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Ya think he needs new blades

#1

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

1647275814095.jpg

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.


#2

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

And he said, "Here, sharpen these"


#3

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

This is the third year i will change the blades after one season on this mower.


#4

F

fescue

Holy cows, does he till with these blades?


#5

StarTech

StarTech

Hammer you going need to go on a diet. Look what you did to the concrete slab.

Have tried installing heat treated blades. They usually last twice as long as regular blades.


#6

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I bought JD OEM couple years ago. They were not like the Marbain blades most JD mowers have. They were just like an OEM Oregon or MTD blades. The Stens AM blades are only $8 apiece so i just put new ones on each year. I am suprised how well the mower has held up with what he does to it.


#7

7394

7394

I like the Marbain steel ones on my cutter..


#8

sgkent

sgkent

I think his cows need a little less roughage in their food.


#9

StarTech

StarTech

Appears that the Z245 has a 48" deck; therefore, a set of A&I's 7 lobe XTH A-B1JD6017 blades would be what you need as they are made with Marbain. XHT (Xtreme Hardness & Toughness) blades feature a unique steel that incorporates boron, carbon, manganese, and other materials that ensure its strength. The blades are heat treated with a process makes the blades 25% - 40% harder than standard lawnmower blades, making them the longest-lasting, safest, and most impact resistant lawnmower blades on the market.

I used them until recently due a problem with A&I taking so long to respond to my emails and lying to about calling me. They are very good blades and usually last twice as long.

Hopefully I finally got that straighten out or they going to lose me as a dealer. It cost them most their sales to me last year. I went from buying over $3K yearly to $425. Another I have with is the way they did on shipping charges which can eat you alive below the $200 free level. I kinda mean now as I make double sure I buy at least $200. Example: $200.02 so I see a charge of $46 in shipping charges again.

I just starting this year's purchases. But it is going to be hard to meet the $2K yearly purchase minimum as I now got work out all the replaced parts of theirs before I can buy their parts again. Plus they have another problem as most their parts are higher than their competitors. I also had a problem that I could never get straighten out about their after market v-belts they all come in shorter than the stated sizes. I just had quit buying them even though they were good belts due to the sizing issues.


#10

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I looked at A&I and some other distributors and decided to just go with stens as my AM parts supplier. Shipping is reasonable at $10.50 below $150. I am not big enough to meet some distributors minimums if i spread it across multiple distributors. I did get a commercual tax free mechanics account at o'riley auto parts and i am tax free at the local JD dealer. For OEM parts i just go with a large online parts supplier and pay retail. Thanks for the info on the good blades.


#11

StarTech

StarTech

If you have an account with JD then they can get the A&I stuff, just at a higher cost. JD corp supposedly owes A&I.

Yes I doing the same on splitting orders; although, sometimes I can spend a few dollars more for a part and save on the shipping by combining an order. Right now my problem is what coming in needs parts from vendors that only sell that particular line. Honda engine parts is one of them as I got two Honda engines in the shop over the weekend. I needing several parts beside the ignition coil which Stens is only $4 less on so I save the extra shipping by just placing the whole order with my Honda part supplier.

Also depending on your yearly purchases you might look into Gardner and RBI for the OEM parts for the Husqvarna and MTD parts. Gardner also also has the Tuff Torq and Hydro Gear parts. It just you need a sales tax number and a business license. Now of both charges an extra 1.5% for credit card use.


#12

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Thanks. I will look into them. I have a business license and tax ID.


#13

StarTech

StarTech

Hammermechanicman said:
Thanks. I will look into them. I have a business license and tax ID.
Click to expand...
I thought so. If you can get in with they will help you to be more profitable and more competitive. Note: Gardner can provide you with price files if your system can import these files. They saves a lot time hand entering everything. You need to modify them if you are using a credit card to pay so the extra fee is taken into account.


#14

StarTech

StarTech

I can also an idea what you can save one one item that I just brought three of. The Husqvarna OEM 587819701 just cost me $22.75 ea which most of the SHC charge of 11.99. Along the saving the HydroGear seal kit the SHC was more than paid for. Even Stens with my new discount can't beat that.


#15

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I needed a single spindle like that but i bougt a 3 pack. It was like buy 2 get one free vs buying 3 individual spindles.
I don't have a large on hand inventory and i just keep it in an open office spreadsheet. Mostly air, oil and fuel filter, spark plugs, fuel line, deck wheels and carb stuff.


