Mowing Type of Blades on a Zero Turn?

[RG1]

To be honest, I never paint my decks underneath. I just check them and clean if needed. Like I said, touch up paint for storage if needed, but never during the season.

I use JD Polyeurea grease on all my equipment, ZTR, GT's and CUT's, including FEL.. It is the best stuff I have found so far. It stays soft and pliable even in winter, and doesn't sling off like a lot of greases do.

 

[Hexa Fox]

To be honest, I never paint my decks underneath. I just check them and clean if needed. Like I said, touch up paint for storage if needed, but never during the season.

I use JD Polyeurea grease on all my equipment, ZTR, GT's and CUT's, including FEL.. It is the best stuff I have found so far. It stays soft and pliable even in winter, and doesn't sling off like a lot of greases do.

Thanks RG1. Also do you know that my 24HP Kohler will work well with these G5 Blades? There has been a lot of talk that some blades especially heavier ones do not work well on non-commercial machines.

 

[RG1]

Thanks RG1. Also do you know that my 24HP Kohler will work well with these G5 Blades? There has been a lot of talk that some blades especially heavier ones do not work well on non-commercial machines.

The G6's are the ones that were bogging some machines down. That's the reason Oregon came out with the G5 blade- so that others who couldn't spin the G6's properly could benefit from all the same attributes, but do it with a thinner, lighter blade. I spin a set of G3's which (for my machine at least) have the same exact lift height and cutting edge length as the G5/6 blades, and do it with my 14 HP Kawi in my 24 year old JD 240 w/46" deck with no problem at all. You shouldn't have any issues with the G5's with that engine.

Here's a picture of the G3 under my deck-

 

[Hexa Fox]

The G6's are the ones that were bogging some machines down. That's the reason Oregon came out with the G5 blade- so that others who couldn't spin the G6's properly could benefit from all the same attributes, but do it with a thinner, lighter blade. I spin a set of G3's which (for my machine at least) have the same exact lift height and cutting edge length as the G5/6 blades, and do it with my 14 HP Kawi in my 24 year old JD 240 w/46" deck with no problem at all. You shouldn't have any issues with the G5's with that engine.

Here's a picture of the G3 under my deck-

So the lower they get (G5, G4, G3) the lesser they weigh?

 

[RG1]

Sorta. There is no G4.

The G3 is a 2.5" wide, .208" thick blade. The G5 is a .208" thick, 3" wide blade. the G6 is a .250" thick, 3" wide blade. Both the G5 and G6 have carbide infused into the bottom of the cutting edge. The G3 doesn't. Some G3's have the extended cutting edge, some don't (mine do). All G5 and G6 blades have the fusion treatment and the extended cutting edge.

 

[RG1]

delete. accidental double post

 

[Hexa Fox]

delete. accidental double post

Okay I just ordered some G5's for my Zero Turn. I got them for exactly $50.00 and they were the star pattern with six corners. I just found out that each of these blades are just slightly over one pound heavier than my old ones. Which means I will have roughly three and a half more pounds of blades under my deck. Since I just literally scraped out about twenty pounds of grass with a knife I don't think it will make a lot of difference.

Hey RG1 and anyone else that is interested, do you think that you could make money restoring lawn mower decks and sharpening blades? Because I am thinking about buying a Media Blaster or Needle Gun for my own deck and anything else I feel like using it on. I would imagine that it would be a pretty big hit. I would think that a lot of people would pay good money to have their decks cleaned up really good, repainted, and even other maintenance like blades sharpened. Especially since I know that decks are very expensive. For example if I wanted to buy my 54" deck all ready to go (pulleys, belts, springs, discharge) it would cost me just short of $1,000 somewhere. I would think that I could restore and even buy parts for someone else's deck much, much cheaper than that.

(or)

Do you think that would be a waste of time? Maybe I should just offer to sharpen and balance blades for like $5.00 a blade or something as long as they get them off the deck themselves.

