My New Kubota ZD1211 Mower

[lostcreekranch]

The new Gator Blades ..... performed as expected. They are significantly better that the stock Kubota blades.

The clippings are much finer and in areas with dead leaves from last fall, the leaves were chopped up. The Kubota blades just blew them out of the rear discharge ...... intact.

With the finer clippings, I expected increased grass around the radiator but, so far, that has not been the case. Temperature gauge, once the machine is warmed up, is on two bars. It got to three bars after about 4 hours of mowing yesterday. Blew grass out and kept going. With the Kubota blades, I had to blow it out about every 2 Hours, on average.

Much of what I was mowing yesterday was Bahia grass that was 12-16” high.

 

[rustyshakelford]

The new Gator Blades ..... performed as expected. They are significantly better that the stock Kubota blades.

The clippings are much finer and in areas with dead leaves from last fall, the leaves were chopped up. The Kubota blades just blew them out of the rear discharge ...... intact.

With the finer clippings, I expected increased grass around the radiator but, so far, that has not been the case. Temperature gauge, once the machine is warmed up, is on two bars. It got to three bars after about 4 hours of mowing yesterday. Blew grass out and kept going. With the Kubota blades, I had to blow it out about every 2 Hours, on average.

Much of what I was mowing yesterday was Bahia grass that was 12-16” high.

Does it lay all the Bahia down in one pass? That’s the worst to cut and seems like it’s constantly heading out. Might need to order a set

Brett

 

[lostcreekranch]

Does it lay all the Bahia down in one pass? That’s the worst to cut and seems like it’s constantly heading out. Might need to order a set

Brett

Brett, the Gator blades cut the Bahia evenly. The Kubota blades left lots of uncut stems. Even after cutting a second time, at 90 degrees from first cut ... still lots of stems standing.

I changed to Gator Blades, on my John Deere Z820A on first blade change and ran Gator Blades for 10 years.

For rear discharge 72” deck you need 396-814 Gator Blades. For 60” IDK. Check with your Kubota Dealer. My dealer admitted the Kubota blades were less than acceptable.

 

[turbo246]

On the zd1211. Is the cutting height your setting dial match what blades are really at? On concrete with dial at 3 the blades are about 3 3/4 from floor on my new 1211 72”

 

[4570Man]

Where is the Kubota radiator located? My grasshopper is behind the seat. It gets about 5 hours use a week and hasn’t been blown out in a couple months. It’s always ran in the low end of the green.

 

[Brown Dog]

On the zd1211. Is the cutting height your setting dial match what blades are really at? On concrete with dial at 3 the blades are about 3 3/4 from floor on my new 1211 72”

Very Good point

I want to try a set of these Gator Blades. I'm happy with My Stock Blades cut but :

I don't like the windrows my 72" RD Deck leaves behind after cutting Thick Heavy Grass.

A few days later after it turns brown, it looks bad.

I thought about shortening the 3 rubber deflectors across the back of deck but unsure.

 

[Brown Dog]

Anybody tried a ZD3168 Mulching Kit that plugs the back of the deck with Baffles on a 72" Rear Discharge Deck ?

 

[lostcreekranch]

I’ve switched over to Oregon Gator Blades and cut is far superior to the stock Kubota blades.

 

[lostcreekranch]

On the zd1211. Is the cutting height your setting dial match what blades are really at? On concrete with dial at 3 the blades are about 3 3/4 from floor on my new 1211 72”

I’ve never worried about calibrating cutting height to what the dial indicates as I change height for different places I mow.

I do want the deck to be level.

 

[turbo246]

I’ve never worried about calibrating cutting height to what the dial indicates as I change height for different places I mow.

I do want the deck to be level.

Mine brand new was off over a 1/2” out of level side to side, that’s the only reason I noticed it’s not matching the dial. I go by look and not the dial as is.



For those who use gator blades, what’s the part number on them. These stock acs blades suck, Poor striping and not enough lift to blow out.

