Parallel or perpendicular blade orientation when mounting 3 blades to a mower deck?

[waltshan]

When you replace the blades on a mower deck (if there are several, 3 in my case), I thought you should align them all in a parallel manner and then tighten.
However, I just recently came upon a picture of a brand new 3 bladed mower deck and the middle blade was mount perpendicular to the to other outside blades.
What is the correct mounting procedure? All parallel to each other or the two ends parallel and the middle blade perpendicular to the two end / outside blades?
thank You.

 

[dieselscout80]

Since most decks are belt driven the blades likely won’t in the same position after a couple minutes.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

It shouldn't make any difference at all. They will slip some as you mow, so wherever you put them to start, they will be in a different orientation the next time you see them.

 

[5030]

Anyway you want. Synchronizing the baldes with each other is not important so long as they are mounted curring edge down and correct in respect to rotation.

All multi blade decks, no matter who made them, the spindles are offset for a reason and that is because the blades all overlap in cut width when rotation and the offset spindles keep them from hitting each other. You'd never be able to 'synchronize' them anyway with a belt driven deck, simply because as you mow, the blades will move around a bit as the belts travel over the spindles. Even my Kubota with it's driveshaft driven deck, the blades are offset.

 

[oldnslo]

The exception to this rule is a mower with a toothed belt and the blades collide if not timed correctly or belt jumps a couple of teeth. I have only seen one mower made this way and makes a lot of unpleasant noise when the blades tips collide.

Just confirm tips can’t touch and it doesn’t matter on orientation.

 

[RBsingl]

When I took delivery of my Corvette Z06 at the museum in 2016, another customer was complaining that the valve stems on his car weren't all in the same position. I thought at first he was joking with his delivery person but the fool was serious.

Rodger

 

[dodge man]

You can orient the valve stems in the same place relative to the tire. Say all the valve stems next to the G on Goodyear. Pointless to say the least but in the world of high level show cars it’s an actual thing. You get to a show and Jack the car up then make them match.

 

[RBsingl]

Dave, that makes sense and with as much trouble as it is to mount the extremely wide low profile tires on these cars (285/30ZR19 front and 335/25ZR20 rear) I could understand a picky customer wanting that done. But this person was loudly pointing out that the valve stems weren't at the same "o'clock" position on the driver front and rear as he was looking at his new car.

My then 12 year old daughter and I stopped in the museum the evening before I took delivery to take a look at my car but I never even thought to look at valve stem placement.

A few years ago I ordered replacement tires from Tire Rack and their recommended installer was a Firestone location nearby. Fortunately I had taken the wheels off my car and transported them to this location in my pickup because they took one tire off and spent 2 hours without success trying to mount the first replacement before giving up but at least they were careful with the wheel. I then took the tires to a speed shop that has been in business since sometime in the 1950s and they had all four tires mounted, balanced, and inflated to spec in under an hour. They get all of my tire business now, excellent service from people who know their business!

Rodger

 

[WranglerX]

Both my JD riding mowers have three blades, middle blade if set a bit forward so its rotation does not interfere with two outer blades..... Believe this to be true with most belt driven mowers.... So perpendicular is not a valid thing....

 

[Dftodd]

I can line my mower blades up the way I want, but it doesn't last past turning on the deck

Deck is a belt drive, so the first time one of the spindles slips on the belt, they are back out of sync.

I just make sure the blades are installed right side up and get back to mowing