Why isnt my drum mower giving a clean cut?

[powerscol]

That's what I do on my fields - start outside with mower to inside (round and round driving on the cut material),. I then do the outside last after grass has a chance to spring back up. Even doing this there are rough spots when the grass was mashed down by the tires. Also one bad blade will give you a rough cut - look them over closely and make sure they will rotate and are not jammed up with grass/ bind weed. I keep a sharp spare set on hand as I find it is just easier to change them out and then inspect off the drum. Mine are quick attach as I have a PZ 170

 

[whis]

because you don't drive on standing crop unless your opening up the field,

 

[CDennyRun]

I think what the OP meant when saying he was speeding up during mowing a straight line, was after the turning the corner. Not that he wasn't doing the normal pattern. I mow in straight lines all the time (after making the turn).

Chris

 

[PROFarms]

I think what the OP meant when saying he was speeding up during mowing a straight line, was after the turning the corner. Not that he wasn't doing the normal pattern. I mow in straight lines all the time (after making the turn). Chris

Yes. I do 6-8 rounds around the edge then split the field up the middle and work then towards the outside, never leaves uncut grass it just cuts it really rough when I'm going in the straight lines

 

[whis]

mowing in a straight line has nothing to with how it cuts, mowing where the tires have ran does. the mower doesn't know if it's going straight or not

 

[bjr]

I have the small SFI 2555 and it uses the double sided CM-120 blade w/hump in it and can be switched to the opposite drum to use the new side. I've also started getting my blades from Webbs Sickle Service as they're made in Germany (better heat treating-harder cutting edge). Tisco's/A&I didn't keep the edge very long. But, yeah, you gotta change the blades often AND keep an eye on belt tension. I actually had a customer hand me a $50 bill and TOLD me "get some sharper blades on your mower or don't come back". Oh yeah, I tend to go roundy/roundy just for convience sake, but I don't think it makes too much difference other than try to run the tractor on the previous cut portion because layed down grass don't cut real well as someone else already said. bjr

 

[powerscol]

After baling and picking up I too noticed an uneven cut where I was cutting in an arc, and even straight. Checked the mower and found at least one knife that was bound up and would not swing (long grass wrapped around it). I also noticed several places that I did not pick up in a tight turn were a mess. Last is I could tell where I had messed up the pitch (too high) I had bumped the hydraulic top link.

Last I am surprised at the knife wear. I need to change the blades around before the next cutting. I have a PZ 170 mower if that helps.

 

[cabinhollow]

I have been using drum mowers for over 25 years. The last 15 years with a ztr 185.
I keep all the weight of the drums on the ground when I am mowing.
I keep the mower pitched forward. Not flat.
I do not pick the mower up on turns.
I use any type of blade that I can find, that will fit. I may not have two blades the same, on the mower.
Years ago I had a very flat field that I mowed. At that time I was using a 4000 Ford and could mow it in 8th gear. Top road speed.
This year with my TYM 754, I have been mowing in 9th,10th gear on fields with slope. The tractor bogs down in 11th going up hills, when mowing.