445 with 60" deck leaves strips of uncut lawn when turning

9556 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by RandyM, Apr 4, 2011

Brian

Discussion Starter · Aug 25, 2010

I have a 2002 445 with the yellow 60" deck under it. For about the last 2 years i have had issues with the deck leaving stips of uncut grass when I turn. It does it worse in tall thick grass.

I keep the deck clean and I run at WOT. I use gator blades.

I am wondering if the deck is set up wrong or if I need high lift blades to pick up the grass once I turn on it?

rivateeye:

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

ddivinia

· #2 · Aug 25, 2010

I would check your tire pressure.

Do you have the tool to check lade height?

Get the deck good and level.

I had a similar issue with my 757 z track. Ends up tire pressure was my issue.

D.

BleedGreen

· #3 · Aug 25, 2010

Is it an AWS model?

Brian

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 25, 2010

No it is not. I will take pictures of what it does. The deck is level side to side and front to back. Should it be level front to back?

Spudland_Dave

· #5 · Aug 25, 2010

Brian said:
I have a 2002 445 with the yellow 60" deck under it.

I think you answered your own question...I think the Green 60" Deck would fix it..

BleedGreen

· #6 · Aug 25, 2010

It should be level side to side, but not front to back. The front deck lip should be slightly lower than the rear - no more than 1/4". If that is all done, and your tire pressure is correct, running at WOT and you are still having striping issues, you may have to slow down your tractor speed. Other than that, Deere had a DTAC case regarding striping on the 425/445/455 with 60" deck back in 2001 (DTAC #11217) with a solution of M74175 blades and, "The best solution to reduce striping is to slow ground speed and not cut above the 2 1/2 range" I don't know how much these blades will help as the Gator blades are usually pretty good. Also check that the flat edges of the blades have not rounded off - if they are replace the blades - rounded means they will not be as close to the next blade as needed which can cause striping. I hope I was of some help.
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Brian

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 28, 2010

I will post pics in the morning... But I have bigger worries than the striped I leave when turning..... I found a foot and a half long piece of re-rod tonight....

BleedGreen

· #8 · Aug 28, 2010

Oooooooh that is not good.

jenkinsph

· #9 · Sep 12, 2010

Likely the tips of the blades are slightly rounded off or dull. Had this issue yesterday, something else to deal with.

DRobinson

· #10 · Mar 31, 2011

I may be a bit late coming in on this, but I had the same problem with my 445 with a 54 deck a couple years ago. I tend to be thrifty (cheap) and sharpen my blades four or five times a year, and do not replace them often. Apparently, by sharpening the cutting edge, I also took some length off of the blades over time. I replaced the blades with new JD blades and corrected the problem. I still sharpen the blades often, but will also replace them more often.

North585

· #11 · Apr 2, 2011

A stupid question....after reading the comments about tire pressure....is it a softer or firmer tire pressure desired, and why?

Thanks.

DRobinson

· #12 · Apr 2, 2011

I always set my tire pressure according to the OM and then measure from the floor to the rim to insure both sides are the same height. It has been my experience that if the front tires, especially, are over inflated, they tend to bounce on rough ground giving an uneven cut. I don't know if it would have the same bouncing effect with a SCUT or CUT, with them being heavier. I hope to have one and find out by mowing season 2012.

Wyobuckaroo

· #13 · Apr 4, 2011

With either of my mid mount mowers I have found this.
With everything as it should be, tires, deck, blades etc. Reducing ground speed and adjusting my reference points on my cutting line.

Most times I will mow out the ends to where I can make "crop duster" turns at the ends of long cuts.

Works good for me
Wyo

Brian

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 4, 2011

I will be working on the blades soon and I an thinking of welding a little on the ends of the blades to extend them to see if it helps. As long as they do not hit when turning.

RandyM

· #15 · Apr 4, 2011

Brian said:
I will be working on the blades soon and I an thinking of welding a little on the ends of the blades to extend them to see if it helps. As long as they do not hit when turning.

Just make sure you check the balance also.:good2:

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