Not for
Reproduction
28
Problem: Mower deck drive belt slips or fails to drive.
Cause
Remedy
Idler pulley spring broken or not
properly attached.
Repair or replace as needed.
Mower drive belt is broken.
Replace mower drive belt.
Problem: Mower (blades) does not engage.
Cause
Remedy
Blade engagement lever linkage is
broken or out of adjustment.
Repair or replace as needed.
Troubleshooting Common Cutting
Problems
Problem: Streaking
Streaking is when thin strips of uncut grass are left behind the mower.
Streaking is usually caused by operator error or poor blade maintenance.
Cause
Remedy
Blades are not sharp.
Sharpen your blades.
Blades are worn down too far.
Replace your blades.
Engine speed is too slow.
Always mow at full throttle.
Ground speed is too fast.
Slow down.
Deck is plugged with grass.
Clean out the mower.
Not overlapping cutting rows
enough.
Overlap your cutting rows
Not overlapping enough when
turning.
When turning your effective cutting
width decreases–overlap more when
turning.
Problem: Scalping
Scalping is when the mower deck comes close to or hits the ground.
Scalping can be caused by the mower deck misadjustment, unevenness
in the lawn, or by mower deck bouncing because the ground speed is too
fast.
Cause
Remedy
Lawn is uneven or bumpy.
Roll or level the lawn.
Mower deck cutting height is set too
low.
Raise the cutting height.
Ground speed is too fast.
Slow down.
Tire pressure is low or uneven.
Check and inflate the tires.
Problem: Stepped Cutting
Stepped cutting is sharp ridges or uneven levels left in the lawn
surface. Stepped cutting is usually caused by mower deck damage or
misadjustment, or damage to the mower blades.
Problem: Stepped Cutting
Cause
Remedy
Tires are not properly inflated.
Check and inflate the tires.
Blades are damaged.
Replace the blades.
Deck shell is damaged.
Repair or replace the deck.
Mower spindle is bent or loose.
Repair or replace the spindle.
Blades are installed incorrectly.
Reinstall the blades correctly.
Problem: Uneven Cutting
Uneven cutting is waviness or smooth troughs in the lawn surface. Uneven
cutting is usually caused by mower deck damage or misadjustment.
Cause
Remedy
Blades are dull or worn.
Sharpen or replace the blades.
Blades are damaged.
Replace the blades.
Deck is clogged with grass clippings. Clean out the deck.
Deck shell is damaged.
Repair or replace the deck.
Mower spindle is bent or loose.
Repair or replace the spindle.
Blades are installed incorrectly.
Reinstall the blades correctly.
Tires are not properly inflated.
Check and inflate the tires.
Problem: Stringers
Stringers are sparse patches of uncut grass left behind the mower.
Stringers are usually caused by operator error or poor blade maintenance.
Cause
Remedy
Blades are not sharp or nicked.
Sharpen your blades.
Blades are worn down too far.
Replace your blades.
Engine speed is too slow.
Always mow at full throttle.
Ground speed is too fast.
Slow down.
Deck is plugged with grass.
Clean out the mower.
Specifications
Specifications are correct at time of printing and are subject to
change without notice.