I 'inherited' a k-mart 14.5 hp riding mower (made by murray) with a 43"
deck. However it doesn't cut in tall grass very well. I cut once a week,
which in the spring is really not often enough... but it seems to me the
mower should be handle tall grass with a 14.5 horse engine. I have to mow
over the same spots 2 and 3 times, even at the slowest forward speeds. The
blades are brand spanking new but I can hear them slow to a non-cutting rpm
every time I go over a tall spot. Is this normal? Or perhaps my belt is
too loose? Or do I just need to break down and mow more often. My lawn is
a premium fescue blend in Kansas and I always cut on highest setting.

Any advice is appreciated.

Michael

"Michael Rogers" wrote in message t...
I 'inherited' a k-mart 14.5 hp riding mower (made by murray) with a 43"
deck. However it doesn't cut in tall grass very well. I cut once a week,
which in the spring is really not often enough... but it seems to me the
mower should be handle tall grass with a 14.5 horse engine. I have to mow
over the same spots 2 and 3 times, even at the slowest forward speeds. The
blades are brand spanking new but I can hear them slow to a non-cutting rpm
every time I go over a tall spot. Is this normal? Or perhaps my belt is
too loose? Or do I just need to break down and mow more often. My lawn is
a premium fescue blend in Kansas and I always cut on highest setting.

Any advice is appreciated.

Michael

Michael,

First off, and I am only saying this because it happens a lot, make
sure the blades are going the correct direction when engaged.
Secondly if your grass is growing that fast the 14.5hp should do the
trick as long as the RPM is all the way up (or very close to it).
Probably would be a good idea to cut it more than once a week, or
simply start on a five day schedule instead of a seven day schedule,
that should cure the problem you are having.
Good Luck and please realize none of this was meant to offend you,
just some people have absolutely no mechanical talent at all.

Lol, np. That's why I asked... no offense taken. I did replace the blades
myself.... not a bad idea about checking whether I flipped them, though not
sure how to tell without taking the whole deck back off. But it's worth
taking a look, thanks.

Is it possible that my belt is just getting loose?

Michael


"MOOSE" wrote in message
...
"Michael Rogers" wrote in message
t...
I 'inherited' a k-mart 14.5 hp riding mower (made by murray) with a 43"
deck. However it doesn't cut in tall grass very well. I cut once a
week,
which in the spring is really not often enough... but it seems to me the
mower should be handle tall grass with a 14.5 horse engine. I have to
mow
over the same spots 2 and 3 times, even at the slowest forward speeds.
The
blades are brand spanking new but I can hear them slow to a non-cutting
rpm
every time I go over a tall spot. Is this normal? Or perhaps my belt
is
too loose? Or do I just need to break down and mow more often. My
lawn is
a premium fescue blend in Kansas and I always cut on highest setting.

Any advice is appreciated.

Michael

Michael,

First off, and I am only saying this because it happens a lot, make
sure the blades are going the correct direction when engaged.
Secondly if your grass is growing that fast the 14.5hp should do the
trick as long as the RPM is all the way up (or very close to it).
Probably would be a good idea to cut it more than once a week, or
simply start on a five day schedule instead of a seven day schedule,
that should cure the problem you are having.
Good Luck and please realize none of this was meant to offend you,
just some people have absolutely no mechanical talent at all.

I have a couple of those car ramps that I use to change out my blades. I
drive the front end up and am able to work under the deck well enough to get
the blade bolts loose and then tightened. They are not very expensive (I
have had mine for years and years....) and find lots of uses.
Hope this might help,
Tomes

Michael Rogers wrote in message
. ..
: Lol, np. That's why I asked... no offense taken. I did replace the
blades
: myself.... not a bad idea about checking whether I flipped them, though
not
: sure how to tell without taking the whole deck back off. But it's worth
: taking a look, thanks.
:
: Is it possible that my belt is just getting loose?
:
: Michael
:
:
: "MOOSE" wrote in message
: ...
: "Michael Rogers" wrote in message
: t...
: I 'inherited' a k-mart 14.5 hp riding mower (made by murray) with a
43"
: deck. However it doesn't cut in tall grass very well. I cut once a
: week,
: which in the spring is really not often enough... but it seems to me
the
: mower should be handle tall grass with a 14.5 horse engine. I have to
: mow
: over the same spots 2 and 3 times, even at the slowest forward speeds.
: The
: blades are brand spanking new but I can hear them slow to a
non-cutting
: rpm
: every time I go over a tall spot. Is this normal? Or perhaps my
belt
: is
: too loose? Or do I just need to break down and mow more often. My
: lawn is
: a premium fescue blend in Kansas and I always cut on highest setting.
:
: Any advice is appreciated.
:
: Michael
:
: Michael,
:
: First off, and I am only saying this because it happens a lot, make
: sure the blades are going the correct direction when engaged.
: Secondly if your grass is growing that fast the 14.5hp should do the
: trick as long as the RPM is all the way up (or very close to it).
: Probably would be a good idea to cut it more than once a week, or
: simply start on a five day schedule instead of a seven day schedule,
: that should cure the problem you are having.
: Good Luck and please realize none of this was meant to offend you,
: just some people have absolutely no mechanical talent at all.
:
: