Lawnmower running too slow to mow

ampersand

As above really - it's been this way for a long time, but I've coped. The grass is longer today and I'm getting nowhere...and that, not even fast!

It's a leccie mower, Turbocast 35, and I've always needed to lift it for a bit to let the blade speed up , so that when it's in contact, it will CUT the grass, rather than just flatten it, as I move the mower over.

Haven't been able to do it for 10 days or so and had been using strimmer instead anyway, but would like to fix the problem if anyone thinks they can help.

Thankyou - hope this is on a suitable Thread, dithered about Old-Style and even Techie!:o. Have also posted this on Green-Fingered Thread.

macman

Raise the height adjuster to the maximum height. Sounds like you are trying to cut the grass when it's too long, or just on too low a setting. The fact that it's long enough to cut with a strimmer indicates the former.
Could also be that the blade is blunt and won't cut cleanly.

djohn2002uk

macman wrote: »

Could also be that the blade is blunt and won't cut cleanly.

Electric mowers don't rely on sharp blades but on their speed alone. Sounds to me like the motor has had it.

aboard_epsilon

Qualcast Turbo 35

worth checking first before you dump it .

could have a load of grass ..string or wire rapped around the shaft above the blade.

all the best.markj

ampersand

Thankyou all - you're all right in your suppositions. Grass has become long with warm rain, then insufficient drying time in gloomy days - all in last ten days. It's v.lush and soft, but did raise blade high, thinking I could go over it again in a day or three. It's putting-grass-to-bed time of year.
I'm left with what looks like inept swirls of downlaid grass - a not v.g. crop circle practice run:D - and less than half of back done. Front will be worse, there's yarrow bound in.
The catcher wasn't even half full and that took more than all afternoon to gather, doing a few strokes at a time, trying to let the blasted thing get up speed, then lowering it quickly before it had time to realise it was supposed to be working.

Posting here tells you what didn't happen....

macman

It's far too long to cut with a weedy electric rotary. Just strim it off,let it dry out and cut again.

ampersand

Certainly will, if Monsieur M!t!o continues to oblige.

ormus

electric mowers are only suitable for trimming a lawn, with a weekly/regular cut.
its never powerful/sharp enough for long grass.
you never see a pro using an electric mower.

confused?

ampersand wrote: »

Thankyou all - you're all right in your suppositions. Grass has become long with warm rain, then insufficient drying time in gloomy days - all in last ten days. It's v.lush and soft, but did raise blade high, thinking I could go over it again in a day or three. It's putting-grass-to-bed time of year.
I'm left with what looks like inept swirls of downlaid grass - a not v.g. crop circle practice run:D - and less than half of back done. Front will be worse, there's yarrow bound in.
The catcher wasn't even half full and that took more than all afternoon to gather, doing a few strokes at a time, trying to let the blasted thing get up speed, then lowering it quickly before it had time to realise it was supposed to be working.

Posting here tells you what didn't happen....

Thought I would pop in and see if I could help, however it seems you have a wealth of answers.

I would agree that the mower (unfortunately) more than likely, isn’t up to the job any more due to the length of your grass.

you could try and borrow someone’s petrol mower if you know anyone who may have one and get it back to a more manageable length.

I did mine today after 4 month! it is now like a bowling green.
Using a petrol mower,

(cheap challenge one from Argos! got a petrol strimmer free with it too!)

Thing is if you use the strimmer you'll have to go picking up all the cuttings by hand making the job more of a pain than it is already proving to be . (borrow a petrol one with a catcher).

also if you wait for it to dry you risk it actually getting even longer, or this time of year even wetter.

Using the electric mower and strimmer will ruin your lovely lawn if your not careful!

Then if you strim this it will be even more of a pain as it will be thicker and still wet.

(I'm a real believer that some things are really examples of false economy. for example I have had to buy a cheap pair of hedge trimmers every year for the past 5 years. at £20+ a pop I could have bought a great petrol set for £60 and had it for 10 years!, on the other hand I’ve had many a cheap tool that have done the one off job!)

My only tip about TOOLS is if its for a one off job then go ultra cheap at B&M or Pound land, if its something you will use many a time then find the second cheapest known brand tool!

Take Care

C?