Bad Boy EZ method for cut improvement

[IndianSprings]

Having two BB ZTR's, using them commercially we always are looking for the best cut. Althought the majority of the time we are pleased when we cut fescue and blue grass mix lawns we wanted to improve the cut on bermuda lawns.

If you have a 60" deck, here is an ez solution. We noticed the end to end blade gap on the BB blades is quite wide, at least an inch. We measured and switched to ExMark blades which only have a 1/8" end to end gap and clear the deck by only an 1/8". The quality of cut difference is dramatic, especially on the bermuda lawns. There is no modification needed to use their blade.
Just make sure you pick up the blade with right diameter mounting hole as ExMark has two different sizes, you want the smaller size.

I contacted BB corporate and they are going to take a look at the length of the blades to see if they agree it results in a better cut.

For us it is a no brainer. Hopes this helps any other BB owners.

[demhustler]

interesting - tanks 4 sharing

absolutely - more overlap between blades - better cut
what was clearance between blade & deck?
how much exmark's blades longer?

[demhustler]

good idea...
with any deck (i believe) would be nicer to have more overlap especially between left and central blade
so, even if there is no clearance between blade and my deck - it worth to check - central blade might have; even 1/4'' on one (central) blade - would make difference, conceding blades wear and very corners not that sharp as rest of the blade

[YardFarmersLLC]

Sweet! I'm glad I found this. Mine need all the help they can get. Thanks for the tip!

[IndianSprings]

The clearance between the exmark blades on the 60" BB deck is about 3/16".
I haven't measured the total lenght of the blades for difference. I'll do it Monday morning before heading out. I know I'll never go back to BB blades unless they lengthen them to the same length as the exmark's. The cut difference is night and day, especially when you mow at the upper end of the BB's speed range.
With the BB blades in bermuda I could always see a difference between the blade end gaps, you could see the distinct cut of each of the three blades, now with the exmark blades that is gone.

[brucec]

I've been running these blades on my BB for a year and they do make a big difference. Just make sure to get the notched Hi lifts.

[hawgcaller]

Any one have any specific Exmark part # that they can share? It does not have to be the OEM part #, but just one to reference from, to help others get the right blade the first time.

Thanks

[brucec]

I just went in and told them I needed blades for a 60" deck with the 5/8" center hole. I can't find the part #.

[balreadysaid]

Originally Posted by brucec

I just went in and told them I needed blades for a 60" deck with the 5/8" center hole. I can't find the part #.

if you download the oregon blade pdf file from thier website you could figure out the part # by looking through the exmark section.

thier are more than 10 exmark blades that fit a 20.5 x 5/8" hole description. here are a few i copied off of my pdf file hope it helps. btw the last numbers in the blade spec to the right of the part# is width and thickness 300 being wider than 250 most are 203 thick some thicker at 250.

their are more blades than this and if you download pdf file you will see

91-264 exmark #. or oregon # 491-264 is a hi lift fusion that would be the blade i bought


(3) for 60" cut, mulcher,
91-311 or 613112 20-1/2 5/8 250-203
Lazer Z model
(3) for 60" cut
91-407 or 613250 20-1/2 5/8 250-203
(3) for 60" cut
91-483 or 1030301 20-1/2 5/8 300-203
Gator Mulcher®
90-424 20-1/2 5/8 250-203
Gator Mulcher® 3-in-1
96-335 or 90-424 20-1/2 5/8 250-203
Hi-Lift
Gator Mulcher®
90-724 20-1/2 5/8 250-250
MAGNUM
Gator Mulcher® 3-in-1
96-740 or 90-724 20-1/2 5/8 250-250

[brucec]

the hi lift fusions are what comes stock on the BB.