Dumb Questions, I guess

[Guardian]

I have only been part of this sight for a short time. I have only heard of "double blades" here & I guess I have to ask - Are we really talking about bolting 2 blades to 1 spindle? Do they line up any special way? Is this good for the mower? What if I have a mulching setup instead of side discharge? On a different note, Do most engage their Blades at low RPMs? Is this better that at full?
Sorry for asking questions that are basic for "Lawnsiters"

[lawnman_scott]

I use double blades, got the idea from eric elm, and its excellent. I dont think its too good on your blade belt, but try it and see the cut you get. i just put mine on in an X, and its great for mulching.

[Runner]

Welcome to Lawnsite. Try the search function, it works wonderfully. You'll find all the info you will need on double blades and many other topics.

[Eric ELM]

I have a page on double blades on my website with pictures, I have a search page for Lawnsite on my website with 76 topics. 2 fo them are on double blades with many threads on this topic. All this can be found on my website by clicking my little red house below.

Engage your blades at as low of rpm's as possible without stalling out the engine.

If you read all the posts on all the treads on the search page, you will know everything there is to know about doubles.

[Greenkeepers]

Ditto what Eric said :)

[BRL]

Every mower manual that I have read (4 different brands) have said to engage the blades at full throttle. I've seen many here at LS suggest engaging at low RPM's. Why is this so I know. I tend to follow the directions that I'm given from the manufacturers with equipment. Please enlighten me. Thank you.

PS I would think its better to put less stress on the belts & spindles by engaging at lower RPM's, but I figure there must be a good reason to engage at full throttle if the directions say to.

[AB Lawn Care]

I usually ingage my blades at low rpm's....not becouse of wearing out the engine or anything,but becouse here in Canada a pto belt for a Walker is $60.00!!!Yes a belt!!!

[Cleve]

Right on about the Walker. And you know that Walker has the belts made special just for them. I always engage at a low RPM to try and save the belt.
Same goes for my Toro WB. I assume it is good for the electric clutch as well as the belt.
Cleve.

[J1705]

Mine are lined up like a + with a mulching kit. Cuts grass great one time over with double blades.

[MikeLT1Z28]

engaging at a lower rpm saves on the clutch. i engaged 65hoss's on the laser one day and threw the belt clean off the pulleys.

[Grassman]

I totally disagree with engaging the blades at the lowest possible rpm. It may save on cheaper things like belts and clutches but puts too much strain on the heart of the unit, the engine. Some think it's like dumping the clutch on a vehicle but it's a much less complicated system.

[Eric ELM]

Grassman, I have been starting up the double blades on my old Chopper for the past 3,300 hours and it still runs great, so it hasn't hurt that engine. I don't understand how starting up blades at an idle can hurt an engine. Maybe you can explain this a bit. It's a new one to me. How many more hours would I get out of that engine if I would of started the blades up at 3,750 rpms?

[bam]

We teach our crews to engage blades at a lower speed. Over the years we have found that when we have double blades the wear is less on the equipment when starting at lower RPM's. Our blades are also set up in a criss-cross fashion with a specially fabricated plate to hold them in that position.

We have used everything from reg, hi-lifts, gators and all combinations for the doubles, but the right set-up really varies on the kind of machine and the type of deck...You just need to experiment and see what works for you.

And even when running one set of blades, our very experienced mechanics have said, slower is better for engaging and disengaging.

[Guardian]

This place continues to be wealth of information. Thank you all for the input. BAM mentioned dis-engaging as well as engaging blades at low RPMs - I didn't think disengaging would matter either way. Anyway, I have started practicing the LOW engagement as of 5/1. As for doubles, do you have to compensate for deck hieght? Some mention using brackets, it seems that not everyone does. I am going to use the "search function" as advised. thanks again-

[Mr.Ziffel]

For Serial Numbers 160,000 thru 259,000 and 260,000 and higher

4.3 MOWING

4.3.3 Engaging electric blade clutch: ....Set throttle to "midway" position. Pull outward on the switch to the "ROTATE" position. Accelerate to full throttle to begin mowing.

4.3.4 Stopping Electric Blade Clutch: Set throttle to the "IDLE" position. Push in on the switch to the "STOP" position stopping the cutting blades.

4.3.5 Stopping Engine: Bring unit to a FULL STOP. DISENGAGE the cutting blades, MOVE MOTION CONTROL LEVERS OUT to the NEUTRAL LOCK position and SET PARKING BRAKE.

KAWASAKI ENGINES: Before stopping the engine, lower the engine speed to an idle. Keep on running at idle for about one minute; then stop the engine.

This verbatim from the book and it's the way I've been doing it with no problems. Will M.

[Grassman]

Eric, I didn't mean starting them at full throttle either. The 23hp Kawasaki on my Bobcat idles around 1200rpms and if you try to engage the blades at this level it strains the engine and usually stalls. Straining any engine to the point of stalling or near it can be harmfull. I think engaging the blades around 2200rpms on most engines is ideal. However, to put 3300hrs on your unit shows you know what you're doing. I have a little 48" Bobcat with a 14 Kawasaki with over 3800hrs on it from doing it my way. Thanks for all your hard work, Russ.

[Fine Lines Lawn]

Welcome to LawnSite, and there are no dumb questions :)