Two blades or three

[phcaan]

Hello Everyone:

I am contemplating the purchase of a new mower, my 20 year old craftsman has a deck that is rotting out.
I have decided on a Husqvarna and am down to three models, basically the same tractor but with different decks. The first is the YT42XLS with a fabricated deck and three blades. The second is the YT46LS with a stamped deck and 2 blades, and the third is the YT48XLS with a fabricated deck and three blades.
My Craftsman is a 42 inch and is adequate, but a little larger deck would be nice, not too much larger or it would be difficult to get around trees and such.
I guess I am looking for wisdom on the fabricated deck vs the stamped deck and the three blade system vs the 2 blade system.

Thank You.

 

[oldnslo]

two Vs three blades: You will go from 2- 23" blades to 3-16" blades. If your lawn is reasonably flat you probably won't see much difference in cut provided the blade tip speed is approximately the same. On rougher lawns the longer blades may show more scalping or unevenness of cut height.


Stamped Vs fabricated deck: Stamped deck is usually smoother radius on corners which allows for better grass and airflow.

 

[phcaan]

two Vs three blades: You will go from 2- 23" blades to 3-16" blades. If your lawn is reasonably flat you probably won't see much difference in cut provided the blade tip speed is approximately the same. On rougher lawns the longer blades may show more scalping or unevenness of cut height.


Stamped Vs fabricated deck: Stamped deck is usually smoother radius on corners which allows for better grass and airflow.

oldnslo:

Thank you for your reply, this will be my first experience with a 3 blade mower, if that is what I get. I maintain 3 yards; my yard here at the farm is on a slope and about 1 acre, and by no means without bumps, rolls, and obstacles. The house in town is about 3/4 acre and on a slope but fairly flat. My son's house which I maintain when he is out on the river ( he is a tugboat captain) is smaller but challanging.
Thank you for your time and expertise.

 

[CliffordK]

I always seem to have troubles with trying to mow too tall of grass...
My JD 2-blade mower would often skip a narrow row of grass between the two blades.

My 3-blade Kubota also had some "issues" with the tall grass, but I can't remember exactly what the problem was.

 

[phcaan]

I always seem to have troubles with trying to mow too tall of grass...
My JD 2-blade mower would often skip a narrow row of grass between the two blades.

My 3-blade Kubota also had some "issues" with the tall grass, but I can't remember exactly what the problem was.

Are you happier with the 3 bladed machine over the 2 bade? On occasion I have noticed that strip of uncut grass with my 2 blade craftsman also.

 

[djdicetn]

oldnslo:

Thank you for your reply, this will be my first experience with a 3 blade mower, if that is what I get. I maintain 3 yards; my yard here at the farm is on a slope and about 1 acre, and by no means without bumps, rolls, and obstacles. The house in town is about 3/4 acre and on a slope but fairly flat. My son's house which I maintain when he is out on the river ( he is a tugboat captain) is smaller but challanging.
Thank you for your time and expertise.

From what I'm hearing from you I would recommend that Husqvarna YT48XLS. The Kawasaki engine, the locking differential hydro tranny and the fabricated deck will suit your needs very well!!

 

[CliffordK]

Are you happier with the 3 bladed machine over the 2 bade? On occasion I have noticed that strip of uncut grass with my 2 blade craftsman also.

I haven't mowed as much with the 3 blade mower as the other one. It didn't leave the strip in the middle, but I think it still struggled a bit with taller grass.

The Kubota (3 blade) lawn tractor did not have a clutch for the mower deck, but rather used slipping belts with a tensioner system to control the deck, and I had a lot of problems getting the belt adjustment right so they would run the mower deck, and still disengage.

Anyway, I decided to try mowing some hay instead

 

[CliffordK]

oldnslo:
my yard here at the farm is on a slope and about 1 acre, and by no means without bumps, rolls, and obstacles.

I've never been quite happy with a traditional lawn tractor on a hillside. I loose traction frequently (4x4 would be nice), but also part of the reason I loose traction is when going cross slope, the lawn tractor gets much lighter on the uphill wheel, which then spins, and without a locking differential, one doesn't go anywhere.

Anyway, I've always thought the zero-turn mowers looked like they would be much more stable on hillsides, but I haven't had a chance to try one out. 4x4 with a limited slip differential would still be nice.

 

[oldnslo]

Blades leaving strips. Is this while turning or running straight? If while turning this can be a problem with most mowers at a given turn angle. Typically one blade is positioned slightly ahead of the other(s) so that when turning there is the potential for neither blade to cut a narrow strip. I have noticed this with my old 3-blade 47" deck on the JD112, 54" deck on the BX1850, and 60" deck on my 2400H. My sons X485 with 64" deck also does this. Running straight none of them left strips of uncut grass.

If one blade gets dull it can also leave strips/stripes in the lawn from a different cut.

 

[phcaan]

Blades leaving strips. Is this while turning or running straight? If while turning this can be a problem with most mowers at a given turn angle. Typically one blade is positioned slightly ahead of the other(s) so that when turning there is the potential for neither blade to cut a narrow strip. I have noticed this with my old 3-blade 47" deck on the JD112, 54" deck on the BX1850, and 60" deck on my 2400H. My sons X485 with 64" deck also does this. Running straight none of them left strips of uncut grass.

If one blade gets dull it can also leave strips/stripes in the lawn from a different cut.

Thank you for your kind reply. The mower I now have is a 20 year old craftsman, and it runs fine but the deck is wearing out, I think it days of being able to adjust it are about gone. Even with new blades I don't get an even cut, thus I am saving to purchase a new mower.