John Deere Mulch Kit vs Gator Blades | Z540R

We've got another video with the John Deere ztrak z540r! Today I swapped out the mulch kit with some g6 gator blades to try and get a better cut on my 4in tall fescue lawn. I noticed a lot of stragglers on my lawn because the mulch kit didn't have the suction to pull all of the grass blades up to get cut. Be sure to see the video and check out the pros and cons that I've noticed below!
Z500 series Deck Leveling - • How to level your mowe...
Z540R Oil Change - • John Deere ztrak z540r...
Mulch Kit - amzn.to/2XsIUSb
Pros
Open or closed chute
Keeps grass off landscape and you
Finely mulch clippings so they disappear
Great in very dry conditions
Cons
Grass clumps a lot with any moisture
Doesn't have enough suction for 3.5in or taller grass
Doesn't leave any stripes
Small surface of blade for final cut
G6 Gator Blades - amzn.to/2JhNwln
Pros
Larger final cut surface area
Mulches grass and leaves without a kit
Can be used with mulch kit (Has more vacuum without)
Commercial grade for superior longevity
Creates more suction for very tall or thick lawns
Less clumping and grass sticking when wet
Cons
Has more blowout from under front of deck
Needs a different type of chute block to keep things clean
Possibly more wear on belts and pulleys because of extra rotating mass
Overall for my yard I'm choosing to keep the gator blades on. I am also looking for different ways to stop the front blowout and possibly get a chute blocker in the future so stay tuned for that! The mulch kit is amazing for anyone who doesn't care so much for the stripes, mows lower than 3.5in, or has a lot of obstacles in the yard that need to stay clean!
Thank you guys for checking out these videos! As always I hope this video has helped you save some money and get the job done right with your own hands! To make the job even easier, here is a list of tools I use and love that will never let you down! Be sure to subscribe and I'll see you in the next one!
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[@naimi9584]

Installed these on a riding mower kzbin.infoUgkxetgfkJxfdT_B2vGYP-uNTLaBbim9OKTD . They were sharp out of the box, although I've never liked blade edges that were coated...not quite as sharp as I personally want. Using my belt sander, I removed the coating from the cutting edges and refined the edge enough to shave with them. So far, after three runs, these blades are holding up as expected. Even after hitting a few fallen 1/2 inch or so branches, the edges are still sharp as heck. No edge dings, no warping, etc. As far as installing them, the cutouts were of the proper size and shape to fit my aging Craftsman mower. Very satisfied.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

That's a good thing

[@Mike_The_Hog_A_Nator]

I have about 3.5 acres & switched to G5a Gator Blades (high lift Carbon Tipped) for my 52" Exmark. It's makes a beautiful lines, with no straglers running full speed! It used to take me 3.5hrs to cut & now with the Gator blades, takes me an hour & the yard looks beautiful!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

That's awesome! They really do make a difference with the extra cutting edge length

[@danwaite8507]

Thanks for the video! This was exactly what I was looking for. I also have a Z540R with the mulching kit and I keep noticing a lot of grass that wasn’t cut. I tried slowing down to see if that worked, but nope. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one with the issue. I purchased those Gator blades, too.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Awesome I'm glad I could help you out!!

[@Mathewshiver92]

@@BakersDIYLifestyledo you like the gator blades on with mulch kit or just the gator blades no mulch kit?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

You have to run the gators without the mulch kit. Watch the end of the video or check out the comments for a more in depth answer

[@jamescummings6703]

I got my gator blade on Monday, cut my grass yesterday and it looks amazing.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

They're worth every penny!!!

[@michaelbieber4502]

Awesome video my brother! 👍

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks! Hope it helped you out!

[@snoopfurlow1275]

I use gator blades all year round, discharging with the chute open, I love watching the grass flying outwards.once I measured the blades,cross reference my model number,it was a pefect match.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

They are definitely hard to beat!

[@snoopfurlow1275]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle yes

[@RogerDiotte]

LOL...watching grass fly out!

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

Damn, this guy is good! Only 491 subscribers??? Well, 492 now!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks a lot! Hope it helped!

