Why doesn't my MX6 suck?

[econometrics]

I'm wondering if anyone else out there has suction issues from time to time with their MX6? I have mowed with it three times this year now and each time, I am leaving behind rows of bermuda sticking up that the mower doesn't seem to be cutting.

Specifically, it seems that when the tractor is driving over the grass, the mower is not sucking it up from where the tires wear down the grass. Therefore, I have pastures that just don't look purdy.

It should be noted, however, that I am cutting my grass with the mower set up a little higher than average. I suppose I am cutting the grass about 6-8" high, and I am mowing when the grass has reached about 2-3' of height.

I sharpened up my blades at the beginning of the year and all I have been cutting with it is grass. So I'm a little perplexed as to why I am not getting that nice cut that so many other MX6 owners brag about getting?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[ddivinia]

I mowed this with my mx6.


Are the blades stuck on the bolts? As in are the blades swinging freely.

He fast are you mowing?

Is the grass wet??

D.

 

[econometrics]

I mowed this with my mx6.


Are the blades stuck on the bolts? As in are the blades swinging freely.

He fast are you mowing?

Is the grass wet??

D.

The blades being too tight on the bolts is something I need to check into. That could be an issue, but the last time I sharpened them, they were swinging pretty freely. Not too lose, but I could move them with a little bit of pressure.

I am definitely not mowing wet, ha! I just mowed this past weekend and probably weighed 5 pounds heavier from all the hay and dust on me! :laughing:

I've been mowing in B2 on my 5103... so if I remember correctly, that's around 4.5mph? I tried mowing B1 (closer to 3.5mph) a few times but it really didn't seem to be working that much better for the speed I was losing.

 

[econometrics]

I mowed this with my mx6.

And yeah... my pasture ain't looking that symmetric when I'm done. It doesn't look horrible, but it's noticeable that there's grass that wasn't cut.

Here are a few pics of mine from Sunday. You can see that it looks pretty nice from a distance, but when you zoom in on the pics, you can see it isn't the smoothest cut.

 

[ddivinia]

Is the mower level?

Blades bent?

I would try a new set of blades and make sure it is level.

I had the same kind of issue and I didn't realize it but my blades are bent up pretty good but i could not tell until I compared them to a new blade. That fixed my problem.

D.

 

[econometrics]

Is the mower level?

Blades bent?

I would try a new set of blades and make sure it is level.

I had the same kind of issue and I didn't realize it but my blades are bent up pretty good but i could not tell until I compared them to a new blade. That fixed my problem.

D.

I really don't think they are bent, but they sure could be. I bought some new blades at the beginning of spring, but never put them on. I decided to just sharpen the existing blades instead. I should probably give that a try before I do another round of cutting.

The mower is definitely level, I did check that.

The only thing I could think of that would be causing this - before your good suggestions here - is that I was running the mower too high? But I wouldn't think that would but an issue. Who knows... maybe it is?

Here's a pic of where my rear-wheel setting is... 2nd highest you can set it.

Here's a shot of what it looks like when I'm mowing (thanks to my trail cam! )

As you can see, the mower is set to cut higher, but it ain't THAT high.

 

[arlen4720]

Are you running the front of the mower an inch or so lower than the rear?

 

[econometrics]

Are you running the front of the mower an inch or so lower than the rear?

I don't think I am. I'm pretty sure it's very close to being the same height front / rear. Should I be running it lower in front?

 

[arlen4720]

Yes, I don't recall the exact difference that the op manual says, but I like to run an inch or so difference. Your pasture doesn't look too bad, so I think you are close, a little drop in the front might get you where you need to be.
EDIT: I just looked in the manual, and I couldn't find anything on the front being lower. I think that having the front a little lower is just a general rule with a rotary cutter.

 

[Henri88]

The instruction say that you should have the front of the cutter a little lower than the rear.

 

[Henri88]

Sorry, you guy's type faster than I do.

 

[econometrics]

Yes, I don't recall the exact difference that the op manual says, but I like to run an inch or so difference. Your pasture doesn't look too bad, so I think you are close, a little drop in the front might get you where you need to be.

The instruction say that you should have the front of the cutter a little lower than the rear.

I guess I need to give this a whirl and see what happens, then!

The only reason I cringe at this idea is that I have a few random rolls in my pasture that I am worried about the blades digging into if I run the cutter offset too much. But an inch or two lower in the front probably ain't gonna hurt. :thumbsup:

 

[arlen4720]

With the size of that pasture, and that nice tractor, I think an MX10 should be on your christmas list. My neighbor has one, and it has a nice cut.
That is a nice looking chunk of pasture.... My cows would enjoy messing it up:laughing:

 

[econometrics]

With the size of that pasture, and that nice tractor. I think an MX10 should be on your christmas list. My neighbor has one, and it has a nice cut.

I have really been thinking about that lately, too. This is only about 50% of the grass I am cutting 3-4x per year right now in these pictures. It takes about two full days on the tractor to get it done with the MX6.

I would really love a pull-type cutter like the MX10. I think dual spindles would be a lot more efficient.

The only downside with the MX10 is that I can't trailer it all as easy to cut some of the pastures I have to drive the set-up to 1-2x per year.

Thus, the MX8 has been a little more on my radar than the MX10.

 

[ddivinia]

You need to tighten up your 3rd link. Take ALL the slack of those braces.

Looks like you moved the tail wheel down some. Which would make it cut higher. I pretty much dont use the tailwheel much. The manual said something about the height should be where the deck skids are off the ground and the wheel is not touching.

I would put the new blades on it.

Tighten up the 3rd link.

Go from there.

D.

 

[econometrics]

You need to tighten up your 3rd link. Take ALL the slack of those braces.

Looks like you moved the tail wheel down some. Which would make it cut higher. I pretty much dont use the tailwheel much. The manual said something about the height should be where the deck skids are off the ground and the wheel is not touching.

So the idea here is for ALL of the weight of the cutter to be on the 3-point? I have been purposefully leaving slack in the top link so the wheel is almost always on the ground thinking it would deliver a more even cut through the ups and downs. But that's not really how I should be operating her?

 

[Tx Jim]

The manual said something about the height should be where the deck skids are off the ground and the wheel is not touching.
Tighten up the 3rd link.D.

To mow with the tail wheel off the ground is a new one for me. If that is true then why does JD sell a semi-integral that has no top link bracket and the tail wheels carry the rear of the cutter?

 

[ddivinia]

I can control the cut height easier with the 3 point than getting out and changing the tailwheel height. Going thur transitions the tailwheel keeps the mower from digging in, etc.

It works for me - I have mowed a whole bunch with my MX6.

D.

 

[Tx Jim]

econometrics
Have you tried mowing in the opposite direction than you previously mowed? The direction you mow verses the direction the blades turn gives the blades an opportunity to lift the mashed down grass.

 

[Dutch445]

it may just be a condition with the height of the material, trying to take it from
2-3' down to 6-8" in 1 pass causes too much material to gather under the mower
preventing a good "suck" of all the grass.
I'd be interested to know if it does the same thing if you were to cut from 12-18 inches
down to 6-8 inches....