Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Blades for Exmark, which ones do you guys use for best cut?

3 reading
Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
M

mayhem69

· Registered
Joined
·
318 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi, i have a 2018 Exmark Lazer Z 60" mower with 27 or 28hp EFI Kohler. I have a mixed bag of about 60 lawns all different varieties in SE Pa. I tried the Oregon high lift blades 92-209. They are wider and much more durable, but more stress on my mower and leave bigger clumps on the lawns. I took them off and put on some Oregon medium lift blades 92-031. These blades leave less clumps but the cut sucks! Ill mow over in a pass and see some blades of grass standing up like they've been missed! I constantly have to go back over some areas.
Which blades do you guys use for best and efficient cut? part # please! thx in advance!
 
#2 ·
Stock hi-lifts for my 48" deck. From what I've seen exmark decks are designed to run hi-lift blades and using a blade with less lift, it doesn't stand the grass up as it cuts.
 
#4 ·
Also if the deck isn't pitched with it atleast a 1/4 inch lower in the front,it will do the same thing. My deck ended up pitched over 3/8 inch lower in the back and the cut was absolutely awful!
 
  • Like
Reactions: mayhem69
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#5 ·
Same mower as you and I have only ever used Exmark blades. Don’t have any opinion of other brands, just have never felt the need to try a different blade. As most, nearly 90% of my lawns are KBG and/or fescue, I use the hi-lift and it cuts like a dream. The only circumstance I can think of where you may get stragglers is if the blade is not sharpened along the edge far enough toward the mounting hole. You may get some stragglers near the center of each blade path if that is the case. Or your mower is not running at full RPM. Possibly the issues with stragglers may also occur in a mixed grass type of lawn? I also have an Ultra Vac and it sends the clipping into that with no hesitation. Good luck. Mac has a good suggestion with the pitch as well. You will also notice less efficient discharge if the pitch is not ideal front-to-back.
 
Discussion starter · #6 · (Edited)
hedgehog_MI said:
Same mower as you and I have only ever used Exmark blades. Don't have any opinion of other brands, just have never felt the need to try a different blade. As most, nearly 90% of my lawns are KBG and/or fescue, I use the hi-lift and it cuts like a dream. The only circumstance I can think of where you may get stragglers is if the blade is not sharpened along the edge far enough toward the mounting hole. You may get some stragglers near the center of each blade path if that is the case. Or your mower is not running at full RPM. Possibly the issues with stragglers may also occur in a mixed grass type of lawn? I also have an Ultra Vac and it sends the clipping into that with no hesitation. Good luck. Mac has a good suggestion with the pitch as well. You will also notice less efficient discharge if the pitch is not ideal front-to-back.
Click to expand...
Hi Hedge! I did try the Exmark high lift and didnt think they were very durable. I tried the Oregons and they are much beefier and last alot longer.
Regarding the pitch, i never checked it and dont know how! I did nail the corner of a concrete sidewalk too a couple weeks back!
Ill be checking the pitch very soon!
 
#7 ·
mayhem69 said:
Hi Hedge! I did try the Exmark high lift and didnt think they were very durable. I tried the Oregons and they are much beefier and last alot longer.
Regarding the pitch, i never checked it and dont know how! I did nail the corner of a concrete sidewalk too a couple weeks back!
Ill be checking the pitch very soon!
Click to expand...
There are vids out there. Adjusts easily with the chain deck hangers. Glad to hear about the Oregons, I may give them a try though I have never really had any issue with the Exmark blades being durable. Mileage varies yes?
 
#9 ·
mayhem69 said:
mileage and alot of ****ty 2 week yds with lots of rocks, etc to hit.
Click to expand...
Good luck with finding the answers you searching for with the blades. I'm so tired right now I can't seem to come up with anything helpful, hopefully more will chime in and have more good tips for you. I need to call it a night. I'll "watch" your thread and if I can think of anything else I'll be sure to chime in.
 
#13 ·
Yea now I want to know when the OP last purchased blades. I haven't got an blades from exmark for 15 months and thie ones I have the steel is way tougher to sharpen than my oregon and toro blades.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#16 ·
I had a long running thread about this earlier in the summer, and have even received some private messages from other eXmark owners as well about poor cut quality.

A few things that have really helped me...

1- Get rid of any discharge chute. WAY better clipping dispersion.
1b - Install a grass-flap. Anything else and you're dis-serving yourself.
2- Gator blades. My theory is less blowout from the front of the deck, and better mulching of clippings.
3-Deck pitch to 1/4" or less.

I may even make a rubber flap on the trailing & trim edges of the deck for better seal as well. My thought was that it would seal the back & right side, and draw in more vacuum from the front of the deck, to help stand the grass up faster, before cutting.

Plan D is to donate the mower to my parents, keep it in the bull-pen as a backup, and replace it with a Hustler Super-Z...
 
#17 ·
Jashley73 said:
I had a long running thread about this earlier in the summer, and have even received some private messages from other eXmark owners as well about poor cut quality.

A few things that have really helped me...

1- Get rid of any discharge chute. WAY better clipping dispersion.
1b - Install a grass-flap. Anything else and you're dis-serving yourself.
2- Gator blades. My theory is less blowout from the front of the deck, and better mulching of clippings.
3-Deck pitch to 1/4" or less.

I may even make a rubber flap on the trailing & trim edges of the deck for better seal as well. My thought was that it would seal the back & right side, and draw in more vacuum from the front of the deck, to help stand the grass up faster, before cutting.

Plan D is to donate the mower to my parents, keep it in the bull-pen as a backup, and replace it with a Hustler Super-Z...
Click to expand...
I'd usually agree agree about getting rid of the discharge chute (or at least leaving it up) but my new Turf Tracer S actually discharges better with the chute down. Thats a definite first for me!
 
#18 ·
Freaky Fido said:
I'd usually agree agree about getting rid of the discharge chute (or at least leaving it up) but my new Turf Tracer S actually discharges better with the chute down. Thats a definite first for me!
Click to expand...
wow, never heard that before!

discharge chute on all my exmarks never made it out of the dealer's lot. LOL
 
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
13 Participants
Last post:
Johnny Outside
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