[@bruce-bruce7975]

Awesome explanation. Much appreciated 🙏

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Glad it helped!

[@DFMcG3]

Thanks for the video bud!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Hope it helped!

[@kestutisk9397]

Great video nice !!!👍

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks! Hope it helped!

[@dcyphrz8532]

I'm on my second set of those (mower similar to yours, older). Excellent blades.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I put them on everything!

[@dcyphrz8532]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I like your floor jack/concrete block method. Never occurred to me to try that. I have a two foot long (ish) chunk of 4x4 that I stand up at the footrest (where your jack is). I lift up the front of the mower and when it gets high enough, the 4x4 falls against the deck and I sit it down.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I wish they made an easier way to jack them up. I use a 4x4 to get the jack high enough for the blocks and then again on the front for the same reason

[@miles267]

Bakers DIY Lifestyle Harbor Freight sells and ATV jack that works great. Drive front wheels onto it and nothing more needed.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I've looked into those. Only problem is finding a spot in the garage for it haha

[@gls3894]

I appreciate your video. It seems to be mower specific. I have Toro TimeCutter and a TimeMaster I found that the OEM Toro highlift blades work the best on my mowers regardless of mulch, discharge or bag. I've used ever brand of blade and settled on the OEM. I have also gone to bagging only. My properties weed problems are gone and look much better then mulching

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I love high lifts of just about anything. They definitely provide the cleanest cut. I've been bagging more this year and the grass seems to be darker and growing faster because it isn't covered in clippings all the time. I know people say the clippings recycle into free fertilizer but I think controlling thatch buildup on well treated lawns is much more important

[@gls3894]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I concur, I bought into mulching and really was unhappy with the results after a couple of seasons.

[@timothykekeyjackson6930]

Great video bro. I’m ordering some gator blades tonight...

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks man! You'll love em!

[@ronnielewis9147]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle Hi, Ronnie Lewis here. Nice Nice video. I have a John deere 375r zero turn. Gonna try gator blades next year. Almost bought the mulching kit today, but didn't. I liked what you said about stripping. My John Deer stripping kit won't worth a flip. Do u think trying only the gator blades will improve my [e-mail]

[@wayneeden98]

You actually have a good explanation of what is really going on with the true circulation of the grass flowing around inside the airflow that's actually being produced by the gator blades, I finally understand the airflow that the gator blades are doing, your airflow is going to be forced to the outside anyway, now I get it,

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks! Glad it helped!

[@brian_2040]

I work for a Deere dealer and we get a lot of spindle repairs in the shop cause the blades are so heavy they wreck the spindles. Good luck.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I could definitely see that happening depending on the terrain you mow and definitely if you try something like the x blade setups I've seen.

[@johnmiller7850]

Great info! Gators are a must, just threw my 100$ set of john deere ones in the scrap pile after 2 days of mowing. Its like i had to cut everyones yard twice! But the big question what did you do with those pavers i saw in the background????? Great looking homestead buddy!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thank ya! I used them to add a small retaining wall around the back of our house but of course I didn't film any of that. We have a new house now so I am working on new content as we speak!

[@andyr5669]

Enjoy the content! I also have a z540r 60”. To mulch can I just throw on some gator blades or was there more then just the blades that was in the Deere kit?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

The Deere kit is a legit mulching kit with blades and baffles that will close the chute off to truly mulch. Gator blades are high lift blades that are just designed to help cut grass and especially leaves into finer pieces but still side discharge or bag. You don't want to use gator with the mulch kit either. It's one or the other for sure.

