Backwards!

While mowing and mulching leaves today my wife discovered
that if the leaves are so heavy that they are starting pile
up in front of the mower just turn your ztr around and ride
over them backwards, we're running a Scag Turf Tiger it really grinds them up nice. For some reason when your going forward they get chopped up some what but in reverse it seems to keep everything under the deck longer. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Good Luck!
jerryslawnservice@home.com

 

What happens when backing up is, you are feeding the leaves in from the back so the back of the blade are throwing the leaves towards the baffles instead of the open discharge part of the deck in the front. Since there is no discharge chute on the opposite side, this process turns a regular deck into almost a mulching deck. I do this with an OCDC closed and it grinds them to dust. It's a good post though, since this is leaf time.

 

My mowers are set up to mow reverse
as fast as forward in leaf season.
If you are just starting this take
it slow at first as it can cause
accidents.Its an aquired skill.
good leafing TM

 

Did my last grinding job yesterday. Backwards does the trick. I never knew the reason why, but I do now. Thanks Eric.

 

I LEARNED THIS TRICK JUST THIS WEEK. IT WORKS VERY WELL. I WAS IN THE SAME BOAT THEY WERE JUST BEING PUSHED GOING FORWARD SO I BACKED UP AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TURNING TO DUST. IT LOOKS KIND OF STUPID BACKING YOUR WAY AROUND THE LAWN BUT HEY IT WORKS. THANKS ERIC, NOW YOU EXPLAINED WHY. I HAVE LEARNED GREAT THINGS FROM THIS SITE AND APPRECIATE EVERYONES ADVICE I HAVE GOT FROM THIS GREAT SITE CALLED LAWNSITE. I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE THE START WHEN WERE ON TURF-QUIP. NEED TO KNOW ASK THE EXPERTS AT LAWNSITE.
Mowman

 

Jerry, What deck do you have on your TT? Do you mow wet, heavy new growth? How does it perform? Thanks for any info.
Seeking answers, Will

 

We have a standard 61 inch deck on our TT with double blades during mowing season, it does a preety good job damp grass.

Good Luck!
jerryslawnservice@home.com

 

when useing the Trac-Vac unit on the dixies backwards is the most effective direction for making a nice clean path. also haveing the deck just a little lower then normal

 

I noticed that mowing backwards works great for this purpose when I was doing leaves this week I was amazed.