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Removing leaves--best options
#1
J
jac233
J
jac233
I moved in to my property about a year ago on about 2 acres. Bought a freedom Z pro 61" and it did a great job mowing all summer.
Since this is my first fall here, and the previous owner said he paid $1000 for leaf removal, I'm interested in utilizing my freedom z pro to help.
What is the best way? Hurricane mulching kit, gator blades with chute blocked, etc? I don't really have anywhere to dump them. There is some woods, but previous owner said they would just blow out into lawn over the winter. I'm pretty sure the volume will be substantial; just looking for the most efficient way to get rid of them.
Thanks in advacne!
Since this is my first fall here, and the previous owner said he paid $1000 for leaf removal, I'm interested in utilizing my freedom z pro to help.
What is the best way? Hurricane mulching kit, gator blades with chute blocked, etc? I don't really have anywhere to dump them. There is some woods, but previous owner said they would just blow out into lawn over the winter. I'm pretty sure the volume will be substantial; just looking for the most efficient way to get rid of them.
Thanks in advacne!
#2
jekjr
Block the chute and put a set of Gator blades on and go at it.
jekjr
I moved in to my property about a year ago on about 2 acres. Bought a freedom Z pro 61" and it did a great job mowing all summer.
Since this is my first fall here, and the previous owner said he paid $1000 for leaf removal, I'm interested in utilizing my freedom z pro to help.
What is the best way? Hurricane mulching kit, gator blades with chute blocked, etc? I don't really have anywhere to dump them. There is some woods, but previous owner said they would just blow out into lawn over the winter. I'm pretty sure the volume will be substantial; just looking for the most efficient way to get rid of them.
Thanks in advacne!
Block the chute and put a set of Gator blades on and go at it.
#4
primerbulb120
I second that! Get G6 Gator blades if you can.
primerbulb120
Block the chute and put a set of Gator blades on and go at it.
I second that! Get G6 Gator blades if you can.
#5
M
Magsrgod
How do the regular Oregon blades compare to the factory Scag blades? From the pictures it looks like they have more cutting surface per blade. The Scag dealer gave me a free set of blades when I bought the mower but if these are significantly better I'd pick up a set.
M
Magsrgod
I second that! Get G6 Gator blades if you can.
How do the regular Oregon blades compare to the factory Scag blades? From the pictures it looks like they have more cutting surface per blade. The Scag dealer gave me a free set of blades when I bought the mower but if these are significantly better I'd pick up a set.
#6
primerbulb120
primerbulb120
I'm not familiar with the blades Scag uses on their mowers, so I can't really make a valid comparison. But in my experience the regular Gator blades usually work better than stock blades. It's not really the extended cutting edge that makes the difference, it's the mulching teeth on the back. They destroy leaves and when you're done it almost looks like you bagged the lawn. The quality of cut is better and on my mowers the Gator blades leave less stragglers than the stock ones.
The G6 Gator blades make stock blades look like toys, both in thickness and in lift. I haven't found anything that can surpass these blades in mulching or quality of cut. I've mulched foot-high Bahia grass with these blades. I did double cut it, but it looked great when I was done - no clumps or uncut grass laying on top of the lawn. Same thing goes for piles of hedge clippings, just run over them a few times and they're gone.
The G6 Gator blades make stock blades look like toys, both in thickness and in lift. I haven't found anything that can surpass these blades in mulching or quality of cut. I've mulched foot-high Bahia grass with these blades. I did double cut it, but it looked great when I was done - no clumps or uncut grass laying on top of the lawn. Same thing goes for piles of hedge clippings, just run over them a few times and they're gone.
#7
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
I have used G6, G5 and stock Scag blades on my Tiger Cub and settled with G5s. When using a blocking plate, I notice a slight difference in the mulch size with the G5s compared to the stock blades.
As I do spring and fall cleanup for some folks, by far the best way is with a blower driven collection system. I have a Scag collection system on my machine which vacuums the lawn clean. My customers prefer this method of cleanup as mulching doesn't pick up the leaves, just cuts them up and leaves them there on the lawn.
Unfortunately, Scag doesn't have a blower driven collection system available for the Freedom series machines, just a mower deck airflow bagging system.
Having a place to dispose of the clippings on or near the customers property is necessary.
It comes down to what you feel is an acceptable amount of mulch that will remain on the lawn.
Most of my customers have pine trees and pine needles don't mulch and take a long time to decompose.
As I do spring and fall cleanup for some folks, by far the best way is with a blower driven collection system. I have a Scag collection system on my machine which vacuums the lawn clean. My customers prefer this method of cleanup as mulching doesn't pick up the leaves, just cuts them up and leaves them there on the lawn.
Unfortunately, Scag doesn't have a blower driven collection system available for the Freedom series machines, just a mower deck airflow bagging system.
Having a place to dispose of the clippings on or near the customers property is necessary.
It comes down to what you feel is an acceptable amount of mulch that will remain on the lawn.
Most of my customers have pine trees and pine needles don't mulch and take a long time to decompose.
