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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

GATOR Blades?

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Indydirtfarmer

08-19-2004 10:40:45

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Just picked up a set for my John Deere 265 Hydrostatic, with 48" deck. Heard they"re a tough act to beat. Anyone with first hand information on them? Good? Bad? How long do they wear? Any good after regrinding them? Thanks. John

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Matt Clark

08-26-2004 11:59:24

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

50 inch Dixie Chopper, mowing 2.5 acres regularly. I put the Gators on this spring and I like them. The lift is not as good, so sometimes leaves a few uncut blades @ WOT (9 mph). Other than that, only one complaint...the mower really blows fines out of the front with the Gators.

I thought it was just me until wifey pointed out that she gets covered with crap and "look at the top of the deck!" It was 3 inches deep after every cut. If that doesn't bother you, they are HEAVY blades and no gravel or other debris has even knicked them. I've sharpened them 3 times this year (probably not even necessary) and still got metal for 20 more....

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Ray,IN

08-19-2004 21:12:21

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

I think they are worth the money and am satisfied with them. I have a Hustler 48" and they work great. I use a trick a friend told me and grind/sharpen my blades all the way to where the spindle outline is on the blade. He owns a lawn mowing business and sharpens the blades on all his mowers this way. He says his Dixie Choppers will mow smoothly running full speed-if he can stay on them.....

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Joe Evans

08-19-2004 20:34:53

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

I have been using Gator blades for years, but I use them at specific times of the year.

They DO NOT provide as much lift as a high lift blade. This is obvious when you look at the back sweep. They ARE made of good stock a hold and edge well. They DO do a slightly better job of fining-up the clippings over a standard blade.

Where they really shine is in the fall and at the first cutting in the spring when there are leaves to contend with. They absolutely hand-grenade leaves. I have not raked leaves in years-just gator blade 'em up. I do not have a mulching deck.

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CNKS

08-20-2004 05:18:22

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Joe Evans, 08-19-2004 20:34:53

I will agree that they seem to give a better cut, better than new OEM blades. Where they fall short is giving an even distribution of the clippings, mulching or not. I have too large a lawn and too many trees to want to mess with sweepers or baggers. I did notice that the clippings seemed to be finer, but the distribution of those clippings was still poor. This is on a dry lawn without excessive growth. THey are not for every lawn.

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Rich in Ia.

08-19-2004 18:46:03

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

----About as mediocre as the green and yellow P.O.S. that propels them..... ..

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CNKS

08-20-2004 05:22:43

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Rich in Ia., 08-19-2004 18:46:03

--Any mower that costs several thousand dollars needs maintenance. My green and yellow one has run 8 years with no major problems, it is used hard, but is well maintained. You get what you put into it. No maintenance, you get what you deserve. And, I'm not pushing JD.

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Ben in KY

08-20-2004 08:37:37

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to CNKS, 08-20-2004 05:22:43

I have an 8 year old Yellow and green (Yardman not JD) self propelled mower that has served well and been worked hard, Gator blades seem to work well on it.

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CNKS

08-19-2004 17:45:08

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

I have a JD F525 front mount 48 inch deck. Mowing 30000 sq ft fescue bluegrass mix every 5 days. Without the mulching attachment, Gator blades do not distribute the grass evenly, with the mulching attachment grass comes out in clumps. Mowed yard about 4 times with them, put the JD mulching blades back on. For my type of mowing, they simply do not work, and are a wast of money. This was with a freshly cleaned mower deck, cutting maybe 20% the height of the grass (remaining grass was 3.25 inches tall).

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Indydirtfarmer

08-19-2004 15:31:21

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1st impressions; in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

Put "em on. Mowed the lawn. They did an excellant job. They ought to, they"re new. They cut like new blades. No suprise there. They DID chop up the clippings to my satisfaction. The grass is dry and not growing as fast as it was a few weeks back. Good test, but not the ultimate test. I noticed when I was cutting in heavy grass, there was very little blowing out from the grass chute. That"s what I"m wanting. Like that "clean lawn" look! John

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Joe MD

08-19-2004 13:16:00

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

I see little difference between gators and our standard blades. Both blades are jd brand and I change them about once or twice a season. We have a 60" deck.

I was somewhat disapointed.

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08-19-2004 16:20:10

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Joe MD, 08-19-2004 13:16:00

If you are using JD brand? Gator blades, someone is misleading you on Gator blades. They are manufactured and sold by Oregon Outdoor Products and if you are not seeing any differance, then you have not got genuine Gator Blades. I have never seen a John Deere that they did not improve cut on.

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Joe MD

08-20-2004 12:29:57

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to JT, 08-19-2004 16:20:10

Let's put it this way. They're gator style blades I bought at the John Deere dealer. They are big and heavy like regular JD blades, but now that I think of it they did not come in a JD box. They were boxless.

In any event, we finish mow about 7 acres a week with a 60" John Deere and in my opinion the gator "style" blades don't make a noticeable difference.

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CNKS

08-19-2004 17:46:51

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to JT, 08-19-2004 16:20:10

I have!!

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Mike M

08-19-2004 12:12:12

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

One benefit you should notice is that you should use less fuel. These are a low lift blade compared to the JD med lifts. I put them on my LX172 38" deck and it seems to cut better and use less fuel.

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buickanddeere

08-19-2004 11:36:53

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GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

The primary intention of the "Gator" blades is not extra mulching. It's to prevent the blade from wearing through where the back twists up to provide lift. The slots let the sand/dust through and still have the lift to raise and mulch grass clippings. Ordinary high lift blades can be worn through and fail on sandy ground before 1/2 a dozen sharpenings.

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TheRealRon

08-19-2004 11:27:46

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

I've been using them for many years. They are far superior to standard blades in every way. They have enough meat to regrind them 50 times but I get tired of looking at them and replace them every couple of years. They are very high quality steel and hold an edge well.

If you are a "mulcher" you will be very pleased with them. That's what they are for. I often cut grass that's too tall and often wet and I still rarely ever see any clippings.

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VADAVE

08-19-2004 11:05:08

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Re: GATOR Blades? in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 08-19-2004 10:40:45

Havre a set on my Bobcat 48" mower. I wanted something with more lift and I don't think these are really any better then the orginals in that regard. What I notice is that they aren't really different from the orginal--other then the three raised tabs on the back of the blade which provide the lift, the orginal has on large tab.
They do seem to hold an edge better and sharpen easily.

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