Why Is My Lawnmower Spitting Out Grass?
While lawnmowers are pretty easy to use, like any other machine, they could develop problems. These problems could occur naturally over time or due to poor maintenance. Mowing a large expanse of grass can become tedious, especially when your lawnmower isn’t performing as it should.
One of the problems you might notice when mowing your lawn is chunks of grass coming out from under your mower at various angles. This is a common problem, and there are several reasons and easy fixes for it.
Your lawn mower could be spitting out the grass for many reasons. One major cause is a faulty or dull lawnmower blade. Another apparent reason is when the grass you’re cutting is wet or too tall. A clogged chute could be another reason your lawnmower is spitting out grass. While you can control some of these factors, others like a faulty or dull blade can be fixed easily.
8 Possible Reasons Your Lawn Mower Is Spitting Out Grass.
Now, you might not necessarily think that your lawnmower spitting grass is a big deal, but most times, it happens due to some problems with the machine.
Lawnmowers, especially modern ones, are fitted with grass catchers that catch the cut grass as the machine is cutting it. However, some lawnmowers don’t have this particular attachment, and you might want to think of this as a reason your lawnmower is spitting grass.
The problem here is that your lawnmower is spitting grass right from under, at odd angles, and not because it does or doesn’t have a grass catcher. The following are probable reasons for this:
Wet Grass
The weather is something you can’t control, and the grass would most definitely be wet after it has just rained. Cutting damp grass is generally never a good idea. It would naturally be heavier than dry grass. As a result, it’s difficult for the machine to throw the cut grass far back into the grass catcher. Wet grass slides under the belly of the mower and makes it difficult for the blades to cut effectively. If the blade is eventually able to cut it, it’s thrown out as chunks from the back and sides of the mower because of how heavy it is. This makes for a very long and stressful clean-up after the work is done.
Also, mowing wet grass may clog the mower deck and cause it to rust. After a while, it could also make your lawnmower blades dull. It’s better to mow the lawn when it’s dry to avoid these problems.
Tall Grass
The height of the grass you intend to cut can also play a role in your lawnmower spitting grass. It’s generally not advisable to use your lawnmower to cut overgrown grass. This is because it gives your mower blades more work to do, and they won’t work efficiently. Tall grass, like wet grass, also tends to clog the grass chute. This causes the cut grass to be thrown out at the back and sides of the machine as it is working.
Blade Type
The blade type is another factor that can cause your mower to spit grass. Lift blades usually have a suction that lifts the grass and directs it towards the blade for a smooth and clean cut. These blades have different sizes and models that perform their lifting functions differently. While they play an essential role in the actual cutting of the grass, their effectiveness is also dependent on the strength of the lawnmower’s engine. If the engine’s motor isn’t able to spin fast enough to help the blades with the lift, the grass may be cut irregularly, and trimmings may fly out from the sides of the machine.
Blade Damage
Several things can cause blade damage, and this, in turn, can cause your lawnmower to throw grass at odd angles. Shaking and irregular cutting are symptoms of a defective blade. Lawnmower blades should be checked properly during maintenance to ensure proper working conditions.
During an examination, it could be noticed that the blades are misaligned, twisted, dull, bent, broken, or completely damaged. The most obvious problem that a mower blade could have is dullness. This affects the effectiveness and efficiency of the machine at large. Dull blades cause issues with the mower deck and the grass catcher. We recommend checking the sharpness of your mower blades regularly during maintenance and sharpening them at least twice every season.
The blades could also be bent at irregular angles after use over time. It can be tempting to just hammer it back into shape to save cost instead of replacing it with a new one. If you do this, the blade could break off while mowing, as the hammering process has weakened it. The effect of this is the machine spitting out the grass at odd angles. If you notice that your mower blade is broken, the best thing to do is to replace it with the same type and size of blade.
The ground isn’t always smooth and without stones. Hence, during mowing, the blades of your machine might hit quite a few stones as it’s working. This can cause damage to the blades. They become dented and lose their shape over time. As a result, the grass doesn’t reach the catcher, and it’s spat out from the back and sides of the machine.
Clogged Chute
As mentioned earlier, wet or tall grass can cause your mower’s chute to become clogged. Cut grass is spat out from the chute at different angles due to this. However, this doesn’t only happen when you’re cutting wet or tall grass. A mower chute that hasn’t been cleaned in a long time accumulates dry grass and becomes clogged. This produces the same grass spitting effect.
Dirty Mower Deck
Most people will use their lawn mowers for several months without ever checking what’s happening underneath them or doing proper maintenance on them. Using your lawnmower consistently leaves dry grass trappings and dirt under the deck, leaving just enough room for the blades to rotate. As a result of this, the cut grass cannot get to the grass catcher, and it ends up coming out at the sides of your machine. The bottom of your mower should be cleaned routinely and maintained at all times, so that cut grass can always have a clear path to the catcher.
Grass Catcher Fitting
The fitting of the grass catcher to the machine is essential. If your machine doesn’t have the right size of grass catcher fitted to it, not all the cut grass would be able to get into it during mowing. Some clippings may get into it, while others will shoot out from the sides and back.
If the problem is that the catcher isn’t properly attached, there’s an easy fix for it. All you need to do is connect it properly, and your machine is good to go. On the other hand, if the problem is a damaged catcher, it would need to be replaced.
Under-filled Or Flat Tires
With under-filled tires, one side of the machine would be higher from the ground than the other. As a result, grass clippings aren’t always able to find their way to the chute, and they eventually fly out through the higher side. Riding mowers commonly have this problem. A large variation in tire pressure does not necessarily cause it. Even a few use can make the lawnmower ride unevenly and cause grass to spit out.
FAQS
Will mowing wet grass ruin your lawnmower?
The weather is an uncontrollable factor, and the apparent result of a heavy downpour is wet grass. Mowing wet grass can be frustrating, but does it ruin your lawnmower?
Mowing wet grass can be frustrating in so many ways. The ideal thing to do would be to wait till the grass is dry, to avoid a huge mess. How long will that take, though? You can’t always have the patience for that, and it’s understandable.
While mowing wet grass isn’t advisable for so many reasons, it doesn’t damage your lawnmower immediately. The damage it does happens over time after doing it continuously and frequently.
