GT 2550 deck plugs up too fast

[DaveVales]

I am NOT kidding!!! I mow 2.5 acres of this stuff at least once a year since 1998. It is too wet to get into the pasture when shorter, and by the time it dries out, it is really this tall. Sure, the 3225 is not designed for this type of cutting, but hey, it is all I had (until 3 weeks ago). Yes, it is not really designed for this, but it really DOES do the job. It takes 2 passes to look finished, but more seat time with the cup holder filled Yes, a brush hog would be more appropriate, but then, I do get the job done.

I have a lot of grass around the house too, and it cuts that quite well. It is heavy grass, and it at times clogs the deck more than the pasture grass.

Overall, the Cub has performed well. 450 hours and still ticking, though not without its share of repairs (all but 2 unrelated to the high grass). I should list all the repairs sometime...

I am glad some folks had a good chuckle at the pictures. They were meant to show extreme mowing, not typical fare.

 

[micman32]

Heck! Why not just use a pair of trimming shears!!!!

 

[KJO]

You could get yourself a sickle mower, bale it and sell it. I have also knocked down some grass like that with the lawn tractor...I usually cut about a foot at a time, using the side opposite the discharge chute...just go slow and let it feed in slowly. It doesn't look pretty afterwards, but it does knock it down. A second mowing a day or so later usually cleans it up a little better.

 

[ducati996]

Overall, the Cub has performed well. 450 hours and still ticking, though not without its share of repairs (all but 2 unrelated to the high grass). I should list all the repairs sometime...

I am glad some folks had a good chuckle at the pictures. They were meant to show extreme mowing, not typical fare.
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On my 3225 (1998) 54" deck I have had numerous problems with clogging even without mulching. First order of business was to tie up the discharge guard (=unsafe, but the alternative?). Then later I removed the lower brace. This allows me to cut some pretty tall stuff now with minimal clogging. The deck still builds up grass under it and reduces discharge effectiveness, but the stuff eventually spits out. I agree that the design is not the best. I try to clean it regularly, but at 200+ lbs and not the easiest to slide out, cleaning is irregular

DaveVales,

Im not sure if these posts came from the same person but they are the complete opposite of each other. You started off Criticizing Cub and the deck design, proceeded to post some wild application pictures, then turn around and praise it's performance.

See the quandry ?

 

[micman32]

Ducati,
I thought that myself. I still see that look on his face in those pics.

 

[DaveVales]

Hmmm, interesting. I guess if I made myself clearer.

I had tons of problems with clogging at first, with the tractor "out of the box", even when cutting "normal height" grass. Our grass is heavy, what species I do not know, but the soil is fertile and we have a lot of rain in spring. The grass gets thick, very thick. The deck design did not "cut it".

Then I tied up the discharge chute to improve cutting, and that worked immensely. The grass got cut, wihtout a lot of stopping to clean out the deck.

No more clogging with the lawn grass but somehow I still needed to cut the pasture. When initially cutting the pasture the grass clogged at discharge, then I removed the lower brace at the discharge chute. This again helped immensely and I was able to cut the stuff shown in the pictures, every year since 1998.

The tractor has done its job, but I would not have been able to do it without some modifications to make it work for me. If your deck works and does not clog (I am not talking about mulching - simple discharge here), then great. If not, consider tying up the discharge chute. Removing the brace may be another step to get better discharge.

I did not say the 3225 is a POS, I chose it above all others in 1998. It has its application, and I found a way to go a bit beyond that to meet my needs, and that has resulted in a reasonably satisfying experience using the machine.

 

[ducati996]

Hmmm, interesting. I guess if I made myself clearer.

I had tons of problems with clogging at first, with the tractor "out of the box", even when cutting "normal height" grass. Our grass is heavy, what species I do not know, but the soil is fertile and we have a lot of rain in spring. The grass gets thick, very thick. The deck design did not "cut it".

Thanks for taking the time to expand and clarifiy - just so you know based on your description above - there is not mfg in existance that will handle that type of scenerio flawlessly - you add moisture (humidity), fertilized grass and
you will have a mess that will take time to clean up. it only gets better when the conditions change or the frequency of mowing increases.
As for your tall grass application - of course you are using it in such a way that it was not designed for. But it sounds like it does a great job anyway..
Be greatfull I would think.