Gator Blades?

[Hysyde]

I posted this a few years ago, but started a new thread with a different title hoping to get some input:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...blade-replacement.html?highlight=#post4472869

I finally actually measured the blades last time I had them off for a sharpen. They *appear* to be 24 1/2 long with a 15/16 center hole. While I still can't find a gator blade specified for this deck or tractor, I have found some (G5 and G6) that match those dimensions, and from what I can figure with the OEM specs, they are only 0.01" thicker.

What potential issues could I face if I tried to fit these? I can't see any problems that might arise, but maybe I'm missing something?

Also, what are peoples experience with, or opinions on Gator blades? G5? G6? Are they any good and do they make a difference compared to basic OEM blade? I'm (still) pretty unhappy with the cut I get, and the windrowing that results, especially in longer or slightly wet grass. I end up doing a lot of raking or multiple passes.

Thanks,

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm having an issue right now with these gator blades colliding. Dealer says spindle location might need to be tweaked but I am skeptical.

The blades are wider than the OEM which means there is less clearance for rotation.

I looked at another deck that has gator blades and was not cutting well. Found the blades f$%$% and one bent. They are certainly not of the quality and strength as some of my other commercial blades. No doubt about that at all! They looked so impressive! If you don't hit stones occassionally, I'm sure it's not an issue.

 

[LD1]

I never bolt on a set of blades without ensuring they arent gonna hit eachother.

Standard mower blades are 2-1/2" wide and 1/4" thick.

Some of the beefier blades are indeed 3" wide (or a tad more) and 5/16" thick. Yep, make for a tougher, stronger, longer lasting blade. BUT.....if your deck has real tight tolerances with 2-1/2" blades, you may just need to take a grinder and trim the ends of the 3" blades down.

I have tried many many combinations of blades on my old scag advantage deck to try to alleviate clogging the deck up if the grass is ever so slightly wet. Than and some of the tough stuff that just dont cut well like buckhorn, dandelion, etc....trying to get it to cut better.

Right now I am running double blades on the left and middle spindle. A standard paired with a gator magnum, then just a single gator on the right spindle.

I have also tried super high lift blades (1-5/8" lift wing). Those blades are awesome but moving that much air sure robs power on hills.

Honestly I dont notice much more "mulching effect" than any other blade. Not really better, not really worse

 

[Industrial Toys]

Terrible how dealers can feed you pure "EXPERT" BS.

I finally spoke with the Real, Expert Mechanic, back from holidays. There is (as I thought) little play in the spindle mounting. But The Gator Blades DID have a manufacturing issue of being either too long or uneven requiring some grinding!

 

[hawkeye08]

I don't recall the brand, but am interested perhaps in the blade system that has a piece that bolts in place of blade and has 4 "fold back" short blades on it. 4 cutting blades per spindle, folds back if it hits something.

 

[LD1]

I don't recall the brand, but am interested perhaps in the blade system that has a piece that bolts in place of blade and has 4 "fold back" short blades on it. 4 cutting blades per spindle, folds back if it hits something.

Meg-mo.

I like the concept every since I have heard about it. And have thought about trying to make my own many times.

4 cutting edges per spindle instead of two does indeed increase cut quality. It's like mowing twice as slow with a single blade.

Just cannot bring myself to pay the price. Thus I just went double blades on each spindle.

Again, I like the concept. But that guy got a lot of blow back on mow sites. Seem they attacked him pretty good.

 

[Industrial Toys]

If you hit something, you are going to damage the blade no matter what. Plus, if you get bogged down a blade is not extended, that mower is going to vibrate violently until that blade sheds its debris and straightens out.

 

[Hysyde]

I'm having an issue right now with these gator blades colliding. Dealer says spindle location might need to be tweaked but I am skeptical.

The blades are wider than the OEM which means there is less clearance for rotation.

I looked at another deck that has gator blades and was not cutting well. Found the blades f$%$% and one bent. They are certainly not of the quality and strength as some of my other commercial blades. No doubt about that at all! They looked so impressive! If you don't hit stones occassionally, I'm sure it's not an issue.

