Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower?

   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #1  

bdhsfz6

Elite Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2015
Messages
3,070
Location
Northeastern Pennsylvania
Tractor
Kubota MX5800 HST & L6060 HSTC Formerly L6060 HST B7100 HST, L2550, L3010 HST, L3430 HST
I've been mowing an 8 acre field next to the house for many years. Its former pasture land and a bit rough in spots. I'm not that fussy about how it looks but I try and keep it as neat as I can. Previously, I had been using a Befco C30 RD6 with medium lift blades behind my L3430 which did a pretty good job. This spring, I traded up to a MX5800 and pull a Landpride FDR2584 also using the standard medium lift blades. This new setup leaves rows of taller grass in the tractor tire tracks even when mowing dry. Both tractors use the same industrial type tires with the MX just 500 pounds heavier than the L. The landpride is new, the deck is level and the blades are sharp and mounted correctly. I try and mow once a week so I'm not cutting tall grass.

Would I get a better cut if I switch to hi lift blades? I'd hate to spend +- $150 for a set only to find they won't help. I know hi lifts are harder to swing in tall grass but the added HP of the MX should handle it.

Any opinions would be appreciated.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #2  
A set of blades is $150? I put a set of blades on my Dixie chopper and F2560 Kubota for $10 per blade. Then I put mulching blades on the Kubota also for $10 each. These were heavy duty blades, not some light weight junk. The blades on the Kubota were high lift. They cut much better than the severely worn out 1000 hour blades they replaced, but no difference in the medium lift Dixie chopper blades.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #3  
I used low lift blades for a long time and one day decided to switch to high lift blades. Where I used to be able to go over the garden hose, it now sucked it up into the blades. Some for small things I used be able to mow over and the grass looked about the same. $140 poorer, I switched back to low lift blades.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #4  
I used low lift blades for a long time and one day decided to switch to high lift blades. Where I used to be able to go over the garden hose, it now sucked it up into the blades. Some for small things I used be able to mow over and the grass looked about the same. $140 poorer, I switched back to low lift blades.

$140 including a new hose? :drink:
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #5  
Look into the Oregon Gator blades, been using them for over a year now on a Woods 60", does a much better job than the standard blades IMO and hard to beat the price for such a stout blade and unique design.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Look into the Oregon Gator blades, been using them for over a year now on a Woods 60", does a much better job than the standard blades IMO and hard to beat the price for such a stout blade and unique design.

I agree, Oregon blades are great. I've used them on other equipment in the past. Unfortunately, I can't find an Oregon direct replacement for the FDR2584. I haven't checked their universal fit blades yet though.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #7  
That's what I had to do, but I screwed up and went to Woods site to get the blade measurement, they gave a bolt hole size and dummy me didn't account for the sleeve on the spindle. I ended up using a cone stone to open the hole to the right size.

I agree, Oregon blades are great. I've used them on other equipment in the past. Unfortunately, I can't find an Oregon direct replacement for the FDR2584. I haven't checked their universal fit blades yet though.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #8  
I've been mowing an 8 acre field next to the house for many years. Its former pasture land and a bit rough in spots. I'm not that fussy about how it looks but I try and keep it as neat as I can. Previously, I had been using a Befco C30 RD6 with medium lift blades behind my L3430 which did a pretty good job. This spring, I traded up to a MX5800 and pull a Landpride FDR2584 also using the standard medium lift blades. This new setup leaves rows of taller grass in the tractor tire tracks even when mowing dry. Both tractors use the same industrial type tires with the MX just 500 pounds heavier than the L. The landpride is new, the deck is level and the blades are sharp and mounted correctly. I try and mow once a week so I'm not cutting tall grass.

Would I get a better cut if I switch to hi lift blades? I'd hate to spend +- $150 for a set only to find they won't help. I know hi lifts are harder to swing in tall grass but the added HP of the MX should handle it.

Any opinions would be appreciated.

I bought new Land Pride hi-lift blades for my new a couple years ago Landpride FDR 2584 and it didn't change anything that I could see. I cut at 3 1/2" about. My JD3720 with R4s weighs about 4500# with filled tires and FEL while mowing. It doesn't leave a trail where the tires were so maybe it is the grass. I know that the higher I cut the worse job it does.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #9  
$140 including a new hose? :drink:

Yup. $140 for a set of 3 Woods 7ft RD8400 blades, a 100 ft commercial hose, a brewski at the end and a Q&A with the wife at the end asking how come I mowed the hose. High lift blades apparently means high lift.
 
   / Better Cut Using Hi Lift Blades on a Rear Mount Mower? #10  
Yup. $140 for a set of 3 Woods 7ft RD8400 blades, a 100 ft commercial hose, a brewski at the end and a Q&A with the wife at the end asking how come I mowed the hose. High lift blades apparently means high lift.
:biggrin:
 

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