Why dose my new ztr cause the grass to clump?

[Bulldog26]

I bought a Cub Cadet ztr (com. Tank) this year. It was a demo from last year with 15 hours on it. The first week of mowing, the cut was great! But as the grass has thickend I have been getting clumps. What could cause this? Could it be dull blades or a dirty deck? I guess I want to know, it's not the machine's fault and it's the opperator. What dose everyone think of the gator blades, would this help out? Thanks for any help I can get.
bt

[highlander316]

check the underside of the deck, once it starts getting clogged, it'll clump. In wet grass, I've had gators clump but others haven't so more or less have to try it out.

[Bulldog26]

I hope that's all it is. It's driving me crazy and taking extra time running over it agian.

[allenh60]

Try mowing when the grass is all dry and see if it still clumps. Every time I mow wet or damp grass it clumps. I also have a cub cadet but it's not commercial.

[Bulldog26]

The grass wasn't wet. The weather was very cloudy, cold and damp air. May be the thick grass was holding some moisture. I don't know but I have to figure it out fast. These high end clients wont put up with this very long.

[clclawn]

if the blades are sharp, and deck clean, slow down.

[Bulldog26]

I was mowing a little fast tonight. It was pretty cold and getting dark. lol I would hope it could mow at that pace or I will loose money this summer. Changing the blades and cleaning the deck tomarrow!

[Dixie Pro Lawn Care]

Get some Gator blades if you can on a Cub and stop occasionally to clean deck. Slow down.

[l&r]

Don't put Gators mulching blades on this time of year. If you have mulching blades on now take them off and use standard blades. Keep your deck clean and keep your blades sharp and try to cut when grass is dry whenever possible. Gators will clump in thick lush grass this time of year.

[Bulldog26]

Cleaned the deck last night. It needed it!!! New blades will be in tomarrow. High standard high lift blades. Thanks for the help. What is the best way to clean the deck. I got the mower up in the air and used a small shovel and cut off hoe.... I read that on here from some post. Would it be better to power wash it?

[highlander316]

no don't powerwash it. You can blow the grease right out of everything and get water where it shouldn't be. When I clean my mowers, I use a small putty knife, cheap and works great.

[Bulldog26]

Thanks for the heads up.... that would have be dumb!

[Dixie Pro Lawn Care]

Don't put Gators mulching blades on this time of year. If you have mulching blades on now take them off and use standard blades. Keep your deck clean and keep your blades sharp and try to cut when grass is dry whenever possible. Gators will clump in thick lush grass this time of year.

Hmm...I don't have that problem on my DC.

[Jack D.]

Please be advised that Gator type blades should not be used in lush turf as the serrated edges causes the grass to ball and clump. Please keep deck clean even if this means scraping several times per day. Please use 2 low lift blades or Notched Foil (No Solid Foil or Gators) per spindle.

[clclawn]

Please be advised that Gator type blades should not be used in lush turf as the serrated edges causes the grass to ball and clump. Please keep deck clean even if this means scraping several times per day. Please use 2 low lift blades or Notched Foil (No Solid Foil or Gators) per spindle.

Jack, I tried the 2 blade thing last fall, was great with the leaves and stripes were the best all year. The problem is when i engage the pto it feel and sounds hard on the mower, so i took them off. Have you had any problems with clutches going out or spindales going bad.