What is Causing Raptor 54" Uneven Cut

[83ragtop50]

My raptor cuts unevenly in taller grass. The pattern makes it appear to be the center blade which is not cutting well. Looks sort of like a Mohawk haircut.

 

[shiftsuper175607]

My raptor cuts unevenly in taller grass. The pattern makes it appear to be the center blade which is not cutting well. Looks sort of like a Mohawk haircut.

That blade is damaged or
upside down or
bad spindle/pulley and not turning as well under heavy load

these come to my mind

 

[kraky]

This sounds like something that could happen if the deck was canted up at the front?
Make sure the deck is level and then climb underneath there and make sure when the blades pass each other the tips line up almost perfectly...

 

[turboawd]

I get the same thing when cutting like 1 foot tall grass and i go to fast.
What blades are you using?

 

[Carscw]

Most low grade mowers will cut like this in tall/thick grass.
The reason is because the grass from the left blade is clogging up the center blade.
Make sure you are cutting at full throttle at all times.

 

[turboawd]

Most low grade mowers will cut like this in tall/thick grass.
The reason is because the grass from the left blade is clogging up the center blade.
Make sure you are cutting at full throttle at all times.

And what is different on the high grade mowers that prevents this?

 

[577jersey]

And what is different on the high grade mowers that prevents this?

Got me,Ive seen Scag Cheetahs do the same thing,,the bottom of the deck looks pretty much the same to me from my Bobcat to my RSD..actually the SD looks better other than its a little thinner and the chute opening is restricted.

I understand the left side is throwing all its grass clippings into the center as well,,so that is a problem on any mower if the grass is tall,thick and wet enough.

In my findings of cutting for the past 30 years,,you need to double and or triple cut anything taller than 1ft...especially if you are going fast and want it to look nice when done.Remember the 1/3rd rule right guys and slow down...lol

 

[Mad Mackie]

Over the years I have had to explain to some folks that there is a difference between lawn mowers and hay cutting machines!

 

[Carscw]

Got me,Ive seen Scag Cheetahs do the same thing,,the bottom of the deck looks pretty much the same to me from my Bobcat to my RSD..actually the SD looks better other than its a little thinner and the chute opening is restricted. I understand the left side is throwing all its grass clippings into the center as well,,so that is a problem on any mower if the grass is tall,thick and wet enough. In my findings of cutting for the past 30 years,,you need to double and or triple cut anything taller than 1ft...especially if you are going fast and want it to look nice when done.Remember the 1/3rd rule right guys and slow down...lol

There are a few things that are different.
The speed of the blades.
The power going to the blades. Not just hp but pulley set up and size.
How fast and how much grass can exit the deck.

How you set level the deck.

My timecutter that is $1000 less then the SD can cut foot tall grass clean one pass.
It mostly comes down to how much you know about mowers and how to set them up.

The thing with the SD is people see the deck and say wow that looks just like the deck on a $10.000 mower. Ha ha it is not even close.
This group as well as others is full of post about the bad cut of the sd.

 

[577jersey]

My SD cuts great,,only issue is the discharge opening leaves windrows in taller wet grass,,it leaves a scraggler here and there but only when the blades are getting beat,,just like any other mower I had,,and i had the best of the best....the tip speed is good..maybe people are having problems with the wide tires pushing grass down?