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Help new Zero Turn Burning Lawn!

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29K views 22 replies 9 participants last post by  nickg13  
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#1 ·
Just picked up a brand new Gravely XL42 Zero turn with the 22hp Kawasaki. Have about 7 hrs on her she is running great. However the last few times I've mowed I've noticed a few what appears to be yellow spots on the lawn. They are about 12 inches round and are in places where I stop to open a gate, or stop to open the shed. I thought it may be gas leaking but everything is dry as a bone, (no leaking). Now I think it may be from the exhaust shooting down at the grass??? Strange thing is the exhaust exits from to the left but when I put my hand under the engine I can feel the heat blowing down? Anybody else have this issue? Any thoughts on a remedy???

Thanks in advance.
Eric
 
#2 ·
Sounds like dog urine spots? Do you have a dog? Neighbors dog? Also could be hydro fluid? If the machine is not leaking then I really cannot see the machine doing this. Pull the machine on a piece of large cardboard or the garage floor if you do not care about it spotting on the floor and run it and shut it off and repeat it a few times and check the floor for leaks! It is also important to do this incase it is gas! Again this sounds like dog urine, if not your dog someone else's.
 
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#4 ·
You might want to search the threads in the commercial section. I seem to recall an issue with one the larger Hustler mowers which resulted in damaged grass if the mower was left to idle in place for a while. I believe Hustler issued some kind of shield to dissipate heat from the engine. You might have found an analogous situation.
 
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7
#5 ·
Thanks guys for the help. Regarding the dog issue, nope no dog, fenced in yard. Regarding the card board trick, already tried that too. Not a drop of anything, no smell of gas, no leaking hydro's. I'll have to call my dealer and see if they ever had this issue. Also in a few days the burnt lawn goes away. So if it were gas it would completely kill the grass. Strange???
 
D
#8 ·
Just for reference, and I'm guessing your's is similar, here's a pic of a Gravely XL:
Image


The muffler does sit a lot closer to the ground than my DC's does, and it sort of looks like it might blow, or at least be deflected by the frame, downward. The more I look at it, the more I'm convinced it's a goofy way to exhaust that engine. Seems engineers are being influenced more by aesthetics.

I had a grass burning issue with a Cub Cadet tractor 15 years ago where the muffler also was mounted low (probably only 6" from ground) and discharged downward. Not sure what to do about it. Maybe a different muffler is available, or make a heat shield to redirect exhaust & heat rearward(?); turn and extend the pipe up and out(?).
 
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#9 ·
Yes, that's my mower! I took a closer look last night after mowing and spent some time trying to see how the heat was blasting toward the ground. If you look at the photo the exhaust while looking at the back exits from the left side of the muffler, right by the american flag sticker on the back. Then the exhaust hits the side of the rear bumper by the left rear wheel. I'm guessing then the exhaust sort of hugs the back of the bumper and shoot down towards the ground at the center of the muffler. If I place my hand below the muffler with the engine running it almost feels like the exhaust is shooting directly downward from the bottom center of the muffler, even though the exhaust exit point is shooting to the left side? Still need to call the dealer. I'll do that now and see what they say.
 
#10 ·
The normal airflow not necessarily exhaust flow is top down. Cooling air is taken in at the top around the flywheel and housing, down over the cylinders, lower crankcase and over the muffler. Best advice is leave mower on pavement and go open the gate. An IR thermometer may give you some surprising readings@
Posted via Mobile Device
 
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#11 ·
Called the dealer I purchased it from and they said they have never heard of such a thing. But they said they would do some investigating and call me back. Funny you say that about the IR thermometer. I have one of those and will check out the temperatures later today. I agree I may be surprised by the readings on the grass.
 
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#12 ·
Just got a call back from the dealer. They spoke with Gravely/Ariens about my burning lawn issue and they said they have a heat shield kit they would like to add to my mower. I asked if it was a bolt on or something that they will need to fabricate and weld on but they weren't sure. They said they are sending the part to them and will let me know once they get it in. So we'll see???
 
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#14 ·
We'll see. However the dealer said if I couldn't get the mower to them they would charge me to pick it up and return it? Spend almost 4 grand on a mower, think they would have sprung for the pickup and delivery :) Today say my neighbor get a brand new replacement from Lowes for a recent lawn tractor purchase (Husqvarna). They stopped by with a flat bed, took the new mower out of the box, and grabbed his other one. Funny thing is everyone said stay away from the big box stores, yet I'm the one who has to lug the mover back to the dealer.
 
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#15 ·
Here's a quick update on my issue with the Gravely XL42 mower burning my lawn. Heat shield finally came in after 3 weeks. Dropped it off last Sunday for them to do the work. Get home from work last night (Tuesday) and got a message from the dealer that I should call to schedule an appointment to have it installed??? Hello, dropped it off 3 days ago :) This should be a good conversation when I return their call this morning.
 
#18 ·
usmdrummer said:
So how did the sheild install/work? My new Gravely is doing the exact same thing!
Click to expand...
I would send him a PM, I don't think he has been on in awhile. A pm will send him a email!
 
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#19 ·
Patriot Services said:
Goes right along with a news article I saw. 76% of people polled are "extremely annoyed" with customer service in general these days.
Posted via Mobile Device
Click to expand...
That is because everything made these days is junk!!! imported Chinese junk! I have to say that 75% of the things I buy these days are junk and have to be returned! I am sure that companies just don't want to hear it. They want to market and sell it as fast as they can and make the money. Thank god for my Fords, Hustlers and Harleys! The only reliable solid built machines I own! I have no regrets or problems with. (other than normal things) I also have to throw Apple products in there! All great stuff! My kids Ipod broke and a new one was in the mailbox in two days! Three macs and all quality stuff!
 
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#20 ·
Good call on the PM. I had the heat shield installed and all is well. I was afraid they would do some hack job when I dropped it off but was pleasantly surprised at the job they did. They said they used another heat shield from a different Gravely model as there wasn't one specifically for the XL42. Basically its a large black heat shield that goes below the exhaust and redirects the heat. Looks completely factory and has completely solved the issue with the burning.

There isn't a part number but I had the guys at Boston Lawnmower do the fix in Shrewsbury MA. They may be able to help you with a part number if you give them a call.
 
N
#23 ·
I realize this thread is many years old but wondering if anyone's found a solution yet.

After a year of suffering and investigation I confirmed I'm suffering from this same problem with my 2018 Toro MX4200 ZTR. Even though the exhaust is directed (a bit) to the right side of the mower via a redirect under the muffler, it will burn the grass within seconds at full throttle of being stationary, and within about 30 seconds at idle.

I don't see any accessories or updated parts from Toro to remedy this situation, which surprises me because it seems like this should be affecting all owners.

I'm considering some DIY heat shield or exhaust extension to release the exhaust upward of the mower, but wondering what others are doing first.
 
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