Had enough of the clumps Ordering Gator Blades
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beenthere
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I'll be curious of your opinion of the gator blades too.
A couple years ago I tried them, but didn't get a second set. Could tell that the grass is 'chopped' up finer, but then with a side discharge, it isn't cast out as far so 'falls short' and windrows some. (Rear discharge may not have that problem).
A couple years ago I tried them, but didn't get a second set. Could tell that the grass is 'chopped' up finer, but then with a side discharge, it isn't cast out as far so 'falls short' and windrows some. (Rear discharge may not have that problem).
I needed a new blade for my Honda lawnmower (wish I could use my tractor, but...) and stopped at home depot (only place open at 10:00pm) and picked up a Viper blade. The look exactly like the Gator blades.
Verdict is still out. I was away last week and the new grass behind my house grew 4 or 5 inches. The stuff in front grew only an inch or so.
I found taking only half cuts (using half the mower) worked best out back. The seem to work well in the front but my old blades were really bad.
Verdict is still out. I was away last week and the new grass behind my house grew 4 or 5 inches. The stuff in front grew only an inch or so.
I found taking only half cuts (using half the mower) worked best out back. The seem to work well in the front but my old blades were really bad.
DAP
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Haz ... here's my input/opinion.
1. Your grass looks fairly thick. Bare minimum cutting height should be 3 inches.
Regardless of what type of blades you use, rear discharge will always leave a windrow, the kind you have come to despise, unless you are cutting less than 1/2 inch of height.
That being said, you will be undoubtedly be much more satisfied with:
1. A right (or left) side discharge deck. This way, you can cut in a clock wise motion, or make as many right turns as you can, and keep moving the cuttings dumps into one or 2 rows. I've found that I can go back over this row or 2 with the deck up and blow those rows out of eye sight also.
2. Sweep or vaccuum your cuttings. I know plenty of people that do this and in my opinion, it is a drastic time increaser, and maintenance chore I'd rather do without. Sweeping after cutting adds unnecessary hours onto our machines. Stopping to empty grass hoppers every 15 minutes also becomes inefficient and a PITA.
Our grass likes the clippings, but not in volumes that suffocate and kill.
For my region, those first few May months when grass is growing an inch a day makes it impossible to have a clean cut without raking, sweeping or vacumming at least a little unless you have the time to mow 2 or 3 times a week-which I certainly don't.
1. Your grass looks fairly thick. Bare minimum cutting height should be 3 inches.
Regardless of what type of blades you use, rear discharge will always leave a windrow, the kind you have come to despise, unless you are cutting less than 1/2 inch of height.
That being said, you will be undoubtedly be much more satisfied with:
1. A right (or left) side discharge deck. This way, you can cut in a clock wise motion, or make as many right turns as you can, and keep moving the cuttings dumps into one or 2 rows. I've found that I can go back over this row or 2 with the deck up and blow those rows out of eye sight also.
2. Sweep or vaccuum your cuttings. I know plenty of people that do this and in my opinion, it is a drastic time increaser, and maintenance chore I'd rather do without. Sweeping after cutting adds unnecessary hours onto our machines. Stopping to empty grass hoppers every 15 minutes also becomes inefficient and a PITA.
Our grass likes the clippings, but not in volumes that suffocate and kill.
For my region, those first few May months when grass is growing an inch a day makes it impossible to have a clean cut without raking, sweeping or vacumming at least a little unless you have the time to mow 2 or 3 times a week-which I certainly don't.
OP
hazmat
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DAP,
Thanks for the comments. When I got back from my 2 week vacation (thought it be OK as it was JULY!!! and a friend was supposed to cut the lawn for me, but got rained out) the grass was in excess of 10".
I usually cut every 5 days in spring and 7-10 days in summer (following the 1/3 rule) spring @3", summer 3.5". I had cut at 3.5" Before I left (should have left it at 3" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif).
I'm really hoping that the rain holds off today so I can clean up the mess /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.
Thanks for the comments. When I got back from my 2 week vacation (thought it be OK as it was JULY!!! and a friend was supposed to cut the lawn for me, but got rained out) the grass was in excess of 10".
I usually cut every 5 days in spring and 7-10 days in summer (following the 1/3 rule) spring @3", summer 3.5". I had cut at 3.5" Before I left (should have left it at 3" /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif).
I'm really hoping that the rain holds off today so I can clean up the mess /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.
