The History of Jacobsen Mowers

[fredsluck]

I will try the Tractor Supply and use the Encore hint at other sources. I have checked with a couple of good service shops in the area and went through their catalogues with them and have found nothing with the length I need ( 25.5 + inches). Just for general information I will try to post picture. Thanks for the tips.

 

[KennyV]

You didn't give the other dimensions... but here are some 26 inch blades, they could be Easily fitted to a 25.5+ size ...
Lawn Mower Parts - Blade Search By Item Attributes

Is yours a right side or left side discharge? :smile:KennyV

 

[Two-Stroke]

That 50" mower may be an Exmark. In the early days of their attempt to market that size mower they bought Exmark's and repainted and put their own decals on them. As for the early days (50's and 60's), they had a couple of 2 cycle engines. There was a "J125", a "J175" and finally, the workhorse, the "321" (as in 32:1 gas/oil mix). The 321 was used on all their production of mowers that used a 2 cycle engine from about 1962 to about 1975. They then changed to a 501 (50:1 gas/oil mix) about 1975 until about 1988. All the parts were the same, just less smoke. As for the Park 30 mower, it had a Wisconsin engine on it. In those days, Wisconsin was the industry's "Cadillac" of engines. All cast iron and lasted forever if taken care of. I was in the parts business for Jacobsen for 30 years. There wasn't much I didn't see. By the way, the "F10" golf tractor was also the top of the line when it came to large area mowing. My company sold a ton of them.

That post was packed interesting information. Thanks.

With those model numbers I was able to locate some photos. This, I believe, is a J125 from the late 1940s or early 1950s.

 

[fredsluck]

You didn't give the other dimensions... but here are some 26 inch blades, they could be Easily fitted to a 25.5+ size ...
Lawn Mower Parts - Blade Search By Item Attributes

Is yours a right side or left side discharge? :smile:KennyV

The mower is right side discharge; Blade has ctr hole 7/16 inch with two 7/16 inch holes on 2 3/4 inch between centers. Blade is a shallow U channel with an outside width of 2 1/4 in. Thickness approximately 3/16 in; I could use a 26 in blade. May have to grind a small amount off the ends; I have not accuracely checked center distance. Keyed hole on cutter bar attachment is 1 5/32 in. (29.5 mm) These are the blades that came with the mower when it was new. However, the manual specifies 2 3/4 in (70mm) width and a thickness of .164 in (4 mm). The rest of the parts manual description are in English units. My measurements diagonally on blade give me about 25.5 in.

 

[buzzzmeister]

The mower is right side discharge; Blade has ctr hole 7/16 inch with two 7/16 inch holes on 2 3/4 inch between centers. Blade is a shallow U channel with an outside width of 2 1/4 in. Thickness approximately 3/16 in; I could use a 26 in blade. May have to grind a small amount off the ends; I have not accuracely checked center distance. Keyed hole on cutter bar attachment is 1 5/32 in. (29.5 mm) These are the blades that came with the mower when it was new. However, the manual specifies 2 3/4 in (70mm) width and a thickness of .164 in (4 mm). The rest of the parts manual description are in English units. My measurements diagonally on blade give me about 25.5 in.

Post a pic of the blade. I'm wondering if a Jake Turfcat blade would work. Jacobsen Blades | Lawn Mower Parts | MFG Supply

 

[fredsluck]

I have tried to attach three different pictures of one of the blades from the Jacobsen 50; two pictures of the blade (tape is offset 2 inches) and one of the manual cover. I can not get to mower for actual picture today. I could only find a Turfcat blade 25 inches long. I think the mounting in the center is the same. I may be wrong on the center distance between holes if this is the case. The 390515 Surfcat blade has 2 7/8 between hole centers and is 25 inches long.

 

[buzzzmeister]

I have tried to attach three different pictures of one of the blades from the Jacobsen 50; two pictures of the blade (tape is offset 2 inches) and one of the manual cover. I can not get to mower for actual picture today. I could only find a Turfcat blade 25 inches long. I think the mounting in the center is the same. I may be wrong on the center distance between holes if this is the case. The 390515 Surfcat blade has 2 7/8 between hole centers and is 25 inches long.

If the Turfcat blades would bolt up you'd still have an inch gap between blades. I don't know of anything else off the top of my head that would be long enough without cutting something down.

 

[fredsluck]

Thanks for all the help. The distance between the spindles is 25 7/8" and you are right a 25 blade would leave a strip. However I have not tried to account for the spindle offset My current blades are wore back as the picture shows but still cut clean. I have decided to buy a set of 26" with 1/2" hole and a set 25 7/32". I then plan to go to a local machine shop and have holes put in and shorten the 26" by an 1/8". I bought them from Tulsa Engine Warehouse but they could not tell me what material they were or what the hardness is. I assume it is a medium carbon steel with a some degree of hardening. Thanks again for all you help and I will post a picture of the mower on this site since this is suppose to be a history of Jacobsens.

 

[tybilly]

This video shows a circa 1937 Jacobsen rotary mower. The video was posted somewhere in another thread but it belongs here so it's worth re-posting.

i had one of these but the square fuel tank wasnt mounted to the engine,and it said worthington mower comapany

 

[bjl8691]

Jacobsen was started here in racine wiscosin in the 1930s by the founder of the dremil tool company which is also from here in racine Wisconsin the company was located on racines south side in a industrial park area with many many corner taverns near by it was located accross the street from modine manufacturing they make heaters radiators etc.. the jacobsen plant has been demolished its just a grass lot with park benches and trees now the plant closed in the late 1980s and moved operations after being acquired by homelite.....homelite is now owned by a chineese company tech tronic industries aka tti they own toro ryobi homelite milwaukee tool hoover dirt devil royal and many other brands of power equipment and floor care