Difficulty cutting thick lawn
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Difficulty cutting thick lawn
Im curious what folks are using for walk behind / push mowers in thick / healthy KBG lawns.
I struggle this time of year getting a good cut and keeping up. I had a 2018 Honda HRX that was horrible at cutting thick lawn at or above 3.5". I'm on my 2nd season with my Toro Super Recycler and its struggling too (mulching). (4th year in this house with a walk behind. I used to have an acre with a Scag zero turn).
With the Toro; I've played with side discharge, mulching, positive pitch, negative pitch, level. Mulching doesn't seem to create enough lift and it dumps clippings in piles at end of rows and leaves a thick strip of clippings in wheel track. When doing side discharge, I feel I get a better cut because the blade can create more lift, but its window-rowing. I just mowed 2 days ago. Increasing frequency isn't practical.
My lawn is 9,800ft^2 and I want to stay with a walk-behind mower.
I struggle this time of year getting a good cut and keeping up. I had a 2018 Honda HRX that was horrible at cutting thick lawn at or above 3.5". I'm on my 2nd season with my Toro Super Recycler and its struggling too (mulching). (4th year in this house with a walk behind. I used to have an acre with a Scag zero turn).
With the Toro; I've played with side discharge, mulching, positive pitch, negative pitch, level. Mulching doesn't seem to create enough lift and it dumps clippings in piles at end of rows and leaves a thick strip of clippings in wheel track. When doing side discharge, I feel I get a better cut because the blade can create more lift, but its window-rowing. I just mowed 2 days ago. Increasing frequency isn't practical.
My lawn is 9,800ft^2 and I want to stay with a walk-behind mower.
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
My Toro dealer is also a SCAG dealer. They're going to let me demo a new SFC30! Sweet!
Mrs. Hammbone just rolls her eyes.
+1 for buying from a dealer and not Home Depot!
Mrs. Hammbone just rolls her eyes.
+1 for buying from a dealer and not Home Depot!
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18136
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I had the cheapest Toro and you've seen my lawn. It cut very nicely, but did leave some clippings in piles when the lawn was longer. The new Landroid is doing a stellar job, better than the old Toro, but definitely isn't a walk-behind.
Much of the quality is the speed you walk and the sharpness of the blade (correct sharpness, not super-sharp...and definitely not the dull as ditchwater most people have). Moving too fast, as I usually do, leads to the clipping piles.
Much of the quality is the speed you walk and the sharpness of the blade (correct sharpness, not super-sharp...and definitely not the dull as ditchwater most people have). Moving too fast, as I usually do, leads to the clipping piles.
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
OP here.
Another later summer with the Super Recycler performing less than stellar.
I rotate my pattern every time I mow. N-S, E-W, NE-SW, NW-SE. All in an attempt to prevent from ingraining in wheel tracks. It seems to happen anyway. The lawn is thick and healthy, but stays down at where the tracks cross. I tried mowing last night at a notch lower (3.25", down from 3.75") and I offset the row half a mower width so I wouldn't be driving on old tracks. It still couldn't lift the old tracks properly.
Note: The mower was setup for side discharge and the high-lift blade. Its the best it can do from an airflow standpoint, but still not up to the challenge.
Below is after I propped up some grass from a wheel track intersection.
Any insight would be helpful. I'd love a commercial zero turn, but I don't have storage space.
Another later summer with the Super Recycler performing less than stellar.
I rotate my pattern every time I mow. N-S, E-W, NE-SW, NW-SE. All in an attempt to prevent from ingraining in wheel tracks. It seems to happen anyway. The lawn is thick and healthy, but stays down at where the tracks cross. I tried mowing last night at a notch lower (3.25", down from 3.75") and I offset the row half a mower width so I wouldn't be driving on old tracks. It still couldn't lift the old tracks properly.
Note: The mower was setup for side discharge and the high-lift blade. Its the best it can do from an airflow standpoint, but still not up to the challenge.
Below is after I propped up some grass from a wheel track intersection.
Any insight would be helpful. I'd love a commercial zero turn, but I don't have storage space.
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- Posts: 254
- Joined: December 21st, 2016, 1:56 pm
- Location: Quad Cities, IA
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 3000-5000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I have that problem on occasion with my Honda HRX. I just double cut on those times it happens. Kind of a pain, but unless I want to purchase a commercial mower....
On another topic. You're in the QC area, correct? Have you been able to source urea lately? SiteOne is on backorder. DK Turf wants $50 for a bag.
On another topic. You're in the QC area, correct? Have you been able to source urea lately? SiteOne is on backorder. DK Turf wants $50 for a bag.
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I "had" and HRX but sold it and got the Toro because of this exact problem. Grrrr.... I'm curious about the Exmark commercial mower. I demo'd a SCAG 30" last year. It was a booger to turn.Riverpilot wrote: ↑August 24th, 2022, 5:46 pmI have that problem on occasion with my Honda HRX. I just double cut on those times it happens. Kind of a pain, but unless I want to purchase a commercial mower....
On another topic. You're in the QC area, correct? Have you been able to source urea lately? SiteOne is on backorder. DK Turf wants $50 for a bag.
I'm between IC and CR. I get my stuff from DK in Hiawatha. I paid the $50 last year. I should still have enough for this year. If not, there's an ag fertilizer company in town that'll fill 5gal buckets for me. Nonetheless, I need to dig into that.
