Gator Blades and Arm Rests

[Newblue]

CBox - If ya don't mind me asking, what was the cost on your 1.5 acre pond? Also don't worry about buying a bigger machine for the cup holder. I have a class III machine with the cup holder over the tool box and it is worthless. If I stick a 20 oz. bottle of water or soda in the holder it will fall out and get ran over. The only way I can keep anything in it is to use an insulated can coolie to make a tight fit.

Mike

 

[djradz]

Cbox, please don't take this wrong, but why the need for the gator blades? I think most folks find that the stock blades work just fine. If you keep the PTO RPMs up at what they are supposed to be, I wouldn't think you wouldn't have any problems.

 

[CBox]

Newblue,

I don't mind you asking at all, but it is kind of a tough question to answer. My total project cost is right at $36K. WOW!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif That was tough to type!! But, I should clarify. I have a much larger project than just a pond, and I can't give you the cost of the pond alone because I did not have the contractor itemize the bid. But, so the number sounds a little better, let me tell you what he is doing.

We built a new house on 20 acres of ground. We put the house about 3/4 of the way back on the property and we are putting the pond behind the house. My wife wants the front of the property to be pasture for her cattle (someday!!) We have had some drainage issues at the back of the property due to a county ditch on my neighbors property (directly behind me) that is erroded and needs cleaned. The ditch runs through a woods and the county wants to take out way too many trees while cleaning the ditch. So, in an effort to keep my neighbors happy and not petition for the county to clean the ditch, we are installing about 550' of 12" tile, another 600'+ of 6" tile and two catch basins for runoff water. He is also going to tie the downspouts from the house into the pond, tear out my existing driveway for about 300' and elevate the entire thing @ 3', then put the drive back, plus a new circle drive in front of the house. Then, finally, the dirt from the 1.5 acre pond is going to be brought up around the house for finish grade and a 40' by 48' building pad plus privacy mounding from the neighbors. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Needless to say, it is quiet a project.

I'm not sure where you are in central Indiana, but I am using a company called Zahm Excavating in Huntington. He is not cheep, no doubt. But, his work is excellent and I know it will be done right. That means a lot with a project this large. He has mentioned to me in the past, that a one acre pond with stone edge top, sand beach and seeded grass typically cost @ $15K.

Oh yea, the price of my bid also includes prep for grass seed, grass seed and fertilizer for @ 5 acres.

I hope that was not information overload for you! But my wife and I are very excited if you can't tell! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Too bad about the cup holder, I guess I didn't realize it wasn't deep enough.

CBox

 

[CBox]

djradz,
You may very well be right about the stock blades. I have just read about several people being happy with the Gator Blades and thought I would try and get a set in with the deal for the new deck. I have every intention of getting the stock blades as well and seeing which works the best.

My thought, throwing in a $50 set of blades on a $3000+ mower deck won't hurt my dealer. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Cbox

 

[thcri]

I have away for a while but I will respond yet even though you got your information. It was my understanding that New Holland was going to make the Gator Blade stock on their larger rigs. Not sure where the break off was. I have the 72" deck and was not happy with it's performance at all. Even running my mower at full RPM's like another poster posted it did not help. My biggest complaint was my front tires would knock down the grass and my mower would not pick that grass back up to cut. A day later I would have to go back and mow again to make it even because the grass that got knocked down would stand back up and be higher than the rest. The Gator's are a high lift blade and now I don't have this problem. Last summer I took my Gator's off so I could sharpen them but put the stock one's back on and mowed with them a bit. Same problem all over again. I know have two sets of Gators.

But be warned, I think the Gator's work for some but have done nothing for others. There is a lot of variables that go into it. Another thing is you will notice a difference in how fast and how much you can mow as the Gator's will suck a bit more HP out of your tractor because of the high lift.

Murph