Finally fixed my mower, but do mulching blades just suck?

[BigToque]

I finally got my push mower working, and I bought a a new blade for it (the original blade was nowhere to be found). I decided on a mulching blade.

Perhaps I'm clueless and the blade is working as it should, but why does it seem like the blade is terrible. The grass does not have a clean cut, and some of the grass is not cut at all.

I double checked that I installed it correctly. The blade has "Bottom" facing the ground.

Any ideas? Should I go buy a normal blade?

 

[Kanalua]

Are you mowing while the grass is wet? Early in the morning with dew still soaking the leaves?

 

[BigToque]

Are you mowing while the grass is wet? Early in the morning with dew still soaking the leaves?

It's noon, very sunny and about +25. It hasn't rained in over a week.

 

[BoomerD]

I finally got my push mower working, and I bought a a new blade for it (the original blade was nowhere to be found). I decided on a mulching blade.

Perhaps I'm clueless and the blade is working as it should, but why does it seem like the blade is terrible. The grass does not have a clean cut, and some of the grass is not cut at all.

I double checked that I installed it correctly. The blade has "Bottom" facing the ground.

Any ideas? Should I go buy a normal blade?

Do you have a "mulching mower?"

If your mower wasn't orignally built to mulch the grass clippings, (the difference is in the deck...designed to hold the clippings longer so they can be cut several times before they're dropped to the lawn) then a mulching blade isn't going to work as well.

My old Craftsman mower was a mulching mower, but didn't do a very good job IMO. My new Honda mower does a fabulous job. Clippings come out about 1/2" long max. Those work into the soil very nicely.

 

[Sniper82]

im by no means a expert with mower blades but either your mulching blade needs sharping or you need to buy normal blades. I've seen brand new blades that require sharping.

 

[BoomerD]

im by no means a expert with mower blades but either your mulching blade needs sharping or you need to buy normal blades. I've seen brand new blades that require sharping.

I've always sharpened new mower blades. They come from the factory dull as hell.

 

[superccs]

Ditto on the keep em sharp comments. You want to cut the grass not maul it in to wads of dung.

 

[dullard]

Keep it sharp, and cut it frequently. Mulching blades don't work well if it has to cut off more than about an inch of grass.

 

[PingSpike]

Yeah, my mulching option works like shit too. But it obviously has to do a lot more work so its not much of a surprise.

 

[boomerang]

You've got the blade on upside down. The grass is being beat to death with the backside of the blade versus the sharp side.

Many, many, moons ago I was a lawnmower mechanic. We saw this quite a bit.

 

[PsiStar]

what boomerang said sounds like the issue, and with mulching mowers you should mow more often & at ~2" height or a little more to avoid clumps & have healthy grass

 

[BigToque]

You've got the blade on upside down. The grass is being beat to death with the backside of the blade versus the sharp side.

Many, many, moons ago I was a lawnmower mechanic. We saw this quite a bit.

So it's possible they etched the word "bottom" on the wrong side of the blade?

 

[angminas]

I bought my mulching mower at Lowe's about eight or nine years ago and I've never regretted it. The clippings DISAPPEAR, even from tall grass. I'd have to go out in wet bare feet to find them. I will never, ever buy a non-mulching mower again, though I will get a more powerful one next time. Since the mulching process cuts the grass multiple times, it needs a bit more oomph than a normal mower, or you have to go more slowly.

 

[Fern]

Do you have a "mulching mower?"

If your mower wasn't orignally built to mulch the grass clippings, (the difference is in the deck...designed to hold the clippings longer so they can be cut several times before they're dropped to the lawn) then a mulching blade isn't going to work as well.
-snip-

This ^

If your mower has a side vent that is blowing the grass clippings out it probrably isn't designed for mulching.

Some mowers have a mulching option, but they come with a special piece that blocks the clipping vent. Otherwise the cut grass 'blows out' before it can be mulched.

Fern

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

So it's possible they etched the word "bottom" on the wrong side of the blade?

Maybe "bottom" means "bottom of the mower"?

Does the mower have a mulching attachment?

 

[Fern]

So it's possible they etched the word "bottom" on the wrong side of the blade?

Look, if you're not sure about the blade being on properly -

1. Unplug the spark plug.

2. Prop mower up so the blade can be seen

3. Have somebody pull the start cord (slowly) so you can see the direction the blade turns. Confirm the 'sharp edge' is leading (oriented correctly)

It should then be easy to confirm the blade is installed properly.

BTW: What was wrong with it (referring to your previous thread when teh pull cord was stuck)

Fern

 

[angminas]

Don't tilt it too much, though, or gas could leak out. And don't tilt it toward the spark plug, or oil could get into the cylinder.

 

[Kirby]

Whatcha doing with that lawn mower blade Karl?




I aim to kill you with it.

 

[boomerang]

So it's possible they etched the word "bottom" on the wrong side of the blade?

No shit? Well, in that case I don't know.

 

[boomerang]

BTW: What was wrong with it (referring to your previous thread when teh pull cord was stuck)

Fern

I'd like to know too.

 

[Fritzo]

I would be sure that you definately have the blade on the right direction. Mulching blades should chop the grass into tiny bits so you don't have to bag it.