Lawn Mower Is Not Picking Up Grass?
Lawn Mower Not Blowing Leaves and Your lawn mower’s leaf collector may not be picking up leaves because air flow is restricted due to clogs in the blower system. This is usually caused by dull blades, debris buildup, and blocked inlet screens. If a belt-driven collection system has a worn belt, a damaged impeller, or worn bearings, the system may not work properly.
In order to understand why you may have a clogged grass catcher, you must first identify what type of grass collection system you have.
Yes, you read it correctly. You can make something really cool out of the leftover clippings. They can be a bit messy to clean, especially when they stick to your legs and shoes after taking care of your lawn. Nevertheless, it’s the cost of doing business.
Flow Grass Collection Bagger System
On riding and zero-turn lawn mowers, flow bagger systems are the most common system used for collecting grass. In the attached grass catcher bag, the cut grass is pushed through a tube by the airflow created by the blades.
It is the grass that is pushed directly through the discharge chute and into the grass catcher bag on a push mower.
The Grass Catcher Bag is Damaged
You should look for any damage to your catcher bag during your pre-mowing ritual, which involves performing a visual inspection of your mower. A catcher bag, meanwhile, is another item that’s easy to overlook since it has nothing to do with starting and stopping the mower.
In addition, it is made of a fabric that is prone to tearing. The item may also be older and have aged from use and natural deterioration. Occasionally, there can be damage that causes the grass to miss the bag entirely.
There’s a high chance you’ll have to replace the bag if there are any damages. If you want to keep the problem from getting worse, at least make a temporary fix. Either
Grass bagger for pulling behind
Through a tube off the mower deck, the push-behind bagger system draws grass into a trailer grass collector. Clippings are pulled into grass collection bags using a vacuum system driven by a separate engine.
The grass shoot is clogged
The importance of cleaning after every mow. In addition, it is one of those areas most often overlooked after mowing.
I noticed you swept up. Detail the mower by wiping it down. Get to work and empty the bag.
Or did you?
Maybe you forgot to make sure the turf was cleared. Youknow, the small space that separatesthe underside of the mower from the catcher bag? It’s one of the easiest places for clippings to collect and, if damp, get matted down and clog the path.
If it does have grass collected in it, you may wish to clean it out and see if that helps.
Using the wrong or incorrect blades for a lawnmower
Today, there are many different types of mower blades available. Baggers perform best when there is lift and air movement between the bag and the bagger.
The most effective blade to use is one with high lift, as a result. To create lift, this blade features a taller sail (of fins) on the blade.
Ensure that the sail is up when inspecting your blades on the deck. It is recommended to point the sail toward the deck. As a result, under the deck there is a vacuum.
You can learn more about lawn mower blades and installation by reading our article “How Does A Lawn Mower Blade Work?”.
An outdated deck belt
The belt on the deck of a grass collection system needs to be inspected since it drives the fan’s blower belt. Make sure the drive belt is in proper condition by removing the belt covers.
You must replace this belt if it has cracks or is glossy. The belt may need to be replaced if it sits deep inside the pulleys.
Blades that are improperly angled or blunt
A mower blade may be creating insufficient airflow, causing your mower bag to not fill correctly. To ensure that your mower blades are not worn out, check them.
It may be necessary to replace its high sides (or sails) if they appear thin. Air movement on your underside will not be good enough to push clippings into the chute if your blades have thin sails.
The blades on mowers are not all the same. There are many types of blades available on the market today, including gators, mulching blades, low-lift blades, and high-lift blades. Grass catchers should lift and move as much air as possible.
The right blade for this application is a high-lift blade. By positioning the sail higher, the high-lift blade helps improve airflow under the deck. It is very critical to check that your blades have been installed correctly to ensure proper air movement.
Damaged or wrongly labeled bags
Previously, bags were made of cloth and they could sometimes be repaired if they got a hole in them. This was the case with the bags used in bagger systems. Currently, most bags are made of loosely knit polyester or nylon, which does not allow them to be easily repaired if necessary.
An average bag can last two to three years depending on how much dirt or debris you pick up. This is if anything gets caught in the bag along the way.
As mentioned earlier, the newly designed bags are designed with mesh vents in order to release air through the mesh. Without bags that allow air to move through the bags, the bags will continually expand with the buildup of grass and air and cause damage to the bags.
Using a hybrid mulching blade
A true mulching mower, as you know, does not collect clippings. It is intended to chop and drop them finely and thus begin the process of mulching. It is a very convenient method of cutting. It is a lot easier than emptying a grass bag. This gave the idea of an automatic mower to mower manufacturers out there.
With the Hybrid Blade (3 in 1) a mower blade that does it all, you can collect, mulch, and discharge the material you collect. In general, it does an OK job, but if the conditions become challenging, especially in wet weather, the quality does suffer, so beware if you encounter these conditions.
The complaint I hear the most about 3-in-1 mulching blades is the fact that the grass collector does not fill up. There is a simple solution. Remove the mulching blade and replace it with a lifting blade.
Mowing is not necessary. If you want to avoid this hassle, you should change your blade for a lifting blade; you will be able to avoid clogging, clumping, and half-empty grass bags quite easily.
Baggers are not properly attached to trucks or secured to them properly
The bagger was improperly assembled or secured. Air may have escaped the system. This may cause a reduction in airflow through the bagger. There is also the possibility that grass build-up can result from incorrect assembly and attachment of the blades.
Conclusion
It is easy to get upset when you have a mower that’s designed to pick up grass and it doesn’t do that, and you’re feeling frustrated because of it.
In spite of this, if you examine the nine possible issues above, you will more than likely find the solution is not difficult or complicated. All you need to do is follow the steps and you won’t find yourself frustrated…
If your lawn mower has been equipped with a smooth air intake, bagging should be a much more enjoyable experience. In addition, pressure washing the underside of your deck and your mower bag will help keep them in proper condition.
Make sure your blades are well-angled and maintain a sharp edge. It will be possible for you to prevent any system grass buildup if you follow the proper guidelines when mowing your lawn.
