RG1
Platinum Member
Yes, you can still use it, but it may take some work to balance it. Just because there's a bad gouge doesn't make it a useless blade. As long as the rest of the edge is sharp, and ground at the correct angle, it will be fine.
Mowing Type of Blades on a Zero Turn?
- Thread starter Hexa Fox
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OP
Hexa Fox
Silver Member
Just found out that my machine is probably the biggest piece of garbage on the market. This series of Kohler was made in China and believe it or not there is a lot of plastic inside the engine. From what I saw it is mostly the gears and stuff but still pretty crappy. This is pretty frustrating to say the least. It seems like every good name that used to be in America is going down the drain.
Also I tried to get the belt back on today for about six hours. I have went over the directions several times and can not get close to getting my belt back on the way it is suppose to go. I am thinking maybe I allowed it to shrink up some from power-washing it and leaving it out in the sun. Either way I have to pry back the only movable pulley and try to roll the belt on. However even with maximum force I am still about two inches from getting in on.
Also I tried to get the belt back on today for about six hours. I have went over the directions several times and can not get close to getting my belt back on the way it is suppose to go. I am thinking maybe I allowed it to shrink up some from power-washing it and leaving it out in the sun. Either way I have to pry back the only movable pulley and try to roll the belt on. However even with maximum force I am still about two inches from getting in on.
RG1
Platinum Member
I knew that about your engine, but didn't want to say anything that made it sound like I was bragging on mine and putting yours down. The only good engines in the Kohler lineup ate the Command series, and even they can be hit or miss for quality. My last two (especially the last one) was so bad, after a lifetime of being a Kohler fan, I now go out of my way to avoid them. There must be a way to adjust the belt tensioner pulley. Mine has a large spring that you adjust.
OP
Hexa Fox
Silver Member
Yeah usually you are an intelligent individual not to. Better to let them find out the hard way, not at all, or like me call out my mistake in a public forum. As a lot of people will defend their purchase/investment with a hostile attitude and normally arrogant and ignorant attitude. I was still under the impression that if you saw "Kohler" written on a machines engine you bought it and did not ask questions. I guess that is not the case anymore. So what do I look for next time Kawasaki, Honda, or what? I heard that Briggs is not much better than Kohler at present either. What the **** is going on in this country? It is like a countdown until China literally owns us.
The upside is my entire engine only costs under $700.00 and I have a two year warranty on this machine. I am pretty sure that covers throwing rods or anything engine related. Then if I really feel like the frame and deck are in good shape I can buy another China Cheapo. However I guess that is why our country is going to ****... because people won't stop buying stuff made in other countries, especially China.
RG1
Platinum Member
I am a big Kawi fan. I don't care for B&S engines of any sort. The Vanguard line is not made by B&S at all. They are made by Daihatsu (owned by Toyota) in Japan, and sold here under the B&S name because B&S went in half for the factory that the engines are built in. The Vanguard is about the best engine going these days, and there are a ton of LCO's like me who share that opinion..
prosperity
Platinum Member
It all comes down to you getting what you pay for - most of the time. Years ago the B&S and Kohler were fine. The same goes for just about everything in our country now. We are in a throw away society now where price drives everything including or disregarding quality.
As far as gas engines on mowers I've only had Kawisaki on my Deere zero turns with great success. Everything else I own is diesel including my wife's car. But now even a lot of the small diesel engines are suspect. I was looking at small generators recently and I automatically lean toward a diesel. Not only for longevity, but I always have a lot of off road/heating oil on hand. From the reviews I read a lot of the small single cylinder diesel engines on these generators are made in another country and are falling apart.
It's a shame your zero turn is turning out this way as you said it is a great mower. After running a Deere 757 for many years, when I look at the zero turns at the big box stores, I can see the lack of quality with just walking past them.
Since you are invested in your current mower already, you'll probably have to deal with it and keep if working. The only real alternative would be a $10K zero turn like I had. It takes an awful lot of mowing to justify that price, but so nice knowing with basic maintenance it will just keep going and going.
I had to give up the commercial mowing due to health issues, and had to sell my 757 and bought a 62D deck for my Deere 2520 for mowing my own 3 acres. Oh how I miss that 757!
As far as gas engines on mowers I've only had Kawisaki on my Deere zero turns with great success. Everything else I own is diesel including my wife's car. But now even a lot of the small diesel engines are suspect. I was looking at small generators recently and I automatically lean toward a diesel. Not only for longevity, but I always have a lot of off road/heating oil on hand. From the reviews I read a lot of the small single cylinder diesel engines on these generators are made in another country and are falling apart.
It's a shame your zero turn is turning out this way as you said it is a great mower. After running a Deere 757 for many years, when I look at the zero turns at the big box stores, I can see the lack of quality with just walking past them.
Since you are invested in your current mower already, you'll probably have to deal with it and keep if working. The only real alternative would be a $10K zero turn like I had. It takes an awful lot of mowing to justify that price, but so nice knowing with basic maintenance it will just keep going and going.
I had to give up the commercial mowing due to health issues, and had to sell my 757 and bought a 62D deck for my Deere 2520 for mowing my own 3 acres. Oh how I miss that 757!
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Are the G5 blades the same as the Fusion blades? I had the Gator blades before buying the fusion blades and I didn't care for them. They didn't last very long. I have a 60 inch Scag Wildcat zero turn mower that I use around my house for a nice lawn, and in different areas of my land that I want to maintain nicer then I can with my tractor and finish mower. I probably do a couple of acres twice a month, so it's not commercial or even a lot of use. The Gator blades had to be sharpened twice to get me through the year. Last year I bought the fusion blades from Oregon and they lasted me all last year and I've been out several times this year on them without sharpening them once!!!!
If the G5 is a step up, then that's what I'll try next. Or is it what I already have?
Eddie
If the G5 is a step up, then that's what I'll try next. Or is it what I already have?
Eddie
RG1
Platinum Member
Eddie-
The G5's have the fusion treatment, as do the G6's. Oregon also makes regular non Gator blades that have the Fusion treatment. What it is, is carbide particles imbedded into the underside of the cutting edge (so you can still sharpen them, even with a hand file). The regular Gator blades (originals and G3's which were formerly known as 3-1 high lifts) do not have the Fusion treatment, and were not a high lift design except for the 3-1 (G3) version which are higher lift than the original Gator blade, but not as high a lift as the G5/6 blades.
Having to sharpen twice a season is nothing really, even though you only were mowing twice a month or so. A couple acres is a lot of grass to process, and if you have any sand to deal with, or thick stemmy type grass, the cutting edge will dull quicker than it would on nice turf grass. Most folks tend to cut with blades that they think are fine, but in reality are in need of sharpening. sharp blades keep from tearing the grass which turns the tips brown and makes a lawn look like crap.
You have a great mower, and the G5/6 blades will work well under it, but it is hard to beat the original Scag Marbain high lift blades for that deck if it is the latest version which is the Velocity + deck.
OP
Hexa Fox
Silver Member
I'm really sorry to hear you had to give up mowing Prosperity. As I am in Information Systems Security and where I should be concentrating my time because I can make a **** of a lot more money. However, I choose to take my schooling slow because to me there is nothing like maintaining a piece of equipment and getting to be outside on beautiful days (even when it is too hot). Therefore I am sorry to hear you can no longer do it. It must be a great loss. As in the Winter time I feel a good deal of relief but come Spring I am ready to jump back on my mower.
I grew up in a country where it was not always a "get what you pay for scenario". You could go out and buy a cheapo Craftsman and most of the time they were actually better than anything commercial grade. I now know that this is a true statement. Also you are my type of guy. I always look for anything diesel. I have a 4.8 V8 Silverado and I am looking to upgrade to a 6.6 Duramax when I can. As not only will I save money on fuel but I expect it to last very long if I take care of it.
I knew that Snapper was really crappy growing up. Now they have the Vanguard engine RG1 is talking about and they look better than Scag, Hustler, Exmark, and all the others. I am talking about their commercial line and not the little crappy ones you see for homeowners.
RG1
Platinum Member
The Snapper Pro mower is simply a Ferris without the suspension. Both brands are owned by B&S. Both are good machines too, but do not get sucked into the B&S Commercial Turf series engines if you go that route. they are nothing but the old B&S Intek engine with some fancy looking air filter and a few other upgrades. The are not, no matter what a dealer may tell you, the same as the Vanguard, Kawi FX or Kohler Command series engines.
