skip to main content

Mowing in reverse?

13 years ago

I have a Craftsman, GS6500 and since I replaced the stock blades with a set of "mulching" blades the job is terrible. I noticed that when mowing in reverse that the job is great. Now, the obvious answer is that the new ones are on upside-down but, I have checked and rechecked the direction of rotation. What the heck? I have put the stock blades back on but what do you think?

Later,

Chiz

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

rustyj14
13 years ago
The science of lawn mowing has been thoroughly accessed by much more learned heads than you or me!
That said---The engineers who designed the machine have designed a good machine, in that they have spent months/ nay years, designing their machines to mow your grass with perfection! You have sort of upset the apple-cart by installing blades that obviously do not do the job of mowing very well. Unless they are upside down, which would put the dull edge against the blades of grass. Put the original blades back on and mow!
Installing the blades up-side down will surely affect the mowing, as the blunt edge of the blade will not mow well.
baymee
13 years ago
The beveled edge of the cutting edge faces upward. The completely flat side of the blade faces down.
Related Discussions
gas cans and mowers
Q
Comments (13)
to Orygun ui laughed at your comments put gas in the crankshaft????? great goodness...how did you come up wiuth that? the spout that came with the can is the one i couldnot figure out how to get the gas out of (may my english teach forgive me)...so bought a new spout - that didn't fit. did not think of taking the gas can with full head of gas into home depot to check that problem out. tyo all the others, i quickly bought a BIG funnel and will use that in the future. no doubt the lawyers/lawmakers are putting their kids thro college with the money reaped from their handiwork...and my degree is worthless in today's cumbersome world thanks every one but orygan
...See More
Simplicity vs. Deere
Q
Comments (11)
This is worse than soccer mom's argueing at 6 year old soccer games. Both company's make great machine's.....yes me a hardcore jd guy just said that. They both make amazing machines but jd has features simplicity doesnt and vice versa. As many have said of course the jd 1700 dollar tractor doesnt compare to ur wat 3 grand, 4 grand broadmore. The big box store john deere's mine as well be mtd(speaking of personal experience of driving both an L,LT, and GT John Deere). my LT will be five years old this fall and the only problem it has had is a giant slab of ice from a leaking gutter that cause the the 3rd gear key to be "shared" and even that is only a problem if i try to pull anything in it...i can mow forever and it'll be fine. What it comes down to is who cares if its red/orange or green there all good machines, get the brand that has the best service, convenient location and features for u.
...See More
John Deere X300 Reverse Override Solved!
Q
Comments (17)
****"I enjoy mowing so much better now that I spent such a small amount of money on something that actually works and some of you act as this is some sort of offense that I did."**** Does the device come with a bunch of discount coupons ("50% off cost of one pediatric visit to the emergency room", OR "One free child embalming with purchase of child coffin") that you can transact when that curious four year old grandchild runs over from next door and you back over him/her as you enjoy mowing in reverse, thanks to the wonderful thing you discovered on ebay?? Of course, you may be that perfect human that the world has been looking for, and will never suffer to make a mistake or have a momentary lapse of attention. You are just another egocentric individual who thinks it's all about you. In the case of RIO, it's not about you, it's about the kids. If you had spent a bit more time reading some of the past postings on this subject, you would have been aware of the number of emergency room visits every year due to children being cut to pieces when their dad or neighbor backed up and ran over the unseen child. You would also have been enlightened as to why the RIO safety interlock was developed and implemented in the first place. Defeating safety interlocks is about as smart and responsible as leaving open prescription medications on the coffee table or leaving a loaded pistol on the couch when the grand kids come to visit. But, I guess that doesn't concern you (except if the bullet hits you). Oh, if you look into some of the obscure corners of ebay, you can find shirts that are printed to look like you are wearing your safety belt when you drive and thus avoid being ticketed for not wearing the safety belt. Comes in all sizes, several color combinations and configured for driver and passenger sides. I'm sure you don't wear a safety belt (based on your blatant contempt for all things safety).
...See More
sears tractor
Q
Comments (3)
This is a safety feature, the operator is not as aware of his/her surroundings while concentrating on backing up.
...See More
lbpod
13 years ago
"IF" the blades were on upsidedown, then it wouldn't cut
in reverse either, as the blades don't reverse direction, do they? Something very strange here.
I think it best not to upset the Lawnmowing Gods.
kompressor
13 years ago
At this point, I'd be questioning whether you were supplied with the correct mulching blades for your tractor model. Since they don't work, why are you not going back on whomever it was that sold them to you with this complaint? I sure as heck would.
rcmoser
13 years ago
IMO the cut maybe terrible with the mulching blade due to mowing too fast. I have found with mulching blades they tend to blow the grass down more and you have to slow down to get a good cut and let the blades pull the grass back up especially if you have several different types of green stuff in your yard. Try slowing down. Need to slow down anyway to get the full effect of multching anyway. when you backing up the grass is being pulled the other way and you have already mowed over it so it should be better being you've cut it twice and you are going slower in reverse IMO.
exmar zone 7, SE Ohio
13 years ago
I'm confused? The "Gator" mulching blades I put on my GT 500 (Sears) Have a decided curl on the back of the blade to push the cuttings up against the bottom side of the deck. THey then fall back and are "recut" hence the term mulching as they are chopped rather than just cut and discharged. I'd suspect you have the wrong blades, perhaps "bagging" blades as opposed to mulching.

When the blades are mounted correctly, the "sharp" end of the blade is the lowest portion of the blade. It's easy to put them on upside down if you have the deck off and it's upside down.

Certainly, speed makes a big difference, the slower you mow the better cut you achieve. I've noticed it myself, mowing in second or third gear as opposed to fourth or fifth there is a decided difference-even with newly sharpened/balanced blades. That being said, I mow almost 4 acres and don't have the time to creep around trying to get a golf course.

Would be interested to learn the final resolution.

Ev

Related Stories

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

LANDSCAPE DESIGN California Says Goodbye to the Sprawling Ornamental Lawn

By Annie Thornton

New state rules will effectively limit turfgrass to 25 percent of the landscape in most new and renovated yards

GRASSES How to Rock a Lawn

By Mitchell Parker

Weekend Project: The key to healthy grass begins with the soil. If turf works for you, here’s how to fix it and keep it looking its best

GARDENING GUIDES How to Plant a New Lawn From Sod

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Take the quick-start route to turf with sod; these installation guidelines will help ensure a healthy and long-lasting lawn

MONTHLY HOME CHECKLISTS Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING How to Make a Pond

By Mitchell Parker

You can make an outdoor fish paradise of your own, for less than you might think. But you'll need this expert design wisdom

GARDENING GUIDES Unleash Your Guerilla Gardener

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Toss some seed bombs around the yard for easy, beneficial plantings

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Moss: Nature’s Carpet for the Garden

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Learn how to grow and use this ancient and mysterious natural wonder for delightful texture in the landscape

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE Roots of Style: Pueblo Revival Architecture Welcomes Modern Life

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

Centuries-old details of adobe construction still appeal in the desert Southwest, adapted to today's tastes

MOST POPULAR The Unexpected Color That Goes With Everything

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Move over, beige. Green is staking its claim as the freshest neutral around

Sponsored

More Discussions

How to build utility room on slab under piling house?

25

How long to grind each chainsaw link while sharpening?

12

drain valve for fuel

1

Storage shed foundation question

3

How to Destroy a Root Under a Shed?

8