Mowers- Fast vs. Slow

[Mek-a-nik]

You always see commercial mowers zipping along at a good clip, but residential riders, tractors, etc. won't cut anywhere near those speeds. How do the commercial mowers do it? Blade speed is blade speed.

[KE4AVB]

Just my personal observations...

I have had a Scag Turf Tiger, JD 737, JD 666 and Dixie Chopper in the shop over the last few years, When cutting grass to the same height as my mower they didn't preform much better under heavy cut conditions. Most of these mowers decks come in with decks set at least at 3+ inches and use heavier blades. On my property there is another problem that shows up you just can't go that fast without a lot bouncing around. Beyond this observation they are definitely better built mowers and can handle whatever thrown at them with reason without much complaints.

Now in Australia there are some small riders that cut very fast but they have a deck that around 34", use 30hp engines and probably don't have tip speed limitations we have.

[wristpin]

Perhaps the commercial machines get regular sharpening. We used to see domestic machines that were not sharpened from one winter service to another and you could roll a coin down what was supposed to be a cutting edge!

[David]

Quality or quantity?
Perhaps if the commercial mower owner is cutting his own grass he gears down a little so as to do a little smoother job.
Fast blade speed + slower ground speed= neatest job?
Fast ground speed= gets to the next job and more paying customers faster? Productivity!

[Merkava_4]

There's something about the Toro Heavy Duty models (22296 and 22298) that sounds they're running faster than your typical homeowner Craftsman. I don't know what it is about them, but it sounds like they're turning around 4500 to 5000 RPM. And they're whipping along at a very fast ground speed too. You guys ever hear the sound of a swamp boat with the giant fan on the back? That's the sound they make.

[bobodu]

I don't believe everything I see in commercials...

[Mek-a-nik]

It seems, from the opinions expressed here, that there isn't a difference between how fast the two cut. Those guys go a hellin', so I figured something had to be different. "Them mo-mo's got some go-go".
I have next-to-no experience cutting with a commercial mower, but the residential's I've used don't like to go too quickly. Hence, the reason for the cup holders, I suppose.

[KE4AVB]

There's something about the Toro Heavy Duty models (22296 and 22298) that sounds they're running faster than your typical homeowner Craftsman. I don't know what it is about them, but it sounds like they're turning around 4500 to 5000 RPM. And they're whipping along at a very fast ground speed too. You guys ever hear the sound of a swamp boat with the giant fan on the back? That's the sound they make.

The 22298 has a Kawasaki FJ180V KAI I/C 179cc rated set at 3200 r/min (rpm) max producing around 6 HP. It is a commercial engine using a cast iron cylinder liner and chrome plated piston rings

[thomd51]

the remark about the dull blades is funny. I said once the only way they could be duller is if they were thicker! TOM.

[KE4AVB]

Some users never have dull blades because they put on upside down.