 

[Brown Dog]

... These stock acs blades suck, Poor striping and not enough lift to blow out.

SD or RD Deck ?

 

[lostcreekranch]

Mine brand new was off over a 1/2” out of level side to side, that’s the only reason I noticed it’s not matching the dial. I go by look and not the dial as is.



For those who use gator blades, what’s the part number on them. These stock acs blades suck, Poor striping and not enough lift to blow out.

Can’t speak to all Kubota decks but, the Oregon Gator Blades for my ZD1211, 72”, Rear discharge is #396-814.

 

[turbo246]

SD or RD Deck ?

I have side discharge 72”

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have side discharge 72”

Most Kubota dealers can give you the proper Gator blade for your deck. My dealer realized the OEM blades aren’t great.

 

[Brown Dog]

Is this the Oregon Gator Blades #396-814 you guys are using on 72" RD Decks ?

It says their 3" wide, which is same width as the SD deck uses & 1/2" wider than the stock 2.5" RD Blades.

The 1-1/8"' center hole is correct though for RD application

Pic appears to have a longer sharpened edge than the OEM blades ?

I ordered a set yesterday from Agri Supply.

 

[lostcreekranch]

View attachment 564077
Is this the Oregon Gator Blades #396-814 you guys are using on 72" RD Decks ?

It says their 3" wide, which is same width as the SD deck uses & 1/2" wider than the stock 2.5" RD Blades.

The 1-1/8"' center hole is correct though for RD application

Pic appears to have a longer sharpened edge than the OEM blades ?

I ordered a set yesterday from Agri Supply.

This site show cross reference to the Kubota blades.

G6 Gator Blade 24-1/2" Length / 396-814

 

[Brown Dog]

Well I'm too impatient waiting on my Gator Blades, so I cut 1-1/4" off the length of two outer rubber flaps on back of my 72" RD Deck today to match the length of the shorter center flap.
The windrows from cutting THICK Grass is So MUCH Better now

I'm going to cut another 2" or so off all 3 flap / deflectors tomorrow so NO Windrows are present after cutting.

Keep in mind, I'm mowing 12-15acres around my farm & I don't / can't mow weekly like subdivision home owners lol

I mow at 2-3/4" height setting on the dial but blade measures 3" from Concrete floor.

I hope the fan doesn't suck more clippings up into the radiator than it already does .......

.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Well I'm too impatient waiting on my Gator Blades, so I cut 1-1/4" off the length of two outer rubber flaps on back of my 72" RD Deck today to match the length of the shorter center flap.
The windrows from cutting THICK Grass is So MUCH Better now

I'm going to cut another 2" or so off all 3 flap / deflectors tomorrow so NO Windrows are present after cutting.

Keep in mind, I'm mowing 12-15acres around my farm & I don't / can't mow weekly like subdivision home owners lol

I mow at 2-3/4" height setting on the dial but blade measures 3" from co Concrete floor.

I hope the fan doesn't suck more clippings up into the radiator than it already does .......

.

I’ve got an 84” Rear discharge RFM that I use on the open areas around the house at the ranch. Nice mowing with tractor with cab and A/C. It’s still less 50% of area because of all our trees. But, in summer, every bit helps.

Good luck with your new Gator Blades. I got mine, on eBay, for $11.99 each plus $10.99 Shipping.

This is one of our pastures near the front of the Ranch.

 

[Brown Dog]

Nice pic.
I started out with a 72" Land Pride RFM, now a 84" Bush Hog RFM & a 110" Befco RFM.
All 3 Rear Discharge Decks.
The Tractor rides so much better than Zero but all 4 of my JD are Open Stations.

 

[Brown Dog]

I finished cutting Rear Rubber Deflector Flaps on RD Deck.
I left them 1" length from top on both sides.

I cut 1" off the center flap & 1" off the metal deflector behind it.

Headed out to mow .....