- MorpheusPA
- Posts: 18136
- Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
- Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
- Grass Type: Elite KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Advanced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
Yes, that's truly a horrible problem to have.
The solution is to mow before it grows that much. Again, keep the mower blades sharp, but not razor-sharp, mow well before the 50% rule, and if you have to take smaller chips to chew it up properly, do so. I can certainly suggest some very inexpensive whetstones that do the job well enough if you'd rather not have it sharpened (expensive) or do it in a vice (somewhat inconvenient). But definitely pop the sparkplug when working on your mower (in my case, I just pop the battery even though it's a Class 3 robot. I still don't trust it).
My Landroid is still doing a stellar job, but I've lifted the deck to almost four inches and it runs daily. Even so, every once in a while in a spot or two, I have to mow with the Toro if it misses. It'll overgrow and the machine can't, as you note, get through it.
The solution is to mow before it grows that much. Again, keep the mower blades sharp, but not razor-sharp, mow well before the 50% rule, and if you have to take smaller chips to chew it up properly, do so. I can certainly suggest some very inexpensive whetstones that do the job well enough if you'd rather not have it sharpened (expensive) or do it in a vice (somewhat inconvenient). But definitely pop the sparkplug when working on your mower (in my case, I just pop the battery even though it's a Class 3 robot. I still don't trust it).
My Landroid is still doing a stellar job, but I've lifted the deck to almost four inches and it runs daily. Even so, every once in a while in a spot or two, I have to mow with the Toro if it misses. It'll overgrow and the machine can't, as you note, get through it.
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- Posts: 479
- Joined: July 2nd, 2019, 9:22 pm
- Location: South Central PA
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
Horsepower baby! That SFC30 is a beauty! I have the Toro Timemaster with the 223cc B&S engine and it rips--even in the spring when the lawn is growing like crazy. It looks like the SFC has a 224cc commercial grade Kohler. I'll bet this engine will rip too.Hammbone81 wrote: ↑September 9th, 2021, 6:32 pmMy Toro dealer is also a SCAG dealer. They're going to let me demo a new SFC30! Sweet!
Mrs. Hammbone just rolls her eyes.
+1 for buying from a dealer and not Home Depot!
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I've considered the Time Master, but I read and see lots of negative reviews with issues. Not sure I'm willing to make a $1500 gamble. Sounds like the time you save mowing, you spend declogging and doing maintenance.
The SFC30 was a beast to manhandle!
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- Posts: 479
- Joined: July 2nd, 2019, 9:22 pm
- Location: South Central PA
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I've seen the complaints, but haven't experienced any issues. Some seems to be from small lawn services using a consumer-grade product in a commercial situation. Also, the engine upgrade in newer models seems to make a big difference in power (possibly reliability) from what I've read. Mine starts with one pull, deck hasn't clogged at all, and cuts great. I also installed two upgrades:Hammbone81 wrote: ↑August 30th, 2022, 12:01 amI've considered the Time Master, but I read and see lots of negative reviews with issues. Not sure I'm willing to make a $1500 gamble. Sounds like the time you save mowing, you spend declogging and doing maintenance.
The SFC30 was a beast to manhandle!
Hour meter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y3 ... UTF8&psc=1
Commercial idler pulley: https://www.amazon.com/Exmark-126-7890- ... d_wg=r1Gh0
I hope this helps and good luck with it!
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
I seemed to have fixed the problem with the Super Recycler not cutting well. Here's the solution; remove all the "Super" parts (accelerator and kickers), use the high-lift blade, side discharge, overlap by 1/3. 1/3 is better than 1/2. ....I have a theory as to why.
- turf_toes
- Posts: 6043
- Joined: December 17th, 2008, 8:46 pm
- Location: Central NJ
- Grass Type: 77% Blueberry/23% Midnight Star KBG in front. Bewitched KBG monostand in back.
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
Huh. I’ve been using the battery-powered Super Recycler model for more than a year. I’ve not had trouble with that issue at all. But I realize that you’re probably using the gas-powered model.Hammbone81 wrote: ↑September 6th, 2022, 8:18 amI seemed to have fixed the problem with the Super Recycler not cutting well. Here's the solution; remove all the "Super" parts (accelerator and kickers), use the high-lift blade, side discharge, overlap by 1/3. 1/3 is better than 1/2. ....I have a theory as to why.
But I’ve been using the super recycler mowers for 20 years and they’ve always cut thick grass easily.
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- Posts: 204
- Joined: June 4th, 2018, 10:18 am
- Location: Eastern Iowa
- Grass Type: KBG
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Difficulty cutting thick lawn
Don't get me wrong, it does a fine job most of the year, it's just mid-August through September that it can't lift the grass. Maybe it's my specific cultivars that don't like to stand up on their own? I don't get it. It just typically looks matted in the wheel tracks this time of year.turf_toes wrote: ↑September 6th, 2022, 9:08 am
Huh. I’ve been using the battery-powered Super Recycler model for more than a year. I’ve not had trouble with that issue at all. But I realize that you’re probably using the gas-powered model.
But I’ve been using the super recycler mowers for 20 years and they’ve always cut thick grass easily.
After I mowed yesterday, my 12yr old (who never pays attention to this stuff) said "Dad, the lawn looks a lot better today."
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