#8
J
jac233
J
jac233
Thanks all for the great input!
I'm debating the following set up:
1. gator blades + permanent chute block (probably cheapest set up)
2. gator blades + operator controlled discharge chute (thinking this will allow me to keep it on year round for easy chute control vs. permanent block)
3. hurricane mulch system (pain in the butt to put on and expensive but supposedly best air lift under deck)
Is the hurricane mulch system really worth it? I know you have to install the baffles under the deck but not sure if this makes a huge difference. My concern is I really have no where to dump the leaves so I'm left with mulching only option.
Thanks in advance
I'm debating the following set up:
1. gator blades + permanent chute block (probably cheapest set up)
2. gator blades + operator controlled discharge chute (thinking this will allow me to keep it on year round for easy chute control vs. permanent block)
3. hurricane mulch system (pain in the butt to put on and expensive but supposedly best air lift under deck)
Is the hurricane mulch system really worth it? I know you have to install the baffles under the deck but not sure if this makes a huge difference. My concern is I really have no where to dump the leaves so I'm left with mulching only option.
Thanks in advance
#9
M
Magsrgod
M
Magsrgod
I'm interested as well in putting on the G6 blades and just doing a standard deck discharge. Anyone done this before?
#10
M
Mad Mackie
The Hurricane mulching system is a great system but must be used with the Scag double cutting edge blades. The mulching system is setup so that each blade is independent as if three single blade mowers were connected together. The key to good mulching results is to mow often for both grass and leaf cleanup operating the machine at slower ground speeds. The slower the ground speed the longer the mulching process the smaller the mulch pieces. Leaves are high in acid, so applying pelletized lime will sweeten the turf and promote growth.
Without a mulching system but with mulching blades and a plate, you will get poor results and will have to repeat the mowing several times in different directions to get acceptable results.
With a complete mulching installed, you are locked into its capabilities/limitations unless you remove it and reinstall it when necessary.
M
Mad Mackie
Thanks all for the great input!
I'm debating the following set up:
1. gator blades + permanent chute block (probably cheapest set up)
2. gator blades + operator controlled discharge chute (thinking this will allow me to keep it on year round for easy chute control vs. permanent block)
3. hurricane mulch system (pain in the butt to put on and expensive but supposedly best air lift under deck)
Is the hurricane mulch system really worth it? I know you have to install the baffles under the deck but not sure if this makes a huge difference. My concern is I really have no where to dump the leaves so I'm left with mulching only option.
Thanks in advance
The Hurricane mulching system is a great system but must be used with the Scag double cutting edge blades. The mulching system is setup so that each blade is independent as if three single blade mowers were connected together. The key to good mulching results is to mow often for both grass and leaf cleanup operating the machine at slower ground speeds. The slower the ground speed the longer the mulching process the smaller the mulch pieces. Leaves are high in acid, so applying pelletized lime will sweeten the turf and promote growth.
Without a mulching system but with mulching blades and a plate, you will get poor results and will have to repeat the mowing several times in different directions to get acceptable results.
With a complete mulching installed, you are locked into its capabilities/limitations unless you remove it and reinstall it when necessary.
#11
M
Mad Mackie
I used G6 blades on my 48" Tiger Cub for one season. As they are heavy, the blade tip speed was slower and if an unmovable object is struck, the risk of more serious damage is possible. I was more comfortable with actual G5s and still use them. I know that Oregon has made some changes in their aftermarket Gator blade lineup. The label on my latest G5 blades said that these blades replaced the former G6 blades. These blades are narrower and thinner than the G6 blades that I have used in the past.
There are many factors that affect mowing results. Type of grass, moisture content, operator technique, ground speed, width of the cut, amount of the cut, blade tip speed, pitch of the deck. Generally a correctly setup mower deck has a 3/8" lower blade tip height with the blade forward. However there some grass types where having the forward blade tip height higher provides a better cut quality.
A Scag Liberty Z has aluminum spindle housings with a blade bolt that threads into the spindle whereas higher level Scag machines have a cast iron spindle housing and a 5/8" blade bolt that passes thru a heavier spindle and held in place with a locknut above the drive pulleys.
M
Mad Mackie
I'm interested as well in putting on the G6 blades and just doing a standard deck discharge. Anyone done this before?
I used G6 blades on my 48" Tiger Cub for one season. As they are heavy, the blade tip speed was slower and if an unmovable object is struck, the risk of more serious damage is possible. I was more comfortable with actual G5s and still use them. I know that Oregon has made some changes in their aftermarket Gator blade lineup. The label on my latest G5 blades said that these blades replaced the former G6 blades. These blades are narrower and thinner than the G6 blades that I have used in the past.
There are many factors that affect mowing results. Type of grass, moisture content, operator technique, ground speed, width of the cut, amount of the cut, blade tip speed, pitch of the deck. Generally a correctly setup mower deck has a 3/8" lower blade tip height with the blade forward. However there some grass types where having the forward blade tip height higher provides a better cut quality.
