RE: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck

[Dave & Debbie Barden <daveb seanet com>]

I've not yet used my mower but this discussion has been interesting and 
good 
for my future reference. 

so I am left with 2 dumb questions:
  1.  if the blades overlap how come they don't collide with one another?
  2.  I haven't lookd closely but are the blades only sharpened on about 
the 
outside 3 inches or so?  and if so how is that the inner 10 or 11 inches 
of 
blade cut?

Like I said dumb questions but I was raised using a push reel mower.  My 
father 
also claimed they did a better job and would have nothing to do with a 
rotary 
mower because they hacked the grass rather than cut it.  Fortunately for 
me we 
lived in the city with a small lot and not much lawn.

dave
Seattle
E12S
E15mod

> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Poush [mailto:agp vt edu]
> Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2003 9:51 AM
> To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject: Re: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck
> 
> 
> I was thinking about this some more and I realized that there are more 
> questions I need to add to the survey.  So to repeat all the current 
> questions plus the new ones:
> 
> So now to a question:
> Does anyone out there use a large frame deck to successfully cut the 
> lawn in only one cut?
> 
> YES!
> 
> And a survey:
> Can all those with large frame mowers tell me:  1) How many cuts does 
> it take to do your lawn?  
> 
> One; if it takes two you are doing something wrong (and that's very 
> common!)
> 
> 2) Side or rear discharge?  
> 
> Have used both.  I like the rear discharge better; the clippings are 
> more 
evenly
distributed.
> 
> 3) With or without baffles?  
> 
> I never made it cut right (for a factory deck) without baffles.
> 
> 4) What is cut height (number of spacers below front wheel caster 
> bearing)?   
> 
> It depends on what height you want.  I use 3 or 4 spacers below the 
> caster.
> 
> 5)  What numbers and/or text appears on the deck nameplate?  
> 
> Now you're meddling.  No, I have used at least 3 types of deck, and they 
> all 
can be made
to cut well.
> 
> 6) Is deck OEM?  
> 
> Yes.
> 
> 7) If it came with the ET, what is ET s/n?
> 
> Ditto 5; it shouldn't matter.  E12/E15.
> 
> 
> First, check to see if the blades are turning the right way!
> 
> Second, keep the INSIDE OF THE DECK CLEAN!  Don't try and mow 'damp' 
> grass.  
If you have
too, that's fine, 
> but don't expect it to look good.  It sticks in the deck and overloads 
> the 
motors.  The
blades turn slow 
> and it doesn't cut.  I use a 3 fingered weeder to scrape off any grass 
thicker than 3/4"
on the inside of 
> the deck.
> 
> Third, sharpen the blades, ESPECIALLY THE OUTSIDE 3" and the tip.  If 
> the tip 
isn't sharp
and square, you 
> will leave the strips.  This isn't unique to the GE; I have seen it on 
> Bolens 
and Sears
decks too.  It IS 
> more pronounced as the GE tip speed is slower than on many other decks; 
> it 
isn't the RPM
that cuts, it's 
> the linear speed; a longer blade is turning faster.
> 
> Fourth, are use using the SAME types of blades?  The 'lift' blade has 
> more 
bend.  I have
used them, but am 
> not at the moment.  I'm not sure, but I think they were standard on the 
side-discharge
deck.  Either will 
> work, but your ground speed will be different.
> 
> Fifth, is the deck LEVEL?  Front to back very important.
> 
> Sixth, with rear discharge you want the rubber boot to spread the 
> clippings 
more
uniformly.
> 
> Seventh, when the blade is worn to the width of a butcher knife, replace 
> it.
> 
> LAST, and most common mistake; don't expect it to mow if you can hear 
> the 
blades slowing! 
The GE mows at 
> about 3,000 RPM as I recall.  With a radius of 7.25" or so, that's a tip 
speed of 127 MPH.
 Sound good?  
> A Bolens 20 HP with 19" blades cuts at 3600 RPM; that's 203 MPH.  Don't 
> get 
me wrong;
anything like 100 MPH 
> will cut fine, a reel mower is cutting in the 10's of MPH, and it works 
> ON A 
LITTLE GRASS
AT A TIME!  The 
> problem is that a gas tractor like a Bolens or a John Deere uses a 
> governor 
to control the
engine speed; 
> more grass and the RPM doesn't droop too much.  The GE gets more load 
> and the 
current can
go way up to 
> add power, but the RPM drops off REAL FAST.  You have all heard it.  
> When the 
roar stops
you aren't cutting 
> well.  Go slower.  Or raise the deck and go slow too.  If you're 
> re-cutting, 
wait a day
and let the grass 
> dry out so it doesn't plug the deck.  If you don't do this you will 
> ALWAYS 
LEAVE TWO
STRIPS OF GRASS!
> 
> If you do it right, you can cut as good as anyone.  My nephew has a 14.5 
> HP 
Sears, and I
cut along with 
> him at times.  I can leave the grass looking SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER than 
> he can 
when cutting
more than an 
> inch and a half of grass, but I can't do it as fast.
> 
> Now if I could find one of the front-mounted GE reel mowers to try, that 
would be fun.
> 
> Larry Elie
> 
> 
> 
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