[@whiterhinooutdoors4572]

Great advice thanks man thought bout getting a mulching blade for my Bermuda fescue

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I'd use mulching blades every time if I wasn't so addicted to the stripes! haha

[@whiterhinooutdoors4572]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle thanks man I was just trying to keep from large lines off grass I only mow my Bermuda 1 x or 1 x every other week some said those mulching blades keep the lines down I appreciate the information you out I love you tube so much information

[@whiterhinooutdoors4572]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I would love to strip mine but I wanna cut down on the lines of grass clippings I mow religiously every week or ever other I do have a company come and fertilizer often my grass grows hard I’m particularly about my lawn I just have a huskvarina mower zero turn nothing special bout it from local tractor dealer but it’s nice will the mulched cut down on the lines or do I need to mow 2 x a week lol my gets kissed when I mow in the mourning and there is dew on the grass but I just when time is convenient I know racking rafter words sucks in this Ga temp

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

This year has been brutal on the lawns for sure. I'm just ready for some fall weather!

[@whiterhinooutdoors4572]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I hear you I told my wife the same I’m to fat and have no pool lol fall wether sounds great

[@TheIronDuke502]

I have a 165 Hydro John Deere Lawn Tractor with the 38 inch mower deck that after watching your video, I may just purchase a set to compare to the standard low lift blades that I have now.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I haven't had a set I didn't like so I'd say go for it!

[@TheIronDuke502]

Those blades are awesome for grinding up leaves in the autumn months. I tried a Predator blade on a Snapper push mower but I don’t think the Briggs & Stratton 3.5 hp engine turned enough rpm for the blade to work as it was intended to do. I read somewhere that the more blades and rpm turned - The better that the blade(s) would perform. The only downfall that I have experienced with the Predator blade was that the serrated upper part of the blade would clog if used in wet or pretty moist environments. Here in Kentucky; That’s been pretty often the last couple of years.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I have the g6 commercial gators and you can definitely feel the added strain when you engage the blades but I haven't noticed the engine slowing at all. I mow my yard at 4in and sometimes cut it when it's around 8 and still do not have any strain.

[@steve9377]

Did you end up trying the Gator blades on your 165? I have a 160 and looking to upgrade.

[@TheIronDuke502]

@@steve9377 Yes I did purchase the blades and really loved how they performed. The 38 inch mower deck with those blades were a. very nice combination. The blades that I purchased were from one of the vendors from off of eBay. I don’t think my blades were G5 or G6 commercial blades but maybe G3’s. Unfortunately after I was mowing late one evening, I unknowingly backed up over a small tree stump about 3 inches in diameter that had been cut down a year before and bent one of the two blades. I can probably straighten the blade pretty easily with a couple of hydraulic jacks and the bottom edge of a Reese hitch insert on my Tundra 4x4. I also resharpened the blades in which they sharpened up very nicely with no nicks or gouges to deal with. Steve,I used the John Deere tractor to grind up an area where there were quite a few blackberries growing and the blades ground them up really quickly. In comparison, I used my 682 Cub Cadet with the heavily built 44c mower deck with the standard set of blades to mow within the same area that I did with the John Deere tractor and preferred the John Deere with the Gator/Predator blades hands down. Around the same time before the blade mishap I also used the John Deere to mow on the opposite side of the creek and again the John Deere tractor performed very nicely in grinding all of the moderately tall stuff up. I only mow across the creek maybe once a month depending on how much water is flowing in the creek. I usually keep two or three extra sets of mower blades for each of my mowers. For right now, I am using the standard low lift blades in which I get more clippings than I did with the Gator/Predator blades. Just be aware of where you are backing up while mowing.,I think that was the first mower blade that I had bent like that and I have cut quite a bit of grass over the years. Hope this helps out,Steve.

[@thegrindizreal4401]

Did you end up taking the plug off also? Trying to figure out what set of gator blades fit Toro Timemaster 30 walk behind. I see a G3, but no G5 or G6? Thanks

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I'm not sure that they have a set that small, but you may be able to cross reference your 15in blade and whatever the bolt diameter is to find them. You can use them with a mulch kit but to get the most benefit from them it is best to side discharge. With a small walk behind it may be a different outcome because they won't move nearly as much air.

[@steffen707-]

Was your z540r mulching kit just the three blades? For my JD gx345, the mulch kit also had some black baffles to secure to the deck.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

It was the whole kit. Baffles and all.

