Clumps Behind Push Mower

[patmac59]

Hi,
I have a 22" push mower used for trim and hills. Until recently ( while installing a new engine on the LT1000 ), I never really used this mower, my wife and kids always "volunteered" to do the trim.....so I don't know how long this has been going on.
While I was using it last week, I noticed every 4 or 5 yards, small clumps of grass coming out the back ( this is a side discharge ), from under the safety skirt ( I guess that's what I can call it ). Just before the clump would appear, I swear I could hear something going on under the deck. These clumps are about 2" around, and made up of very short pieces of grass. I do have, and have had for many years, a mulching blade on it. This wouldn't matter what type of grass, wet, dry, tall, thick or thin. In thin or short grass it would take longer for the clumps to appear.
I replaced the blade and scraped the deck clean. I also looked around for something that would accumulate these clumps, and everything looks OEM. The RPMs are good and nothing is loose. The wheel ( height ) settings have been checked.
I realize this is not a big deal, but something has changed, and I have to go back and pick up the clumps....maybe this is how the "volunteers" get back at me, they don't care about the clumps burning holes in the lawn in the mid-day sun....:laughing:
Any ideas will be appreciated.
Thanks for your time.

 

[Rivets]

The first thing I would do is raise my cutting height and sharpen the blade. These are the two main causes to clumping. Your unit cannot completely cut the grass in small enough pieces to discharge it properly. I know you said they were small pieces, but the little ones stick together better, especially if wet. Also, RPM's should be about 3200, you may be a little slow which would add to the problem.

 

[patmac59]

Thanks.
Just want to get back to you...the RPMs are good, and I replaced the blade last week.
Not much rain here since Friday, so the grass is growing slow.
I'll raise the deck some more and let you know.
Also checked the levelness of the blade to see if the shaft could have been bent ( as long as it's making noise, the volunteers think all is well ), without setting up a dial indicator to check runout, all looks ok.

 

[patmac59]

OK, got to mow today, grass not that high, not wet. Raised the cutting height, and still getting clumps from under the back skirt.
It seems like the grass is collecting somewhere, getting big enough, then dropping out.....like a hail stone:laughing:
Like I mentioned earlier, not sure how long ago this started.
Could the shaft be leaking some fluid, and the grass is collecting around shaft?

 

[Rivets]

When you hear something under the engine before the clump comes out is the clump rolling under the deck. I would do two things to try to solve the problem. First, clean the underside of the deck very well. Make sure you tip it with the carb up. Second, I would increase the RPM's to 3300. If possible, can you post your units model and serial numbers, plus the blade part number, which is stamped on the blade.

 

[patmac59]

Bumped the RPMs up to 3300.
No clumping...however....
The next day, one of our boys was doing the trim with it, hit a stump, bent the shaft, oil leaking out from around the head gasket....and...etc etc
So....thanks again for your time on this. I just finished repowering the lawn tractor, this one is going to the high school for the transportation class to use as a project, going to buy a new push tomorrow....
Thanks again

 

[Rivets]

No good deed goes unpunished??