Double Blades on ZTR

[Lawn DOG]

How many of you guys are using them?

Are any of you using them on something other than a Dixie Chopper?

[SLS]

I just started using them yesterday.

Med.lift and gators....for dry 5-7 inch tall fescue and bermuda. Catching up from wet spell and the 10 days/bi-weeklys growing FAST got a little tall.

Love it! Dusty-but no need to double cut to deal with clippings! This combo shreds and throws them nicely.

I run a Lazer Z w/ 23 Kaw. and 60" deck. No problem with drag when chopping at 2-1/2" (blades as sharp as Ginsu knives and CAREFULLY balanced) :D

[Eric ELM]

Several of you members that use Exmark have emailed me about where to get the double blade bracket. Have any of you bought them? I am wondering if they do work on an Exmark or not, they should but I would like to know for sure.
Thanks
Eric

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I use them on my lazer 60" Gators on top, standard high lifts on bottom. No bracket, the blades dont move at all. I like it.

It will be alot better when my OCDC come in.

[BIG RON]

HAS ANYONE HAD TROUBLE BENDING THE BRACKETS FOR THE DOUBLE BLADES? I BENT ONE THIS WEEK SOMEHOW. I DONT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING. BUT IT SURE IS BENT ALL FOUR LIPS ARE BENT LIKE THE BLADES TWISTED. IF IT CAN BE BROK I CAN SEAM TO FIND A WAY.
ALSO IS ANY ONE USEING BLADES THAT HAVE BEEN CRYOID(not sure of the spelling). THAT IS FREEZING THE BLADES. I HAVE BEEN RUNNING THESE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS AND INSTED OF CHANGING THE BLADES AT LEAST ONCE A DAY I CAN GO SOMETIMES 2 OR 3 DAYS BETWEEN SHARPING.:angel:

[SLS]

EricELM:

No Bracket. All my local Exmark dealers said: "???HUH???"

No Spacer between blades.

Torqued at 140 lbs. (better safe than sorry)

So far...so good. :)

Anyone who tries this:... remember to compensate for the 1/4" loss of heigth under the deck and be sure to re-adjust the scalping wheels accordingly! Also try to get 2" bolts of #8 hardness.

I compensate a full 1/2" in to be safe. Works and stripes real nice! :D

[awm]

they stay where they are suppose to pretty good for me.
the bracket would take away the give if you hit something
seems to me.i use lazer

[evergreenlawn]

I just started using them yesterday. They did great. Gators on top of med. lifts. I'm running a Gravely PM260Z.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

USING DOUBLE BLADES IS DANGEROUS

I have tried this before on a W/B and did not see a diferance
they did not stay on straight

I also don't think the manufactures want you to do so or they would have done it them selves

I would check with the man. site and see what they say about it

your mower spindle wern't made to hold the extra stress

[awm]

got to differ on that godfather,think about a toy jack,as in pick up jacks. is it balanced better with two sides or four.
in any case they were a major improvement for me.to each his on later

[Eric ELM]

SLS, the only place that sells the bracket that I know of is a DC dealer and they are $15 each, but you do not need them.


LAWNGODFATHER - I have been spinning double blades for the past 12 years and I have had zero problems with them. Dixie Chopper sells this double blade bracket and your spindles are still covered by the warranty. I have replaced 1 bearing set on one spindle in the past 12 years and that was on a Chopper with 3,000 hours on it. The other 2 spindles are still fine with over 3,400 hours on them. I wonder how many hours I would get it I just run 1 blade? Would it be Double the life? Tripple?

I have to go along with AWM on this one. Maybe doubles only help on JD's and ZTR's with belly mowers, but they do make a difference, especially in TALL grass.

[Alan]

Originally posted by LAWNGODFATHER
USING DOUBLE BLADES IS DANGEROUS

your mower spindle wern't made to hold the extra stress

Just where does all this "extra stress" come from? I can see an increase in the torque load from working two extra edges and lift wings but that's not very much. Think about it a little, the shaft is well able to handle a lot more torque than double blades require.

As far as any load from balance, there is NO affect on balance. Each blade acts as its own entity and balance problems are no worse than with a single blade.

Bearings MIGHT get a little more thrust load from the pull of two blades generating lift, but when you look at the size of the bearings they are well able to deal with that.

I've seen it mentioned that there will be more stress on the spindle if you hit something with the double blades. HOW? Two blades will slip on the spindle bolt as easily as one will.

As for the blades moving from the + position, up here in rocky country that does happen. I'm going to try having some brackets machined from round stock with two grooves milled in them, one on top and one on the bottom at 90 deg. to the first. That should keep them aligned if they smack something. Having them move doesn't bother me but when the top blade runs intot he bottom lift wing it can put a naasty nick in the edge of the top blade.

I've used doubles since last spring, took them off this week because there was just too much dust generated in this dry weather.

[LJ lawn]

i just started using this setup on my toro this week.regular/gators on top. seems to work well. BUT it has waaay to much bow-back out from trhe front of the deck,i'm getting covered in grass every time.i either need to make some sort of windshield or maybe try double gators. i use them wet and dry and haven't had a problem.