Parallel or perpendicular blade orientation when mounting 3 blades to a mower deck?

[waltshan]

When you replace the blades on a mower deck (if there are several, 3 in my case), I thought you should align them all in a parallel manner and then tighten.
However, I just recently came upon a picture of a brand new 3 bladed mower deck and the middle blade was mount perpendicular to the to other outside blades.
What is the correct mounting procedure? All parallel to each other or the two ends parallel and the middle blade perpendicular to the two end / outside blades?
thank You.

 

[dieselscout80]

Since most decks are belt driven the blades likely won’t in the same position after a couple minutes.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

It shouldn't make any difference at all. They will slip some as you mow, so wherever you put them to start, they will be in a different orientation the next time you see them.

 

[5030]

Anyway you want. Synchronizing the baldes with each other is not important so long as they are mounted curring edge down and correct in respect to rotation.

All multi blade decks, no matter who made them, the spindles are offset for a reason and that is because the blades all overlap in cut width when rotation and the offset spindles keep them from hitting each other. You'd never be able to 'synchronize' them anyway with a belt driven deck, simply because as you mow, the blades will move around a bit as the belts travel over the spindles. Even my Kubota with it's driveshaft driven deck, the blades are offset.

 

[oldnslo]

The exception to this rule is a mower with a toothed belt and the blades collide if not timed correctly or belt jumps a couple of teeth. I have only seen one mower made this way and makes a lot of unpleasant noise when the blades tips collide.

Just confirm tips can’t touch and it doesn’t matter on orientation.

 

[RBsingl]

When I took delivery of my Corvette Z06 at the museum in 2016, another customer was complaining that the valve stems on his car weren't all in the same position. I thought at first he was joking with his delivery person but the fool was serious.

Rodger

 

[dodge man]

You can orient the valve stems in the same place relative to the tire. Say all the valve stems next to the G on Goodyear. Pointless to say the least but in the world of high level show cars it’s an actual thing. You get to a show and Jack the car up then make them match.

 

[RBsingl]

Dave, that makes sense and with as much trouble as it is to mount the extremely wide low profile tires on these cars (285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear) I could understand a picky customer wanting that done. But this person was loudly pointing out that the valve stems weren't at the same "o'clock" position on the driver front and rear as he was looking at his new car.

My then 12 year old daughter and I stopped in the museum the evening before I took delivery to take a look at my car but I never even thought to look at valve stem placement.

A few years ago I ordered replacement tires from Tire Rack and their recommended installer was a Firestone location nearby. Fortunately I had taken the wheels off my car and transported them to this location in my pickup because they took one tire off and spent 2 hours without success trying to mount the first replacement before giving up but at least they were careful with the wheel. I then took the tires to a speed shop that has been in business since sometime in the 1950s and they had all four tires mounted, balanced, and inflated to spec in under an hour. They get all of my tire business now, excellent service from people who know their business!

Rodger

 

[WranglerX]

Both my JD riding mowers have three blades, middle blade if set a bit forward so its rotation does not interfere with two outer blades..... Believe this to be true with most belt driven mowers.... So perpendicular is not a valid thing....

 

[Dftodd]

I can line my mower blades up the way I want, but it doesn't last past turning on the deck

Deck is a belt drive, so the first time one of the spindles slips on the belt, they are back out of sync.

I just make sure the blades are installed right side up and get back to mowing

 

[RBsingl]

And even if the blade doesn't slip, the belt and pulley setup isn't a precision design so there will be some rotational difference between spindles. Cog type belts are used where precise timing/sync is needed but the cogs aren't so much to avoid slippage but instead ensure that the rotation is as desired regardless of minute differences in pulley diameter and belt ride "height".

Rodger

 

[chim]

Dave, that makes sense and with as much trouble as it is to mount the extremely wide low profile tires on these cars (285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear) I could understand a picky customer wanting that done. But this person was loudly pointing out that the valve stems weren't at the same "o'clock" position on the driver front and rear as he was looking at his new car.

