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Too many clippings

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bagger cadet clippings cub grass
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Justin5309

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Okay so i just bought a used cub cadet tank (command cut) with high lift blades to cut a few lawns to see if I may want to get in the biz.

Unfortunately the mower is leaving large quantities of grass clippings when I side discharge. I cut frequently so the length of the lawn is not the issue. The blades may need to be sharpened but they don't seem that dull. I do drive it fast but that is what I thought it is meant to do. The other day I cut a customers lawn in a circle and raked the large pile at the end but I don't want to have to do this every time.

Oregon doesn't make the g6 for the cub so that isn't an option. I really don't want to have to buy a bagger but have been looking at the accelerator.

Anybody have any suggestions? And no I don't want to get rid of the cub.
 
#3 · (Edited)
This time of year with the lush grass growth there are a lot of clippings. Cutting a little bit taller will reduce the amount of clippings and make it easier to "hide" them. Your best bet is probably to double cut the lawn. One way is to cut it as normal and then cut it again at a 45 or 90 degree angle with the deck raised up 1/4 to 1/2 inch above where your first cut was. This should make most of the clippings disappear and make the lawn look a lot better too. If there are still clumps of clippings laying around you can hit them with a blower.
 
#4 ·
Justin5309 said:
Okay so i just bought a used cub cadet tank (command cut) with high lift blades to cut a few lawns to see if I may want to get in the biz.

Unfortunately the mower is leaving large quantities of grass clippings when I side discharge. I cut frequently so the length of the lawn is not the issue. The blades may need to be sharpened but they don't seem that dull. I do drive it fast but that is what I thought it is meant to do. The other day I cut a customers lawn in a circle and raked the large pile at the end but I don't want to have to do this every time.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes::laugh::hammerhead::dizzy: <<My Emotions as i read your post... lol

Well first things first Dont cut fast if you want a Quality Cut ESPECIALLY if its long.
Double cuts are sometimes necessary if the clumps look really bad. But DO NOT DOUBLE CUT THE SAME PATTERN! (if you cut it the first time side to side, do the next cut up and down.) Less ruts. I would never rake a customers lawn lol!
 
#7 ·
you mow fast? :facepalm:

I recently popped my riding mower cherry on a john deere 185 hydro. you have to FEEL what the mower will let you do, then look at the lawn you leave behind, and adjust your speed to what the lawn is telling you. not just power through according to what you think your mower is capable of

you can't mow every lawn the same speed, even if the height of the lawn is about the same height, and even on the same lawn you might have to change your speed because of grass/weed ratio, thickness, and different grass types.

granted the blades of the deere were chipped up, but the fastest I could cut was half forward speed, and the minimum was almost a crawl because of the thickness of the grass.

even with new blades and shorter grass, I'm still not expecting the deere to ever do better than 3/4 forward speed in the thinnest spots, if even that.

how hard were you pushing it?
 
#8 ·
You didn't say exactly what approximate height your are cutting from, down to what height you finish at. Do you know for sure what your blade height is when in the cutting position you mow at? The various settings that come on mowers aren't always what the blades are actually cutting at. Check them at the front tips when in the cutting position with something reliable like the gauge Deere sells,or a small steel ruler etc.

Mowing in circles looks like crap, and causes the clippings to pile up as you go. If you have a discharge chute on your mower deck, try raising it so that the clippings can fly farther and spread out better.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Okay, well let me ask you this. If I mow slower does this mean the grass that is being cut will remain under the deck longer and subsequently be cut up more timers before discharging? I ask only because it appears that the grass is being fired out the discharge chute as soon as it's cut regardless of how fast I mow.
 
#19 ·
Justin5309 said:
Okay, well let me ask you this. If I mow slower does this mean the grass that is being cut will remain under the deck longer and subsequently be cut up more timers before discharging? I ask only because it appears that the grass is being fired out the discharge chute as soon as it's cut regardless of how fast I mow.
Click to expand...
This aint rocket science...

If it dont look good do it differantly until it does.

If it dont look good and you continue doing it the same way......well it wont look good. :)

Slow down, raise the deck, get gator blades.....etc.
 
#20 ·
Justin5309 said:
Okay, well let me ask you this. If I mow slower does this mean the grass that is being cut will remain under the deck longer and subsequently be cut up more timers before discharging? I ask only because it appears that the grass is being fired out the discharge chute as soon as it's cut regardless of how fast I mow.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure, but it seems to disperse the clippings better is you travel slower. They clear the deck better. When you go fast, they pile up under the deck and pack into clumps.

Some other tips: If you have only a few customers, make sure that you are cutting the lawn when it is dry...later in the day. If the grass is extremely long, try setting the deck height higher for one pass, then drop it to 3.5" or 4" for a 2nd pass. Or if it isn't super long, but you get a few clumps, cut at the normal height, then do a pass with the blades set up higher to disperse the clippings. Sharpen your blades, scrape under the deck clean. Don't cut in circles, you will concentrate the clippings. If you have to bag it, bag on the second pass, it will be easier.
 
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