Mowing Bad dusty mowing

[pennwalk]

We haven't had any rain for a while so the ground is pretty dry. Then some darned fool aerated the yard and top dressed the front yard. Somehow the grass is still growing and on top of that the leaves are falling and need to be gotten up. So I put the bagger on and headed out. I got about 10 feet when I knew that it was going to be bad. I pulled my hat down and tied my bandana across my face. What a mess. There were times where the dust was so thick I had to stop till the wind blew it clear. When I was in the cloud I had my eyes closed and was holding my breath. I wonder if the neighbors saw me what a sight I must have been. So I was wondering what you guys do when you have to work in the dust?

Chris

 

[SnowRidge]

......So I was wondering what you guys do when you have to work in the dust?

Chris

1. Don't mow until I absolutely have to.

2. Sneeze a lot afterwards.

 

[kthompson]

wife.

 

[kthompson]

Lord I am glad she will not see that post.

I have used simple dust mask a time or two with goggles. kt

 

[radman1]

I have discovered when working in very dusty, hot or nasty conditions, to stay inside my cab.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I have discovered when working in very dusty, hot or nasty conditions, to stay inside my cab.

I'll second that.

 

[jbrumberg]

Respirator mask and cleaning off/out (with vacuum and hose) the radiators and cowling episodically. Trust me do not compromise your lungs (do not ask me why I know this ). Jay

 

[Ford850]

Be sure to check your tractor's filters often when mowing in dust like that.

 

[jbrumberg]

Be sure to check your tractor's filters often when mowing in dust like that.

I agree. My tractor "died" from lack of O2 3 times in one afternoon just mowing my 7A lower field. The air filters were in pretty good shape, the radiators a little clogged (I clean them often.), but my tractor's engine cowling was so filled with mowing debris that it cut off air flow . You should have seen my fabric respirator mask Jay

 

[pennwalk]

I went to Home Depot and got the 2 for $7 3M respirators/masks. They looked a lot better than the dollar masks. I hope all that dust didn't choke the washer. You should have seen my clothes. I am hoping for rain Saturday otherwise I may go back to raking. That mowing was no fun.

Chris

 

[Earl Ohl]

Kubota B3030HSDCC.

 

[EdC]

If I can't possibly avoid the work and wait to a better time I wear a respirator and some goggles like they issue to military going over to SWA.

 

[WH401]

I second the use of a respirator. I have horrible allergies and everytime I mow, blow leaves, or do anything involved with dust outside I wear one. I just went and bought a different one with a charcoal based filter because it keeps the diesel smell out and I don't have to worry about breathing that either. I can sometimes get into some pretty thick dust clouds, usually not with mowing but with leaf blowing, and I don't have a problem.

 

[N80]

I don't have allergies, so like SnowRidge says, I just sneeze a lot and blow a lot of dusty snot out for a few hours afterwards.

I do agree about watching your radiator and intake filters. Never had a problem with the filters but once while mowing deep grass and broomstraw the radiator screen clogged up with the feathery stuff and dust and the engine started to run a bit hot. Cleaned it off and temp went right back to normal.

 

[3RRL]

I generally mow some of the wild flower meadows when it's dried out right after Spring to keep the fire hazard down around my place. The longer I wait to do it the greater the fire risk and the dustier and more shredded debris there is. So now I try to get it when it first starts turning brown and it's a littler less dusty and certainly less risk of fire or starting one.
I agree with the dust masks and hosing off all the debris so your tractor can breath too. But like Ed said, I also wear goggles to keep the foxtails and crap out of my eyes. First year I got a bunch of stuff in my eyes and that's no fun either.
Either way, it's a dirty dusty job!

 

[EddieWalker]

... So I put the bagger on and headed out.

Chris,

What are you mowing with? It sounds like small riding mower, but I'm not sure. If that's it, then this wont help.

With my rotary cutter, I was dying from all the dust that came up from the front of the mower. It was basically a giant fan when going over dry areas, and the dust would just blow up all over me. Same thing as you described, it would get so thick that I had to stop so that it would settle and I could see again.

Then I got the idea to attach a tire to the front of the deck. I cut the tire and bolted it to where most people attach lengths of chain. The holes were already there for 5/16 cairrage bolts, so it was really simple.

The results are just amazing. The dust now shoots out the sides and I barely notice it. The natural curve of the tire catches it and sends it off to to either side. I mow with the tire just barely touching, or off the ground an inch. Either way, it doesn't really matter, I no longer have any dust issues.

It's probably the smartest thing I've done!!!!!!!!!

Eddie

 

[N80]

Sounds like a good idea Eddie....got pictures?

 

[3RRL]

Yeah, that is a good idea Eddie.
I never thought of using the tire to channel the dust and debris like that. I know Soundguy uses cut up tires as guards, but he never mentioned that would channel the dust like that. Is yours one length then?
I'd like to see pictures too. I just made chain guards for my rotary cutter. They do the job of keeping big stuff from shooting out but don't address the dust and debris channeling like your tire idea.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's a few pics. I'll be using it this weekend, but don't have time to hook it up until then, so the pics are of it just sitting there.

The beauty of it is the shape of the tire. It naturally catches the dust and sends it off to the sides.

Eddie

 

[pennwalk]

Eddie,
I mow here at the house with a JD 425. Right now I still have the gator blades on with the bagger so it stirs up the dust. At the farm we use a JD F525 for the lawns. It still has the gators on and the bagger and also stirs up the dust. I guess from here on out I will be bagging so I will take the gators off. I also mow the farm lane and meadows. I use my Yanmar 186D with a woods RM59 finish mower. Not much dust down the lane and it is my favorite mowing.

The good news is that we got around 2 inches of rain last week so I hope the dust will be a lot better this time. I need to see if I can find some goggles for the next bad dusty mow.

Chris