42 inch RD mower not throwing grass 15-42RC01

[T1000 0]

Hey i have had this tractor growing up and inherited my father's 312 8. The mower deck used to throw grass well and now its just dropping it and leaving a nice trail of clipping as I go along. Is it just blades that needs replacing or maybe something else?

[Pullstart 62,803]

 

RD decks aren’t known too well for tossing clippings like a SD deck can.  How much grass are you cutting inches wise, I recall if the grass grew too long it would pile up a nice windrow in the center.  We like pics by the way 

[8ntruck 6,991]

Welcome to the forum.  Bunch of good folks here.  

 

I switched from a SD deck last year to a RD deck.  The RD deck works great in combination with a tow behind sweeper.  However, I've noticed that when cutting longer grass, the RD deck does tend to leave windrows. 

 

I'll agree that a SD deck spreads trimmings better than the RD deck.

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Hi and  to 

 

a pic of the result can give more info’s about your problem.

 

Maybe it’s just the blades they need resharpening.

 

 

[tom2p 2,394]

keep blades sharp - rpm up 

 

but as others in prev posts mentioned - RD deck typically will not spread grass clippings as well as a similarly sized SD deck 

 

I currently use SD deck more often than RD - but cut for decades with a 704 and 312-8 with RD decks 

 

compared to SD deck - gotta keep the RD deck slightly higher (cut less grass) to minimize grass clippings from clumping behind the deck 

 

also - keep the front of the deck slightly higher than the rear 

 

can also add a deflector to the rear portion of the deck (as shown below)

 

 

Edited August 12, 2020 by tom2p

[Stepney 2,325]

14 minutes ago, tom2p said:

 

 

also - keep the front of the deck slightly higher than the rear 

 

The front higher than the rear?
I have a 42" that is quite miserable to use. Set the front lower, by the book, a dozen ways. Never helped.. never thought to try against the book.. any idea on the reasoning? 

[T1000 0]

As soon as my step pulley comes in I will post some picks. The pulley snapped on me and the grass has gotten quite tall since then, so it will look horrible I'm sure. As far as the blades go they are nice and sharp and balanced as well. I've been pondering converting it into a SD. Any thoughts to this? I'm not quite sure how the aerodynamics of the deck would play out 

[Tuneup 1,433]

My deck's going to look just like that after its cosmetic go-over this winter. Thanks, for the example!

[lynnmor 7,302]

The “book” does say to run the front higher, quite the opposite of nearly all other decks.

 

There are several versions of the RD decks, I didn’t look up yours.  Some have no baffles, some partial and some are fully baffled.  I have the no baffled version and it is horrible if grass is high so I need to pull the sweeper to make it presentable, therefore I only use it for fall cleanup.

 

Always mow at full throttle.

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,033]

Using the correct pto pulley?

 

Garry

[clueless 2,976]

Not sure what you mean by throwing grass, the rear discharge decks were not designed to throw clippings.

[Tach-a-matic 357]

The book also does not say to remove the rear hub caps when using a RD deck, but its probably a good idea

 

[953 nut 55,099]

On 8/12/2020 at 5:51 PM, T1000 said:

The mower deck used to throw grass well and now its just dropping it and leaving a nice trail of clipping as I go along.

Is the deck a side discharge deck? If a side discharge deck isn't throwing clippings it could be the RPMs of the engine are not high enough or as Garry said, the wrong pulley on the PTO being used. If your deck is a rear discharge like @tom2p pictured then it is doing what it was designed to do.

 

[953 nut 55,099]

1 hour ago, Tach-a-matic said:

book also does not say to remove the rear hub caps when using a RD deck, but its probably a good idea

Some duct tape over the slots on the rims will cure that.