Low Lift vs High Lift blades

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mac43rn

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Discussion starter · #1 · Sep 14, 2006

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I have heard so many rumors on this topic. Can I hear from the members on this forum.

What are the pros and cons of each. Currently running 60" Lazer Z and 36" TTHP. Any suggestions for blade setup with these units. Most of our mowing is using side discharge.

thanks

 

tacoma200

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#2 · Sep 14, 2006

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mac43rn said:

I have heard so many rumors on this topic. Can I hear from the members on this forum.

What are the pros and cons of each. Currently running 60" Lazer Z and 36" TTHP. Any suggestions for blade setup with these units. Most of our mowing is using side discharge.

thanks

Click to expand...

Here is what Exmark says:
Notched Air Foil
These are factory blade and best for most applications
Max. lift and discharge velocity
Ideal for heavy thick grasses
Take full advantage of hp

Solid Air Foil
Blades reduce flex when mowing
Blades don’t tend to bend as easily after impact
Can help in reducing blow out
Helpful in cutting Bahia shoot, Dandelions, Foxtail, etc.
Will reduce discharge velocity

Low Lift
Used a lot in sandy areas
Helps reduce build-up on bottom of deck
Reduces discharge velocity
Reduces blow out
Uses less hp to operate
Lower noise

Mulching
Works well with our mulch kit
Sharp blades are a must for max performance
Uses maximum hp for best result
Forces clipping back into turf
Blades need to be sharpened more often do to increase cutting of clippings

High lifts generate alot of air flow, pick up grasses that like to lay down and cut them off smooth. They also have the greatest discharge velocity. The down side is they may cause more grass to stick to the deck and take more power than low or medium lifts. Notched high lifts usually work best on an Exmark unless you have a mulch kit.. I will use gators in the fall. Wet conditions a medium lift will probably not make as big a mess on the underside of the deck. Exmark recommends the notched high lifts for most situations. Best all around blade for side discharge.

 

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Runner

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#3 · Sep 14, 2006

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That is what Exmark says, and that is the concept....Now, this is what MY (and Exmarks) experience is. When I use the notched foil (highlift) blades on the 60" Lazer, I get streaks. These streaks are in the forward sweep of the center blade. It looks like a 3rd wheel track, but off center just slightly. There is a LONG thread on here by me regarding this, and it contains communications from Exmark in it. They were prepared to give me a new deck if necessary. TH MACHINE WAS NEW AND I was not a happy camper. We did new belts, reset the deck, and a bunch of other things. An Exmark rep came out in the field to see what it was doing. We finally cleared it up by something as simple as putting these solid foil blades on.

 

tacoma200

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#4 · Sep 14, 2006

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I personally don't have the above problem with notched high lifts. Looks like carpet most of the time. Clipping thrown into the neighbors lawn yes, streaks no.

 

Envy Lawn Service

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#5 · Sep 14, 2006

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Joe,

I think I told you that I would bet your deck top is not perfectly flat/straight.
Or atleast one spindle is not mounting up perfectly.

If I didn't tell you that, I'm sorry I didn't.

Yes, a solid foil blade will help that complication if it's not off too bad.
The only explaination I have been able to come up with for that is this...
You know that inner portion of the solid foil?... Has an 'inside flow angle'

 

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noseha

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#6 · Sep 14, 2006

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i have nothing to say! want to follow this!

 

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Fubba

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#7 · Sep 14, 2006

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It says the solid air foil will work better with bahia? Where can I get these blades? My dealer only sells mulching and notched lifts.

 

tacoma200

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#8 · Sep 14, 2006

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Fubba said:

It says the solid air foil will work better with bahia? Where can I get these blades? My dealer only sells mulching and notched lifts.

Click to expand...

If you have a 5/8 hole like most lazers you can probably get them through J-Thomas. They have pretty good blades at lower cost than OEM but you will need to order enough stuff to make the shipping worth it. I just printed what Exmark gave me so I have no experience with these blades on a Lazer. I have an 05 which has a 15/16 center hole so my blade choice is much more limited. But I can tell not cut or wear difference between the J-Thomas blades and the OEM blades. Mow parts, a sponser here may have some.

 

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Dashunde

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#9 · Sep 14, 2006

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I've been getting much better lift with solid foils instead of notched.

 

TLS

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#10 · Sep 14, 2006

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When I ran my 60" Lazer, notched foils gave me better performance in wet conditions and wet lush growth.

Solids did better in the dry stuff, and yes, seemed to give more suction.

But I'm not finding the same true on my modified XR-7 deck. Nothing is working good enough for me on this deck.

 

tacoma200

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#11 · Sep 14, 2006

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TLS said:

When I ran my 60" Lazer, notched foils gave me better performance in wet conditions and wet lush growth.

Solids did better in the dry stuff, and yes, seemed to give more suction.

But I'm not finding the same true on my modified XR-7 deck. Nothing is working good enough for me on this deck.

Click to expand...

It's very upsetting that you and Shady Brook have not found a soulution to the cut issue. The kit improved mine enough that I can live with it but I would like to have my money back. I'd look at a Scag at this point enen though I know it would beat me to death or Exmark when the figure the deck out. Its a shame because the Huslter is so close to being a perfect mower but the power and cut still lag behind the preformance of the rest of the machine. Mine no longer seems to leave any stringers and it cuts the grass good enough for most locations.

 

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DeletedMember196207

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#12 · Apr 27, 2018

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So notched, high lift blades with a chute blocker seems to be the best option for side discharge. But I guess the high lifts cause more deck build up....just updating this thread.

 

Rockbridge Lawn Care LLC

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#13 · Apr 27, 2018

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I use High LIFT notch in northern turf conditions as the best over a set of gators I tried out....

I correlate deck build up directly to the "wetness" of the turf more so than the blade type.

 

flybynite

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#14 · Apr 28, 2018

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Rockbridge Lawn Care LLC said:

I use High LIFT notch in northern turf conditions as the best over a set of gators I tried out....

I correlate deck build up directly to the "wetness" of the turf more so than the blade type.

Click to expand...

You are correct. Moisture is the only reason the deck gets buildup. Give me high lifts all day long. I tried the G6 and G5 blades and while they worked it didn't cut clean due to the lack of lift from the gator blades. They definitely cut the clipping size in half or more.