teach me how to mow.

[andyt11]

Last night I purcahsed a used T1770 lawn tractor with a 44" deck. I've never had a tractor mower and I don't really know how to use it.

The previous owner told me to try to mow in a clockwise direction so that the clippings end up in the middle of the lawn, and then I can run over them a couple of times and chop em up.

I need to know things like, how many rpm should I be running when mowing and travel speed. I'm assuming a fast walking pace is reasonable?

Any help appreciated. Going to cut the grass this afternoon before the neighbors come home. That way no one will see me put it though the back fence. :confused2:

 

[EE_Bota]

On my JD rider, and my BX2200, I mow such that the clippings go out away from the area that needs mowing.

On the JD rider, it is supposed to run wide open all the time.

On the Kubota, I run it about 3/4 throttle to get good blade speed.

I generally mow a fast walking speed, and you will get the hang about when to slow down due to thick grass. It will likely have less to do with power, and more to do with the rate of clipping discharge, since I want them discharged well, and spread about, not clumped up, and in furrows.

Others who know more will be along.

 

[sweep]

I go counterclockwise so the clipping go out in an area I already cut. I cut 2 acres and do not want a bunch of grass in the middle of the yard I need to rake or pick up...and depending on the size of the lawn and grass height cutting it the way you was told is hard on the tractor as you are cutting new uncut grass and also the old grass again and again.

Go as fast as you feel comfortable with and the mower still does a good job and I run a high rpm.

Don't worry you will be a pro the second time you cut the lawn...

 

[andyt11]

If it helps, this one is a 17hp kawasaki engine with a hydro static drive.

Thats another question actually. If I use less throttle / lower engine speed and put the pedal to the floor, is that better for the tranny than mowing with higher engine speed and half pedal? Or will it not work like that?

I'm wondering if any damage that can be caused by mowing around on half pedal, but its not a clutch, its all liquid right?! Probably over thinking it.

 

[andyt11]

cutting it the way you was told is hard on the tractor as you are cutting new uncut grass and also the old grass again and again.

That makes sense. I think he cuts his lawn twice a week so there wouldn't be much in the way of clippings, but I can see how it would be a burden for the machine if you had a lot of clippings building up on each pass.

 

[sweep]

If it helps, this one is a 17hp kawasaki engine with a hydro static drive.

Thats another question actually. If I use less throttle / lower engine speed and put the pedal to the floor, is that better for the tranny than mowing with higher engine speed and half pedal? Or will it not work like that?

I'm wondering if any damage that can be caused by mowing around on half pedal, but its not a clutch, its all liquid right?! Probably over thinking it.

Won't hurt a thing other than the blades are not spinning fast enough and you will get a lousy cut. Run at a higher rpm un;ess it it in the dead of summer and you are only cutting weeds that happen to grow faster than the grass.

 

[TripleR]

For a good quality cut, you need a combination of sharp blades, high blade tip speed and proper ground speed ie, not too fast. You will be able to find the right combination pretty quick. Most lawn mowers run at full throttle with some maybe just a bit under.

Like the others, I mow counter clockwise, but I have seen people do it clockwise on short grass.

By putting the HST pedal to the floor, you are only changing your gearing making it higher and with reduced engine speed I believe you will be putting more stress on it.

 

[EE_Bota]

If it helps, this one is a 17hp kawasaki engine with a hydro static drive.

Thats another question actually. If I use less throttle / lower engine speed and put the pedal to the floor, is that better for the tranny than mowing with higher engine speed and half pedal? Or will it not work like that?

I'm wondering if any damage that can be caused by mowing around on half pedal, but its not a clutch, its all liquid right?! Probably over thinking it.

Read the manual...if you have not already.

As for speed, get a good engine speed for fast blade tip speed. Then work the pedal. Many think that running the engine slow and pushing the pedal further is good for the transmission, but it is not. Most times, you hydrostatic cooling fan speed is higher with high engine speed. So better cooling. Also, the charge flow to the main pumps will be higher, and this has a cooling effect too, and also lessens the chances of cavitation of the main pumps.

You manual knows more about your tractor than I ever will, but what I am saying is true for all hydrostatic transmissions I have ever used.

 

[CHDinCT]

Your T1770 with a Kawasaki gas engine is made to mow at full throttle. You will actually put more wear on the engine and possibly the tranny by running mid RPM with the HST pedal full down, and you will get a worse cut lawn than running wide open.

 

[andyt11]

Thanks all.

So wide open throttle, control speed with pedal and counter clockwise unless very short grass. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[BeezFun]

I use 4 different patterns to do my yard, that way I don't have to trim around the trees. Each time I come at it from a different direction it get the side of the tree I missed last time. Any inconsistencies in the cut, like where the wheels push down the grass, also get cancelled out this way. I go clockwise and counter clockwise, then diagonal from both directions. If you live in suburbia this might leave things a little to scruffy, but if you're in the country the chickens won't mind.

 

[SandburRanch]

Depending on the season and what's growing and what's not, with my RH discharge mowers I sometimes do the first few rounds CW to prevent discharging Sandburs into flower beds, on the walk, into the house etc.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

I have an odd-shaped lawn with a hill in the middle. Just mowing around in a "circle" makes for a very strange pattern. I mow on a diagonal and switch the direction 90 degrees each mowing so two mowings' worth of diagonals make a "cross" pattern.

First I cut three laps around the perimeter. First one at the edge throwing into the lawn (It has a mulch kit, but it still throws right to some extent) so I'm not tossing clippings into the planting beds. Next two passes are throwing outward onto the previously cut area.

The actual "body" cuts (ouch!) are a moving oval. Well, long, skinny rectangle, actually. It's easier to do than describe, and most here will know what I'm talking about. First pass down the middle of the lawn (or either edge, I suppose) then turn 180 and run back but leave approximately the width of the deck uncut. One more pass down, then just walk the pattern so one pass cuts into the uncut mass of lawn, and the return pass cuts the stripe (giant mower-hawk?) that was left on the previous run.

Sheesh, someone help me describe this thing. Maybe a link to a drawing or something?

@andyt11, aren't you sorry you asked?

Z.

 

[tshep]

Zamboni pattern?

 

[andyt11]

Well that was way more fun than the old push mower. I did the edges and under the trees with the little push mower and then gave the kubota a go for the rest. Thottle all the way open and 2" deck hieght. I think it looks good. I did launch some clippings onto the beds at one point and down the front of the house where the grass is long I did manage to make a big pile of clippings. Had to go back and collect it with the other mower. I think so long as I di it once a week the clippings wont be a problem. Plus I'll figure out with way I want to be travelling too.

Thanks for the pointers all.

Does anyone know where I can download a manual?

 

[JoeL4330]

I'm not familiar with your rig, but a mulching setup--mulching blades and a sort of vortex attachment under the deck--will make your clippings disappear.

 

[Stargazer]

Hi I make 1-3 passes blowing grass inward to get close to fence dog pen whatnot then revrerse dir for rest of yard. Cut trimmer use down