 

[Hexa Fox]

These are the old blades which are in worse shape than I thought. One has about a 1/4" gash right in the cutting edge. So I think they are going to go in my metal collection. Here is the link to the ones that I ordered as well. 598 672 3 Pack Oregon G5 Gator Blades 54" Cub Cadet with Star Hole 742 0677 | eBay

 

[RG1]

I don't think there'll be as much demand for deck repainting or repairing as you might think. At least, not in my area. Most who are concerned enough to have it done, do it themselves, or just buy a new machine.

I have repaired a few now, but over the course of a long time at this, there haven't been many. There's more money and demand by far here in cleaning up an entire tractor/mower and doing a thorough spring maintenance than just for the deck work.

 

[Hexa Fox]

I don't think there'll be as much demand for deck repainting or repairing as you might think. At least, not in my area. Most who are concerned enough to have it done, do it themselves, or just buy a new machine.

I have repaired a few now, but over the course of a long time at this, there haven't been many. There's more money and demand by far here in cleaning up an entire tractor/mower and doing a thorough spring maintenance than just for the deck work.

I just thought there were people concerned about it but did not care because of the work they were going to have to do. It's whatever, I will keep my ears listening and I will ask a couple neighbors and see what they say about it.

Hey RG1 the blades I took off (as you stated) are in pretty bad shape. The worst one by far is pictured below. The gash in it is pretty bad in my opinion. However do you think that when I get the Oregon Grinder and balancer that I could still use it? Take a look when you get a chance and let me know what you think.

 

[RG1]

Yes, you can still use it, but it may take some work to balance it. Just because there's a bad gouge doesn't make it a useless blade. As long as the rest of the edge is sharp, and ground at the correct angle, it will be fine.

 

[Hexa Fox]

Just found out that my machine is probably the biggest piece of garbage on the market. This series of Kohler was made in China and believe it or not there is a lot of plastic inside the engine. From what I saw it is mostly the gears and stuff but still pretty crappy. This is pretty frustrating to say the least. It seems like every good name that used to be in America is going down the drain.

Also I tried to get the belt back on today for about six hours. I have went over the directions several times and can not get close to getting my belt back on the way it is suppose to go. I am thinking maybe I allowed it to shrink up some from power-washing it and leaving it out in the sun. Either way I have to pry back the only movable pulley and try to roll the belt on. However even with maximum force I am still about two inches from getting in on.

 

[RG1]

I knew that about your engine, but didn't want to say anything that made it sound like I was bragging on mine and putting yours down. The only good engines in the Kohler lineup ate the Command series, and even they can be hit or miss for quality. My last two (especially the last one) was so bad, after a lifetime of being a Kohler fan, I now go out of my way to avoid them. There must be a way to adjust the belt tensioner pulley. Mine has a large spring that you adjust.

 

[Hexa Fox]

I knew that about your engine, but didn't want to say anything that made it sound like I was bragging on mine and putting yours down. The only good engines in the Kohler lineup ate the Command series, and even they can be hit or miss for quality. My last two (especially the last one) was so bad, after a lifetime of being a Kohler fan, I now go out of my way to avoid them. There must be a way to adjust the belt tensioner pulley. Mine has a large spring that you adjust.

Yeah usually you are an intelligent individual not to. Better to let them find out the hard way, not at all, or like me call out my mistake in a public forum. As a lot of people will defend their purchase/investment with a hostile attitude and normally arrogant and ignorant attitude. I was still under the impression that if you saw "Kohler" written on a machines engine you bought it and did not ask questions. I guess that is not the case anymore. So what do I look for next time Kawasaki, Honda, or what? I heard that Briggs is not much better than Kohler at present either. What the **** is going on in this country? It is like a countdown until China literally owns us.

The upside is my entire engine only costs under $700.00 and I have a two year warranty on this machine. I am pretty sure that covers throwing rods or anything engine related. Then if I really feel like the frame and deck are in good shape I can buy another China Cheapo. However I guess that is why our country is going to ****... because people won't stop buying stuff made in other countries, especially China.

 

[RG1]

Yeah usually you are an intelligent individual not to. Better to let them find out the hard way, not at all, or like me call out my mistake in a public forum. As a lot of people will defend their purchase/investment with a hostile attitude and normally arrogant and ignorant attitude. I was still under the impression that if you saw "Kohler" written on a machines engine you bought it and did not ask questions. I guess that is not the case anymore. So what do I look for next time Kawasaki, Honda, or what? I heard that Briggs is not much better than Kohler at present either. What the **** is going on in this country? It is like a countdown until China literally owns us.

