REPLACE ALL?

tennis · Nov 25, 2002

After my 50 hr service which was done at 28 hours because the tractor is a year old. Just mowing no snow removal last year. I asked the tech. to listen to the mower deck when it's enguaged to me it sounded loud. I was told one of the blades are bent? They all looked the same to me. So I called the dealer to inquire which blade needs to be replaced? They said I have to replace all 3? Does this make sence or has anyone elce experienced this? We all ding a stump,root or rock from time to time this could be a costly fix each time.

MikePA · Nov 25, 2002

tennis, did you ask why? Based upon the information you supplied, this doesn't make sense, particularly given the number of hours on the tractor. 28 hours isn't a lot of time spent mowing. If you have them replace all three, I would certainly ask for the old blades back.

Mike_Dumond · Nov 25, 2002

I'd ask for them back, sharpen them myself and use a balancer. You can pick one up at NAPA. 28 hours isn't enough unless you got one heck of a ding on each of them.

Egon · Nov 25, 2002

Take off the blades and stack them. That can tell you if one is bent. If not follow the previous advice. The blades are pretty hard to bend. Also make sure all is greased properly and any gear boxes have oil in them.

Egon

tennis · Nov 25, 2002

Thank you all... I did not have them replaced. I like the stack, sharpen and re-ballance option first. I can't recall a huge ding that would of caused any major bend. Thanks again and have a nice holiday. Mike

r0GuE · Nov 25, 2002

I am not sure I would know if my deck is louder than normal. Amyway, I wouldn't trust such shotty diagnostics. WHat a great opportunity to get aquainted with the bottom of your deck. At the cost of these 60" decks, they should be (and I believe are) capable of plenty of use/abuse without a problem. Have you greased all of the fittings (including universals)?

cchoate · Nov 25, 2002

The only reason I could think to replace all at the same time is if you sharpen two, they may not weigh the same as the new one. Wheather that makes a difference, I don't know.

cpicton1 · Nov 25, 2002

Maybe the blades are only sold in sets of three. I have never tried to buy one blade at a time. Whenever I have replaced blades on a multiple blade deck I have always bought a set of three. I have hit some objects pretty hard with both John Deere and Kubota blades and never bent one. They are very tough blades. If I did bend one I would buy a set of three and use the two good used blades as spares in case I ever bent one again. Another thing to keep an eye on is the cupped washers between the blade and spindle. They keep tension on the blades and if they become flattened the blade can slip. I have never had this happen to me but I suppose if it did it might make a strange noise. I think I would check the blades for straitness as mentioned in an earlier post and if they are not bent I would look for something else. Maybe a vibration from a loose grass deflector or something like that. Unless the dealership actually did a thorough examination of your mower deck I would say they are making a guess as to the cause of your noise. Be very careful if you are trying to find the noise with the deck running. Reminds me of an old saying. (Now you see it, now you don't). /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif