more thing to stir the stank!

If your not concerned about anyone else then try running your day to day operation without YOUR safety equipment. Take them glasses off, take them steel toes off, take them plugs out your ears!

Lifes a risk, how bout risking your own safety for a change!

I'll shut up now....................maybe!:D

[joshua]

i'm with keep the sute up if its open area and no one is around, if someone does go to walk by motion for them to stop and turn the machine blowing the other way or disengage the blades, and never go around trees blowing at the trees or anything like that. and never blow grass out by the street or side walks. unless you're afew strips in.
we, mulch mid-june through aug. bag april, may and the fall, and discahge the rest of the time.incase you guys were wondering.

[Joe W.]

What is OCDC?? Sorry, this is a new on for me.

[Ricky]

OCDC=Operator Controlled Discharge Chute

Has a lever to close discharge.

Comes on Choppers

[Runner]

Originally posted by REO
I use Exmarks and York Sheet Metal ( Yorksheet.com) makes adjustable deflector shields. I like them because from the seat you have 5 settings.

I am designing and making one very similar to that, however, you will be able to put on and take the WHOLE unit off when you like, using the bagger mounts on the Exmark. For those of you that own Exmarks, you know that this takes a whopping 5 seconds to do. This unit has the plate, chute cover, handle, and mechanism all included. Unlike the York, you do NOT have to remove the factory discharge chute to install. I think this unit will be a success and a big seller if we can price it right.

[awm]

When I was a kid (long time) a kid sent a piece of barbed wire thru his liver,fatal injury.Id quit mowing today if I knew I was going to do that to someone.Yes it can happen w chutes down but rarely.Its just an unneccessary risk.