Can anyone give me some good tips about how to do good striping

[bigw]

Any tips or advice on how to stripe would be appreciated, ive been trying but im sure im not doing it right. You can see my stripes on my other post but any help would be appreciated.

[Turfrific]

prob just get better as you go, bet it won't take you long at all.

[corey4671]

I'll try. make at least one if not two perimeter passes throwing the clippings in. I alternate over four weeks. one week I mow "north and south" then the next week "east and west" then "NW to SE" then "SW to NE". that way you minimize the chance of rutting the yard by following the same pattern over and over. ONe tip I have learned is line up with something...anything..tree, corner of house, light pole and zero in on it. Drive towards it. this gives you a straight line to work off of. One tip. Lets say there is a tree in the middle of the yard. Don't line up dead center to it. Rather set yourself up so that you pass it with the left side of the deck almost against the tree. this way when you come back on that pass, you pull up to the tree, turn right to go around it, circle the tree and go on your way. By the way, the trick to good stripes, never go the oppposite direction over something you have already mowed. in the example above. you are coming up to a tree. there is the pass you just made to your left and unmowed grass to your right. when you circle the tree, you will be going the same direction as you did when you come around on the left side of the tree. that is how you make it look like you drove through the tree.

[KS_Grasscutter]

Make sure your deck is level front to back and side to side.

[ALC-GregH]

yeah bigw, something isn't quite right with the cut on your ztr. It's very noticeable in your pics that you posted. I don't think it's something that "can't" be figured out.

[P.Services]

hmmmm the best single tip i have will make a world of difference.....


















buy a scag!!!!! :laugh::laugh:

[randosh4]

great help pic

[Indy Kyle]

mow high. use a striper.

[M & MD Lawn]

I keep my decks very clean underneath and use different blades that give more lift (create more vacuum). the way to keep the deck clean is you can put some oil on the deck and it keeps the grass from sticking and as for the stripes well i really have no tips except for mow straight and fast is not always better when striping.

[IndyChad]

Wear 3-D glasses when you mow.

[elamey]

My cousin came up with this one...he probably stole it from someone on this forum :-) .......and it does involve a little Indiana....Engineering( I live in Indiana so I can make fun of myself :-)...but works better than the stripers you buy from exmark/scag.

Getcha a used Semi-Truck mudflap from the local truck stop, then getcha some angle iron from Lowes/Home depot (Lshaped or V shaped...depending on how you hold it :-) ... it should be back by the bulk all thread/roundbar etc... Drill some holes, bolt the angle iron to your mower, cut the mudflap to length and bolt it to the angle iron. When it wears out just cut another piece and bolt it on (make sure it's short enough so it doesn't get under the tires/mower when backing up, or make something to raise and lower it). BTW...it's a bear to cut, think Sawzall more than box cutter. I just let mine drag and am careful where I backup, turn and drive so I don't mess the stripes up.

Lays it down like glass....I've been joking a bit but it stripes REALLY well and if you get a used mudflap...you're talking under $20 bucks and you can make several pieces out of one mudflap.

Ignore the debunkers (blah blah blah backing up, blah blah blah unprofessional, blah blah blah....) for $20 bucks you can get a great stripe, and have a bunch of steak dinners with beer for what you'll save.

[greenbaylawns]

My cousin came up with this one...he probably stole it from someone on this forum :-) .......and it does involve a little Indiana....Engineering( I live in Indiana so I can make fun of myself :-)...but works better than the stripers you buy from exmark/scag.

Getcha a used Semi-Truck mudflap from the local truck stop, then getcha some angle iron from Lowes/Home depot (Lshaped or V shaped...depending on how you hold it :-) ... it should be back by the bulk all thread/roundbar etc... Drill some holes, bolt the angle iron to your mower, cut the mudflap to length and bolt it to the angle iron. When it wears out just cut another piece and bolt it on (make sure it's short enough so it doesn't get under the tires/mower when backing up, or make something to raise and lower it). BTW...it's a bear to cut, think Sawzall more than box cutter. I just let mine drag and am careful where I backup, turn and drive so I don't mess the stripes up.

