Here is a letter that I wrote to Oregon Equipment. IF you have ever had a broken mandrel housing, bent shaft or bent blade please read the below letter. I hope this will help you. It has already saved me 2+ mandrel housings and who knows how many blades! I think this applies to any AYP Riding mower. Feel free to comment.
Letter:
I do not know where to begin, I ask that you bear with me as this is going to be long. I have a Husqvarna YTH20K46 with 110 hours on it. I know the model number because for the past 6 years I have been buying parts for it almost every time I cut the grass.
The riding mower is used on probably the most challenging terrain for both the operator and the machine with very steep hills and approximately 4 acres of rough terrain. I even put agricultural tires on it for more traction. I have a vacation house in Pennsylvania that was left to me and my two brothers after my dad passed away. As a present to myself, for graduating the Police Academy, I purchased this mower new. After almost every use there was a broken mandrel housing, bent shaft, or bent blade. I literally have a scrap metal pile that has been cleaned out several time that now is consisting of over 20 blades, several mandrel housings and many bent shafts. I thought this was just due to misuse by my brothers. Over this past winter I decedent to rebuild the whole mower deck. Everything was new on it at the beginning of the season. After two cuts on the lawn there was a broken mandrel housing. I had cut the grass myself on the highest setting and know that I did not hit anything and was frustrated. I could not figure out the problem with why the parts were breaking so often until about 2 months ago. I replaced the blades with brand new ones that were purchased from Lowes (The cheep ones). I cut the grass very cautiously on the highest setting. About 2 acres into cutting the grass I noticed a vibration. I checked the blades and due to their poor design both were bent. I changed the blades out and continued to cut the grass. While cutting the grass I started to think. The blades always bend toward the outside where the notch is cut in them. If the blade bends, that causes a harmonic imbalance. This in turn puts stress on the shaft for the blade and then transfers it to the mandrel housing thus snapping the ears off for the housing. I then started to research who made the strongest blades. I came across a web page (unknown now) that had comparison of several mower blades. I knew that due to the large cut on the back side of the blade (for lift I assume) that this created a weak point. So I narrowed it down to The Gator Mulching blades and a few others. I then saw that The Gator Blades were the thickest out of all. I sucked it up and purchased two of them. I have since cut the lawn 4 time (approximately 16 hours) and am beyond happy. The blades do not have a single nick in them. I have not had to replace any parts on the mower. I sometimes have to stop and look at the discharge shut to make sure they are still working because they are so quiet. Not to mention that they cut through tall grass, branches and it does not even bog the mower down. I had previously thought, well known that the 21 hp. Koler motor was underpowered, until these blades. They make a world of difference! I do not know how to thank you for manufacturing such a good product. Please use this email as a testament to how good of a product you have. I only wish that I could get this information out to other frustrated persons that do not know about you. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Letter:
I do not know where to begin, I ask that you bear with me as this is going to be long. I have a Husqvarna YTH20K46 with 110 hours on it. I know the model number because for the past 6 years I have been buying parts for it almost every time I cut the grass.
The riding mower is used on probably the most challenging terrain for both the operator and the machine with very steep hills and approximately 4 acres of rough terrain. I even put agricultural tires on it for more traction. I have a vacation house in Pennsylvania that was left to me and my two brothers after my dad passed away. As a present to myself, for graduating the Police Academy, I purchased this mower new. After almost every use there was a broken mandrel housing, bent shaft, or bent blade. I literally have a scrap metal pile that has been cleaned out several time that now is consisting of over 20 blades, several mandrel housings and many bent shafts. I thought this was just due to misuse by my brothers. Over this past winter I decedent to rebuild the whole mower deck. Everything was new on it at the beginning of the season. After two cuts on the lawn there was a broken mandrel housing. I had cut the grass myself on the highest setting and know that I did not hit anything and was frustrated. I could not figure out the problem with why the parts were breaking so often until about 2 months ago. I replaced the blades with brand new ones that were purchased from Lowes (The cheep ones). I cut the grass very cautiously on the highest setting. About 2 acres into cutting the grass I noticed a vibration. I checked the blades and due to their poor design both were bent. I changed the blades out and continued to cut the grass. While cutting the grass I started to think. The blades always bend toward the outside where the notch is cut in them. If the blade bends, that causes a harmonic imbalance. This in turn puts stress on the shaft for the blade and then transfers it to the mandrel housing thus snapping the ears off for the housing. I then started to research who made the strongest blades. I came across a web page (unknown now) that had comparison of several mower blades. I knew that due to the large cut on the back side of the blade (for lift I assume) that this created a weak point. So I narrowed it down to The Gator Mulching blades and a few others. I then saw that The Gator Blades were the thickest out of all. I sucked it up and purchased two of them. I have since cut the lawn 4 time (approximately 16 hours) and am beyond happy. The blades do not have a single nick in them. I have not had to replace any parts on the mower. I sometimes have to stop and look at the discharge shut to make sure they are still working because they are so quiet. Not to mention that they cut through tall grass, branches and it does not even bog the mower down. I had previously thought, well known that the 21 hp. Koler motor was underpowered, until these blades. They make a world of difference! I do not know how to thank you for manufacturing such a good product. Please use this email as a testament to how good of a product you have. I only wish that I could get this information out to other frustrated persons that do not know about you. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