5picker
Bronze Member
hazmat,
I don't recall if you have a MMM or as RFM? Sorry if this info was included in an earlier post.
I have to respectfully disagree with DAP that all RDM leave windrows unless you are only cutting 1/2 inch off the height.
My Woods RD-RFM does not leave windrows or clumps unless I get into cutting 6-8 inches of grass above normal height. Even then if it's real dry, I don't have much problem.
My stock blades have a lip that curls up on the non cutting edge but does not have the serrations like the Gators. It really does a nice job of distributing the clippings. I typically cut to a height of slightly less than 4 " and it's usually at 6-7 inches until I get around to cutting it so I'm generally cutting 2-3 inches off without windrows or clumps.
Again, maybe there is a difference in a RD-MMM and a RD-RFM but my RD-RFM does a nice job.
My $.02
Tim
I don't recall if you have a MMM or as RFM? Sorry if this info was included in an earlier post.
I have to respectfully disagree with DAP that all RDM leave windrows unless you are only cutting 1/2 inch off the height.
My Woods RD-RFM does not leave windrows or clumps unless I get into cutting 6-8 inches of grass above normal height. Even then if it's real dry, I don't have much problem.
My stock blades have a lip that curls up on the non cutting edge but does not have the serrations like the Gators. It really does a nice job of distributing the clippings. I typically cut to a height of slightly less than 4 " and it's usually at 6-7 inches until I get around to cutting it so I'm generally cutting 2-3 inches off without windrows or clumps.
Again, maybe there is a difference in a RD-MMM and a RD-RFM but my RD-RFM does a nice job.
My $.02
Tim
OP
hazmat
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It's a MMM. It usually handles 1.5-2.5" of cutting with the standard blades unless its real thick and wet. Hoping that the gators will work a bit better.
thcri
Elite Member
Hazmat,
I am hopeing with a few cuttings you will like the Gators. Mine is a side discharge and you would never get me to change my blades for anything else. I have much smaller clippings now and am finding that the grass clippings decompose so much faster. In fact years past I have had lots of trouble with rust on my lawn which is partially from a build up of grass clippings. This year I have no problems with rust. Now the weather has a lot to do with rust which may also be why I have none this year.
Pic is of my shoes after walking across my lawn last year. That is how bad the rust was.
murph
I am hopeing with a few cuttings you will like the Gators. Mine is a side discharge and you would never get me to change my blades for anything else. I have much smaller clippings now and am finding that the grass clippings decompose so much faster. In fact years past I have had lots of trouble with rust on my lawn which is partially from a build up of grass clippings. This year I have no problems with rust. Now the weather has a lot to do with rust which may also be why I have none this year.
Pic is of my shoes after walking across my lawn last year. That is how bad the rust was.
murph
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have_blue
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll be ordering the gator blades today.
)</font>
Gator blades may not help. Instead of windrows of whole grass stems uglying up your lawn, you'll have windrows of well shredded grass uglying up your lawn.
The only success I have had with eliminating windrows is to mow with low lift blades and keep the blade RPM as low as possible. Keeping the blades very sharp allows lower RPM, and lower RPM keeps the blade sharper longer.
Mowing every 2 days is the only perfect solution. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
)</font>
Gator blades may not help. Instead of windrows of whole grass stems uglying up your lawn, you'll have windrows of well shredded grass uglying up your lawn.
The only success I have had with eliminating windrows is to mow with low lift blades and keep the blade RPM as low as possible. Keeping the blades very sharp allows lower RPM, and lower RPM keeps the blade sharper longer.
Mowing every 2 days is the only perfect solution. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
have_blue
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hazmat,
Pic is of my shoes after walking across my lawn last year. That is how bad the rust was.
murph )</font>
When you wear iron shoes, what do you expect? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
All seriousness aside, I live in the "Rust Belt". Here in Cajun Country, the dew is so heavy every morning that we can't even grow certain typs of grass. Rust absolutely destroys zoysia here. Dense windrows always have rust or grey mold under it.
Pic is of my shoes after walking across my lawn last year. That is how bad the rust was.
murph )</font>
When you wear iron shoes, what do you expect? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
All seriousness aside, I live in the "Rust Belt". Here in Cajun Country, the dew is so heavy every morning that we can't even grow certain typs of grass. Rust absolutely destroys zoysia here. Dense windrows always have rust or grey mold under it.
