Why does my lawn tractor cut unevenly?
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![Why does my lawn tractor cut unevenly?](https://images.ctfassets.net/fpe0ec7r30ix/7Eq2oAudn4ZSHCj2cDlRdF/944312600236f2dee46202f108cb310a/ART-RM-Why-Does-My-Lawn-Tractor-Cut-Unevenly.jpg?w=300&h=300)
Taming the wilderness of your yard can make you feel like you've conquered the world. But after spending an hour or so mowing the lawn, it's disappointing to look over your domain and see grass that is uneven or not completely cut. Below are a few quick tips to help achieve a well-manicured lawn. Our lawn tractor not cutting evenly symptom page also explains causes and how to fix them.
Level the mower deck. Leveling the deck under the tractor is essential to getting a smooth, even cut on your lawn. This Sears PartsDirect video shows you how to adjust and level the mower deck.
Use sharp, straight blades. Inspect your blades before every use to see that they’re sharp, straight and free of chips. Replace the blades at the start of each cutting season or any time you find damage.
Clean the mower deck. A buildup of grass clippings under the mower deck interferes with airflow and grass clipping movement under the deck, hindering the lift of the blade. We have tips for preventing clippings from building up.
Slow down. The taller and thicker the grass, the slower you should go to give the blades time to lift and cut the grass.
Mow at full throttle. Although your ground speed should be slower, the engine should be at full throttle for the right blade speed.
Check the air pressure in the tires. Overinflated or underinflated tires cause the tractor to travel unevenly across the yard. Refer to your owner’s manual for the correct pressure. To find the manual, look up you model number.
Overlap your passes. The blade extends only to the edge of the deck. Overlapping by just an inch makes sure that the lawn tractor blade reaches each blade of grass.
For more advice about riding mowers and lawn tractors, check out our repair guides and articles.
Most common symptoms to help you fix your riding mowers & tractors
Choose a symptom to see related riding mower and lawn tractor repairs.
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Main causes: shift lever needs adjustment, neutral control needs adjustment…
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Main causes: worn or broken ground drive belt, bad seat switch, transaxle freewheel control engaged, transaxle failure, …
Main causes: clogged carburetor, damaged flywheel key, dirty spark plug, stale fuel, improper valve lash, engine needs a…
Main causes: faulty battery, bad alternator…
Most common repair guides to help fix your riding mowers & tractors
These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your riding mower or lawn tractor.
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How to replace the seat on a riding lawn mower
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How to replace a riding lawn mower fuel filter
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How to replace a riding lawn mower rear tire
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Effective articles & videos to help repair your riding mowers & tractors
Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your riding mower or lawn tractor.
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Learn how a blade removal tool makes replacing the blade easier and safer…
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Learn how to use a battery charger if your mower battery is dead.…
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You might find the answers to your questions about your riding mower or lawn tractor in this list of frequently asked qu…