Mower deck leaves winrow

[keljan11]

Hey all,
Can anyone tell me why my Woods M5 mower deck would leave a sort of window on the right side of the cut? (see pic).
I inherited this deck from my father, but have only used it a couple of times in the past 10 years, on some shorter glasses. Now that I've quit haying I'm trying to keep my field at a reasonable height without having to bale it.
Any help would be appreciated

 

[caterpillar guy]

Looks to me like it has to do with the height /amount of material going through the mower and the volume of discharge causing it.
If that is not the case then maybe the sparsity of the grass not making it fall out in an even layer.

 

[ss55]

Hey all,
Can anyone tell me why my Woods M5 mower deck would leave a sort of window on the right side of the cut? (see pic).
I inherited this deck from my father, but have only used it a couple of times in the past 10 years, on some shorter glasses. Now that I've quit haying I'm trying to keep my field at a reasonable height without having to bale it.
Any help would be appreciated

If right hand exit, mow in a counter clockwise direction to throw grass clipping onto the mowed side for better distribution of clippings.
Overlap cuts to chop up the previous windrow.
Raise the mower to give more space for grass clippings to exit.
Try a slower gear to chop the grass finer.
Switch to mulching blades.
Mow more often for less clippings.
Allow the cut grass to dry and then re-mow in a different direction to shatter the dry clippings.

Cut back on fertilizer to reduce growth.
Put the field into CRP program to reduce mowing. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/conservation-reserve-program.
Plant the field to a different crop.
Rent out the field to someone who will bale it.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Mine tends to do that so I mow CCW. The left side panel is removeable which actually makes a windrow. I've use it on hay when it was knocked down and couldn't get the sickle through it.

 

[keljan11]

If right hand exit, mow in a counter clockwise direction to throw grass clipping onto the mowed side for better distribution of clippings.
Overlap cuts to chop up the previous windrow.
Raise the mower to give more space for grass clippings to exit.
Try a slower gear to chop the grass finer.
Switch to mulching blades.
Mow more often for less clippings.
Allow the cut grass to dry and then re-mow in a different direction to shatter the dry clippings.

Cut back on fertilizer to reduce growth.
Put the field into CRP program to reduce mowing. https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/conservation-reserve-program.
Plant the field to a different crop.
Rent out the field to someone who will bale it.

I've been overlapping about 6-12", just so I don't leave a strip if I can. Haven't put any fertilizer on the field for about 6 or 7 yrs. Field size is about 7 acres, and damned rough so speed is low, in 2nd gear. Previously, it was a mixed alfalfa hay I'm using a 5 ft 3 pt. hitch mower deck, and there isn't a discharge side, really. Trying to just keep the fields looking okay as we are putting the place up for sale soon (yeah, right ... Lol)

 

[keljan11]

Mine tends to do that so I mow CCW. The left side panel is removeable which actually makes a windrow. I've use it on hay when it was knocked down and couldn't get the sickle through it.

There isn't a removable side. Mine seems to leaving it on the right hand side. I'd just assumed it would spray it out the back end as it is set up higher than the front. I am cutting the field I hayed for the previous 12- 13 yrs. but am putting the place up for sale soon, and just want the place appear somewhat looked after

 

[keljan11]

Looks to me like it has to do with the height /amount of material going through the mower and the volume of discharge causing it.
If that is not the case then maybe the sparsity of the grass not making it fall out in an even layer.

Most of the grasses were about 12 -18" high. Front of the cutter is about 4 -5" off the ground, back end is around 8 - 9". Just assumed the cuttings would float out the back, instead of a side

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

Hey all,
Can anyone tell me why my Woods M5 mower deck would leave a sort of window on the right side of the cut? (see pic).
I inherited this deck from my father, but have only used it a couple of times in the past 10 years, on some shorter glasses. Now that I've quit haying I'm trying to keep my field at a reasonable height without having to bale it.
Any help would be appreciated

If the cutter has a rear deflector shield that manufacturers have to put on rotary rough cut mowers, that cut is really good. Ss55 covered it all. No mower is going to give you perfect distribution of clippings. Every rough cut rotary mower I've ever owned has produced that exact clipping distribution in similar vegetation. It doesn't look bad, and if your not going to hay it the clippings will drop from sight. Only other thing I can say is make sure your tractor PTO is at speed which I would imagine is 540pto, based on the cut quality I believe you were at 540. Or the blades are razor sharp still

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

There isn't a removable side. Mine seems to leaving it on the right hand side. I'd just assumed it would spray it out the back end as it is set up higher than the front. I am cutting the field I hayed for the previous 12- 13 yrs. but am putting the place up for sale soon, and just want the place appear somewhat looked after

Mine is a pull type with two rear wheels and the right wheel is always coated with residue. Most of the clippings discharge to the right and if I mow clockwise they bunch up at he front end of the skid plate.

 

[sandcastle1]

rotary mower is going to leave some residue, I think if you want less residue cut more often.

 

[Texasmark]

I think its because the blade slams some of the cut material into that side of the cutter deck. I recently learned something about shredding. I usually had a problem with the material that the tires mashed down springing back up in a day or two. I decided to alternate my rows, cw one lap, ccw the alternate lap. Has made a big difference. i think its because the material that was mashed down by tires, is the first in line to get hit by the blade when coming in the reverse direction and the blade stands it up and whacks it off. Helps to reduce the WW too.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Dad to get rid of that if he’s had to miss a mowing will mow twice same day once at the tall setting then again where he wants it. Time consuming but no raking it up

 

[ford4610]

Hey all,
Can anyone tell me why my Woods M5 mower deck would leave a sort of window on the right side of the cut? (see pic).
I inherited this deck from my father, but have only used it a couple of times in the past 10 years, on some shorter glasses. Now that I've quit haying I'm trying to keep my field at a reasonable height without having to bale it.
Any help would be appreciated

That is perfectly normal for a brush hog mower, I have a woods M5, and a 6foot Howse, both do the same thing, that's how they discharge the cut material.

 

[keljan11]

If the cutter has a rear deflector shield that manufacturers have to put on rotary rough cut mowers, that cut is really good. Ss55 covered it all. No mower is going to give you perfect distribution of clippings. Every rough cut rotary mower I've ever owned has produced that exact clipping distribution in similar vegetation. It doesn't look bad, and if your not going to hay it the clippings will drop from sight. Only other thing I can say is make sure your tractor PTO is at speed which I would imagine is 540pto, based on the cut quality I believe you were at 540. Or the blades are razor sharp still

Thanx for the help/info. My tractor tach is nfg anymore, so pto speed is by (memory) sound. Just tried my other mower deck (MF 1051), which left no winrow clippings, but has a weird rubbing sound. Just wanted to compare the 2 decks. As for the blade sharpness, I've never sharpened them, (and can guarantee my dad never did either, lol)

 

[keljan11]

That is perfectly normal for a brush hog mower, I have a woods M5, and a 6foot Howse, both do the same thing, that's how they discharge the cut material.

Good to know the M5's cut the same way. My MF 1051 spreads the cut out evenly, but it has some issues I've been trying to deal with. Will just have to live with it for now, I guess

 

[Texasmark]

You could get rid of the WW.....but not so easily. Just cut the left vertical side out of your mower!!!!!