The upside is my entire engine only costs under $700.00 and I have a two year warranty on this machine. I am pretty sure that covers throwing rods or anything engine related. Then if I really feel like the frame and deck are in good shape I can buy another China Cheapo. However I guess that is why our country is going to ****... because people won't stop buying stuff made in other countries, especially China.

I am a big Kawi fan. I don't care for B&S engines of any sort. The Vanguard line is not made by B&S at all. They are made by Daihatsu (owned by Toyota) in Japan, and sold here under the B&S name because B&S went in half for the factory that the engines are built in. The Vanguard is about the best engine going these days, and there are a ton of LCO's like me who share that opinion..

 

[prosperity]

It all comes down to you getting what you pay for - most of the time. Years ago the B&S and Kohler were fine. The same goes for just about everything in our country now. We are in a throw away society now where price drives everything including or disregarding quality.

As far as gas engines on mowers I've only had Kawisaki on my Deere zero turns with great success. Everything else I own is diesel including my wife's car. But now even a lot of the small diesel engines are suspect. I was looking at small generators recently and I automatically lean toward a diesel. Not only for longevity, but I always have a lot of off road/heating oil on hand. From the reviews I read a lot of the small single cylinder diesel engines on these generators are made in another country and are falling apart.

It's a shame your zero turn is turning out this way as you said it is a great mower. After running a Deere 757 for many years, when I look at the zero turns at the big box stores, I can see the lack of quality with just walking past them.

Since you are invested in your current mower already, you'll probably have to deal with it and keep if working. The only real alternative would be a $10K zero turn like I had. It takes an awful lot of mowing to justify that price, but so nice knowing with basic maintenance it will just keep going and going.

I had to give up the commercial mowing due to health issues, and had to sell my 757 and bought a 62D deck for my Deere 2520 for mowing my own 3 acres. Oh how I miss that 757!

 

[EddieWalker]

Are the G5 blades the same as the Fusion blades? I had the Gator blades before buying the fusion blades and I didn't care for them. They didn't last very long. I have a 60 inch Scag Wildcat zero turn mower that I use around my house for a nice lawn, and in different areas of my land that I want to maintain nicer then I can with my tractor and finish mower. I probably do a couple of acres twice a month, so it's not commercial or even a lot of use. The Gator blades had to be sharpened twice to get me through the year. Last year I bought the fusion blades from Oregon and they lasted me all last year and I've been out several times this year on them without sharpening them once!!!!

If the G5 is a step up, then that's what I'll try next. Or is it what I already have?

Eddie

 

[RG1]

Are the G5 blades the same as the Fusion blades? I had the Gator blades before buying the fusion blades and I didn't care for them. They didn't last very long. I have a 60 inch Scag Wildcat zero turn mower that I use around my house for a nice lawn, and in different areas of my land that I want to maintain nicer then I can with my tractor and finish mower. I probably do a couple of acres twice a month, so it's not commercial or even a lot of use. The Gator blades had to be sharpened twice to get me through the year. Last year I bought the fusion blades from Oregon and they lasted me all last year and I've been out several times this year on them without sharpening them once!!!!

If the G5 is a step up, then that's what I'll try next. Or is it what I already have?

Eddie

Eddie-
The G5's have the fusion treatment, as do the G6's. Oregon also makes regular non Gator blades that have the Fusion treatment. What it is, is carbide particles imbedded into the underside of the cutting edge (so you can still sharpen them, even with a hand file). The regular Gator blades (originals and G3's which were formerly known as 3-1 high lifts) do not have the Fusion treatment, and were not a high lift design except for the 3-1 (G3) version which are higher lift than the original Gator blade, but not as high a lift as the G5/6 blades.

Having to sharpen twice a season is nothing really, even though you only were mowing twice a month or so. A couple acres is a lot of grass to process, and if you have any sand to deal with, or thick stemmy type grass, the cutting edge will dull quicker than it would on nice turf grass. Most folks tend to cut with blades that they think are fine, but in reality are in need of sharpening. sharp blades keep from tearing the grass which turns the tips brown and makes a lawn look like crap.

