TopCat, mate sometimes I cut using half the deck if it's say very long /wet/thick etc, all depends on the job and what blades I'm running on the day. Usually on vacant blocks I use my oldest crappiest blades so usually they have little sail left, so they won't clear the deck as good blades would.
Grasses here are very stalky, I cut once to get 99%, then a flat tach run to take off stragglers.
Jobs that are maintained and less than a foot high I bite full decks, 1 pass no probs, regardless of thickness or blades.
In a day I could be doing nice acreage work, then a bush block bashing sticks n stones, then a couple of vacant blocks hitting wood and concrete, palm rubbish etc...and I don't change blades per job, only when blunt. But I will 'try' to batch up rough jobs to run my old blades on though....I will only run good blades on good blocks, never 1st timers.
the answer to your question, whatever it takes, no set rules.
Thanks Tony. I was glad to here you all look after your gear like us 19 inch pusher's! LOL
Another job just completed today. Not the best pic the photo was from phone, but ya can work it out. The rock is called "white ice" bluddy cost's $160.00 cub mtr, like gold- what a glare.
Well..... Hope it didnt take too long for ya's to load that lot!
Match think 1st pic to 2nd last or something. Bla bla!
There was more up near the house and under power lines but nothing special! Took 2 hrs! The grass in places was pretty long as you can see from 1 or 2 pics. It was 1 pass only except the occasional spot like in the 1st pic (I think) that was just a quick run back over, had to do it anyway to get back into line sort of thing!!
Came up pretty good I reckon for 1st cut. The owners are ex mowin' people them selves and were happy!
Greg, the area in the pic is about 1.5acres, theres another area around the house which is sloped so had to take it easy. Theres also an area thats sorta bush that has power lines, I had to mow the track under the power lines, probably 100m long X 4 deck widths.
The grass in the field was pretty long in places and I took it very slow cos couldnt see if there was anything that could damage the mower,(very snakey too ) In the end there were only a couple of small rocks that I didnt even hit. Was happy about that!
It was cut a half deck height, dont know how many inches, probably around 3-4"
I'll be rude how much for that job. Look goods. Just want to get approxs so when i get my ride on i have an idea what to charge......... outside of a wounded bull .
I really didnt know how long it would take so just went on the $60/h... $120 all up. I had to stop a few time to take the pics etc so probably 1 3/4 hrs really. No trimming so mow and go!
Not the best money in the world but was ok for sitting on a mower just cruising around! No damage to blades etc so all good!