Another new GT48DXLS owner - Thanks to TBN

[tk tom]

In regards to the noise volume on these mowers - air flow creates noise and lots of it. A high performing mower deck creates a lot of air flow (you should see the specs on the newer Gravely Pro-Turns). Money and engineering can quiet that airflow down to a certain point. This is not a $8000 tractor, you're not going to get the engineering comfort of being quiet, but you will get the benefits of air flow. The cut will be great, clipping dispersal will be great, and bagging performance will be great.

I wouldn't recommend these units get run at partial throttle just to keep the noise down. They are designed to run full throttle. Air flow pulled by the cooling fan for both the engine and transmission are designed to operate at full throttle. Putting a load on and building heat at part throttle will prematurely cause problems in the long run. You may not have an issue now, but you won't get the amount of hours out of the machine that you should in the end. Shrug your shoulders, call me stupid, that's up to you if you want to, but don't ruin a good thing.

 

[Teachu2]

Well, it's managed to survive a full day of brush mowing with SWMBO the Destroyer. She hit a large (mostly buried) rock and got hung up, so she stopped the blades and backed up - which disconnected the mower from the front support. Didn't keep her from mowing another hour and a half, until she stopped near me to chat. When she started to leave, it sounded wrong - so she shut it down and I discovered the issue. Took about five minutes to finish dismounting the deck, check it over, remount it, and get it back to mowing. No damage whatsoever, didn't even scratch the paint.

I bought the mulching plug kit and a set of Oregon Gator G5 blades. Once we get all the tall stuff knocked down, I'm going to install those and see how it mulches. So far, we both are very happy with the machine.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

My GT got hung up in 10g wire and a junction box it unearthed in some tall brush last week. Wire got wrapped around the left blade, killed the blades and tractor, the junction box was mangled and I found pieces of it 6-10ft away from the mower, had to untangle the wire from the blade. Checked over the blades to make sure they weren't damaged, started the tractor, engaged the blades and kept mowing.

Surprisingly the blades weren't chipped up and were still sharp-ish, they cut good but have dulled down some since the beginning of this season.

I'm using just standard blades. Amazon.com : Set Of 3 Blades Replaces HUSQVARNA 532 18 72-54 532 18 72-55 532 18 72-56 : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Teachu2]

SWMBO flagged me down while I was mowing with my flail today. She was mowing the neighbor's property, in a ravine, 18" tall thick grass. Got caught on a large rock, then the mower didn't want to run with the blades engaged. Raised the deck and sent her to the shop. Put it on the HF jack and started looking. Right blade had lost 3/4" off each end, middle was 1/2" short on one end and so loose it was completely freewheeling, left blade was worn but still usable. Broke out the new G5 blades and installed them. Also greased the spindles. These blades are excellent! The mower is still loud, but much smoother. Cut is better than when it was brand new, and leaves dust behind instead of cuttings. Next it gets the mulching plug installed.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

SWMBO flagged me down while I was mowing with my flail today. She was mowing the neighbor's property, in a ravine, 18" tall thick grass. Got caught on a large rock, then the mower didn't want to run with the blades engaged. Raised the deck and sent her to the shop. Put it on the HF jack and started looking. Right blade had lost 3/4" off each end, middle was 1/2" short on one end and so loose it was completely freewheeling, left blade was worn but still usable. Broke out the new G5 blades and installed them. Also greased the spindles. These blades are excellent! The mower is still loud, but much smoother. Cut is better than when it was brand new, and leaves dust behind instead of cuttings. Next it gets the mulching plug installed.

You should post pics of those blades or what's left of them lmao, she must have ran that deck for some time on a rock to do that kind of damage, that's not easy to do lol.

Good to hear the new blades are working well.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I just googled those puppies, pretty mean looking blades.

 

[Teachu2]

Twice the amount of cutting edge, carbide insert on cutting edge, very high lift - really work great. Turns leaves into mulch and I haven't installed the mulch plug yet. About $36/set on Amazon.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Twice the amount of cutting edge, carbide insert on cutting edge, very high lift - really work great. Turns leaves into mulch and I haven't installed the mulch plug yet. About $36/set on Amazon.

Usually the sharpest blade is the weakest, I wonder if the G5 blades will survive much more than chopping grass.

 

[Teachu2]

Seems to work well on saplings. Heavier than the original. If they don't last I will try the G6 ones - they are a quarter inch thick.

 

[TMR]

Wonder if one of you GT48DXLS owners could measure a "deflector UP" width of your mower. I have one "coming" but am a little concerned about width for my storage shed. I believe my doors are 56" wide...fully opened. I do need to continue to use it to store the new GT. Oh ya...maybe I need to build a new garage Thanks...TMR