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RE: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck
Dave,
The middle motor is set back so the blades will not hit.
See picture http://mypage.iu.edu/~hazen/Electrak/Deck-underside.JPG
The middle of the blade is not used to cut the grass as the ends pass
over any spot twice as the deck moves forward.
Dwight
Dwight L. Hazen, Indiana University, UITS
Bloomington, In. 47408-7378
812-855-5367 IP phone 317-278-4014
hazen indiana edu http://php.ucs.indiana.edu/~hazen/
Ham Radio wb9tlh arrl net http://wb9tlh.ampr.us
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave & Debbie Barden [mailto:daveb seanet com]
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 2:19 AM
To: lelie ford com; agp vt edu; elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
Subject: RE: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck
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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