Swapping to Gator blades on my Husqvarna

[@dombeck221]

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.

[@zgh46840]

I installed my blades last week & they are fantastic. A true mulching blade

[@josephrobichaud5198]

I use nothing but the G6 Gator blades. Much harder edge then the G3, The cheapest place I've found them is from Agra Supply, even with the shipping cost there where cheaper then my dealer and on EBAY. I buy 10 at a time so I get an extra 5% off. The OEM blades on my Ferris lasted just 20 hours and where worn almost in half. With the G6 blades I can go 80 hours before they need to be sharpened and still look like new.

[@OldJoe212]

I put gator blades on my Toro 38" and they do a great job. Really glad I switched over.

[@jonw4595]

good video. but dude lol. wash your deck after every wet cut, your deck will last and function better. i used to scrape the old mower, it was a pita. i just use a garden hose and nozzle on the new unit after every day use, and trust me, it makes a huge difference.

[@Flaaaaanders]

Jon W i pressure wash the underdeck of all my mowers daily, esp if cutting wet grass. I totally agree with you.

[@greatnortherntroll6841]

Jon W For about the last 30 yrs or so (and LONG, LONG before it was available on a production model), I've been installing a quick-connect garden hose fitting onto my mowers. When I'm done mowing the lawn, I just move the mower to a suitable location, hook up the hose, fire up the mower, turn on the water... And watch as a Ton of crap washes out from the deck. Now, lots of mowers come with the fitting pre-installed, or at least have a spot all ready to go where you can install your own!

[@jamesmchugo9422]

CLEAN DECK! Clean the deck every time you mow, that will have a greater impact on on how well your mower works than almost anything else. A good sharp blade, either regular or gator type cannot do it’s job if your deck is gunked up with grass clippings. And you should never mow wet grass, it does more damage than good to the lawn.

[@dasher8]

I pressure wash the bottom of any of my decks each time I finish cutting for the day whether the grass has been wet or dry. Never put your mower away after mowing grass with out doing this. Don't have to scrape later, and really saves on your deck and V belts.

[@matt420740]

Yea until your deck is rusted out and the spindle bearings seized...... Paint doesn't last long on the underside of decks. Once its gone you are washing bare steel, and letting it sit and rust between mowings. Pretty good way to shorten the life of a mower.

[@toxrozzx8158]

Either way is bad, but best to wash it or just take a glove and scrape it away with your hand. Then you also prevent scraping the paint off. And every half a year give it a coat of paint.

[@TerryRGraham]

@@matt420740 pressure wash is fine. The paint is gone either way. The water drys in minutes compared to leaving wet grass or mud on it for days. Regardless, my deck still looks fine after years of washing. Now, if its just dry grass that I can knock off then I'm not dragging out the pressure washer just for that, but with it raining for 40 days we end up having to mow wet grass a couple of times and it gets messy.

[@RichardJones-us1xl]

Thank you I'm switching to your advice ,as my application on my husky is multi multch ect and have a blade rock reshaped exactly like the one you showed ,,and I like the gator thickness of the blade ,my Ariens with engine swap I did runs well ,as I have 2 ac to keep up , thanks again ...

[@greg9647]

Good video. I have a Husqvarna RZ5426. The original blades were called a "high lift" or "bagging blade". Absolute junk.Very soft metal. They will not maintain an edge for more than 2 cuts. I sharpen my own blades but it is a pain getting them off the mower. I mow 4.5 acres and needless to say, I do not "bag". Also, the high lift blades gave a horrible, uneven cut. Any tall grass the mower would just big down and throw out chunks of grass. The blades would clog the deck so I had to clean it every session. It's a good idea anyway. I do like the hose port on the deck. There is a trick to using it correctly but it absolutely removes 75 percent of the grass, or more, from under the deck. I just invested in a set of "Copperhead" blades and absolutely love them. Made in USA, ISO rated.(Whatever that means). Much better/harder steel than the Chinese junk that comes with the mower. They are a standard mower blade with much less lift, but plenty enough to do a great job. They are also a little bit wider than stock. No more bogging down, even in heavy grass. I installed a "chute lift" and than helps out big time..... (You can't buy it, you have to make it). I almost bought the Gators but didn't want to wait for the parts to come in. Curious to see how they work out. My advice to all is to take off the factory blades asap and get a set of Copperhead/Gator blades. Unless you are happy with the cut you are getting.

[@oldarkie3880]

I have gator blades on my simplicity zero turn. These blades have no lift. some of the grass just lays down. I am putting the stock blades back on while looking for a mulching blade that has at least a little lift. These are good only for mulching leaves.

[@Powertool1990]

They definitely aren't recommended for bagging due to the poor lift factor but for an all around blade, they are hard to beat for the money. They definitely make a hell of a mulching blade when leaves fall. Probably wouldn't recommend if you're looking for a picture perfect lawn.

