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vanncann · #1 02-17-2013, 05:08 PM

I've got 2 blades for the same mower. One is .205 and the other is .250 will the be a difference in mower function or will it be the same??? because of the weight of the blades it's got me wondering... Both are the same type of blade, mulching.

Ridin' Green · #2 02-17-2013, 07:45 PM

What machine? What HP, and what sized deck?

It depends on how the mower was set up by the manu regarding pulleys, etc. My Deere Z's came with .250" X 3"W high lift blades on the bigger one, and the other came with .312"x 2.5"W medium lift blades. Both 60" decks. Both run/ran the thicker blades just fine. If your machine is/was originally set up/designed to run .205" high lift blades, it may lose some power with the .250" high lift blades. More so if yours came with medium lift blades and you try to run thicker high lift blades.

vanncann · #3 02-17-2013, 08:27 PM

Ok! Now this question is for one side having .205 and the other side having .250... Not running different blades @ different times it is running different blades @ the same time...

Ridin' Green · #4 02-17-2013, 08:45 PM

That can cause the machine/deck to shake a lot if they aren't perfectly balanced. It could wear the spindle bearings out faster on the side with the heavier blade due to the extra rotating mass, especially if the machine wasn't originally designed for that size blade.

vanncann · #5 02-17-2013, 08:58 PM

Even if both were new??? Not a sharpened blade... I do understand balance and all but this is something I'm not sure about...

vanncann · #6 02-17-2013, 09:00 PM

Now... If you say there arn't any people that havn't done this... You don't know what your talking about... This is lawn care...

herler · #7 02-17-2013, 10:56 PM

Throw those .205's away or use them for brush clearing, but for regular that flimsy thin crap, hit a rock and the tip of the blade breaks off and goes flying out the side at 200 mph hit someone in the shin take a chunk of flesh right out, cheap blades are dangerous garbage.

No sir, I take my job seriously, blades are an important part of the machine and a proper running piece of equipment is paramount to safety.

For that reason I don't mix and match blades, just a matter of principle, they all come in sets of 3's, I buy them that way... And when I buy blades I rarely buy just one set, I think the last time... About 6 years ago, if memory serves me right, I bought thirty blades now I don't have these silly issues of uneven this or that, it's all the same blade, pretty much.

It does aggravate when one gets bent, but there's one thing I have learned...
Watch what you're buying, cheap isn't always better, as often than not cheap means .205 thin steel.
Always buy .250's

Might cost a little more upfront.
But cheap tends to be far more expensive in the long run.

Ridin' Green · #8 02-17-2013, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanncann

Now... If you say there arn't any people that havn't done this... You don't know what your talking about... This is lawn care...

I didn't say that anywhere, so not sure what you're talking about now. There may be others who have for all I know. Yea this is lawn care, and anyone worth a spit isn't going to do something like that unless a blade gets damaged on the job and the only spare blade on the haul rig is of a difference size. Then, it might not hurt just to finish a lawn or the day even, but if you are a serious LCO, you don't do hack work, half arse crap. You do the right thing and make sure your equipment is as safe and reliable as you can make it.

Herler-
there are lots of new machines that come stock with .205" blades. Hustler & Exmark just to name two.

MOturkey · #9 02-18-2013, 12:36 AM

Running different blades of different weights at the same time isn't going to effect the balance whatsoever. Each is operating independently on a separate spindle. I think common sense tells one to use the same blade all the time, but I also don't think it is something to stay up nights and worry about.

Ridin' Green · #10 02-18-2013, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOturkey

Running different blades of different weights at the same time isn't going to effect the balance whatsoever. Each is operating independently on a separate spindle. I think common sense tells one to use the same blade all the time, but I also don't think it is something to stay up nights and worry about.

That's not what I said. I was pointing out that a heavier blade that becomes out of balance will definitely show up as a vibration and quicker beacuse of the rotating mass being greater. Maybe more so on a machine with spindles designed by the manu to use a lighter blade.