John Deere L118 Replaced blades and belt. Mowes great but every so often I get a terrible noise for approximately 3 seconds when the blades strike each other. This happens approximately every 30-45 seconds. This is an older model and I don’t see anyway to set the timing. Do I grind the blades down so they can’t touch?
John Deere L118 Blades hit together
- Thread starter Jake L118
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2017
- Threads
- 265
- Messages
- 6,621
make sure your spindles are tight (bolted to deck)
Measure the blades diagonally. If they are 21.5” diagonally, they are too long. They should be 21.465”. In other words, they should be a hair over 21 3/8” measured diagonally.
usamowerblades.com
Your OE blades are GX 20433.
www.oregonproducts.com
www.stens.com
How to Measure a Lawn Mower Blade - USA Mower Blades
Search | Oregon Products
Search results for "GX20433"
www.stens.com
Last edited:
bertsmobile1
Lawn Royalty
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2014
- Threads
- 65
- Messages
- 24,995
When they work properly they are great, just nit suited to some decks
you grind blade tips at an angle so the back is shorter than the front
Have a good loot at the edges of your blades.
Where they are striking will be obvious.
And remember blade lengths are diagonal as previuosly mentioned
you grind blade tips at an angle so the back is shorter than the front
Have a good loot at the edges of your blades.
Where they are striking will be obvious.
And remember blade lengths are diagonal as previuosly mentioned
If you go grinding on those blades, you may run into a balance problem.Thank you all for the advice and direction! Spindles are tight and I fear the blade just needed to be ground down, just a little too long. Are the Gator style blade bad?
Do you have the part number for those blades?
Gator Style blade: Personally, I don’t like using them in the growing season. The slightest bit of moisture in your grass will pack the deck with clippings and leave clumps everywhere. They are pretty good in the fall and for early spring cleanup.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2020
- Threads
- 90
- Messages
- 11,372
Boy I just didn't know the JD was picky that 1/32 of an inch would cause a problem. Actually 1/64" if measured from the center. Now I would that blade or blade center hole could off center a little cause but not a 32nd of inch overall length difference.Measure the blades diagonally. If they are 21.5” diagonally, they are too long. They should be 21.465”. In other words, they should be a hair over 21 3/8” measured diagonally.
Your OE blades are GX 20433.How to Measure a Lawn Mower Blade - USA Mower Blades
Search | Oregon Products
Search results for "GX20433"
Take the current blades and from the center to tip of the leading cutting edge of both halves. They should be equal in length, about 10.75". I have had blades over the years to be slightly longer on one half than other and it cause blade tip to contact each other.
Last edited:
I’m thinking he has the wrong blades for that mower.
PTmowerMech
Lawn Addict
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2018
- Threads
- 424
- Messages
- 3,242
Not hitting every round doesn't sound like a blade problem. If the blades were hitting each other because they're too long, it would sound more like a machine gun.
Remove the deck belt and re-check spindles.