#16

StarTech

StarTech

Hammermechanicman said:
I needed a single spindle like that but i bougt a 3 pack. It was like buy 2 get one free vs buying 3 individual spindles.
I don't have a large on hand inventory and i just keep it in an open office spreadsheet. Mostly air, oil and fuel filter, spark plugs, fuel line, deck wheels and carb stuff.
Click to expand...
Then that where we are different on inventory. And I just got a small amount of what I need as I am always ordering parts. I was up $50K at one time on stock items. I have been reducing stock levels ever since got in with Gardner and RBI where the 1-2 day delivery is better than 1 week plus it use to be from some of the other suppliers.

1647376652690.png


#17

B

bertsmobile1

Hammermechanicman said:
I needed a single spindle like that but i bougt a 3 pack. It was like buy 2 get one free vs buying 3 individual spindles.
I don't have a large on hand inventory and i just keep it in an open office spreadsheet. Mostly air, oil and fuel filter, spark plugs, fuel line, deck wheels and carb stuff.
Click to expand...
No blades ?
I see Stens do bulk packs in the US at a good discount over the single price.
Down here they only sell single
What I do miss is Oregon Gators which B & S is not going to import .
I probably sold 30 sets a year
Hopefully a local importer will start bringing them in direct .


#18

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

bertsmobile1 said:
No blades ?
I see Stens do bulk packs in the US at a good discount over the single price.
Down here they only sell single
What I do miss is Oregon Gators which B & S is not going to import .
I probably sold 30 sets a year
Hopefully a local importer will start bringing them in direct .
Click to expand...
I stock a few. The ubiquitous AYP/Craftsman and some i know fit some of the return customers mowers but there are so many different blades i order most as i need them. Stens is back to 1 to 2 day delivery so it works for me. In fact i ordered parts yesterday morning and they were here today.


#19

StarTech

StarTech

Hammer, that is one thing you must do and that is to use your best judgement on what you need to keep on hand; otherwords, don't go hog wild buying parts. Some items I keep in stock as they are needed for quick turn a rounds. If I did just product it would be a lot easier to know what to buy. But as a independent shop things are constantly changing.. I have seen blade sales drop some as places like Wal-mart and TSC started.carrying blades. It is nice however to a vendor or more that can deliver in an one to two day window

A&I was my main source for Briggs parts until they went bonkers on the shipping charges below $200. Even when I order over $200 I can see the write-offs of the shipping charge as they just go through roof on multiple shipped items. It appears that A&I only cares about the large orders to heck with us small shops that help build their business.

As small as I am I don't usually do spring stock up purchases as I just don't what will be coming in. I wish I could do larger purchases but it is just not a smart thing for me to wait a week or two as customers are expecting quick turn a rounds.


#20

B

bertsmobile1

When I needed a new set of blades I order 2 sets, one for the customer & one for stock
As there used to be a 100% mark up on blades it meant I got a set for stock at n actual out of pocket costs.
Thus the blades I have in stock are the ones I need and the common ones like Murray MTD JD & AYP 42" I carry 10 sets , built up over time.
When a supplier does a run out of old slow moving blades I also buy some of them .
This practice has gotten me a quite a few customers because they go to the dealer & get told NLA then come to me & I have them in stock
So for instance I have a lot of old pattern MTD blades I bought at $ 5 & sell at $ 30 to $ 50 as the customers can only get them from online merchants in the USA .
Even then I get caught now & then as over the past 3 years of drought they have been eating blades .
Same story with belts so I always have customers belts in stock otherwise I loose the sale and for pats only customers, the customer as well .
I put a dot on the sleeve or some times the customers name so I know I am fitting a belt I must replace if I am doing a new customers mower.
Blades are one of those add on items used to get free delivery on small orders .
I try to have everything I need on hand so I can turn over the mowers quickly then replace the parts used in a monthly order.
Doing it this way makes it difficult for the auditors as a single repair may have parts ordered from 4 different suppliers anything up to 2 months after the job was done .
Modern accounting practice is to keep minimum inventory & order in only when needed so it confuses the baby faced tax men no end.
OTOH I do not pay tax on my inventory only on the turn over .