My then 12 year old daughter and I stopped in the museum the evening before I took delivery to take a look at my car but I never even thought to look at valve stem placement.

A few years ago I ordered replacement tires from Tire Rack and their recommended installer was a Firestone location nearby. Fortunately I had taken the wheels off my car and transported them to this location in my pickup because they took one tire off and spent 2 hours without success trying to mount the first replacement before giving up but at least they were careful with the wheel. I then took the tires to a speed shop that has been in business since sometime in the 1950s and they had all four tires mounted, balanced, and inflated to spec in under an hour. They get all of my tire business now, excellent service from people who know their business!

Rodger

View attachment 3545082

Nice! The first thing I thought of when seeing that picture is "What if some kid is running amok and snags one of those ribbons?" Two or more metal posts are into the Vette.

 

[RBsingl]

Nice! The first thing I thought of when seeing that picture is "What if some kid is running amok and snags one of those ribbons?" Two or more metal posts are into the Vette.

Fortunately that doesn't seem to be a problem with the museum. I got to know one of the volunteers there and he told me that damage to new vehicles hasn't been an issue... Except from the new owners.

When I picked up my Z06 in 2016 (second year of production), the unofficial count at that point was over two dozen totaled on the initial drive home from the dealer and one of those was a museum delivery. The supercharged engine produces a lot of torque just off idle peaking at 650 pound feet at 3,600 in a fairly light car and by the time the driver realizes it is out of shape on a fast takeoff from stop it is too late. The car has "nannies" which use the stability and traction control systems to avoid this issue but if you put the car in track mode these are turned off and quite a few owners have learned the hard way that they aren't even distantly related to Dale Earnhardt or Mario Andretti.

I was paranoid driving it out of Bowling Green for its trip home to Illinois and I was closely keeping an eye on traffic around me. I was stopped at a traffic light on the edge of Bowling Green when I heard a loud car pull up but looking around I didn't see anything that looked likely. I then noticed my then 12 year old daughter grinning, she was exploring the menu system and had set the exhaust system to track mode which allows the exhaust to bypass the sound baffling in the mufflers so I was the loud car

It isn't practical but it has been a very fun car to drive.

Rodger

 

[Gord Baker]

When I took delivery of my Corvette Z06 at the museum in 2016, another customer was complaining that the valve stems on his car weren't all in the same position. I thought at first he was joking with his delivery person but the fool was serious.

Rodger

New tires are usually marked with a coloured dot to indicate where they should be mounted in respect to the Valve Stem.

 

[dougtrr2]

I just make sure the blades are installed right side up and get back to mowing

What an OCD perfectionist! Right side up, what's next, sharp too?

Doug in SW IA

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Both my JD riding mowers have three blades, middle blade if set a bit forward so its rotation does not interfere with two outer blades..... Believe this to be true with most belt driven mowers.... So perpendicular is not a valid thing....

I think that this is the norm. I generally mount mine (Kubota) with the center blade in line with the sides of the mower and the two outside perpendicular to the sides. As long as I don't cause the belt to slip, it is usually pretty close when I next pull them off for sharpening--but only pretty close! The design of the mower should make it avoid contact. Don't try it with a two-bladed mower, though, it might not end well.

 

[Dennis Mohn]

As previously stated , some decks are manufactured to be more compact. Timing of the blades is important on these to prevent them from coming in contact with each other, the result of that can be very expensive. These decks have "cogged" belts that allow you to set the blades "timing" to prevent them from hitting. Check the belts on your mower, if they do not require "timing" you will most likely have a standard V type belt, smooth without notches. The larger decks have enough space the blades can be positioned without concern of hitting .

 

[nyone]

Wow..this thread..just wow.

 

[Dennis Mohn]

Wow..this thread..just wow.

from mower blade position to valve stems and tires in under 2 posts

 

[RayIN]

A multiple spindle mower deck belt pattern shows the middle spindle has much less belt to pulley contact than the outside spindle pulleys, making belt slip on the center one easy to understand.