[@dadoo985]

Did you find anything worthy. I have a Cub Cadet stock blades leave uncut line in lawn and grass piles up. Looking for best mulching blades

[@waskele.wabbit717]

Clean Deck with pressure sprayer makes hell of a difference

[@catfishhunter9642]

after getting the big stuff out i use my drill with a round wire brush to really get it cleaned out and come back with a deck spray

[@cryptosliceoflife3081]

Great info about the star pattern. I'm gonna check mine and make sure I did that.

[@1BigCountry143]

Do the blades need to be in a certain position to each other?

[@jamesludan557]

i used some regular pvc hose fittings and made hole in my deck so i can attach a hose and run the water while deck is running. i make sure the bearings have cooled off. you will always have a very clean deck

[@Powertool1990]

james ludan I actually have a hookup on my deck to run a hose but never actually done it haha. I figured I would just be adding to the wet mess.

[@miles267]

I can’t find an answer - should Gator mulching blades still be used with a mulching plug over the side discharge chute?

[@Powertool1990]

That's how I have it setup, works great

[@miles267]

Repairs & Reviews OK. Have read others say the Gator blades create too much airflow and should be used with a discharge chute. Wasn’t sure. Thanks.

[@Powertool1990]

@@miles267 I've used them both ways, I prefer the discharge chute blocked for better mulching. They're also normally thicker that the factory blades which help them last longer over the life of the blade. Also check out maxpower blades on Amazon. They have a mulching blade just like the gator, they're just as good cut but tend to be a bit cheaper.

[@miles267]

Repairs & Reviews oddly I swapped my OEM mulching blades for the Gator G5’s on my Husky Z246 ZTR with 46 inch deck. Immediately engaged the blades as usual, they spun for a few seconds then disengaged. Before even mowing. Not sure why. I’ve gone ahead and swapped back to OEMs without issue. What would cause this?

[@SingleStacked]

I have heard the same. Don't use Gator blades with the mulch plug. Too much lift which packs the deck. Have you used them with the plug with success?

[@tonyfrederick3369]

You answered my specific question. Im going to a Gator blade and I was confident on the proper way to install concerning the top and bottom of the blade. You addressed my concern in a point blank matter. Thank you! My last question is can I still use the side discharge?

[@overthinkerblue4637]

For someone who worked on mowers professionally, your mower underneath is bad. That tells me that you don’t never to maintenance on it. Now you know why it would not cut grass good.

[@Powertool1990]

Guarantee my mower is well maintained. I blow it off with my air compressor after every use. I had to cut grass wet multiple times in a wet summer and the grass clumps. Sorry I don't jack it up and scrap it clean after every mow

[@manuelguallpa7607]

Question do I have to sharpen the new blades before I install??? I just got couple new ones but they not sharp at all

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Are you still using the Gator blades ? I did not like the Husqvarna mulching blades either. Husqvarna Hi-lift blades are ok for grass, but not great for mulching up leaves. Thanks

[@Powertool1990]

Yes, I've started running gator blades year round, I found out they actually bag well too so I don't even use my high lifts anymore

[@turdferguson7270]

Just seen these at the hardware store for the first time. Sounds like they are perfect for people like me who chop their leafs in the spring and have a hard time remembering if I cut the grass two weeks ago or a month. Hate cutting grass but hate raking leaves more. Almost bought one for the push mower today just because it looked like it could chew through some mess

[@turdferguson7270]

Guy Shadwick only if they can get you on being a bag of douche.

[@guyshadwick9470]

Have a nice day

[@dannynance2456]

I've been using these blades for years. I give them an 8 out of ten.

[@leerilea1709]

Where do you get them? How much are they?

[@grasscutter88]

That's why you have stringers a plugged deck.

[@Powertool1990]

grasscutter88 I had cleaned under the deck a couple times before and the old blades still missed some stuff that the front tires laid down, they didn't have enough lift to bring it back up and cut. Gator blades still going strong.

[@grasscutter88]

I just put some on my mower. They work great, you would think they would have thought to put teeth on a mower blade like 20 years ago.

[@bryanhauschild4376]

You need a deck with higher rpm’s for these to work properly. I put a set on my old mid-80’s cub and they wouldn’t shred leaves because the blades didn’t turn fast enough.

[@olegig5166]

Just put gator blades on my 2 blade Huster. The blades are just a tick shorter than OEM blades which leaves a very, very small row of grass between blades. Otherwise, great job mulching.

