Source for aftermarket blades for Wood RD990X

ironpen · Jun 20, 2014

I cut grass at my church with the mower. There are some rough areas, but no rocks to speak of. I am cutting about 15 to 18 acres per week. My Rhino 100 inch mower cut this with one change of blades per year. There are some dusty areas which I know hurts, but this is ridiculous. The blades almost wear away in front of my eyes and turn down on the ends and start digging up the ground. And they are a pain in the butt to change. I am cutting about 1.5 to 1.75 inches height (same as the Rhino). My Rhino is very old, but I may have to bring it out of mothballs if this keeps up. The Woods blades are much thinner than the Rhino blades. They look like they are maybe slightly thinner than my lawn mower blades. The Rhino blades are at least twice as think. I am very frustrated with this mower. It is very time consuming to clean and I like to take care of my implements. You have to remove the blade covers to clean around the spindles where as the Rhino, you just stick the nozzle of the air gun inside and you are through in a couple of minutes. The Woods has a deep box under the gear box that requires one to reach inside and dig out the clippings by hand. I bought this mower when the Rhino was in the shop getting spindles replaced because I had to have something to cut with. Our Woods equipment at the farm has been great, so I thought I was upgrading.....but I was wrong. The side skids had to be removed and turned upside down so they would not dig up the ground on turns. I love the texture of the cut, but this blade thing is getting me down. It would be easy if there was access through the deck like on a bush hog, but there is one hole that is about 5/8 inch and it's not really in a good place to use with an air ratchet, etc. I hope I can find an aftermarket blade that will last longer. That would make a real difference for my feelings about the mower.

ironpen · Jun 20, 2014

The RD 990 X weighs 1360 pounds and is advertised as a heavy duty mower. They no longer make the the RM. The RM had blade choices, the RD does not. These are "high lift" blades which may contribute to the wear rate.

RickB · Jun 20, 2014

He'd get a lot less blade wear and healthier grass if it were cut at 3" instead of 1-1/2". Those high lift blades are sucking the grit right up from the sod and grinding themselves to pieces with it. Bet the Rhino has flat blades.

nc redneck · Jun 20, 2014

1.5 inches is asking a lot out of a mower that wide, bet it is eating a lot of dirt. My RM990 is built like a tank. Has quick change blades that works extremely well. By far the best mower I have owned. I have no experience with your RD. I hope it works out for you.
Good Luck

Leejohn · Jun 23, 2014

Give woods a call and see if then can come up with another blade.

ironpen · Jun 24, 2014

I have talked to Woods several times...no help. No plans to intro another blade, either.

Leejohn · Jun 25, 2014

Well that ideal didn't help. I just got another one, it's might be way out in left field. Call Oregon and see if they would sell you some stright blades for RM990 unsharpped. They just might, all they would have to do is stamp and heat treat, bypassing 2 or 3 steps in making the blade.