gator blades

[ipwanab]

Guys, does anyone have experience with gator type blades on 62d mower? My stock blades do okay when grass is dry and short but lately its been wet and a foot tall. The mower cuts the grass but the discharge looks like the highway department has been through. I have read that these blades will discharge a smaller clipping but I am very wary of those claims. I can not really go over my cutting more than once due to damage because the yard is so soft from all the rain. Anyone already figured this situation out?

 

[LD1]

Let me preface by saying that I have limited experience with gator blades.

But I did put them on my 261 RFM last fall.

They seem to discharge smaller clippings as claimed, especially with the dead leaves that fall, but I also noticed they appear to have a lot less lift than a typical hi-lift blade. So grass that has been ran over or is laying down, doesnt stand up and cut as well as a standard hi-lift blade.

Also, I noticed when buying mine, that there were the "gator" brand blades and then there was a knockoff brand. The knock off brand had the mulching wings angled the opposite way:confused2:

The way these blades work is NOT by having those gator "teeth" chop stuff up. Rather they are angled to throw the chips back towards the center of the blade and be chopped up again that way. The knock off blades had the "teeth" angled outwards, so I dont see how that would benefit

 

[Dale1995]

I bought some for my 2320 last summer, to put on my 62d mid mount mower, they work great for me. I used to have problems with long wet grass, always looked like I was getting ready to bale hay. So I went over to my local JD dealer and he ordered me a set. I will NEVER go back to the original blades. The gators are doing the trick for me. Yes they do produce a finer clipping, and I believe the quality of cut is much better also. Hope this helps. You won't regreat getting them:thumbsup: Let us know how you like them.

 

[Gizmo2]

Oops, tried them on my Toro commercial Z-Master, took them off and gave them away. Hi-Lift for me.

 

[glc24]

My stock blades do okay when grass is dry and short but lately its been wet and a foot tall.

In this situation, it's not going to matter what blade you use,you are going to get clumps. I have the Gators,and love 'em. Don't know about high lift blades,but maybe I'll give them a try at some point too.

It has been raining off and on every day here for this whole month so far. Last Sunday I had a "dry" 5 hours in the afternoon. I cut the old 4 acre pasture. I cut as much water as I did grass. The grass was average 6 inches high. When I was done,there were just a few small clumps here and there. IMO,these blades are awesome.
Beaten down grass from day after day of hard pounding storms and it cut as if it was a nice dry sunny day.:thumbsup:

Greg

 

[beenthere]

Six of one, half dozen of another from my experience with the gator blades. I don't have them on my deck that has the blower for picking up clippings and leaves. Just don't work as well.
On my deck for mowing I have the gator blades and in early spring grass for first cutting, they don't pick up the new grass well for getting a good cut. Later in the summer, the grass seems to stand up better and I get a better cut and no clumping.
Plus for the gator blades is they stay sharp longer and are tougher when handling heavy sticks.
I've heard that Bailey's has a good price on gator blades, even when including the shipping cost. I've seen them in their catalog and online, as I buy chainsawing and logging items from them.

 

[jsb2b]

Put them on my 62C last year. Definitely chops the clippings into smaller pieces to discharge. Definitely does not have the lift of the stock blades so you leave longer grass where the tires drove over it. I just go back over it a tire track width over in the opposite direction. Definitely chops up leaves. I like them but prefer the stock blades when mowing the 3 foot tall grass in my back field in late June and mid-September. Also, the gators are a little noisier than the stock blades but I wear hearing protection so it doesn't bother me...

 

[glc24]

Definitely does not have the lift of the stock blades so you leave longer grass where the tires drove over it.

Hmmm,mine doesn't do that. Like I stated,wet or dry,cuts the same. Maybe I have an oddball deck and tractor combo,because it's cut is awesome.

Greg

 

[Gizmo2]

Hmmm,mine doesn't do that. Like I stated,wet or dry,cuts the same. Maybe I have an oddball deck and tractor combo,because it's cut is awesome.

Greg

Good point, the deck design does make a huge difference.

 

[LRTX1]

The kind of grass affects it too.