[@thomasbroking7943]

I've seen hose port on the deck that the guy left the motor running with the water on..looks like it works with the blades splashing it around...sharp sharp sharp. ..the blades that come on the machine, for me 2 cuts and i want ti sharper..a wide file put a new edge on it and watch...i hang it on a nail to check balance too... That rock job, idk if thats worth all the time, unless you grind it..best wishes with your new blades..walk around first..maybe some rotten person is tossing rocks there??

[@skunkapunka]

So you sharpen the fins on the gator blade?

[@Powertool1990]

I've never sharpened the fins, never thought about it. Probably wouldn't make a difference besides wear your blades faster

[@skunkapunka]

@@Powertool1990 I'm gonna try it as soon as I convert my mower back to mulching.

[@gavinelliot3564]

Jack it up/hit it with long airboy/tacks 5 mins corncob=no rust/works every time.T800Aust

[@allencarey7336]

Did you have to order the gator blades?

[@Powertool1990]

I believe I bought them from my local distributor but they are on Amazon and ebay also

[@Geobh1]

Walmart

[@johngritman4840]

I thoroughly agree with some of the commenters - except I am possibly OCD. Clean out under you deck every mow. My advice for a fellow who cut my grass and was getting into the business was simple: Clean under the deck at the end of every day; since your mower is new, on the second mow replace the blades with new and very sharp ones; then change your blades every other cut but work your way up to six sets. Some lawns, like mine, don't have a stone in sight and the blades take about five minutes to hand file. I never used a power grinder because they generate heat while an old fashioned 12"Mill Bastard does not and when you have some inventory you can change your blades and use somewhat worn blades on a rocky or very sandy lawn. He did as I recommended and came back to me: 1) fuel consumption down 25%, 2) blades lasted longer and 3) when he had a working inventory he could wait for a rainy day and just do them all. Washing out the under deck is equally important and a decent electric power washer is inexpensive and adequate for the job.

[@jerrylittle8922]

Righty tighty lefty loosey to change out the Stud screw on the mower blades? Clock wize and Counter clock wise ?

[@douglaslawncare2843]

You don’t have mulching baffles under your deck so those mulching blades are useless... those flat gator blades will work better for your setup.

[@justincochran3330]

How would I tell if my Husqvarna LC221 has them? It says it is a mulching mower. I have no side discharge.

[@eltonbryant8528]

i put new gator blades on my husqvarna z254f now it is a lot louder then it was and it feels to have a vibration.i put them on right.do someone have a ideal or is that something i can do .

[@narramore37]

To the guys that are pressure washing their decks. How the hell are you getting under there with your pressure washers? I cant get mine high enough to pressure wash.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

narramore37 buy a mower jack or pick up the front and set it on blocks, just make sure you chock the wheels so you don’t get crushed

[@sidneywhite749]

I have a hard time determining what side of the mulching blade ,like you show , faces the grass. I have the Mexico stamp facing the deck on the Craftsman 42 inch rider?

[@Powertool1990]

sidney white fins should be facing up. Install just like shown on the floor

Pay someone to mow your grass...

[@rockthehouseism]

I just use a pressure washer under the deck

[@Geobh1]

Gatorblades are BAD ASS. I put them on all my lawnmowers since I found out about them 7 years ago. Please be careful handling them, just picking it up from the store in its packaging can FUCK YOUR HAND UP.

[@chriss8206]

Why are you going from a straight blade to a dropped blade I didn't know you could do that. I tried it and couldn't raise the height enough.

[@cabbyhubby]

No wonder the old blades weren't cutting, your deck is clogged with grass, don't cut wet grass

[@Powertool1990]

JohnnyBDyer when you live in the humid summers of Virginia, you either cut wet grass or let the shit grow to 3 feet tall. It's been a bad year for rain, probably record breaking honestly

[@walterschilling4512]

@@Powertool1990 Yep we have an acre and a half and have to clean the deck half way through ,It's not a wonder why , that is build up in an hour! We have the same climate as repairs and reviews.

[@leerouse2001]

Don't throw them old blades away those blades can be reshaped balanced and sharpened

[@Powertool1990]

Definetly, they are my back up blades

[@EricReyes19]

I bought a pair and the star doesn’t seem to line up on my husq 42. Had to return them

[@chrisarchuleta262]

Thank you I was about to get some

[@dasher8]

The gator blades do work a little better than regular hi lift blades, but don't last as long.

[@rhondawestaway626]

Will any 54" gator blade work on my husqvarna?

[@MC-hs4mf]

Torque specs?

[@TerryRGraham]

one squeak before failure is perfect.

[@paullang1505]

Can someone give me directions on getting the deck to max height, leveling etc?

[@Powertool1990]

Paul Lang they're all different, it depends on make and model and even then it's not really something I'd feel confident explaining without seeing the mower in person.

[@Powertool1990]

Paul Lang do you own this exact model?