That's a little disappointing to hear. With the OEM blades I have now, I'm sometimes guilty of treating it like a bush hog and will not always avoiding running over large branches, or even wince away immediately from stones, as experience has taught me the deck, and the blades, are pretty solid. I'd hate to have to treat the gator blades with kid gloves...

 

[sugarloafguy]

Hi,

I used Gator blades on my New Holland 310GM rear finish mower and now on my 914A MMM on my Boomer. I would definitely recommend them. Like you, I had to match them up for the 310 which is a Sitrex mower. No issues at all and big difference in cut quality. The Auburn suspended decks from NH , especially the rear discharge baffled ones are a PITA to set up correctly but with Gators have one of the best looking lawns in the neighborhood. The cut quality if you look at the cut ends face-on is significantly smoother across the end of the blades of grass with a significant reduction of residual grass, even in challenging conditions, compared to my Woods PRD 7200 with stock blades. CNH actually offers Oregon Gators for all of the 914 series as a factory upgrade. Good luck with the Kubota. Try them.

Brian

 

[thepumpguysc]

I've used them & love'm.. they lasted longer than any blades I have ever used..
I have "sandy" soil & my oem blades never lasted longer than 1 season.. I'm on season 3 w/ just a few sharpenings.

 

[Hysyde]

I finally decided to try them out. They took about 3 months to come into my dealer on back order, so at this point I haven't had a full opportunity to judge them (being fall).

That being said, they seem to have FAR more lift than my regular OEM blades. The level of suction coming from the deck is much more noticeable (it didn't seem to have much at all) and it will pickup and discharge everything in it's path, which it definitely didn't do before. I used the mower to mulch/windrow/clear leaves and it left next to nothing behind. I can hear the drone of the blades much more and they do seem to suck up more horsepower.

I think I'll be pretty happy with these and am thinking to get another set on order as this model seems to be a bit rare and/or isn't being manufactured anymore as they were hard to get.

 

[orangeandgreen]

I like the OEM high lifts in the spring when grass is growing like crazy, and G6 Gators the rest of mowing season. Grass seems to pack under the deck worse in early spring with the G6.

 

[Oldoak]

I like the OEM high lifts in the spring when grass is growing like crazy, and G6 Gators the rest of mowing season. Grass seems to pack under the deck worse in early spring with the G6.

Now that's what I found. Lush green grass pack up under the deck much more with the Gator blades. I took them off and they have been sitting under my work bench for several seasons now. It was back to the O.E.M.s for me also.

 

[ray66v]

I put G6's on my dads X-one, and it doesn't care how high or thick the grass is, it chews it right up.

I haven't even gotten the lawn vac out this fall, I just pile the leaves in the center of the area with the mower, and then go over them unitl I grind them all up. And, we are talking lots of leaves.

G5's on my Landmark ZT60, give good results. But, it doesn't have the power the Hustler has.

 

[Rebeldad1]

How well do the G6 gator blades work on a John Deere rider with the grass catcher?

 

[shooterdon]

I got a set for my Husqvarna rider and added the mulch plug. They did an excellent job mulching a lot of leaves. In fact, I will be selling my walk behind blower.

 

[radios1]

How well do the G6 gator blades work on a John Deere rider with the grass catcher?

good, but, they work great with the mulch cover on, I never bag grass, only leaves, because if you bag grass, you don't return the nutrients that are mostly found in the leaves of the grass, and you then have to fertilize often..

 

[milkman]

I have used the G6 blades and don't like them with wet grass or new grass in the spring, they work like a blender and the wet soup builds up under the deck. I went back to the regular blades for grass, but I do like the G6s for leaves in the fall.

 

[bronzebeetle]

Gator blades should work great for picking up leaves.

 

[orangeandgreen]

I have had good luck using G6 blades with my Accelerator catcher on leaves, usually have to lower the throttle a bit to reduce blow-out.