[@MrZipperhead16]

JD blades, no matter which ones you use, are junk out of the box. VERY soft steel so you have to constantly buy more at outrageous prices. Gators are about the same price but last 2-3 times as long because they're hardened and tempered. Gators always blow grass out the front of the deck, any deck actually; but the cut is worth it. Shreds leaves well and the discharge clippings are much smaller since they're getting cut multiple times.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I put gators on everything!

[@ryants1]

Have you ever tried with an x blade adapter? I was thinking about using a high lift on bottom and a gator blade on top. Not sure if it would be necessary to use the plug or not

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I wouldn't use the plug for anything other than mulching blades. They need way more air flow to be effective and you won't be happy with the result. As for the x blades I definitely want to try them! I just don't think they make any for the noncommercial units.

[@urdirtyness5132]

Who else watched this video an the next video was a guy saying. Why he’s taking his gator blades off. I just put a mulch kit on my mower an I can’t lie I was happy but now I see these nice stripes. I think I’ll buy a set. Somebody told me as long as you don’t cut wet grass. Those mulch kits blades will last longer. I’ll give them a try 👍

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

There are definitely pros and cons to both setups, but if you are mowing your yard tall like my fescue you can't beat the extra suction and cutting surface from the gators!

[@urdirtyness5132]

Bakers DIY Lifestyle 👍

[@ondisek01]

Thanks for the video. I use this mower almost every day at work in the maintenance of greenery in the village, regular maintenance, etc. I am trying to push through to buy mulching knives. What I just don't understand is why you lie under the mower to change the blades when removing the lower cutting device is so simple? I do it regularly and I wouldn't lie down under the machine if it was easier.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I actually did an oil change that day as well so I had the whole mower lifted up but normally I just jack the front of the mower up and go to town. It's way faster than fooling with the deck. Maybe slightly less safe but hey we gotta live on the edge sometimes!

[@thelog86]

The fins on the back of gator blade is for lift only from what i understand

[@travisshook]

Just wondering did you try with the dry capacity kit you mentioned at the end of the video?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I did! I will have to make a video showing exactly what I did but it does work with some TLC

[@proffittsdroneservice1537]

The serrations on the lift of the blade are not teeth. They cause the air to recirculate so the grass clippings are brought back around again and cut multiple times. I thought they were teeth as well but that's not the case.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

They are definitely for both. As the grass gets cut it hits those extra teeth as well. They are awesome for leave during fall time!

[@proffittsdroneservice1537]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle, for leaves, there is no other choice!

[@goldtopsrock]

When doing leaf cleanup, Have you noticed the gator blades blowing leaves ahead of the mower? Nice video!!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Yes! I actually noticed this as soon as I removed the mulch kit. I actually did some research about the problem and found out the accel deck has a dry conditions kit that is essentially the mulch kit, except it doesn't decide each blade into it's own section. It lowers the front lip of the deck to match the back and keeps clippings from blowing out. It doesn't bolt up exactly the same on the high capacity deck but the shape is identical. I'll be doing a video showing how to get it bolted up soon so be sure to subscribe! Thanks for checking out the video!

[@goldtopsrock]

NoBSAutoRehab thanks & subscribed !

[@coreybrooks4145]

This is under my dads account but I’m his cousin

[@michaelm6091]

I really enjoyed your video, thank you. I have a JD 757 with 60" mowing deck, I have a big problem with blowout from the front of the mower. So bad, it sometimes makes it very difficult to see where you are going and what you are cutting. Is there a fix or solution for this that anyone could share? Thanks.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I actually rigged up a fix for that! I hate the way John Deere shaped the decks but there is a solution that may work! I'll try to get a video up for it!

[@michaelm6091]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I would love to see that fix. Can you pleas tag me in or have a way of sharing a link? I love ingenuity to fix a problem by people using a product!! Thanks.

[@spin0491]

Adjust your baffle if it has one lower baffle for less blow by

[@curtistaylor8596]

Great video. I have a 335e. will those blades fit as well?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

You will have to cross reference your blades on the Oregon website but I'm sure they have some!