#21

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

bertsmobile1 said:
When I needed a new set of blades I order 2 sets, one for the customer & one for stock
As there used to be a 100% mark up on blades it meant I got a set for stock at n actual out of pocket costs.
Thus the blades I have in stock are the ones I need and the common ones like Murray MTD JD & AYP 42" I carry 10 sets , built up over time.
When a supplier does a run out of old slow moving blades I also buy some of them .
This practice has gotten me a quite a few customers because they go to the dealer & get told NLA then come to me & I have them in stock
So for instance I have a lot of old pattern MTD blades I bought at $ 5 & sell at $ 30 to $ 50 as the customers can only get them from online merchants in the USA .
Even then I get caught now & then as over the past 3 years of drought they have been eating blades .
Same story with belts so I always have customers belts in stock otherwise I loose the sale and for pats only customers, the customer as well .
I put a dot on the sleeve or some times the customers name so I know I am fitting a belt I must replace if I am doing a new customers mower.
Blades are one of those add on items used to get free delivery on small orders .
I try to have everything I need on hand so I can turn over the mowers quickly then replace the parts used in a monthly order.
Doing it this way makes it difficult for the auditors as a single repair may have parts ordered from 4 different suppliers anything up to 2 months after the job was done .
Modern accounting practice is to keep minimum inventory & order in only when needed so it confuses the baby faced tax men no end.
OTOH I do not pay tax on my inventory only on the turn over .
Click to expand...
I have done things like that. Small things with close to 100% markup i will order 2 when i need one. Head gaskets, fuel pump, voltage regulator, starter relay and things like that. Puts smalls in stock without cash outlay. Of course i had a dumb ass attack and ordered 2 more shop packs of J19LM plugs instead of RC12YC plugs. Now i have close to 100 J19LM plugs. And the shop pack of BPMR7A plugs are still on backorder.


#22

B

bertsmobile1

Wish I could get shop packs of plugs
Only 10 packs for NGK's & 4 packs for Champions which makes them quite dear
OTOH I very rarely change plugs , just check & regap.
The idea of changing a plug in a mower at 100 or 200 hours when the exact same plug will run for 5000 + hours in an air cooled motorcycle engine with fixed timing is just stupid .
We usually get some good pre-season deals
Stens give big discounts if you spend big & allow staged repayments so $ 3000 buys a whole seasons worth of blades at a 15% discount .
I used try to order plugs at the same time but Stens do not stock Champion any more just NGK .


#23

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I change hundreds of good plugs. When customers get annual maint they get new plug(s). This from the guy with a 23 year old shihl fs80 trimmer that has had over a hundred tanks of fuel through it that has had 5 new trimmer heads and 1 new spark plug.


#24

7394

7394

My Vintage Flathead Briggs 22" pusher still has the OE spark plug & mows great. Wife starts it on 1 pull.. That's her mower, I just keep it up.

But I did finally replace the OE blade.. Other was not worn out, but was slightly bent.. (operator error, rocks don't need mowed)..


#25

H

hlw49

Those look pretty good compared to some I have seen had one come in with half a blade on it.


#26

7394

7394

I'm surprised the sails didn't break off that blade.. Both are cracked badly.


#27

H

hlw49

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...
I made me a scraper to clean under the decks when I service mowers. It the scraper the carpet layers use to get the pad up. I just ground it where it is narrower so I can get in the front part of the deck where the lip is. Works pretty good but there are some where your really have to work to get the packed in grass off the deck.


#28

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

I use a scraper called the grass buster. Works good except when the grass is packed 4" deep then i use a 2 ft prybar to pry out the big chunks first.

www.mowmore.com

Grassbuster Lawn Mower Deck Cleaning and Scraping Tool | S750700

GrassBuster lawn mower deck scraper specifically designed to clean debris from lawn mower decks. Commercial grade , 2" wide stainless-steel blade, flexible curved tip conforms to underside and will not scratch. 5" polypropylene handle with rubber overgrip. Deck Scraper. Clean decks improve mower...
www.mowmore.com www.mowmore.com


#29

StarTech

StarTech

Oh I was just been thinking using a drop or two of Nitro. I about got all the holes in my yard filled in now. I just charge for filling my yard holes.


#30

oldlawnguy

oldlawnguy

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...
Looks like he's got the deck set pretty low to the ground and cutting very overgrown grass and/or he's going over big patches of bone dry aggregate. Signs of sand, pebbles and dirt by the wear marks on lift area. Jeez the wear on the blade edge isn't from just grass IMHO.


#31

T

TwinL

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...
He must be cutting a couple of hundred of acres of hay for a few hundred cattle , wow , I'd say maybe 4 or 5 years of cutting.


#32

M

mystic240

He needs a “Bush Hog” behind his tractor.


#33

C

CaptFerd

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...
Why do you keep putting mulching blades back on it? All of the damage that's being done and the packing of grass under the deck is on you and your lack of knowledge for what your doing. Everyone is so quick to knock and blame the people that are putting food on your plate. Punish them by charging extra instead of evaluating the circumstances and fixing the problem.


#34

B

BTBO

7394 said:
I like the Marbain steel ones on my cutter..
Click to expand...
Would you know the website that these Marbain blades can be ordered from?


#35

F

fixit1ddh

Mowing to fast with dull blades. Does it everytime. Does not matter what kind of blades they are.


#36

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

CaptFerd said:
Why do you keep putting mulching blades back on it? All of the damage that's being done and the packing of grass under the deck is on you and your lack of knowledge for what your doing. Everyone is so quick to knock and blame the people that are putting food on your plate. Punish them by charging extra instead of evaluating the circumstances and fixing the problem.
Click to expand...
Glad to see you know everything about the situation. Thanks for correcting me i feel so stupid and i should have known.
The mower is around 20 years old and he bought it used and abused. He knows exactly how bad he beats the $hit out of it. He is on a farm and he uses it. Like a bushhog and mows a very long gravel driveway and he knows mowing in the rain is bad but he still does it. When it breaks he just says see if you can save it. He calls me the mower magician because i keep it running. If you think i am ripping off a customer due to lack of knowledge or integrity please feel free to not bring me something to work on.
Have a nice day my friend.


#37

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

CaptFerd said:
Why do you keep putting mulching blades back on it? All of the damage that's being done and the packing of grass under the deck is on you and your lack of knowledge for what your doing. Everyone is so quick to knock and blame the people that are putting food on your plate. Punish them by charging extra instead of evaluating the circumstances and fixing the problem.
Click to expand...
Hammermechanicman said:
Glad to see you know everything about the situation. Thanks for correcting me i feel so stupid and i should have known.
The mower is around 20 years old and he bought it used and abused. He knows exactly how bad he beats the $hit out of it. He is on a farm and he uses it. Like a bushhog and mows a very long gravel driveway and he knows mowing in the rain is bad but he still does it. When it breaks he just says see if you can save it. He calls me the mower magician because i keep it running. If you think i am ripping off a customer due to lack of knowledge or integrity please feel free to not bring me something to work on.
Have a nice day my friend.
Click to expand...
Speaking of Drama Llama.


#38

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Just another day with the internet.


#39

C

CaptFerd

Scrubcadet10 said:
Speaking of Drama Llama.
Click to expand...
I refer to it as tuff love. We all can use a little now and then.


#40

J

JjEjFjF

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...
Hes a lazy jackass. These are the first people to cry about wanting warranty work.


#41

R

rad14701

Hammermechanicman said:
View attachment 59772

JD Z245. This is one season on these blades. Guy lives on a farm. I just finished scraping still wet grass from last season out od the deck. It was packed so bad the grass was down to the blades. Had to use a pry bar to get most of it out.
Click to expand...

I was going through two sets of the high-lift blades per season on my YTH-2348 due to the fine sandy soil I have here that got sucked up and sand-blasted them far worse than the blade pictured... I ended up switching to mulching blades and only had to dress the blades once last mowing season instead of a couple times per set for the high-lift blades... They're good to go for this season and maybe beyond that...


#42

7394

7394



#43

C

CaptFerd

7394 said:
Click to expand...
A great start to the solution of clogging decks and abnormal blade wear. Thats why most come here. To find answers. Follow this guys lead and a lot of people old and new will learn a lot. Thanks 7394.


#44

R

robertschemenauer

I have a craftsman DGT6000 54" deck .2.2 ac. still using the original blades .Shharpen when needed. only 17 seasons old.


#45

MyGrassHasCrabs

MyGrassHasCrabs

What's he been cutting, a rock garden?


#46

7394

7394

Sure looks like a Rock Garden..


#47

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

7394 said:
Sure looks like a Rock Garden..
Click to expand...
I think its more of a rock farm than a garden ???


#48

StarTech

StarTech

Even my blades looks rough after a year of cutting my grass. Fescue is rough on blades plus cutting up to 6 acres don't help a lot either. Several mow a lot down tree limbs [twigs] with their mowers. Kinda hard not to; unless, we are constantly raking our whole yards weeks before mowing.


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