48" deck

[c175inMA 8]

Are all 48" decks supposed to have the circled W-shaped part? Mine does not have that part and I'm wondering if that is why it is leaving so much grass? I found this pic on the internet.

Attached Image

[daveoman1966 3,841]

You are probably right.... I have the same issue, but it doesn't matter to me. The purpose of the 'deflector' vane is at least 2 fold: 1) allows the blades to create an 'up-vacuum' to help stand up the grass for even cuttting, especially after your front wheels just packed at all flat and 2) helps to direct the clipps flow out from under the deck and 3)would help to 'trap' the clippings (like in a tornado) for more than one cut. #3 is pure conjuecture on my part...but it makes sense.

[Butch 194]

To make the grass stand up for cutting the blade is designed to create lift along with the round enclosed area in which it operates. I would say with out that W area with the baffles gone you would not be getting a good cut at all. You're probably blowing just air and not creating much, if any, lift.

[shorts 182]

looks like the w is to help channel the clipings into the next blade to the right on side discharge mowers, some decks have a mulcher kit that looks like the w that bolts on the front part of the deck to contain the clipings untill the are chopped up fine and then drop into the lawn. Arear discharge deck probably will not have the w or it would be above the blades so that the clipings can fall out the back of the deck

:hide:

[can whlvr 994]

yes its to direct the clippings out and without them it will leave clippings out the rear,i had one like that and i finally made my own from an old steel drum,had the bends allready,just cut and fitted and welded it together,looks like new and works great,cheap too,just a few cutting disks and a few welding rods

[c175inMA 8]

:hide: looks like i'm going to have to make my own. Can anybody tell me how much clearance the blades should have?

[can whlvr 994]

the clearance is pretty close,make sure you have new blades when you fab it up,i cant check now but tis less than 1/2 inch

[c175inMA 8]

So i fabbed one up and now my deck leaves streaks of uncut grass Can anyone tell me how far above of below the blades the baffle should be?

[C-Series14 15]

What length are your blades, measure from one corner, across the center hole, to the opposite corner.

[c175inMA 8]

What length are your blades, measure from one corner, across the center hole, to the opposite corner.

16"

[Don1977 605]

16" is the right length. Is it leaving streaks when going straight. Mine tends to leave streaks when turning sharp on the out side, I believe this is normal.

[C-Series14 15]

Actually 16-1/16" but close enough! Been mowing with a 48" deck for 16 years and never had a streaking problem...Both regular blades and Gator blades...

[c175inMA 8]

It leaves streaks all the time now. It didn't leave streaks until i put in the baffle. That is why i want to know if it is the correct height in relation to the blades. Can anyone tell me how far above of below the blades the top of the baffle should be? :hide:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Kinda late (& too dark) to go look at the real thing now, but I'm pretty sure that the baffles are the same height as the deck shell. (meaning that the bottom edge of the baffle and the bottom edge of the deck shell are even)

Might not be real easy to see:

Another:

Streaking/skipping shouldn't have anything to do with whether the baffles are there or not - or how "long" they are.

Did you put the blades on right? :WRS:

[can whlvr 994]

also check that the blades are tight on the shaft

[c175inMA 8]

:WRS: For all the input After mowing my lawn and my neighbors, going over everything twice i noticed that the belt was on the wrong PTO pulley so I'm guessing that was the issue