Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Blades for a John Deere

Tags
blades gator blades
Jump to Latest
1 - 12 of 12 Posts

Budget Cuts Lawn Service

· Registered
Joined
·
102 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi guys,
I have a blade question. My mower is a John Deere Z425 (48" deck) with the standard blades side discharging. I am pretty happy with the cut but I would like to have finer clippings and more suction so the grass stands up better when being mowed. I originally was looking for a high lift blade but John Deere doesn't make one for my mower deck size (for some reason they only make the high lifts for the 54" mower deck). so I started looking into Gator blades. I know a lot of you guys use the G6's but they only make the G5's for my machine. What is your opinion on the G5 gators since I can't get a high lift blade from John Deere? Also is there any other high lift blades from any other brands that you would recommend for my mower?
Thanks a lot!
 
#2 ·
Since the G5's are the exact same blade as the G6's except for thickness, they'll do the exact same thing. However, your OEM blades will provide just about the exact same amount of lift as the G5's will do regardless of what, or how they are each termed. The G5's will shred grass and leaves a little better though.

Have you looked through Oregon's website for a HL blade to fit your machine?
 
#3 ·
When I bought my JD it was the first year with the new and improved deck. I made them find me G6 blades for my mower even though they didn't have any available yet. They spent 2 days cross referencing and measuring but found me blades that where 1/8 of a in bigger but still worked.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#4 ·
Here are the choices you have for your mower according to Oregon's site-

90-348 (1 1/8" lift) replaces OEM blades with part #'s-
M127500
M127673
M145476

G3 which is identical to the G5 except for being 2.5" wide instead of 3", and does not have the extended cutting edge or the fusion treatment on the cutting edge, but will be slightly lighter to spin due to being narrower, part # 96-354

BTW- I use G3's on one of my JD decks, and they work excellently.

G5 which is part # 596-354 and is 1 1/4" lift, but with the open teeth design, the OEM's will give you just as much suction like I have already mentioned.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thanks guys,
I guess I have to make a decision. I think maybe I should give the G5's a try because I should get finer clippings and possibly farther discharging at the very least I would think. If they perform no different than stock blades then I can look at it as just having another set of blades that work pretty good. Any other reason that I should look into the G3's any more than the G5's? Any reports of the Gators clogging the mower deck faster than standard blades? Thanks.
 
#6 ·
The G3's are a little lighter and less expensive is all. The G5 will hold its cutting edge longer due to the fusion treatment.

The Gator type blades are notorious for packing a deck faster when the grass is damp and especially when it's wet. I doubt you'll see the clippings fly any farther, and probably not quite as far as from the OEM blades, but the clippings under dry conditions will be smaller, though not by that much. I have both OEM and Gator blades for all my JD's except one, and I don't mow with that one any longer.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
It looks like i'll have to think about it and pick something. Everyone has a different opinion of how well the Gators work and it also depends on their mower and local grasses. It seems like the only way to find out for sure is to just pick up a set. I'm going to think about it for a bit and then make a decision. Thanks for the help!
 
#8 ·
No problem.
Just so you know my experience level with them, I run them on my JD 21" WB's sometimes, my JD 240 garden tractor that I use for rougher conditions (the G3's), and under my Z950 (as well as past JD ZTR's). I cut northern turf same as you, so our experiences should be similar.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Ridin' Green said:
No problem.
Just so you know my experience level with them, I run them on my JD 21" WB's sometimes, my JD 240 garden tractor that I use for rougher conditions (the G3's), and under my Z950 (as well as past JD ZTR's). I cut northern turf same as you, so our experiences should be similar.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. I'm still trying to make up my mind but I might just finish out the season on my stock blades and then experiment with new ones next year. By the way, I also own a John Deere 240 and it's a great old tractor. Pulls almost anything and it runs great. How do you like yours?
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#10 ·
Budget Cuts Lawn Service said:
Hi guys,
I have a blade question. My mower is a John Deere Z425 (48" deck) with the standard blades side discharging. I am pretty happy with the cut but I would like to have finer clippings and more suction so the grass stands up better when being mowed. I originally was looking for a high lift blade but John Deere doesn't make one for my mower deck size (for some reason they only make the high lifts for the 54" mower deck). so I started looking into Gator blades. I know a lot of you guys use the G6's but they only make the G5's for my machine. What is your opinion on the G5 gators since I can't get a high lift blade from John Deere? Also is there any other high lift blades from any other brands that you would recommend for my mower?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
I have no expierence with your mower but have a lot with that style of deck. high lifts are bad on them. they produce too much air flow. I say give the gator blades a try
 
#11 ·
Budget Cuts Lawn Service said:
Thanks for the help. I'm still trying to make up my mind but I might just finish out the season on my stock blades and then experiment with new ones next year. By the way, I also own a John Deere 240 and it's a great old tractor. Pulls almost anything and it runs great. How do you like yours?
Posted via Mobile Device
Click to expand...
I love my old 240. It's the second one I've owned over the years. it's still in great condition. I've posted pics of both it, and the cut it leaves on here several times. I'd really like the 260, but the only ones I've ever seen for sale were beat to death.
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Ridin' Green said:
I love my old 240. It's the second one I've owned over the years. it's still in great condition. I've posted pics of both it, and the cut it leaves on here several times. I'd really like the 260, but the only ones I've ever seen for sale were beat to death.
Click to expand...
Keep the 240 going, there great machines! Thanks again for the input on the blades.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
About this Discussion
11 Replies
4 Participants
Last post:
Budget Cuts Lawn Service
Lawn Care Forum
posts
7.2M
members
230K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lawn Mowing Pesticide & Herbicide Application 🔧 Mechanic and Repair Business Operations Lawn Mowing Equipment