[@cannonhurst4029]

Have a question sir so I am thinking about getting these blades on my d140 John Deere mowers it’s not a zero turn. Can I slap them on like how to mower is right now and get the results like you did? Also I am cutting a lot of weeds and Bermuda grass. I mow for people thanks!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

You can use them for sure! Just be sure to get the measurements from your current blades and cross reference from their website

[@darktoadone5068]

My major problem on my property is pine trees that give me to much pine needles, it's a constant battle. I bought a mulch kit for my JD D110 but it really didn't do much, do you think these gator blades would work on the pine needles?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Pine needles are tough because they're so tiny and heavy that you can't get them to lift into the blades. I think gators will help because they're high lift but not really to mulch them up.

[@brandonmartin9175]

Yo buddy I have the exact same mower with the mulching kit, I agree with what your saying about the mulching blades. Did you like having the gator blades on with the mulch kit? Did any problems come up that effected the mower? I like gator blades but don’t really want to remove the mulch kit, it’s all brand new. I’m cutting private 2 acres at 4 inches

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I'm a big fan of gator blades and you can definitely use them with the mulch kit. I felt like they gave a better cut and definitely had more suction than the mulch blades. My yard is a turf type tall fescue and I mow it at 4 inches. Mowing that high I need the most suction possible to get the cleanest cut, but if you cut shorter you won't have any issues with a clean cut from the gators. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@brandonmartin9175]

Do you still have the gator blades on with the mulching kit? Any issues? You had also mentioned about removing the kit and just putting a shoot block on, which I have thought about too, have you found one that fits the 540r?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

@@brandonmartin9175 I took the mulch kit off because even though it was better I still had some stragglers. I'm going to be looking into the advanced chute system for next season I believe. I could just get high lifts to fix the straggler issue but I want the clean mulched cut over side discharge.

[@69ztang]

On another video the guy said the mulch kit can cause grass to pack under the mower deck.

[@69ztang]

You address this at the end, the gator blades are designed to be used without the mulching kit installed. For discharge only because of what you said, it's high lift creates too much discharge.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

That's the answer!

[@frankwhite3289]

I know this video is old but you’re slightly off in some parts of your video. I use a jd z970r problem 1 is they keep using stamped decks which don’t stripe the best if they stripe at all. The mulch kit for those jd is torn on em because I’ve gotten some good stripes with them and the mulching blades as we have the kit on all of our mowers. Those blades roughly lift the same the step in the mulch blades actually created a decent amount of lift but yea overall the gator blades are better. Just wanted to add that in

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Thanks for checking out the video! JD definitely doesn't stripe like some other big names. I got way better stripes out of my OLD ransomes 36in walk behind

[@jazpanoz4996]

good vid👍,your anti scuff wheels look too low try putting them up a setting & see the difference 😉

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

If I put them higher the deck will scalp when I don't want it to! They are about an inch off the ground on concrete.

[@BreadAndGatorade]

Can I just install gator blades and a block off plate with no mulch kit baffles? Or should I leave the side discharge open with gator blades?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Definitely leave the discharge open with gators. High lifts move to much air to have the chute blocked off

[@shawnrichardson5527]

What Oregon Gator Blades are compatible with the Z540R? Not seeing G3, G5 or G6 being Compatible online.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I used their chart to cross reference the stock John Deere blades. Not sure of the part right off hand

[@SmokinLoon5150]

I can't tell from your video but do you have the actual kit still installed on the deck? I agree on the Gator blades, those are awesome. I'm trying to figure out if I actually **need** the kit or if I can just replace the stock blades with the Gator blades and be done w it. Thoughts?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I removed the entire kit from the mower. The gators will not run to their full potential without all of the airflow they need.

[@jeremytillman8759]

What about clippings being thrown into flower beds, etc.

[@wrkdvr1]

Hello, Were you able to find the cross reference on Oregon's site? We have a Deere 345R w/42a deck and have been trying to find Gators with no luck. We contacted Oregon, received only a note saying not available for this machine. Any ideas?Thank you!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

www.greenpartstore.com/Predator-Mower-Blade-42-John-Deere-Deck-B1PD1045.html Look at these. They might be what you need but just make sure all of the measurements are correct!

