The Green Industry's Resource Center

realdeal · #1 07-29-2012, 03:26 PM

I went to the dealer in the next town over and talked to the owner for a while about the different models of the scag and exmark mowers that he has on display. I was pretty set on getting a 60" deck until someone told me about them scalping the ground when on uneven terrain. My last customer came because the other lawn company scalped 20 areas in her yard because of using a big mower (60" exmark). Ive cut it 3 times now with my 42" and only scalped one area. It seemed to me that the 52" was questionable from what i could get out of the gentleman. Im leaning towards a 48". I definately dont want to get a big one and then have issues like the scalping. I dont cut huge open areas like parks, big commercial properties, etc (yet) so I dont mind getting a 48". Am in on the right track by sacrificing 4 inches to be on the safe side?

Blade Runners · #2 07-29-2012, 04:03 PM

I use a 52" with no issues. Many on here will tell you that the operator is as important as deck size.

RSK Property Maintenance · #3 07-29-2012, 04:25 PM

sounds 100% operator error, a good operator should be able to cut anything and not scalp at all......48' deck or 72" deck, i jumped from a 48" tiger cub to a 61" cheetah and no scalping issues anywhere and i cut most lawns at 3.25" or 3" and they are far from smooth, lots of hills, bumps everywhere and uneven terrain everywhere, you just have to know when and how much to lift the deck up, i keep a foot on the pedal to float the deck on all my lawns. with time you will hopefully become a better operator. but personally i would get the 60" deck, that's the industry standard for a reason.

JParisan · #4 07-29-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSK Property Maintenance

sounds 100% operator error, a good operator should be able to cut anything and not scalp at all......48' deck or 72" deck, i jumped from a 48" tiger cub to a 61" cheetah and no scalping issues anywhere and i cut most lawns at 3.25" or 3" and they are far from smooth, lots of hills, bumps everywhere and uneven terrain everywhere, you just have to know when and how much to lift the deck up, i keep a foot on the pedal to float the deck on all my lawns. with time you will hopefully become a better operator. but personally i would get the 60" deck, that's the industry standard for a reason.

I couldn't agree more. It's all in the operator! That goes for ALL the equipment. Everyone has their own preferences, but at the end of the day, equipment choices don't matter if you don't have the right skill set and mind set.

yardguy28 · #5 07-29-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSK Property Maintenance

sounds 100% operator error, a good operator should be able to cut anything and not scalp at all......48' deck or 72" deck, i jumped from a 48" tiger cub to a 61" cheetah and no scalping issues anywhere and i cut most lawns at 3.25" or 3" and they are far from smooth, lots of hills, bumps everywhere and uneven terrain everywhere, you just have to know when and how much to lift the deck up, i keep a foot on the pedal to float the deck on all my lawns. with time you will hopefully become a better operator. but personally i would get the 60" deck, that's the industry standard for a reason.

I agree as well. a good operator should be able to mow almost anything without scalping.

personally I like the 52" size. it's what I use and after having a 60" deck as a loaner I believe I will be sticking with the 52".

if you cut on the higher side you avoid scalping as well.

one of the clients I got hired me because she has a bare spot in her backyard she says is from the large mowers the previous company uses. they used kabota 60" decks and you can tell they mowed the same pattern every time and when I saw them they didn't slow down for anything. always full throttle, full speed.

I use a 52" grandstand, not a huge difference but she thinks so. the big difference is operator care. they didn't care and I do. I turn properly, mow a different pattern each week.