gator blades

[farmerjim]

i picked up some gator mulching blades for my jd 316 w/46in deck. they seem to work great so far, but i was wondering if everyone just uses them and blows the clippings out the discharge or do you use the mulching plate to block the discharge. i don't have a mulch plate and i'm not sure they make one for my mower, i may have to fab one up.

 

[MrJimi]

I used an old license plate for mine and it works

 

[Miralcos]

I use them on a 48" cut Craftsman mower. I believe they are supposed to be used without the plate. The only drawback I've found with them so far is the grass has to be COMPLETELY dry to mow with them or you will be under the deck scraping the mulch out. If it's dry, those things cut grass up like nobodys business.

 

[Fordlords]

They can be used with or without a mulch plate. I use them without. Yes grass should be dry to prevent clumping, this goes with any type of mower. The Gator blades mince grass up nicely, this minimizes thatch, and allows more air and water to get down to the soil. As far as grass grows here in the northeast, they have been a good product IMHO.

-Fordlords-

 

[vrman]

I swear by them. I got a set for both my BX23 with the 60"MMM and my ZD326P. Don't use any kind of mulching plate either.

 

[jjcc246]

No mulching plate here. I couldn't be happier with a set of blades. They are definetly worth the money in my opinion.

 

[TimS]

No mulching plate here. I couldn't be happier with a set of blades. They are definetly worth the money in my opinion.

I just tried mine for the first time (no mulch plate). They worked as advertised - smaller clippings, less clumping. Not as smooth as a true mulching deck, but nice. And since the Gator Magnums I used were less than the stock blades, they are *definitely* worth the money, in my case anyway.

Tim

 

[rback33]

I will jump in and echo the others here.... I LOVE mine. No mulching plug used. Grass must be dry though.... I love mine.....

 

[Mud Dr.]

Ditto here. Great blades. As long as you keep them away from the cast iron water meters..... OUCH

 

[unit40]

I found that if you must mow when the grass is wet, the gators do a much better job than regular blades. They break up the clumps better and shred them into finer clumps. I also do believe that they cause more buildup under the deck than regular blades, regardless if the grass is wet or dry. Because they pulverize the grass under there, thereby releasing moisture. But they also shred up the clippings better when bagging...it seems as though the bags are packed fuller.