[@wrkdvr1]

Thank you Sir! PK

[@rickdff62]

I too tried them with the mulch kit installed and there was way too much clumping for me. Once I removed the baffles it was on like Donkey Kong, ha! Seriously tho, wish I would have just bought these blades first and it would have saved me a couple of hundred for the mulch kit. Nice video and your lawn looks awesome!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Haha thats exactly how I felt! Got the mulch kit from the dealer and then regretted it the whole time!

[@miles267]

Is it suggested to still use Gator mulching blades with the mulching plug installed on the deck?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I believe I answered that question down in the comments somewhere in depth but the short answer is no. The gators move so much more air than a mulch blade so the chute really needs to be open to let them flow.

[@miles267]

Bakers DIY Lifestyle thank you. Will reattach my discharge chute this weekend. Appreciate the quick response.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Glad I could help! I'm going to be getting a chute block off plate from Ballard pretty soon I hope and I'll review the whole setup again

[@pierogi210]

So i got these and are ready to install. I noticed one of them like the one in the video has a plastic looking wrap on it. The other two blades are fine. Is there a reason why one is wrapped in that tight plastic? Should i remove it before installing?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Not sure exactly but I'd assume the plastic is not needed

[@charlesarmstrong3536]

Probably the middle blade in the pack was wrapped, so all 3 would not get scratches.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Good call

[@86309]

So I have a Gravely ZTXL 52". I have the stock mulch kit and blades installed. the issue I see with my lawn is I have to mow at 3.5-3.75 inches due to dry conditions, and at that height mu suction with the mulching kit is almost nothing. My question is if I installed the Gator G5 blades and left the mulch kit on do you think that will improve the suction enough but not be bad with the mulch kit because the deck is so high> It could be a perfect match for the increased lift and the high deck height. thoughts? thanks!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

That's exactly what I tried with mine but the bad thing is I mow at 4 inches so that theory doesn't really work out. The bigger problem is all of the air is forced between the blades and the deck and without an easy escape route it creates some serious turbulence. Raising the deck also makes it easier for the blades to pull more air from underneath making the problem even worse!

[@86309]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle copy all, thanks for the reply!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Anytime!

[@crazyadventuresandreviews]

Those old blades weren’t meant to be put on a mulching kit those are lift blades those run better with open discharge

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

The old blades were the blades that came with the mulch kit

[@GreatValue32]

Do you need to sharpen gator blades? 😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵😵 or how often ?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Oh yeah but less than stock blades for sure

[@RodKotiga]

Will the gator blades work on the old SST 16 42” mulchers ?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

You just have to cross reference the blades to find the correct size. The ones for the z540r don't actually say they are for the mower. I had to look up dimensions before I bought mine

[@michaelgergovich454]

What size is your deck on the mower?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

54in

[@tiantweems4754]

Help me out!?.. I have a toro 36 belt drive, with discharge. Will the gator blades leave me with less discharge cleanup?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

If you're just talking about excess grass clippings then you might notice less build up. Since the gators are high lift with the extra teeth they do cut the clipping slightly smaller and can blow them farther out to help spread them. The best way to fix that problem though is still to mow more frequently. The gators definitely won't work miracles for that. Leaves on the other hand mulch noticeably better with gators!

[@tiantweems4754]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle thanks

[@randyerickson1261]

I added these blades to my Z535M 54" deck, already had mulching kit on it, but have terrible vibration issues now. Any suggestions?

[@walldogger1]

Gotta balance your blades.

[@randyerickson1261]

@@walldogger1 even if they are new, right out of the box?

[@69ztang]

Need to remove the mulching kit. These are designed for side discharge.

[@1trampest]

John Deere dealers stopped selling gator blades three years ago. Parts man said they where damaging new mower deck spindles. I picked up a set of 3 for 30$ for a 318 with a 50 inch deck at Woolstock IA. Worked awesome, however they are not on my z735m. I will stick with John Deere factory parts until my warranty is up.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

They could definitely be off balance from the factory although I've never actually balanced a set before.

