----- Original Message -----From: Eric and Tracie MillerSent: 3/24/01 2:36:05 AMSubject: (ET) Grass Cutting Season
I wanted to share this with the list as well as Dennis,> I experimented with a set of the "Gator" blades on my New Ideal EGT120,> same as the GE E12m. The blades are 3/16" thick, much thicker and heavier> than the stock GE blades. I had an amp meter mounted to the dash tomonitor> only the amps that the mower deck pulls. The Gator blade wings are about 2> 1/2" in length, curl up about an 1/2" in height and are serrated so theynot> only lift but also recut grass clippings. This blade originally fits a 42"> Dixie Chopper I believe.> The positive side to using these blades is they lift up each and every> blade of grass and then cuts it off clean. This is really important on the> belly mounted mower tractors were the front wheels flatten down the grass> before it gets cut. With these blades they just suck the bent over grass> right back up and then cut them off. There was no streaks in the yardwhere> the grass was mashed down and was cut while in this bent over position. I> must say my yard never looked this good with the stock blades!> Now the down side to these blades. They pulled almost 50 amps justsitting> still, not mowing. When mowing they pulled 60 amps. I kept a eye on theamp> meter and would back off the throttle to keep the amps at least under 60.It> seems with the extra weight of the blades they had enough momentum to cut> right through and only pull 10 additional amps while mowing at areasonable> rate. Another noticeable thing is any time you increase lifting ability of> the blades them become louder like a giant vacuum cleaner! Also to allow> clearance for the taller wing height you need to trim down the bladeguards> under the deck so the blades can pass under them. With the increased blade> lift they will "shoot" the grass clippings out the back out the deck no> problem! So if you aim it right, you can blow all your grass clippingsinto> your neighbor"s yard and have that perfect lawn.> I would only recommend using this blades during the cool fall months to> mulch leaves. With the cooler fall temperatures the mower motors will run> longer before over heating due to the higher amp pull. I actually wouldmow> my front yard and stop. Then get out the cordless pushmower and trimup.When> done trimming I went back and mowed the back yard. Using this methodallowed> the tractor's mower motors to cool down between mowing the front yard and> the back yard. I don't recommend trying to mow with these blades duringthe> hot summer month because the mower motors will heat up too fast and shut> off.> I also tried a set of blades that were not as thick as the "Gator"blades> and did not mulch. These blades originally fit an older Snapper lawntractor> that had a 42" deck also. The center mounting bolt hole in these bladeswas> too large at 5/8". I stacked two 1/4" flat washers in the 5/8" centerhole> and drilled them out to 5/16" so my bolt would fit through them.> These blades behaved the same as the Gator blades, except that themdon't> mulch. They pulled about the same amps. The wings on these blades was 3"in> length, curl up about 1/2" and had provided plenty of lift. They were loud> but did a nice job. Spring and fall is the only time I can get away with> using either type of these blades.> For the hot and drier summer months when the grass is thinner, I woulduse> the stock GE blades either the 15 degree or the 30 degree lift blades. Mr> Gunn sells both of them still. I guess I should point out that pulling> higher amps will also shorten your mowing time.> Have Fun,> Eric Miller>>>> > Since grass cutting season is about to begin here in the Midwest, Iwould> > like to resurrect some old discussion.> >> > Does anyone have any up to date info. or experimented with differentstyle> > blades on the mower deck ?> > Specifically mulching type blades, or any others ? ? ?> >> > My grass is really starting to green up !> > Dennis