GT235: Mower Deck/Mower Vibration After Installing Oregon G5 Gator Blades

[snpower]

I've run these many times before... Part # 596-354 on my 48"C deck. Noisy, vibration right through the hydrostatic pedals. I checked freedom of movement before I fired up, and have removed and reinstalled the blades to check torque. I cannot imaging new in box blades would be out of balance but... any thoughts?

As a caveat... I do believe the deck is a little noisier than my old GT235 deck was. This one has 150 hours on it, and was purchased in mint condition. I would hope nothing would be bent... perhaps the Gator Blades are exasperating an issue that is already present.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Purr haps you could check that balance.

 

[snpower]

Blades seem balanced. There is some wear in part of the secondary belt, so in lieu of suggestions I will replace that and see how it goes.

 

[Spanner]

Blades seem balanced. There is some wear in part of the secondary belt, so in lieu of suggestions I will replace that and see how it goes.

"Seem balanced"?
How do the blades "seem" balanced ?
Do they "look" balanced or did you actually test them physically ?


Did the deck vibrate with the old blades installed ?

Run the deck with no blades and verify that the vibration still exists or otherwise.

A worn section on the belt will cause the tensioner to oscillate causing a vibration.

Also, disengage the belt tensioner and verify that the spindle bearings are quiet
when spun and not loose or worn.

You said "Noisier" - Noisy usually means 'bearings'.

 

[5030]

Purr haps you could check that balance.

I happen to know where they are stamped at and they could very well be out of balance as the company don't check the balance, they just punch them out
Used to deliver slit Hot Rolled coils of steel to them.

Could be the die shifted or they were at the end of the coil and the last few came up short in length.

Noisy shop too. OBI centrifugal presses are inherently noisy.

Get yourself a cheap balance cone or use a narrow straight edge clamped in a vise.

 

[snpower]

I used a nail to see if they balanced. Same with the existing blades. Sure, it’s not as accurate as what has been described so I’ll pick up a balance tool at some point.

I am cleaning the deck so I will remove all blades and check noise/vibration then. The bearings are not loose… checked by rocking each blade up/down.

Thanks for the tips so far.

 

[snpower]

The deck is whisper quiet without any blades installed.

 

[beenthere]

A blade balancer is all of $8.19 on Amazon.

 

[RjCorazza]

I sharpen my Gator blades almost weekly cutting 30+ acres per week. Using a Mag1000 balancing tool, I occasionally find new blades out of balance. Although expensive, it's a great balancing device. I never had much faith in the cheap cone type balancers, or a nail in the wall.

 

[jcalla]

Since we are talking mower blades, does anyone know where I can find a left hand (CCW rotation) blade equivalent to Oregon 396-612 specs? This is for my finish cut AMF 4214 Landpride mower. IMO, The OEM blades are not beefy enough for the machine. I have searched high & low and I just can't find them. Oregon does not make them and I have struck out with other searches. Attached are the specs of the Oregon 396-612 RH cut blade.

J