Grading Deck Blade Questions - B and BX 60" Decks

[robertm]

I have blades left from the 60" deck on the B7510 I just sold and wondered if they are the same as the ones on my new BX.

I know I can take one off and compare, but I was just wondering.

Also, where is the best place to get another set of blades?

Are the Gator or mulching style any good? I'd ike to get another set to geep sharpened and ready, and another set of Gators? if they help with leaf mulching in the fall.

 

[dodge man]

I bought a mulch kit from Kubota for the 60" deck on my BX. I ended up having to order the blades seperate. The kit plus the blades was pretty pricey, something like $300 all together. I imagine you could use the blades without the mulching kit, but thats not the way its designed to work. I'm pretty happy with the way mine cuts. If the grass is long and wet, it will clump up a little bit along the edge of the deck, but it's alot better then the windrows you end up with when not mulching.

 

[AaronS]

I have a set of gator blades on my BX2200 and they work ok, but I'm sure not as well as a full-fledged mulching kit. I believe they cost me about $55 for the set of 3 when I bought them 4 years ago. I also had to insert a bushing between the blade hole and shaft to make a snug fit. You can use a Cat 1 to Cat 2 lift pin bushing, cut to size for this.

 

[tutorbell]

I have blades left from the 60" deck on the B7510 I just sold and wondered if they are the same as the ones on my new BX.

I'm almost certain that the spindle sizes are different. I ordered BX Gator Mulcher blades for my 60" deck on my B2320 and the holes were too small. I think the hole on the BX blade is 29/32". The hole on the correct blades for the B was 1-1/8". I used a die grinder to "modify" the incorrect blades but it took way too long to do.

If you have to go the opposite way, it's much easier. I think you can use cat-1 to cat-2 lift bushings cut down to fill the gap between the larger hole on the blades you have and the smaller spindle on the BX. Do a search for Gator Blades and you should be able to find the post that summarizes this.

 

[vrman]

Sounds like a similar situation I have with my ZD326 and my BX23 MMM. (see my sig)

I have gator's on the ZD and it does a great job. I've been very happy with them.

 

[MoreCowbell]

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to add that I tried to the Cat 1 to Cat 2 bushing solution suggested above and it worked perfectly for me.

I have a BX 2350 with a RCK60B-23BX mower deck. I first tried finding the Gator Blade made for this deck (96-612) but literally no one has them in stock - so I got the 90-787 blade from Agri Supply (new part # - apparently it replaces 90-987). This blade is the same as 96-612 except with a 1-1/8" center hole. I got the Cat 1 to 2 bushing (part # 11959) and it was an exact fit for both the blade and the deck spindle. It was under $1 and you only need one. The only hard part was cutting my three blade bushings from it since I only had a hacksaw and a C-clamp to work with. I made sure to cut each one slightly thinner that the blade so that the bolt and washers would bear down on the blade and not the bushing.

I'm glad I came across this forum! Thanks!