Uneven cut

[MauiBoy60]

Aloha, everyone!

Got a question for those of you who are using a 1994 Sears Craftsman 15 hp lawn tractor, 42" cut:

I've been plagued with uneven cuts (at least 3/4" difference between the blades..noticeable as stripes like those in baseball stadiums!) ever since I've gotten this lawnmower. Balanced the deck I don't know how many times already. Replaced the mandrels twice, removed at least a dozen bent blades and on and on and on. Tire inflation is to spec. The anti-scalp wheels are presently set to their lowest position. I'm using a cut no more than 1/3 of the height of the grass blades.

I'm at my wit's end. The Sears repair department has been no help at this point. To quote Princess Leia in "Star Wars"..."you're our last hope". Otherwise, I'm dumping this tractor for something with a single blade.

A little more info: the terrain I'm mowing isn't the levelest, but it's passable...maybe a few high spots and low spots here and there.

Hope this is enough info for you. If not, please let me know.

Mahalo! (Thank you!)

[bob]

Find the nearest volcano and drop the crapsman in! Then get a commercial rider or walkbehind.

PS. Welcome to Lawnsite!

[MauiBoy60]

*LOL* Thanks, Bob!

BTW...forgot to tell everyone...I mow about 4 acres (2 lawns) every other week...

[MJB]

If your serious about lawncare then get rid of it. I have never seen one that cut even. Get a zero turn rider like an Exmark, or a Dixie Chopper, or Walker if any dealers are in your area. I dumped an account I've been mowing this spring because it was to cheap $145 per week. They brought in a guy using a sears 42" crapsman and he mowed it for about 1 month and it looked like crap uneven cuts etc.
They begged me to come back and gave me $40 a week raise with no questions. They wanted a professional and you do a professional job with Craftsman mowers period. The extra money you spend on Zero turn will be made up by efficiency, & quality. If you are a homeowner and just trying to mow your lawn I would still get rid of it, and look at different affordable options for mowers. Good luck..

[Eric ELM]

After checking everything you have, it almost sounds like you have spindle shafts of different lengths. Take the blades off and put something flat across the bottom of the spindles and check.

[MauiBoy60]

Hmmm...that's a new one, Eric. I guess it wouldn't hurt to check that one out. Will do and report back my findings.
P.S. I already lifted the mower to look under the deck..lined up the blades...and that's where I came up with my 3/4" difference between the blades. You can actually see the difference when you sight down the blades.

[MauiBoy60]

Advice noted, MJB. It disturbs me greatly when I can't do a good job on these two lawns. There are spots where it mows nice and even, and a few feet away, boom...stripes. *SIGH*

Oh...and another reason I "settled" on this particular mower...my better half works for Sears...and this was a Christmas gift for me. One that I had threatened to return...in hindsight, a threat I should have carried out..*LOL*

[cutting edge]

I started out using a 42" Craftsman. I now use a 48" Lazer HP. I did not know what mowing was until my Exmark. I think this is an Exmark dealer in your area:

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT & REPAIR
115 KIO LOOP
KIHEI, HI* * 96753
Phone: * 808-874-5050
Fax: * 808-874-5950
E-mail: * lear@hawaii.com

If you try one out be prepared to buy or stop mowing altogether, because you will never want to use that sears again.

[Jeff in AL]

Mauiboy- Is the 3/4 difference from one blade tip to the other? like Eric said try to use a straight edge.
Another thing to do if the difference is from blade tip to blade tip is to rotate the lower blade and find it's lowest spot, then place some washers between the deck shell and the spindle, to raise it up. If you look at the spindle, there should be three self tapping screws running from the top of the deck down through the deck into the spindle.
place the shims or washers on the bolt closest to the lowest point of the blade. Do not use any more than a couple at a time, because an 1/8in shim at the spindle can turn into a 1/4 in at the end of the blade tip.


Hope this helps some
Jeff

[1stclasslawns]

Been there done that! I too started with a craptsman. Mine did the same thing deck was bent the thing was bowed down in the middle.. Jim

[John DiMartino]

If you have a 3/4" difference in height from tip to tip and you have removed 1/2 dozen bent blades-it sounds like you have a bent spindle.If blades are new,that is all it can be,unless one is falling out and lower because if that.Do not expect a clean even cut with that mower,especially if you step on the deck to get on and off,the thin metal will bend and the deck will become uneven over time.that is the biggest reason for uneven cut on cheap mowers.Itmust take you a full day to mow 4acres with that thing!

[Pauls Mowing]

I'm currently running a '98 Sears garden tractor with a 46" 3 blade deck and have no problems with uneven cuts. I do, however, keep a constant check on the decks side to side level, it does like to drop a bit on the left side. I have had no problems with bent spindles. The one problem is using a tractor-type mower, the front axle weight bends the grass before cutting, and the blades do not have enough lift to stand the grass back up to cut it properly. Admittedly, this machine is not in the same catagory as commercial mowing equipment, and performs as such. Mine will be sold next year and be replaced by a front deck machine.

Paul

[MauiBoy60]

Thanks to all you guys for the advice. Talked to some of the local fellows here who are running similar tractors and yes, the money I ***saved*** (loaded emphasis there, mind you) didn't translate into great looking lawns. Most of the guys here started out with Craftsman for their smaller jobs but as soon as the bigger accounts started rolling in, they dumped it for a much more quality product - which means Exmark or Honda over here. No Dixie Choppers on Maui, alas!

As far as the spindles are concerned, they are as straight and of equal length as can be.

About the deck being flimsy: yes, I've had a couple of the guys tell me the same thing. They told me to go and compare an Exmark deck, a Honda deck, and a Craftsman deck with a caliper micrometer, if I am the doubting Thomas...*LOL*

Will keep you gentlemen posted on my progress. Again, Mahalo Nui Loa!! (Thank You Very Much). You guys are the best and most knowledgeable bunch I've encountered.

Keep On Mowin'!

MauiBoy60

[Mark_Christopher]

Hows the money for accounts in Maui for a whiteboy? Ive thought about giving up my business in California, and moving to Maui and startinga Landscape/Maintenance Business out there,... Could I make it, would a Howlie survie there?


Mark

[MauiBoy60]

Aloha, Mark!

Well, you can make a go of it, but initially, I'd make sure I'd have a steady paycheck to go along with the landscaping business. There's quite a few of us around, but I always said, the more, the merrier!

I'm assuming that you already know about the Paradise Tax...with milk being $4/gal., gas at its cheapest on Maui is $1.98 for regular unleaded, yadda, yadda, yadda, so I won't go there.

If you still are rarin' to go...come on over, bruddah!

MauiBoy60

[awm]

This aspect of your post is the stumper.
Walk behind some one else cutting this
area.Anythig from something on mower to
different approach to certain areas. there
is an answer so hope you find it.