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RE: (ET) Grass Cutting Season



Eric and others,
 
I'd be careful using the mulching blades.  Much of the additional amp draw is due to the need for a mulching blade to literally suck the grass so it stands nearly straight up and then keep the clippings in the air stream until they can be cut over and over again in the mulching process.  The blades in a mulching deck are more blowers than cutters, so therefore need much more power than non mulching blades.  I wouldn't be surprised if a mulching blade didn't at least double the power requirement of a standard blade.  The GE deck, not being designed for mulching, has motors not designed for the continuous high current draw mulching blades require.  Running the GE motors at such high continuous current will draw too much current through the brushes and commutator segments.  GE did overdesign many tractor components, but I'd worry about grossly shortening the motor life if not actually burning them out.
 
I had considered purchasing a used mulching deck, converting it to the GE front mount, and powering it with an E15 or E20 traction motor.  I have the motor, but haven't found a good used mulching deck that wasn't really big bucks.
 
 
--- Steven Naugler
--- snaugler earthlink net
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric and Tracie Miller
To: elec-trak discussion list
Sent: 3/24/01 2:36:05 AM
Subject: (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 to
monitor
> 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 they
not
> 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 yard
where
> 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 just
sitting
> still, not  mowing. When mowing they pulled 60 amps. I kept a eye on the
amp
> 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 a
reasonable
> 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 blade
guards
> 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 clippings
into
> 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 would
mow
> my front yard and stop. Then get out the cordless pushmower and trim
up.When
> done trimming I went back and mowed the back yard. Using this method
allowed
> 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 during
the
> 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 lawn
tractor
> that had a 42" deck also. The center mounting bolt hole in these blades
was
> too large at 5/8".  I stacked two  1/4" flat washers in the 5/8" center
hole
> 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 them
don'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 would
use
> 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, I
would
> > like to resurrect some old discussion.
> >
> > Does anyone have any up to date info. or experimented with different
style
> > blades on the mower deck ?
> > Specifically mulching type blades, or any others ? ? ?
> >
> > My grass is really starting to green up !
> > Dennis