You have a great mower, and the G5/6 blades will work well under it, but it is hard to beat the original Scag Marbain high lift blades for that deck if it is the latest version which is the Velocity + deck.

 

[Hexa Fox]

It all comes down to you getting what you pay for - most of the time. Years ago the B&S and Kohler were fine. The same goes for just about everything in our country now. We are in a throw away society now where price drives everything including or disregarding quality.

As far as gas engines on mowers I've only had Kawisaki on my Deere zero turns with great success. Everything else I own is diesel including my wife's car. But now even a lot of the small diesel engines are suspect. I was looking at small generators recently and I automatically lean toward a diesel. Not only for longevity, but I always have a lot of off road/heating oil on hand. From the reviews I read a lot of the small single cylinder diesel engines on these generators are made in another country and are falling apart.

It's a shame your zero turn is turning out this way as you said it is a great mower. After running a Deere 757 for many years, when I look at the zero turns at the big box stores, I can see the lack of quality with just walking past them.

Since you are invested in your current mower already, you'll probably have to deal with it and keep if working. The only real alternative would be a $10K zero turn like I had. It takes an awful lot of mowing to justify that price, but so nice knowing with basic maintenance it will just keep going and going.

I had to give up the commercial mowing due to health issues, and had to sell my 757 and bought a 62D deck for my Deere 2520 for mowing my own 3 acres. Oh how I miss that 757!

I'm really sorry to hear you had to give up mowing Prosperity. As I am in Information Systems Security and where I should be concentrating my time because I can make a **** of a lot more money. However, I choose to take my schooling slow because to me there is nothing like maintaining a piece of equipment and getting to be outside on beautiful days (even when it is too hot). Therefore I am sorry to hear you can no longer do it. It must be a great loss. As in the Winter time I feel a good deal of relief but come Spring I am ready to jump back on my mower.

I grew up in a country where it was not always a "get what you pay for scenario". You could go out and buy a cheapo Craftsman and most of the time they were actually better than anything commercial grade. I now know that this is a true statement. Also you are my type of guy. I always look for anything diesel. I have a 4.8 V8 Silverado and I am looking to upgrade to a 6.6 Duramax when I can. As not only will I save money on fuel but I expect it to last very long if I take care of it.

I knew that Snapper was really crappy growing up. Now they have the Vanguard engine RG1 is talking about and they look better than Scag, Hustler, Exmark, and all the others. I am talking about their commercial line and not the little crappy ones you see for homeowners.

 

[RG1]

I'm really sorry to hear you had to give up mowing Prosperity. As I am in Information Systems Security and where I should be concentrating my time because I can make a **** of a lot more money. However, I choose to take my schooling slow because to me there is nothing like maintaining a piece of equipment and getting to be outside on beautiful days (even when it is too hot). Therefore I am sorry to hear you can no longer do it. It must be a great loss. As in the Winter time I feel a good deal of relief but come Spring I am ready to jump back on my mower.

I grew up in a country where it was not always a "get what you pay for scenario". You could go out and buy a cheapo Craftsman and most of the time they were actually better than anything commercial grade. I now know that this is a true statement. Also you are my type of guy. I always look for anything diesel. I have a 4.8 V8 Silverado and I am looking to upgrade to a 6.6 Duramax when I can. As not only will I save money on fuel but I expect it to last very long if I take care of it.

I knew that Snapper was really crappy growing up. Now they have the Vanguard engine RG1 is talking about and they look better than Scag, Hustler, Exmark, and all the others. I am talking about their commercial line and not the little crappy ones you see for homeowners.

The Snapper Pro mower is simply a Ferris without the suspension. Both brands are owned by B&S. Both are good machines too, but do not get sucked into the B&S Commercial Turf series engines if you go that route. they are nothing but the old B&S Intek engine with some fancy looking air filter and a few other upgrades. The are not, no matter what a dealer may tell you, the same as the Vanguard, Kawi FX or Kohler Command series engines.