BX1860 54" deck and Gator blades

[dex3361]

I sent a set of the gator blades back to Baileys today. I have a 54" deck on my BX1500 and the arbor is 7/8" or 0.875". The gator blades that the parts books called were 1 1/8" so it was a no go. I didn't want to use the bushing trick. So I sent the gator blades back and ordered a set of standard blades form a Kubota dealer. Oregon does not make a 7/8 arbor gator or regular blade in the 18 5/8" length.

 

[casolorz]

I sent a set of the gator blades back to Baileys today. I have a 54" deck on my BX1500 and the arbor is 7/8" or 0.875". The gator blades that the parts books called were 1 1/8" so it was a no go. I didn't want to use the bushing trick. So I sent the gator blades back and ordered a set of standard blades form a Kubota dealer. Oregon does not make a 7/8 arbor gator or regular blade in the 18 5/8" length.

Yeah thats why the ones that I got are 23/32'' or .72, which some people claimed will fit while others said they had to enlarge the hole (which I may be ok with).

 

[dex3361]

Does the gator blades load the engine more? I ask because the BX1500 is not loaded with HP. Does a good job mind you but I would not want to add more load.

 

[wirenut]

Does the gator blades load the engine more? I ask because the BX1500 is not loaded with HP. Does a good job mind you but I would not want to add more load.

I can't say that they do on my machine, although they are much heavier than stock blades (wider)

 

[mow4fun]

Does the gator blades load the engine more? I ask because the BX1500 is not loaded with HP. Does a good job mind you but I would not want to add more load.

Definitly not, that engine has so much torque that I never had any bogging issues even in heavy tall grass.

 

[wrooster]

<couple of threads now with the same queries, so...>

Here is the Gator blade compatibility info, direct from Oregon (see page 2):

BX1860 54" MMM RCK54-23BX -- What hole size /or/ PN Gator Mulcher blade?

Regards,
wrooster

 

[casolorz]

So according to the plaque on the mower I have a RCK54P-23BX.

I received the gator blades today (396-748) and they did not fit. I am going to have to have someone drill a larger hole into them.