[@paullang1505]

Repairs & Reviews I have the RZ5426

[@Powertool1990]

Paul Lang I can attempt to make a video leveling my deck, yours may not be the same but it might be very similar. I'll try to get a video explaining how when I get the chance. We just had a baby so my free time is tight now days haha

[@paullang1505]

Repairs & Reviews well congratulations. It's no hurry. I just know when I pick the deck to the highest position it not all the way up. Thanks

[@cobrakid5]

Lol clean ur deck more man! But thanks for the vid.

[@glasswinder]

Where do you get these blades at?

[@Powertool1990]

Michael S I have a local distributor that has tons of parts for mowers but if you can't find them locally, you can also order them on Amazon.

[@Geobh1]

WALMART

[@atvbass10]

Hey man, I have a Husq. Mz-52 with the 23hp Kawasaki motor. My deck constantly gets clogged up! The only time it doesn’t get clocked is when I stay on top of my grass before it has a chance to grow to much. Do these blades mulch really well and help with the clogs? I may try these along with cleaning and degreasing the heck out of my deck and then spraying the shit out of it with Pam lol.

[@Powertool1990]

atvbass10 the Gator blades are better than regular mulching blades but I believe the clumping is due to Husqvarnas poor deck design. The deck is way to deep leaving space for grass to clump, especially when wet (and sometimes I can't avoid cutting damp grass due to Va weather) Gator blades are superior in every way for mulching but they unfortunately don't prevent the clumping problem on these decks

[@atvbass10]

i love the mower but that is my number 1 complaint. The motor itself is plenty strong enough to cut through thick grass, but with nowhere for the grass to go after getting clumped up, the mower bogs down. And this irritates me so bad. Thanks for the response!

[@Jentyoerther09]

I just received my blades and didn't seem sharp at all. Did you need to sharpen the blade itself?

[@Powertool1990]

tyler oerther I've never had any new blade that needed to be sharpened. The new blades should have a good edge on them but not actually sharp to the touch when new. They should cut no problem.

[@PLM1]

very nice video 😉👍👍

[@glenncountry]

My deck blocks up more with gator blades. I have better luck with straight blades. I have pretty thick grass.

[@Powertool1990]

glenncountry my deck clogs with any blade unless the grass is 100% dry. It's been so wet in my area lately that I can't help but cut grass damp which clogs everything up no matter what blades I use

[@roysmith3675]

Hope you have better luck with your blades than I did Not impressed with the life of the blades so go ahead and order yourself another set for a quick blade change Clean that deck real then use the cheapest butter spray you can find to spray it Wash and spray after every use and the deck will last

[@Powertool1990]

Roy Smith I'm at the end of year 2 and still going strong. Definitely could use a sharpen again but they're aging well and I have almost an acre of grass to cut every week. All depends on the environment and soil you have also. Clay or sandy soil will eat through some blades. Thanks for watching

[@Julian-do7bv]

My deck holds grass up on top of that lip bad i want to pull it all apart and undercoat it

[@Powertool1990]

Julian Rada yeah mines pretty deep with lots of area for wet grass to clump underneath

[@Julian-do7bv]

Repairs & Reviews how are the blades holding up for you

[@Powertool1990]

Julian Rada I serviced my mower and sharpened them a couple months ago, they still looked good as new minus the paint. I've been able to get multiple years out of all my Gator blades, well worth the investment in my opinion.

[@TexasScout]

I want a "high lift" blade for my use, I mow 2.5ac of pasture (basically) and muching blades just make a "cud" underneath the deck. If these will throw the grass out 6-8 feet out the chute, I'll try them.

[@Powertool1990]

TexasScout Noneofyourbusiness they throw grass pretty good as long as the deck chute is up.

[@raymondj8768]

i love them i been using them for years

[@chriss8206]

Maybe it just looks dropped

[@joefro972]

good lawwwd !! what a mess !!

[@JDRTRM]

They work. I also sharpen the little teeth , sharp is good.!

[@daflea66]

FWIW not needed. They arent meant to cut the clippings, they just let some slip through to get hit again.

[@JDRTRM]

Michael Amurgis Like I said , sharp is good . Why not if you can .chop chop .

[@joracer1]

Husqvarna is the worst mower i've had, i got a 22/46 i,ve tried 3 different blades, it's ok, but my 20 year old JD cuts way better, also the husky spins more, pushes the front wheels, not good on the side of hills, the foot controlled reverse is a hassle, i've repaired the valve cover gasket 2 times it has 54 hours of course that's a Kohler problem... its a pos... i mow more with my 20 year old JD because its so much better... i wish i would have read the reviews before i bought it, 1 1/2 stars... terrible. I feel bad for anyone that has one...

[@Powertool1990]

joracer1 I love my Husqvarna zero turn, although I do agree the John Deere I owned before had a much nicer cut.

[@orionm427]

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