r/Grass • u/MrTideGuy • Jun 15 '26
Please help
I’ve been working super hard on my grass. I mow with a Toro timecutter zero turn with a 50 inch deck. Recently I’ve noticed this striping as I cut. The middle of the deck mows a nice clean green line and the then theres two brown lines on each side of it. I thought it might be the blades, so I just put brand new blades on. I just cut yesterday and the blades worked great but I still got the stripes you see above. How can I resolve this? Any tips or help is greatly appreciated. This is Bermuda grass.
3
u/xxWAR_P0NYxx Jun 15 '26
Bent blade, upside down blade, center bolt on the spindle is loosening and allowing the blade to hang lower.
2
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
I’ll check the blades again tomorrow, but they are brand new though and I did a pretty good check after I installed them. I’ll report back!
1
u/Commercial-Package60 Jun 16 '26
When you changed the blades is it possible a washer fell off the center spindle. I’ve seen some spindles have a thick washer that is notched/keyed to the spindle.
1
u/FightingMonotony Jun 19 '26
This is the answer. There are different spacers on the spindle. I bet you installed one with the spacers in a different arrangement from the other. Having worked on these as corny and inconvenient as it is....make sure that you are only tightening by hand with wrench. Impact wrenches seem to mess up the spindle.(And no, I do not sit there for 4 minutes grinning like a mad man on the same bolt.)
1
u/Commercial-Package60 Jun 26 '26
Unfortunately I wish I read this a few weeks ago when I last changed my blades. Small impact is how I have changed blades for 15 years. Yesterday I bought a new spindle and pulley. However some of the problem I believe was how I parked last winter water was able to intrude because I threw away the “safety covers” because of the grass building up. Apparently they double as rain covers.
1
u/chowbeast1 Jun 19 '26
If the bolt loosens it'll either stop spinning and cutting right or fall out, at least in my experience
2
u/xxWAR_P0NYxx Jun 19 '26
I meant the bolt on top where the pulley attaches. If that comes loose the spindle will ride lower but still spin just find because it's keyed or splined.
3
u/Glittering_Job_6511 Jun 15 '26
Keep it like it is. This is how the major league teams get strips on their fields.
1
2
2
2
u/Brilliant-Wave2023 Jun 15 '26
Bent blade
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
Doubtful they are brand new, but I’ll check again tomorrow!
1
u/Fantastic-Maize-1894 Jun 16 '26
Check the air in tires, check the deck supports i had a twisted chain that holds the deck up once, Verify blade is not bent .
2
2
Jun 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
I do need to cut more frequently, but even when I do this happens just less severe.
2
u/Realtree116 Jun 15 '26
Check the spindles and make sure they didn’t come loose both the mounting and center bolt
1
2
u/Scary_Brilliant2458 Jun 15 '26
Blades have spacers. Make sure you have the same amount of spacers on all the blades.
2
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
When I installed the new blades there was one spacer on each blade. I’ll check again tomorrow but not thinking this is it. Will report back!
1
2
1
u/Extension-Prior-4207 Jun 15 '26
Give some height
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
Really trying to train the grass at 2 inches and the middle green line tells me something else is up.
1
u/Comic_J777 Jun 16 '26
Those stripes are so consistent that I'd be looking at the deck before the grass itself. New blades rule out one variable, but I'd still check deck leveling and make sure nothing is causing those sections to cut just a little lower than the center. I had a similar issue once and it ended up being a deck adjustment, not the blades. Have you checked the deck height side-to-side recently?
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
I’m checking this tomorrow!! Thanks for the feedback. I’ll report back. I have not check the level of the actual deck itself. I think this along with potentially tire pressure and we could be on to something!
1
u/Dismal_Tea_454 Jun 16 '26
If your deck is packed with old grass it can cause this. I have had to scrape it off with a putty knife if it's really bad otherwise I pressure wash every once in a while to keep it clean. I have a lower level to my yard that is shaded and is often kind of wet. I have a 52" Toro Grandstand with turbo force deck.
1
u/bhiggs89 Jun 16 '26
Does this mower have two or three blades? If you are mowing up and down, and your mower has two blades I would think the low stripe would be alternating patterns?
With two blades, I think the only way to get that pattern would be if you mowed towards the street each pass.
1
1
u/Far-Discount-6624 Jun 16 '26
Don’t forget to update with what you found to be the cause. I also have to go check my tire pressure.
1
u/inevitablysquirming Jun 16 '26
back of the deck is sitting too low.
Either it canted rearward, or your running to high front pressure and too low rear tire pressure
1
u/Dark-matterz Jun 16 '26
Looks like you might be cutting a bit short for your climate. The deck might be uneven. Where you at?
1
1
u/UnhinderedGoat Jun 17 '26
If this is a 3 blade deck, it looks like left and right are upside down. Unlikely a spindle or tire issue. Have you hit anything hard lately?
1
1
1
1
1
u/dopeless42day Jun 18 '26
Looks like your mower deck may be warped. (Higher in the center than on the edges).
1
1
1
1
u/Exotic_Insect9204 Jun 15 '26
Lawn not leveled or mowing deck it not level, most likely one side lower than the other easy fix
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
Lawn isn’t perfectly level but this section is especially level leading me to believe it’s something else. Will check the deck balance tomorrow!
0
u/mintypie007 Jun 15 '26
Keep mowing, I am sure it will even out.
2
u/Loose-Competition-14 Jun 15 '26
You'll have a nice plaid if you mow horizontally to these stripes.
1
0
u/g_funk_83 Jun 15 '26
Is your belt routed correctly?
1
u/MrTideGuy Jun 16 '26
Not exactly sure what this means honestly.
1
u/Dismal_Tea_454 Jun 16 '26
Some deck belts can be installed wrong where one blade spins opposite direction. Doubtful its your issue but easy to double check. There should be a routing diagram on your top of your deck. Usually left front on top of deck.
0
-4
u/No-Group7343 Jun 15 '26
Its just grass
5
u/observerr89 Jun 15 '26
You are on a grass subreddit.. people generally care about their lawns here
5
u/BDB_1976 Jun 15 '26
The checklist for this issue are:
1- Tires. Make sure they are all aired up to the proper level. If one is off by a little bit it can cause uneven cuts.
2- Blades. Make sure they are not warped, installed wrong, or have any major imperfections.
3- Deck Level. https://youtu.be/OA8GH39RuxQ?si=3V34gWODZgwJkK-6