Maintaining sharp blades is an important part of getting the best cut and overall performance out of your mower. You know what else is important? Using the right blades for the application at hand.
First and foremost, you want a blade that will cut great and last a long time. As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” So, resist the urge to mow with cheap aftermarket alternatives that don’t compare to the real deal.
Grasshopper OEM GrassMax™ MARBAIN® blades undergo a patented heat-treating process that results in blades that are 25-40% harder than cheap aftermarket options. In fact, field testing has proved that the cutting edge of GrassMax blades lasts twice as long with fewer sharpenings.
There’s an easy way to know if you’re mowing with genuine Grasshopper GrassMax blades. Flip the blades over and look for the Grasshopper insignia stamped into the steel on the bottom. That insignia also helps remind you how to install the blade on the mower because the insignia should be pointing toward the ground. When it’s time to replace your blades, look for the part number that’s also stamped into the steel. That takes the guesswork out of reordering a direct replacement for the type of blade you’re replacing.
There is a possibility that you may want to take advantage of more than one style of blade depending on your application and the time of year. Grasshopper GrassMax blades are offered in six different styles. Here’s a rundown of each.
High-Lift Notched Blades are an excellent choice for side-discharging in 90% of the mowing conditions you’ll face. That’s because the high rise in the fan portion of the blade creates excellent airflow, which helps it do a great job of cutting thick, wet grass.
And, the High-Lift Notched Blade performs just as well in dry conditions. Just make sure the deck is leveled properly, and consider installing an optional Air Dam Control Kit along the front edge of 42-, 48-, 52-, 61- and 72-inch FrontMount™, MidMount™ and Stand-On™ OutStander® units to minimize dust blowout out of the front of the deck.
Extreme High-Lift Notched Blades are also very effective for side-discharging, especially really lush or overgrown lawns that are mowed infrequently.
The secret is the extra rise in the fan portion of the blade, which gets more air moving under the deck to efficiently discharge a high volume of clippings. Just be sure your mower has a liquid-cooled engine, or at least 23 horsepower if it’s an air-cooled engine, to make sure you have the power needed to turn these larger, heavier blades and efficiently work through these overgrown lawns.
Keep in mind, however, that this style of blade is not recommended in dusty, sandy conditions or for mulching or vacuum applications.
Medium-Lift Blades don’t create as intense of an airflow as High-Lift Notched Blades. Thus, the grass doesn’t get thrown up so high into the deck where it can stick and clump and end up making a mess. That’s why these blades can be a great choice whether you’re side-discharging or rear-discharging. They are also the recommended blades for collecting, which is why they are included with the PowerVac™ Collection System..
Contour Blades are a must when you want the highest cut quality when side-discharging. The design creates an intense vacuuming effect, so the grass stands taller as it’s cut.
“These blades leave the most manicured cut in high-profile areas that are mowed on a regular basis,” says Jason Tolle, a Product Specialist with Grasshopper. “If you want a yard to look like a golf course, this is the blade for you.”
It’s very important to adhere to the 1/3 Rule when using this style of blade. If you’re removing more than one-third of the grass blade during a single cutting, the intense vacuum effect could cause all of that freshly cut grass to pile up on the underside of the deck. On that note, you also want to avoid using this blade in thick, high-moisture grasses. But it’s a great choice in drier, sandier soils.
High-Low Mulching Blades are required for Model Year 2007 and newer Grasshopper mowers utilizing Down Discharge™ mulching baffles. An extended cutting edge and rise-and-fall airflow pattern allow the clippings to be cut multiple times. Essentially, a blade of grass gets cut on one side of the mower blade, gets tossed into the air, gets cut a second time, and is then forced downward. Because the grass is cut multiple times into small bits, the mulched clippings are able to disappear into the lawn.
Shredder™ Blades are toothy-edged blades that do a great job of chopping leaves and grass into tiny bits. Thus, they are a great choice when looking to leave a cleaner final appearance when discharging.
Just make sure conditions are on the drier side so those finely chopped leaves or clippings don’t turn into a mushy mess. To that point, you should probably avoid using this style of blade in lush conditions. “It will pretty much turn everything to mush,” Tolle points out.
Want to learn more about GrassMax blades, as well as other design features that help Grasshopper mowers produce their legendary cut? Check out The Perfect Cut Start to Finish.