A Scag Liberty Z has aluminum spindle housings with a blade bolt that threads into the spindle whereas higher level Scag machines have a cast iron spindle housing and a 5/8" blade bolt that passes thru a heavier spindle and held in place with a locknut above the drive pulleys.
#12
jekjr
Please explain how a blade being heavier slows the velocity. Everything runs the same RPM and the blades are the same length.
jekjr
I used G6 blades on my 48" Tiger Cub for one season. As they are heavy, the blade tip speed was slower and if an unmovable object is struck, the risk of more serious damage is possible. I was more comfortable with actual G5s and still use them. I know that Oregon has made some changes in their aftermarket Gator blade lineup. The label on my latest G5 blades said that these blades replaced the former G6 blades. These blades are narrower and thinner than the G6 blades that I have used in the past.
There are many factors that affect mowing results. Type of grass, moisture content, operator technique, ground speed, width of the cut, amount of the cut, blade tip speed, pitch of the deck. Generally a correctly setup mower deck has a 3/8" lower blade tip height with the blade forward. However there some grass types where having the forward blade tip height higher provides a better cut quality.
A Scag Liberty Z has aluminum spindle housings with a blade bolt that threads into the spindle whereas higher level Scag machines have a cast iron spindle housing and a 5/8" blade bolt that passes thru a heavier spindle and held in place with a locknut above the drive pulleys.
Please explain how a blade being heavier slows the velocity. Everything runs the same RPM and the blades are the same length.
#13
C
clay45
C
clay45
If you discover you are beginning to bog down you will notice it takes more energy to get everything back up to full rpm. You know it happens and you know it does.Please explain how a blade being heavier slows the velocity. Everything runs the same RPM and the blades are the same length.
#14
RDA.Lawns
RDA.Lawns
Physics. A heaver object takes more power to move. A lighter blades takes less HP from your available Power range.
#15
BlazNT
BlazNT
A 2" ball filled with air you could kick a long distance. Now fill that ball with lead. How far can you kick that?
#16
J
jac233
Thanks! That was what I was looking for. Can you tell me how difficult it is to put on/off? I've changed my blades once so far and that didn't seem too bad.
J
jac233
The Hurricane mulching system is a great system but must be used with the Scag double cutting edge blades. The mulching system is setup so that each blade is independent as if three single blade mowers were connected together. The key to good mulching results is to mow often for both grass and leaf cleanup operating the machine at slower ground speeds. The slower the ground speed the longer the mulching process the smaller the mulch pieces. Leaves are high in acid, so applying pelletized lime will sweeten the turf and promote growth.
Without a mulching system but with mulching blades and a plate, you will get poor results and will have to repeat the mowing several times in different directions to get acceptable results.
With a complete mulching installed, you are locked into its capabilities/limitations unless you remove it and reinstall it when necessary.
Thanks! That was what I was looking for. Can you tell me how difficult it is to put on/off? I've changed my blades once so far and that didn't seem too bad.
#17
J
jac233
J
jac233
anyone have any idea how difficult the hurricane system is to install? So far I've been using gator blades but I'm finding I just have to keep going over the leaves, doubling my mowing time. I think the baffles are key to truly getting a good mulch set up but I'm wondering if this is a pain to install??
#18
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
The mulch system isn't difficult to install, but you need to start with a clean deck so the parts bolt up squarely and tight to the underside of the deck.
The front of the machine needs to be raised up as if you were changing blades.
While operating a mulching deck you need to be more mindful of objects that can contact and bend both a blade and the mulch baffles.
Mow more often and cut 1/2" or less at a time and the dryer the conditions are, the better results you will get both just mowing grass or mulching leaves.
Mulching leaves always takes more time and more passes to get acceptable results.
The front of the machine needs to be raised up as if you were changing blades.
While operating a mulching deck you need to be more mindful of objects that can contact and bend both a blade and the mulch baffles.
Mow more often and cut 1/2" or less at a time and the dryer the conditions are, the better results you will get both just mowing grass or mulching leaves.
Mulching leaves always takes more time and more passes to get acceptable results.
#19
Boobala
Boobala
Welllll ..... you could buy a chainsaw and cut down all the trees and have ( or sell) lots of firewood !! ..:laughing: ..:laughing: ..:laughing:
Sorry , I apologize , ...... don't mind me, I get this way sometimes . ........Boobala ..:cool2:
Sorry , I apologize , ...... don't mind me, I get this way sometimes . ........Boobala ..:cool2:
#20
M
Mad Mackie
M
Mad Mackie
Theeeeeere goes Boobala being naughty again. You take a time out right this minute!!! :dance1::banana::laughing::biggrin::smile:
#21
Boobala
UT-OH I'm a had lad........ SHAME all over me ...:ashamed: ..:laughing: ..:laughing:
Boobala
Theeeeeere goes Boobala being naughty again. You take a time out right this minute!!! :dance1::banana::laughing::biggrin::smile:
UT-OH I'm a had lad........ SHAME all over me ...:ashamed: ..:laughing: ..:laughing: