Replacing blades

[jman00]

When do you replace your blades. I have some gator blades that are about to have the end foil wear off and i was wandering if they are still good to use. They create a vaccume and cut good and discharge good still. I guess i could keep using them until they are to thin to keep sharpening. What do you guys think. I need some input.

[UGA]

I'd replace them only after they stop cutting well. I don't have any blades that I have been able to get to that point as I am a blade -----:) One mower and 8 sets of blades.

[tiedeman]

I wouldn't use them at all any more if anything wears off

[rodfather]

When the tips round off, I give them the heave. Rounded-off tips can leave a strand of cut grass behind you when mowing instead of being discharged out and away from the deck.

[TLS]

I'm WAY too picky with my blades to let them go that far. Your cut is diminished it just took long enough that you didn't notice. Put a fresh set of factory high lifts on and watch your cut improve DRAMATICALLY.

Your lift will diminish.

Your effective blade length will diminish.

Your approach angle (90 degrees) will slowly round and not be as effective.

Blades are cheap. Time spent on the lawn is expensive!

[rodfather]

Originally posted by TLS
Blades are cheap. Time spent on the lawn is expensive!


Good point.

A set of blades runs you only about 50 bucks or so depending on what you're putting on. Junk the old ones and invest in new ones.

[jman00]

I have a 52" hustler super mini. I have about 4 sets of blades i rotate. I was just wandering when to replace a set with new ones. I know they are not expensive but why replace something that still performs. I do not get stringers and they seem to cut the same as the newer sets. Thanks for the input guys.

[TLS]

Mine usually get ruined by a big stone or stick WAY before they wear out. But in sandy conditions that you may have, things may be different. Around here, I swear, if I could have EVERY stick picked up, and every rock and stone gone, blades would last FOREVER!!!

[Rustic Goat]

The 'technical' answer I see most is, measuring from front of blade (cutting edge) to back side of blade (in a straight line, don't measure curve), when 1/3 of metal is gone.
That's assuming there is no other reason like chunks gone from hitting harder than grass object, cracking, way out of balance, bent, etc.

[Keith]

Originally posted by rodfather
When the tips round off, I give them the heave. Rounded-off tips can leave a strand of cut grass behind you when mowing instead of being discharged out and away from the deck.

True dat! When they start to round off, they are cycled out.