Ride on mower won't cut long/damp grass

[spandit]

I'm not talking metre high pasture, the grass is, in places, about 8 inches long. I'm using a Snapper 33" 13hp rear engined ride on, with a newly sharpened blade, on the highest setting (actually one higher than that - you can latch it above the teeth) but every time I get grass wrapped around the ends of the blade and it just smokes the belt (which aren't cheap)

 

I'm wondering if fitting a shorter blade to give more tip clearance might be a solution or failing that, cutting the guard away to let the grass out (possibly not the safest solution).

 

Ideally, I'd keep the grass regularly mown but that hasn't happened and short of buying an Orec Rabbit (REALLY expensive), I'm getting fed up with stopping every few yards to remove the jammed grass from the blade ends

[Richard 1234]

That's really tall for a normal mower to cope with.

Is it a collector mower?

My big ride on mower does not like any more than about 3 inches but it is a cylinder mower

[TurtleWoods72]

It does sound like a rough cut mower, SCAG or similar would be more suited.

 

That said my 21" push mower (John Deere JS63) will tear through 18" grass and weeds with the mulch plug fitted (rather than side eject) without complaint.

[spandit]

It is a collector mower but I've taken the collector off so it just shoots grass out the side (when it actually cuts). I'm just disappointed because with a big heavy blade and a pretty powerful engine, I thought it would be unstoppable but apparently not. I do have the old blade with chipped ends - might try cutting that down and trying it to see if it makes a difference

[TurtleWoods72]

It is a collector mower but I've taken the collector off so it just shoots grass out the side (when it actually cuts). I'm just disappointed because with a big heavy blade and a pretty powerful engine, I thought it would be unstoppable but apparently not. I do have the old blade with chipped ends - might try cutting that down and trying it to see if it makes a difference

 

If doing so, be sure to measure an cut accurately or you could upset the balance of the blade, and result in vibration and damage to your mower.

[spandit]

If doing so, be sure to measure an cut accurately or you could upset the balance of the blade, and result in vibration and damage to your mower.

 

I was planning on measuring and then balancing the blade, grinding small bits off the heavy end until it's even. Mower vibrates a lot anyway...

[TurtleWoods72]

I was planning on measuring and then balancing the blade, grinding small bits off the heavy end until it's even. Mower vibrates a lot anyway...

 

Okey dokey. Cool.

 

Hey you might even improve it!!

[spandit]

Can hardly make it any worse...

[IVECOKID]

Hi ,all you will do is put the final nail in the coffin on the mower .

 

Ste

[spandit]

Hi ,all you will do is put the final nail in the coffin on the mower .

 

Ste

 

Frankly I was on the verge of shooting the bloody thing...