Lays it down like glass....I've been joking a bit but it stripes REALLY well and if you get a used mudflap...you're talking under $20 bucks and you can make several pieces out of one mudflap.

Ignore the debunkers (blah blah blah backing up, blah blah blah unprofessional, blah blah blah....) for $20 bucks you can get a great stripe, and have a bunch of steak dinners with beer for what you'll save.

I gota see a picture of this. Sounds like a good idea

[flattoplawncare]

I gota see a picture of this. Sounds like a good idea

Hey Big
Adjust the pitch/rake on your deck make it so the front is 1/4 inch lower than the rear of the deck that should do the trick!! Maybe pull a washer on each caster.

[bill8379]

You have to over lap and, instead of following your previous tire line, you pick a spot in the distance that will cover all uncut grass and overlap as little as possible, drive straight towards that. After a while you'll see where to check for progress during the trip over there.
The better you are the less you need to over lap. My lines are straight as an arrow but when I turn around and see a crooked line I don't even think, I know what to do automatically. It's pretty easy, I just listen to music all day and that's why I like big lawns. Less distractions.

[bill8379]

Hey Big
Adjust the pitch/rake on your deck make it so the front is 1/4 inch lower than the rear of the deck that should do the trick!! Maybe pull a washer on each caster.

I did that and it screwed up my cutting. I started mohawking when I turn, I went back to level and it cleared up the problem. (Toro T-bar fixed, gear, 36")

[KLM service]

I went to our local Coop and found a used 1/2" thick conveyor belt from an old fert spreader that they were going to scrap. It's thicker and heavier than the one Toro has on the market. Toro's wore out in just one year. Measure the clearance, drop the deck, vise grip the belt/mud flap to the deck, drill holes 6" -8" apart, nuts,bolts,washers, put deck back on. With the conveyor belt, no metal strap necessary. I've had this belt on my Toro for three years and looks like it has another year + of life left. At a 3" cutting height I have the belt one inch off the ground. Cutting grass at the full width of the deck will help in the stripping also. Although the Toro and Exmark do a nice job of stripping with this setup it is no match against my Walkers.

[ALC-GregH]

all this talk about how good these ideas do with striping but no pics to back it up! :) Come on, post the pics of the finished product please. :clapping:

[flattoplawncare]

all this talk about how good these ideas do with striping but no pics to back it up! :) Come on, post the pics of the finished product please. :clapping:
Here you go!! it does not mess up the cut at all it improves it!!! there is no striper on my mower just adjust the pitch.
http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101190&d=1203992798
http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101189&d=1203992777

[ALC-GregH]

flat top, those pics have to be worn out like a cheap *****. LOL Got any fresh pics? :) they do look good though.

[flattoplawncare]

flat top, those pics have to be worn out like a cheap *****. LOL Got any fresh pics? :) they do look good though.

:laugh: I will have more when i start mowing this season, I have not even started cleanups yet. Do you know what works the best though!~ mount a push broom head under your mower in between your wheels that will put down the best stripe you have ever seen.

[flattoplawncare]

:laugh: I will have more when i start mowing this season, I have not even started cleanups yet. Do you know what works the best though!~ mount a push broom head under your mower in between your wheels that will put down the best stripe you have ever seen.

the pics above are from last year, my old camera would reset everything when put new batteries in it and the lcd on it was broke so i could not even see how to set the date:laugh:

[ALC-GregH]

Nice..... you need to :walking: on down to the local Walmart and grab a cheap camera. :)

[Fine Lines]

Here you go!! it does not mess up the cut at all it improves it!!! there is no striper on my mower just adjust the pitch.
http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101190&d=1203992798
http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=101189&d=1203992777

Flat top,so what pitch you use? Level I'm assuming and you were joking about the broom thing right....?