New Gator Blades..... Now Strange Sound!!

mikestoy · Apr 13, 2012

I need some help fellows on my new Gator blades installed on my 54C deck.
I rechecked and made sure I got the right replacements blades and I do,
and made sure all blades bolted in tight.

Here's what's happening:

In WOT and the deck engaged (once in a while, not all the time) I will hear a "rattle" sound
like one of the blades is hitting the edge of the deck...........:banghead3.

It's puzzling because I don't hear it consistently.

I got under the deck and position the blades around, got back on the tractor @ WOT,
engaged the deck, drove around and mowed for 10 minutes and didn't it. :dunno:

What could be going on down there??

mowergene · Apr 13, 2012

Have you checked the mounting bolts on your spindles? Next I'd check the balance on the new blades......I've seen them out of balance from the factory! Also, is the mounting hole the correct size?

X485SENoob · Apr 13, 2012

Misaligned mulch kit?

JRJ · Apr 13, 2012

Maybe you were just hearing things.

mikestoy · Apr 14, 2012

X485SENoob said:
Misaligned mulch kit?

Don't have a mulch kit.

walterjay · Apr 14, 2012

I installed gator blades on mine today. I am having an identical issue.....an occasional rattle...not all the time. I don't feel any vibration so I don't think the blades are out of balance. I don't know what to think. :dunno:

mikestoy · Apr 14, 2012

I did balance my new gators before installing them so I don't think that's the trouble.

The fact that the rattle sound went away after I hand rotated the blades,
make me wonder if their not hitting one another.........:dunno:

Only thing I do remember is trying to get the nut loose on each blade. :banghead3.
Those 54" decks are heavy and at one time I almost lifted the whole deck off the garage floor with my socket wrench trying to break them loose.:duh:.....

Here's a picture after I finish installing them and before I clean my deck.

mbrun · Apr 14, 2012

Loosen the blade bolts just slightly, enough that you can rotate each freely, but not so much that it comes off the alignment shoulder. Then align the tips of the adjacent blades. Doing this should answer the question regarding blade to blade contact.

wizzo · Apr 14, 2012

I doubt that the blades are hitting each other. Believe it or not the same sound happened to me when my blades were new... I rotated them around by hand and they never touched. I haven't heard the noise in a while, so is it possible that they wiggle ever so slighty sometimes due to the powdercoating inside the hole? I'm going to be ordering a spare set soon, I'll put them on when they arrive and see if they make the sound.

8086bruce · Apr 14, 2012

I've heard the same thing before. I think it's something on top of the deck. Belt tensioner of something like that.

mowergene · Apr 14, 2012

8086bruce said:
I've heard the same thing before. I think it's something on top of the deck. Belt tensioner of something like that.

If all is well underneath the deck, check out the condition of the belts (if a chunk is missing, it can cause havoc!). Also check the spindle covers.......I've got a rattle in one of mine (not constant).

Kansas John Deere · Apr 14, 2012

Or do what I do when the wife says I hear a funny noise from my car...... Turn the radio up louder..............LOL

mikestoy · Apr 14, 2012

wizzo said:
I doubt that the blades are hitting each other. Believe it or not the same sound happened to me when my blades were new... I rotated them around by hand and they never touched. I haven't heard the noise in a while, so is it possible that they wiggle ever so slighty sometimes due to the powdercoating inside the hole? I'm going to be ordering a spare set soon, I'll put them on when they arrive and see if they make the sound.

Thanks wisso and all others for your input here.

When I mow again next week and use the new blades for the first time, I'll see if the noise comes back otherwise I'll try mbrun advice and recheck/retighten everything

Funnydirt14 · Apr 28, 2012

Just installed new gator blades on my 60" deck on my 425 tonight and about every three seconds I'm getting a noise like something is hitting somewhere on the deck. I checked the blades out and can't find any marks on them. Has anyone come up with an answer on these blades. My John Deere blade make no noise.

mikestoy · Apr 28, 2012

Funnydirt14 said:
Just installed new gator blades on my 60" deck on my 425 tonight and about every three seconds I'm getting a noise like something is hitting somewhere on the deck. I checked the blades out and can't find any marks on them. Has anyone come up with an answer on these blades. My John Deere blade make no noise.

When I had this problem, one of my blades were not centered correctly on the center spindle flange. Recheck this on yours

MI GT · Apr 28, 2012

Put gators on my 60" 7iron and had that kind of noise also.
Got back under to look and one blade was just touching a
baffle.
Rotated by hand and would not touch, just under power.
Took the grinder to the baffle and a file to the end of the blade,
all is good now. (just a few thousands)
It was very noticable going over uneven ground and the deck would
flex.
Found this out by pushing down on the deck while engaged and could
make it rub.
Look for very light marks on the end of the blades and on any baffles.
The gators are slightly longer than the oem blades also.

Hope this helps
Jim

GADeereHunter · Apr 28, 2012

It seems that most Deere 54" mower decks use M143520 for the standard blades. The Oregon Gator Blade replacement is 396-719. I have the same blades as posted by mikestoy but I am trying to use them on a different deck (54D Autoconnect). See my thread here for the details and information I received from Oregon but in summary, I'm going to end up using my new grinder:fing32::

http://www.greentractortalk.com/for...showthread.php?3775-Help-with-new-Gator-Blades-on-54D-deck-Blade-Edges-Touching

Funnydirt14 · Apr 28, 2012

Thanks guys. Found that the blade under the chute was just touching the center blade. The other blade on opposite side was fine. Realigned and they still touched. Ended up grinding off the ends of the blade under chute and balancing it back out. I marked this blade so it will always go back on the chute side of the deck. Come to think of it I should have marked all the blades. Oh well back outside........

mikestoy · Apr 28, 2012

GADeereHunter said:
I am trying to use them on a different deck (54D Autoconnect). ]

Confused, What's a 54D autoconnect deck?? :thanku:

wizzo · Apr 28, 2012

mikestoy said:
Confused, What's a 54D autoconnect deck?? :thanku:

For the 1023E and the 1026R you drive over the deck (like w/ the 7 Iron) and it locks into place automatically... After it clicks you can hit the PTO button and go straight to mowing without exiting the machine!

New Gator Blades..... Now Strange Sound!!

mikestoy

mowergene

X485SENoob

JRJ

mikestoy

walterjay

mikestoy

mbrun

wizzo

8086bruce

mowergene

Kansas John Deere

mikestoy

Funnydirt14

mikestoy

MI GT

GADeereHunter

Funnydirt14

mikestoy

wizzo

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities