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(ET) How do blades overlap
The blades are arranged in a triangular pattern, they don't actually
overlap
but their swept areas do. The fact that you push them forward is what
makes
them overlap. That is also why you don't sharpen the inside 10 inches of
the
blade. The outside "leading edge" of each blade slices the grass as it
approaches, so by the time the inner part of the blade gets there the
grass
has already been cut.
Bad Analogy coming up..... Picture a fan with the guards removed. Now with
the fan running try to bring your fingers into the center of the fan from
the outside edges. I bet your fingers don't get very far in. That's how a
rotary mower works. Only the edge cuts.
A nice sharp blade cuts the grass almost as cleanly as a reel mower.
Unfortunately they don't stay nice and sharp for very long.
Stay Charged!
Hump
I-5 / NY
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave & Debbie Barden [mailto:daveb seanet com]
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2003 3:19 AM
> To: lelie ford com; agp vt edu; elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> Subject: RE: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck
>
>
> I've not yet used my mower but this discussion has been interesting and
> good
>
> for my future reference.
>
> so I am left with 2 dumb questions:
> 1. if the blades overlap how come they don't collide with one another?
> 2. I haven't lookd closely but are the blades only sharpened on about
> the
>
> outside 3 inches or so? and if so how is that the inner 10 or 11 inches
> of
> blade cut?
>
> Like I said dumb questions but I was raised using a push reel mower. My
> father
> also claimed they did a better job and would have nothing to do with a
> rotary
> mower because they hacked the grass rather than cut it. Fortunately for
> me
> we
> lived in the city with a small lot and not much lawn.
>
> dave
> Seattle
> E12S
> E15mod
>
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Andrew Poush [mailto:agp vt edu]
> > Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2003 9:51 AM
> > To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> > Subject: Re: (ET) Large Frame Mower Deck
> >
> >
> > I was thinking about this some more and I realized that there are more
> > questions I need to add to the survey. So to repeat all the current
> > questions plus the new ones:
> >
> > So now to a question:
> > Does anyone out there use a large frame deck to successfully cut the
> > lawn in only one cut?
> >
> > YES!
> >
> > And a survey:
> > Can all those with large frame mowers tell me: 1) How many cuts does
> > it take to do your lawn?
> >
> > One; if it takes two you are doing something wrong (and that's very
> > common!)
> >
> > 2) Side or rear discharge?
> >
> > Have used both. I like the rear discharge better; the clippings are
> > more
> evenly
> distributed.
> >
> > 3) With or without baffles?
> >
> > I never made it cut right (for a factory deck) without baffles.
> >
> > 4) What is cut height (number of spacers below front wheel caster
> bearing)?
> >
> > It depends on what height you want. I use 3 or 4 spacers below the
> > caster.
> >
> > 5) What numbers and/or text appears on the deck nameplate?
> >
> > Now you're meddling. No, I have used at least 3 types of deck, and
> > they all
> can be made
> to cut well.
> >
> > 6) Is deck OEM?
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > 7) If it came with the ET, what is ET s/n?
> >
> > Ditto 5; it shouldn't matter. E12/E15.
> >
> >
> > First, check to see if the blades are turning the right way!
> >
> > Second, keep the INSIDE OF THE DECK CLEAN! Don't try and mow 'damp'
> > grass.
> If you have
> too, that's fine,
> > but don't expect it to look good. It sticks in the deck and overloads
> > the
> motors. The
> blades turn slow
> > and it doesn't cut. I use a 3 fingered weeder to scrape off any grass
> thicker than 3/4"
> on the inside of
> > the deck.
> >
> > Third, sharpen the blades, ESPECIALLY THE OUTSIDE 3" and the tip. If
> > the tip
> isn't sharp
> and square, you
> > will leave the strips. This isn't unique to the GE; I have seen it on
> > Bolens
> and Sears
> decks too. It IS
> > more pronounced as the GE tip speed is slower than on many other
> > decks; it
> isn't the RPM
> that cuts, it's
> > the linear speed; a longer blade is turning faster.
> >
> > Fourth, are use using the SAME types of blades? The 'lift' blade has
> > more
> bend. I have
> used them, but am
> > not at the moment. I'm not sure, but I think they were standard on
> > the
> side-discharge
> deck. Either will
> > work, but your ground speed will be different.
> >
> > Fifth, is the deck LEVEL? Front to back very important.
> >
> > Sixth, with rear discharge you want the rubber boot to spread the
> > clippings
> more
> uniformly.
> >
> > Seventh, when the blade is worn to the width of a butcher knife,
> > replace it.
> >
> > LAST, and most common mistake; don't expect it to mow if you can hear
> > the
> blades slowing!
> The GE mows at
> > about 3,000 RPM as I recall. With a radius of 7.25" or so, that's a
> > tip
> speed of 127 MPH.
> Sound good?
> > A Bolens 20 HP with 19" blades cuts at 3600 RPM; that's 203 MPH.
> > Don't get
> me wrong;
> anything like 100 MPH
> > will cut fine, a reel mower is cutting in the 10's of MPH, and it
> > works ON A
> LITTLE GRASS
> AT A TIME! The
> > problem is that a gas tractor like a Bolens or a John Deere uses a
> > governor
> to control the
> engine speed;
> > more grass and the RPM doesn't droop too much. The GE gets more load
> > and the
> current can
> go way up to
> > add power, but the RPM drops off REAL FAST. You have all heard it.
> > When the
> roar stops
> you aren't cutting
> > well. Go slower. Or raise the deck and go slow too. If you're
> > re-cutting,
> wait a day
> and let the grass
> > dry out so it doesn't plug the deck. If you don't do this you will
> > ALWAYS
> LEAVE TWO
> STRIPS OF GRASS!
> >
> > If you do it right, you can cut as good as anyone. My nephew has a
> > 14.5 HP
> Sears, and I
> cut along with
> > him at times. I can leave the grass looking SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER than
> > he can
> when cutting
> more than an
> > inch and a half of grass, but I can't do it as fast.
> >
> > Now if I could find one of the front-mounted GE reel mowers to try,
> > that
> would be fun.
> >
> > Larry Elie
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> > https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> > https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
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Stay Charged!
Hump
--
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