[@rayburnett3253]

Amillion dollar question ,,, do they make a gator blade for a bad boy zero turn mower?? It is a 42 inch cut mower

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Go on the website and do a cross check

[@rayburnett3253]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle will you please let me know the website

[@starpartyguy5605]

If you add the plug, the gator blades produce too much clumping. They liquify the clippings and make the grass stick to itself. And if you cut a lot or the grass is even the least bit wet, the clumps matt down and smother the grass. I need the mulch plug because if I blow grass it goes on the red mulch I just put down. I'm changing to Maxpower mulching blades with a cub cadet mulch plug for my CC Ltx1046.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I'm about to look into a chute blocker so I can open and close it going around mulch beds.

[@diyplumbingwithtom2710]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle Did you ever find a Chute blocker for the Z540R? I"ve been looking for a while but cant find anything to fit the model

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I did! I'm about to edit the install video now!

[@mic982]

Am I the only man in America that prefers a lawn cut showing no stripes? I came here to see which side up the gator blades were installed. I kinda go that from seeing the side-by-side blade comparison. My mower has standard JD mowing blades so they're quite different in shape than the JD mulching blades and the gator or copper head mulching blades. I'm guessing the up-swept teeth go towards the bottom underside of the deck...

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Gotta have the stripes!

[@mic982]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle In a nice neighborhood like yours, yeah, I can see it. (I did like the way you angled them in the video). Out here in the country - well, the deer and elk don't care - they just wanna get to the shrubs and fruits.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Haha I heard that!

[@gls3894]

No Sir. No stripes for me as well.

[@hectorgarza8039]

should i use the mulch kit or gator blades for a better clean look

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

If you have shorter grass and use the mulch kit you can really get the clippings to disappear wirh a smooth cut. If your grass is longer you get a better cut with the gators but you will definitely have more dead grass on top.

[@mellowjammer]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle that's because the stock mulch blade design has a bit lower lift so it doesn't clog the deck as badly and also the sail behind the secondary mulching cutting section is angled downward to direct the mulched clippings down into the turf, leaving less dead grass on the surface. Mulching tall grass will always be a problem and getting a really clean look when mulching at higher cutting heights will be a challenge too. I also have a TTF lawn but keep it at 3" since I have irrigation. Stock JD mulching kit with included blades and striping kit works great for me, but with any thick lawn like mine, the key to mulching is to mow more often, and avoid mowing wet/damp whenever possible.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Yup!

[@larrypiercejr634]

How do you level your mower deck

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJy7gqt7aMp-pbs

[@kimreed5393]

The copperhead gator blade didn’t cut my yard as good as the old worn out blade I just took off and paid twice as much for the copper

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Haven't heard of the copperhead ones. I wonder how different they are than the Oregon

[@warrenranstrom4462]

I agree the copperhead are terrible

[@Bigfootz2004]

What's an ull change?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Same thing as an ohweeall change.

[@bobbystewart2605]

Tbh, the piece from the beginning abt the stragglers, Thts how all mulch kits are sadly.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

It is. If you have short cut turf it's worth it all day long though!

[@bobbystewart2605]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle if only we were able to use open shoot mowers at work. All we have a mulch kits unfortunately

[@bobbystewart2605]

There was on mower we had tht was a semi open (no barrels but had the plate) bc of someone breaking the barrels hopping curbs but it would end up windrowing if ur taking too much off but other than tht, was out cleanest cutting unit aside from our one open shoot.

[@NWcpl]

is that g3 or g5 gator blade?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

G6 actually

[@NWcpl]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle what's the difference and what do you recommend?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Don't quote me on this but I believe the g3, g5, and g6 are the same shape, but the g5 and g6 are thicker and last a lot longer for commercial applications. The g3 is a just a standard thickness blade for small lawn tractors or zero turns that aren't built as good. The g5 and g6 are heavier from the thickness and can destroy spindles on light application mowers. The g6 also uses a different metal to make the blades last longer (I think.) If your mower can handle it I would always go g5 or g6. The extra thickness does help quite a bit with longevity especially if you mow any yard with the possibility of hitting roots, or rocks, or anything that could damage the blade!

