Lawn Scalping

Michigankubota

Member

Equipment
B2650 Loader,LX 2980-64 Blower ,60”MMM , Land Pride 60”Box Blade.
Oct 17, 2018
246
11
18
Bessemer, Western U.P.
I seem to be scalping my lawn while turning on slightly uneven ground.
My dial is at 2. I had the anti scalp wheels up around a 1/2 inch or so from the ground.
They did seem a bit high. I went down 1 notch and see how it does next cut. It cuts great on flat ground. The fine adjustment bolts are within 1/16 inch of each other. Am I cutting to fast and turning with the wheels to high?
 

Matt Ellerbee

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX6000
Jun 27, 2019
1,656
1,859
113
Canton, Georgia
On my mowers at work, I run the scalp wheels just off of the shop floor. Maybe a 1/4” or so. Our mow height is 1.5”-1.75” on ball fields.

What type of grass do you have and what’s the mow height?
 

Michigankubota

Member

Equipment
B2650 Loader,LX 2980-64 Blower ,60”MMM , Land Pride 60”Box Blade.
Oct 17, 2018
246
11
18
Bessemer, Western U.P.
On my mowers at work, I run the scalp wheels just off of the shop floor. Maybe a 1/4” or so. Our mow height is 1.5”-1.75” on ball fields.

What type of grass do you have and what’s the mow height?
The mow height is set at 2 on the dial. We have more weeds than actual grass here. My wheels were up at 1/2inch.
 

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
168
43
Kathleen, GA
I run my scalp wheels a little high but the level stays the same when turning. Have you checked the air pressure in the tires? If it's low, you can get a scalp when turning, especially if the wheels are set high.
 

Utopia Texas

Member

Equipment
Kubota B2650/Kubota L6060
Jun 14, 2017
110
3
18
Brookshire & Cat Spring, Texas
As stated above check air pressure in the tires so the mower sits level, adjust the deck wheels down enough to stop the scalping on turns and adjust the deck height a bit higher. I live on the Texas Gulf coasts and with all our rain this year lawn grass grows really fast. Down here no one would ever mow as close as you have your setting height. We go 3”-3-1/2” usually.
 

Captain13

Active member

Equipment
M7040 4WD ROPS, ZD28, Woods (84” box blade, 72” harrow, 48” pallet forks)
Feb 27, 2019
516
168
43
Kathleen, GA
Utopia Texas is right....raise the cutting height. Here in Georgia, the recommended height is 3. I just moved mine to 3 this year and can tell a difference. The grass is more drought resistant for the periods when we get no rain. The grass grows thicker and starts choking out the weeks. This is the first time I've ever set mine that high and I can see a difference in the grass, especially with the unusually hot weather we've been having here.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
546
83
USA
My grass is lucky if it gets mowed at all. Just ran the chopper over the backyard to cut it down.
 

RCW

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,282
3,868
113
Chenango County, NY
I’m from upstate New York, so guessing similar to you in Michigan.

I mow at 2.75-3.25.

If I got to 2, the way my lawn is sloped I’d scalp, even with correct tire inflation.

For what it’s worth...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

LobsterClaw207

Member

Equipment
BX2680 with FEL and 60" MMM, rear PTO snowblower, 4' box blade, pallet forks
Jun 2, 2019
93
6
8
Gray, Maine
Not to be off topic but sort of on topic, has anyone had a stuck anti scalping wheel? I have the 54" mower deck and one of them will absolutely not move. I've soaked in PB Blaster, tried heat, banging harder than I feel comfortable doing.... The thing will just not move.
 

Michigankubota

Member

Equipment
B2650 Loader,LX 2980-64 Blower ,60”MMM , Land Pride 60”Box Blade.
Oct 17, 2018
246
11
18
Bessemer, Western U.P.
I’m from upstate New York, so guessing similar to you in Michigan.

I mow at 2.75-3.25.

If I got to 2, the way my lawn is sloped I’d scalp, even with correct tire inflation.

For what it’s worth...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This could be my issue. My lawn goes every which way but level in most areas. And those are the areas I have scalping or uneven cutting.
 

RCW

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Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,282
3,868
113
Chenango County, NY
Should be even both sides.
I would check manual. The bracket can be adjusted with the nuts/lock nuts at the front of it.




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Missouribound

Active member

Equipment
B2320, FEL, BOX BLADE, FINISH MOWER, QUICK HITCH
Jun 17, 2014
646
36
28
Missouri
Scalping on uneven ground worsens with a wider mower deck. It's very easy to have a high spot in the middle of the mower path. Either make smaller passes in those areas that are troubling you or use a smaller mower there if you have one.
I use a lawn tractor for some of my rough, uneven Ozark property.
It's not the deck, it's your land that is giving you grief.
 

RCW

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,282
3,868
113
Chenango County, NY
Scalping on uneven ground worsens with a wider mower deck.


It's not the deck, it's your land that is giving you grief.
I think you've got it, coupled with a 2" height.

I don't scalp at all on my uneven ground, but I'm doing 3" or so, and have been using a 54" mower for almost 20 years, so I know the intricacies of the terrain.

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Michigankubota

Member

Equipment
B2650 Loader,LX 2980-64 Blower ,60”MMM , Land Pride 60”Box Blade.
Oct 17, 2018
246
11
18
Bessemer, Western U.P.
I checked out my deck today before I cut. It was low about 1/2 or less on the right side. I was following my owners manual by keeping the fine adjuster bolts the same. I adjusted the right side and it now cuts great while turning on on even ground.