how do you mow?
 

As I was cutting the yard for the second time I started wondering. I was putting the right front tire in the tire mark left from the last pass when I looked down and the right blade spindle was lined up with the cut, basically missing half a blade width with every pass. Too get a full cut you have to run the right wheel in the uncut grass, which I haven't done ever I guess. The Honda push mower I have used for the last 23 years doesn't stick out far enough to run the wheel in the grass without missing so it never crossed my mind till now. I guess the left front tire runs in the uncut grass so what would it matter if the right does. I guess the question is, do y'all run as far left as possible to get max cut?

personally, I don't worry about max cut, I like the overlap. I keep the front tire in line with last tire marks. When I try for max cut, I miss some. That sux. :beerchug:

At first I was thinking that the right front would mash the grass down and leave a strip that would stand back up, but the left wheel doesn't so that is what got me wondering. Heck, I miss maybe 6"-8" when I run in the tire mark, that's several extra rounds in the end. Turns a 42" deck into a 36"er.

I go for the overlap too - I also cut from the R/Side so the discharge goes into the uncut area.

I do the opposite of this, all left hand turns so the discharge goes over the area I just cut. I'm not that picky about my lawn though, as long as it's cut is my only concern.

I hear ya CC,

My lawn is real coarse and there's no part of it that is pampered so when I've finished all my passes, it looks at least a little cleaner without blown grass laying around - its also great for chewing up fircones and other small bits of debris. I've got way too much area on way too steep of a slope to even think about my old bones doing a lot of yard-raking!

I have found the fastest and best looking cut comes from making your outside rounds, then running back and fourth, as you would cut hay with a haybine.
And I'm cutting runner or deck wheel for runner or deck wheel, it's the way they do it at the golf course or ball diamonds. Like the grass at the Nascar track:beerchug: this way you don't miss any turning corners because one is going back and fourth.

I enjoy the seat time :) I've been known the mow the same strip twice!

:biggrin2::bouncy::clap::buttrock:

I like your thinkin :biggrin2:
Although tonite i was going for maximum cut. Trying to beat the rain. I got it done but not much time to spare.

:biggrin2: Me to. I've also been known to cut my lawn every 3 or 4 day. I doesn't need it, but I NEVER let my lawn get high enough that it forces me to cut it.

It makes everyone think I'm a busy beaver.

What I'm really doing is driving around & enjoying a GOOD CIGAR.:Shhhh:

Nik,

I mow 2-3 stipes around the perimeter and discharge the clippings to the inside to be cut again. Mowing in a different pattern every week helps to minimize ruts in the yard and gives it a nice look when finished. I really enjoy the look of my yard after doing a diamond pattern. Cutting a diagonal one week and the oppisite the next acheives this pattern. I use about 3/4 of the 42" deck to allow for an overlap cut to get any stray grass or clipping left behind from the previous pass.:beerchug:

So far the consensus is to line the tire up in the previous tire and loose a part of the width. I have been trying both ways and so far can't really tell which way is different. I stripe the front back and forth like a zero turn, takes a lot longer but it's small. The back has been getting the two rounds in and the rest out, but will be trying the diamond next cut.

Yes we are in to lawn cutting season. It has begun in NWPA too. Lots of rain.
I use the CUB 127 with 42 inch deck plus two 22 inch tag mowers ganged to the left and staggered back. This allows me to cut the 3 acres in just under 2 hours. I have to stop and fill the small mowers once.
My lawn is very rough and the small mowers allow lots of movement to follow the undulating contours:)
So I get approx 80 inches of cut width, per pass. Makes things move along quicker in the open areas and mows around and under trees well.
You do have to watch and be aware that your dragging other mowers along with you.
This cut my mowing time down from about 6 hours.
Chris

I'd love to see pics of that setup Chris, that sounds pretty slick!

CC1450,
I will try to snap some shots next time I get it set up. And post them
My uncle convinced me this was the way to go and I have gone through many small push mowers as this is not easy on them. One year I even went and bought two brand new (low cost) mowers for $150 each. Those are long gone too. I try to find older mowers that have broken handles. This makes mowing a lot easier on the CUB too.
Also I pull these through the ditch at the road and eliminated 70% of my weed whacking for the year.
Chris