2025 John Deere SL PrecisionCut™ 260

2025 John Deere SL PrecisionCut™ 260

Adjustable, loop-style handlebar for maximum comfort and control

Rubber isolators for reduced vibration

Dual traction rolls for straight tracking and excellent maneuverability

Wide range of roller options, including grooved, smooth, and spiral rollers

Features may include:

• Speed Link™ height-of-cut system adjusts both sides of the roller at the same time

• The ultimate in quick and accurate height-of-cut adjustments: The Speed Link height-of-cut adjustment system ties both sides of the front roller together, allowing technicians to make height-of-cut adjustments simply by adjusting one end of the roller.

• How does this innovative system accomplish a one-point height-of-cut adjustment? It all starts with the worm gear drives in the front-roller castings. The worm gear system rotates via hex bolts on the side of the rear-roller castings, adjusting the roller up and down. Simply turn the gears by turning the hex adjuster on the side of the casting. Each full turn represents an adjustment of 0.001 in. (0.0254 mm). A diagram on the side of the casting tells which direction to turn the hex bolts to raise or lower the cutting height.

• But that's not all. The true secret to the system is the connecting rod that ties the worm gear systems for the roller tower together. With the connecting rod in place, turning the height-of-cut adjuster on one side automatically turns the other side by the exact same amount. This allows for adjusting the height of cut from one end of the roller, making adjustments not only quick, but with stunning precision.

• The Speed Link connecting rod is also spring loaded, so it can be easily removed should both towers need to be adjusted independently. Once the roller is paralleled to the front roller when the cutting unit is initially set up, the Speed Link system takes over and moves each side of the roller by the same amount for a quick one-point height-of-cut adjustment.

• The preferred way to adjust the cutting unit is with a variable-speed electric or air drill with a 16-mm socket attached. A drill makes the adjustment even easier by rotating the tower quickly, making height-of-cut changes a breeze. And the connecting rod makes ensures the other side turns just as fast and just as accurately.

• Consistent effective height of cut—A prism tells the story

• No matter the type of reel cutting unit or surface being mowed, there are two ways to measure height of cut. The first measure is called benchsetting height of cut. This height of cut is established by using a gauge bar and measuring the distance from the bottom of the rollers to the top edge of the bedknife. This serves as an initial guide for establishing the cutting height.

• However, the cutting unit may not be mowing exactly at this height. Other factors come into play, such as softness or firmness of the mowing surface, thatch, turf density, roller shape and surface area, and weight, just to name a few. More than likely, after these factors are taken into consideration, the turf is being mowed at a height less than the benchsetting height of cut. The actual cutting height is called effective height of cut.

• How is the effective height of cut measured? It can only be measured with a prism gauge, which uses a series of mirrors to visually show the horizontal profile of the turf. The prism essentially shows the turf rotated upward 90 degrees, so the actual height of cut can easily be seen.