mabsoon 60 #1 Posted May 21, 2016 Here are the blades off my 520H. I think I knew they were funky but not this funky... Ok, I need to do the donation thing, but for now, I have a 60" deck and the top back side edge of all three of my blades on both ends are split. Is this normal? I see brand new blades with various odd back edges I am wondering if the previous owner did his own custom blades. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
857 horse 2,588 #2 Posted May 21, 2016 I bought a used Big Box tractor 3 yrs ago for the engine,,,after looking at it again,,,i realized it was alot nicer than mine.... jacked it up....looked at the blades....and they were split....i was worried and replaced them,,, Sold my old machine 2 weeks later.....never happier..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tankman 3,523 #3 Posted May 21, 2016 Should have kept both. Just in case, of course. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scoob8000 29 #4 Posted May 21, 2016 All three blades on the 42" deck on my 416-H were split where the lift "ear" way. I ground the area to rough them up and welded them up. Ground them smooth and balanced them. Mowed 5-6 times with them until my new gator blades got here. A welder buddy of mine said he's done it before on the blades of his New Holland with no ill effects, but I didn't want to chance my luck longer than needed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mabsoon 60 #5 Posted May 22, 2016 The guy who is sharpening them is gong to weld them first. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mabsoon 60 #6 Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) OK so welding them didn't work too well. As for sharpening them, it will let them mow a couple times, but the split and weld pretty much dictates new blades, so I bought three gator blades that are the equivalent length and hole size. Also picked up the belt for the tiller. Edited May 24, 2016 by mabsoon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,499 #7 Posted May 25, 2016 As soon as mine shows signs of wear I speed it up with a cutting disc in the grinder and cut it off. Rebalance and good to go. At one time many manufacturers supplied what they called a sand blade but you don't see them any more. In sandy areas the lift picks the sand up and as it exits the blade it takes some metal with it. Garry Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mabsoon 60 #8 Posted May 25, 2016 Ah, that explains the issue well. Picking up the new blades now though. They have sand slots just kidding, Gator!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,949 #9 Posted May 25, 2016 Here's the blades and spindles I removed from the kids green and yellow thingy a couple weeks ago. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 51,806 #11 Posted May 25, 2016 Yikes Bob they look like some kind of medieval death weapon!! 40 minutes ago, gwest_ca said: At one time many manufacturers supplied what they called a sand blade but you don't see them any more. In sandy areas the lift picks the sand up and as it exits the blade it takes some metal with it. I thought thats what gator blades were Garry?? Or so I was lead to believe by the guy who sold me the last set? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,949 #12 Posted May 25, 2016 I think that's what they were Jim. All those edges were razor sharp. Just barely brushing them would draw blood. That's definitely do-say. On top of that the noise the spindles made was deafening. The blades on my Wheel Horse hold up a lot longer. I think that's mainly because they don't spin nearly as fast. I would like to find some of those sand blades Garry mentioned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcrage 630 #13 Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) So that is caused by soil/sand abrasion?? I see metal loss over time that I attribute to abrasion, but what I see is not in specific spots, it is more uniform(?) Edited May 25, 2016 by dcrage Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
