Shuboxlover 480 #1 Posted October 21, 2009 Can anyone tell me a little about the gator blades, the luck you've had (or not), and where to get them. 42" SD deck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpinnc 14,587 #2 Posted October 21, 2009 Got mine at a local dealer before he shut down. And I use them on a 42SD deck just like yours. They work well for reducing clippings, but you will loose some of the "lift" due to the design. If you mow regularly, they are great- but if you let the grass get too high, you will have some hay to bail... They just don't distribute clippings out as far as standard blades will, so it will clump up at the chute in heavy spots. Because of the lack of lift, mine don't seem to work well with any type of bagger set up. They can also be quite a job to sharpen. You've got so many edges to sharpen for each blade that it can take quite a bit of time to do it. Like anything else, if you use them for what they were made for, they work great. But they can also be a handicap in other situations. I would imagine that a 42 rear discharge deck with the recycling kit would work well with them. I just keep a second deck with standard blades for the times that I get behind on the mowing. Quicker to change decks anyway. Just my $.02 Kevin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwgdog66 23 #3 Posted October 21, 2009 I have them on mine. They do work well if you keep up with the mowing. If you fall behind they do leave clumps at the shoot. Some members have mounted them in an X (two blades per spindle with the regular blades) and have experienced better discharge of the clippings. I was going to try that set up, but didn't like the fact that only half of the nut was on the spindle threads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,571 #4 Posted October 21, 2009 Ditto for me on the last two posts. I have used these blades on a rear bagger JD tractor and lost 90% of the lift to the bagger as compared to the HI LIFT JD blades - night and day difference. The only reason I tried them was slightly cheaper price and the statement on a suppliers website they were replacements for the HI LIFT JD blades. The JD blades will lift even damp grass into the bags - the Gators barely shoot the same grass out the mower deck. Cut was good - cleanup was terrible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GlenPettit 1,717 #5 Posted October 21, 2009 There is a thinner 3/4" nut available at the hardware stores, about half the 3/8" thickness; take in one of your original nuts to be sure to get the correct thread count. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-Series14 15 #6 Posted October 21, 2009 Got them on my 48" SD and my 60" rear finish mower. It is awesome on leaves in the fall!!! As for mowing, like others have said, it does clump up on mine if it is tall but on my deck, I have the chute with the rock deflector in it and that is what blocks some of the heavy grass. My neighbor mows his yard, rakes it every time, and it looks like crap. I mow mine, stripe it, yes...it looks like a golf course, never rake, and he always says he wishes his yard looked as good as mine!!! uh...it's a green and yellow MOWER.... :ychain: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
