speed up pulley

[kansas john deere]

Evening gentlemen first time poster and I have a quick question. I have a 1986 JD 318 with the 50in. mower deck. I am thinkiing about upgrading the center drive pulley to increase the mower deck speed. From what I have found on the net is they make one for my deck but am wondering if they really help or not? Also do you guys think if I change the blades from the standard ones to a high lift stye blades would that make any difference. Thanks in advance. Gary

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

Don't know what the problem is that you are having.

But sharp blades and clean deck make the most difference for good cut. Also, with new grass this time of year, a good lift and clean cut is not the easiest to get. When the grass toughens up a bit, much better looking lawn.

As to high lift, I've had mixed pos/neg effects. Have high lift for regular mowing, but standard blade for deck with blower picking up clippings. Gator blades for the rougher areas.

I think I know what you are thinking about the increased blade tip speed, but don't have a guess as to whether it will improve the cut.
A larger pulley and faster blade will suck up more hp.

 

[kansas john deere]

Thanks beenthere what I am trying to do is the front tires lay the grass down when they run over the uncut area and I am wanting to try and get the deck to "lift" the grass up so I can get a more even cut.. That is what I am trying to get done. My thinking is if the speed up pulley make the blades turn faster plus putting on the "high lift" blades also it would help but just not sure .

 

[zzvyb6]

Take your 318, put the mower on the back and run the tractor backwards. That puts the mower deck out in front which cuts the grass before the tractor wheels run over it.

Oh wait, that's an F-900 series !!! Love my F-935...

 

[jbooth]

I believe hi lift blades will help some. Also verify your motor is turning the RPMS. Had a friend who changed the JD 318 Onan 18 HP motor for a Briggs Vanguard at 20HP. He thinks he is getting more RPMS out of the Briggs and a better cut. Could have just been a tired Onan. He had a ton of hrs. on it.

On my Cub Cadet with 54" deck the upswept lift portion of the blade will wear down and it will not cut as well as when new. Especially in wet grass.

 

[om21braz]

I expect changing to sharp, high-lift blades will be your best and cheapest remedy. Somewhat higher blade speed may not help as much as one might think - the deck design may be the real issue.

 

[kansas john deere]

Ok thanks guys next time I change out the blades will get some of those "high lift" blades and see how it works.

 

[captplaid]

I always thought the problem with older deeres was the deck was spinning too slow.

The new ones spin a lot faster.

The 7iron deck sounds like a helicopter idling. A it mowes a heck ov a lot faster than the 318 ever did.

 

[Arley]

Ok Kansas John, I hear ya. I have a 318 with a 46 inch deck and a GT 275 with a 48 inch deck and the GT275/48 on comparison cuts my lawn on one pass. That is to say the 318/46 takes two passes to cut as cleanly. It is blade speed pure and simple, the problem is BLADE SPEED! I use Gators, my deck is rebuilt and my Onan "P" series engine runs fine. I can watch the grass clippings dribble out of the discharge on the 318 while the GT/48 scatters the clippings 4-5 feet away from it's discharge. On another site the posters were talking about a "speed up kit" for their 318 50" deck. A request for the kit part number was never answered. If I find the kit number I will try to post it here.

 

[Arley]

Ok Kansas John, I hear ya. I have a 318 with a 46 inch deck and a GT 275 with a 48 inch deck and the GT275/48 on comparison cuts my lawn on on pass. That is to say the 318/46 takes two passes to cut as cleanly. It is blade speed pure and simple, the problrm is BLADE SPEED! I use Gators, my deck is rebuilt and my Onan "P" series engine runs fine. I can watch the grass clippings dribble out of the discharge on the 318 while the GT/48 scatters the clippings 4-5 feet away from it's discharge. On another site the posters were talking about a "speed up kit" for their 318 50" deck. A request for the kit part number was never answered. If I find the kit number I will try to post it here.

John Deere 50-inch Mower Deck Center Drive Speed Up Pulley - AM116141

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