BX - 54" deck cut better than 60" deck

[lww05]

BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

Has anybody else owned or used both the 54" deck and the 60" deck on the BX series? I had the 54" deck with mulching kit on a BX2200 that I sold. I now have the 60" with mulching kit on my BX23. In my case, the 54" deck did a better job than the 60" is doing now. I wanted the 60" for the extra width but in hindsight, I think I should've opted for the 54" again when I got the new BX.

The 60" is not terrible - but it does not leave as smooth of a finish like the 54" did. I find myself overlapping more than I would like to. I mow at 3.5" height, keep the blades very sharp, am using the bar tires, have carefully aligned the deck just like I did on the BX2200 - all the same setup and procedures that I used on the BX2200. The mulching kit for the 60" does grind the clippings better than the the one on the 54" deck. Maybe the lift is not as good on the blades for the 60"??? I don't have the others to compare to now.

Any ideas?

 

[art]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

We have not sold to many of the 54" decks at all for the BX's other then on the 1500 and have not had any comparisons as well as you have. I wonder if you might try the wheels set just a little higher if it might reduce your problem.

 

[lww05]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

I have always set the anti-scalp wheel adjustments to one notch higher than what is recommended on both tractors. Otherwise, it seems there is more contact than necessary with the surface.

The standard blades cut pretty smooth before adding the mulching blades and baffle kit. The amount of leftover clippings was the main reason for going to the mulching setup. The amount of lift on the standard blades is quite a bit more than what is on the mulching blades. I actually used the mulchers without the baffle kit a few times before deciding to purchase the baffle kit for the deck. I noticed a drop in cutting quality which made me decide to purchase and install the baffle kit. The internal volume of the 60" deck is considerably more than the 54" deck. I wonder if this has much to do with the blades not lifting the grass as well for the cut???

I'll be willing to try a set of the gator blades when some are made for the BX decks. Last I heard from this group, they were not available.

I believe the lawn would be alright to cut at the 3" mark instead of 3.5". Maybe this will help??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[lstumper067]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

Measure the middle blade under the deck, I have found that mine is 1/4 inch higher than the other two (measure from the blade nut to the floor). Has anyone else noticed this? I never have gotton a really perfect cut with my 60" either. It will leave a blade of grass here and there and just doesn't give the smooth cut I though it would.

 

[PERCOS2]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

I have the same problem with my 60" deck w/mulch kit. It seems to not have enough lift to lift the grass up from my tire tracks. Looks like crap! When the gators come out for them I'll be first in line. Its just to bad for what you have to pay for the tractor you would think they would have researched it.

 

[lww05]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

lstumper067,

Finally had the opportunity to check on what you had mentioned. Mine is not out of alignment. With the deck off and on its side, I rolled the outer blades one at a time to check how they aligned with the middle blade. Both outside blades aligned just right with the center blade.

 

[lstumper067]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

I need to roll my deck out and check it the way you did yours, I just measured mine from the blade bolt to the floor. I am so displeased with cut I get I even considered buying a 54" deck and giving that a try or trading on a John Deere,

 

[Junkman]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

Are you mowing dry grass and are you running the tractor at full throttle. Engine speed will effect blade speed. It is a direct relationship. Also, if you are taking too large of a bite with the hight setting, this will also effect the finished product. I never take more than one inch off at a time even if it means cutting twice in two days. I also never cut the same lawn area twice in one day. I leave a day in between so the cut clippings have a chance to dry. I find that my 60" MMM gives an outstanding cut if the blades are sharp. Once they dull, they are not cutting, but tearing the grass and that does give it a poor appearance.

 

[lww05]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

Here in my neck of the woods, I don't know what wet grass is. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Even the morning dew doesn't last past sun-up but no, I am talking about cutting all dry grass here.

I am not running at full throttle - I hate to do that - but I may be inclined to raise the rpms more than I am used to if it will help. I would guesstimate I run at almost 3/4 throttle. I do not have a tach, but by my ear, I think I am running it the same rpms as I did on my previous BX2200.

I mow on a regular basis and do not let it get too tall before mowing again - probably about 1 to 1.5 inch each cutting. My routine is the same with this BX23 as it was with the BX2200 and that's why I question the quality of the mulching setup on the 60" deck.

Agreed on the nice cut with the "sharp" standard blades.

 

[Junkman]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

The tip speed on a 54" deck and the tip speed of the 60" deck are going to be different at the same engine RPM due to the fact that the 60" has longer blades unless Kubota adjusted the diameter of the pulleys, and I doubt that they have done that. My guess is the spindles and pulleys are the same for both decks and only the belt length changes.

 

[lww05]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

The part numbers for the pulleys match on both decks so they are indeed the same. The pinion shaft and bevel gear of the gearbox are also a match.

You would assume that the tip speed of the blades on the 60" deck would be faster than the blades from the 54" deck which should create even a better lift. Would like to have compared the blades side by side before I sold the older tractor. I think, not positive though, that the amount of air space between the blade and deck is greater on the 60" unit than that of the 54" unit. If so, my guess is that this extra space allows for more downdraft than necessary creating the problem - along with too much downdraft area of the blades and not enough lift.


I'll try next time to mow with more rpms on the motor - not much else to try. Guessing this will also create more downdraft to defeat the lift. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Av8r3400]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

I have the 54" deck on my BX2230 and get the best results on finish (and vacuum with the bagger) with the motor at PTO rpm, which is wide open. There is no problem running the motor at full throttle, it is designed to do so. You will see the finish the mower leaves is noticeably better. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Volfandt]

Re: BX - 54\" deck cut better than 60\" deck

I have the 60" and it gives me a very good cut. I mow at a hair under WOT and at a 3" depth.
I've used a home made mulch plug w/std blades an did OK as long as I kept up the mowing and didn't have to take any more than 1/2" off at any one time. Anything higher and the clippings would bog down the MMM and leave rows of clippings at the discharge side.
I mainly side discharge 2.5 acres with the std blades and have discovered that if I mow inside out that the finish is better and the clippings about disappear towards the edges.
I am now in the process of trying out a bagger (Cyclone Rake) and so far with only one mowing, the combination of the BX23 and CR has left as nice a finish cut as I've done with good finish mowers. I haven't had to mow in over two weeks as we haven't had any rain in that amount of time.

If you want stripes then I recommend rigging up a wide roller (a-la Simplicity) or a wide brush or long piece of rubber from the 3PH to "comb" the grass in the direction of travel. Alternate directions per row and you've got stripes!

Good luck
Volfandt