[@marcusnz232]

Have you tried the non-mulching Deere blades in comparison?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I sadly have not. When we bought it from the dealer they told us since we got the mulching kit as a "package" they kept the original blades. I personally wasn't to thrilled with that answer but it was a guy my grandparents had used for years so I wasn't going to argue. Either way I would have pulled the stock blades for gators but it definitely would be nice to have had a set originally.

[@marcusnz232]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle I have the same mower here (in New Zealand) and I do not think we can get Gator blades for it unless I order them from the US. Do you know the correct part numbers by any chance?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

@@marcusnz232Yeah it's Oregon part number 396-769

[@marcusnz232]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle Thanks! Stay well up there.

[@paulgrimm]

My Kubota mulching kit doesn’t work well ether .

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I think they work well but it definitely depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

[@Orefamilylawncare]

The teeth DONT do the mulching. The teeth are angled inwards to redirect the clippings BACK into the cutting edge. That's how a gator blade works.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

That could be true too, but gators are considered high lift as well so the grass probably goes all over the place under the deck.

[@Patrick-nw9bt]

Mulch blades are pointless without a mulch kit. Without a mulch kit your just side discharging like a standard mower. Vs mulch kit it is able to keep it contained in a area of the deck to continue to mulch it

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

I had the whole kit on the deck, but it reduced the air flow through the deck so much that it wasn't cutting the grass smoothly. It would be great around 3in or below but my 4in + tall fescue looked terrible after I mowed

[@haitianmoor]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle sup bro, did you leave the mulching kit on and just swapped the blades or did you remove the mulching kit?

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

If you use gator blades you definitely need to remove the baffles from the kit. High lift or gator blades move so much air that if the baffles are left on they won't do what they are designed to. Mulch blades have flatter wings so they don't create as much suction which allows you to add the baffles to contain the grass.

[@robertwilliams7842]

The Jhon Deer is a Bs Mower Put the mulch blades on a Hustler, Scag,Toro,Wright

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Haters gonna hate

[@dalehammond1704]

Only G5 Gator blades for me.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Only the best!

[@hancockjason8758]

Mulching kits are not desind to strip

[@walldogger1]

My mulch kit equipped Simplicity "strips" just fine!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Not enough vacuum!

[@williamriley2528]

Need a roller for effective striping... 18mm Bolts...??? Bolts are NOT identified by the wrench size of their hex head size...!

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Oh my bad. Let me know how to identify a bolt when the only thing you can see is the hex head. Great advice tho!

[@williamriley2528]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle For Metric Machine Screws & Bolts it's the Thread Diameter (in mm) by the Thread Pitch (in revolutions per mm of length). For example: A 6mm x 1mm Machine Screw. (6 mm diameter by 1 thread revolution per mm of length) So buy yourself a set of $12 Harbor Freight Digital Calipers...

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Sorry next time I'll say remove the bolt so that you know to remove the 8x1.25x30mm 18mm hex head bolt. You the man!

[@williamriley2528]

@@BakersDIYLifestyle Now you got it...!

[@1BIGpineapple]

So is the bolt 18mm wrench?

[@Brad_R]

The lighting was all wrong. It's difficult to view when one comparison is on a different day and it's cloudy and the other day is sunny. The sun has to be behind you for the best viewing angle for stripes. A better test, though more time consuming, would have been to make a few passes with the mulch kit and blades then swap out for the gator blades only then view the stripes with the sun hitting your backside.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Shoulda coulda woulda

[@jbslittleshop2897]

Lol, gator blades are only designed to mulch leaves. While it will work great. But it’s not a mulching blade!!!

[@69ztang]

From another video, the guy says it does do some mulching but not for use with a mulching kit.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

They are definitely between a high lift, and a mulch kit. Won't mulch as good but provide enough lift for taller grass types

[@lawrencebecht660]

First mistake is John Deere😂

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

OUCH

[@williamriley2528]

Don't take ANY ADVICE from a guy in a wife beater under shirt.

[@BakersDIYLifestyle]

Got that right!