Mower blade discussion? time for new ones

[Greentored 3,201]

30+ years of cutting grass and I've never put a fresh set of blades on a machine, just sharpen, balance and go.  Now 'lawn duty' the 1277 and 'lil booger' 655 are due, and i'd love to slap a brand new set under em! Do you folks have a preference, opinion, or favorite blade?

The 1277 is now running a 16hp Kohler and 42" deck, so I can likely slap about anything under there and it'll swing it.  May have to stay a bit conservative on the 655 for obvious reasons.  Both are rear discharge decks if that makes a difference.

Thanks fellas!

[OutdoorEnvy 1,510]

I use Stens blades and think they do the job fine.  I have a distributor that sells to the public so I got 3 blades for my 42" for $18

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,878]

For the 36" gear driven deck

Toro 8014 2-blade set replaces 4116 and 7906 right blades, 4117 and 7907 left blades and 2-blade set 101522

 

Do the blades for the 42" side discharge have a 5/8" x 3/4" double-D center hole or 3/4" round hole?

[Greentored 3,201]

1 hour ago, gwest_ca said:

For the 36" gear driven deck

Toro 8014 2-blade set replaces 4116 and 7906 right blades, 4117 and 7907 left blades and 2-blade set 101522

 

Do the blades for the 42" side discharge have a 5/8" x 3/4" double-D center hole or 3/4" round hole?

3/4 round, thanks!

[Greentored 3,201]

Im open to options as well. Gators? Hi lift? Low lift? twin blades instead of one? haha

[clueless 2,956]

If you can find OE Wheel Horse blades I would go with them, you said it yourself, never changed a blade in 30 years. The old OE Wheel Horse blades metallurgy was much harder and tougher than anything out there today. There still out there but a little pricey but hey you might get another 30 years out of them.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,510]

I have used gator blades on other mowers and think they are great!  However I couldn't find any that would fit my WH 42".  If you find some gators that fit I would go with them.  Then let me know which part numbers they are  

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 10,878]

Here are the decks that originally had blades with 3/4" center holes.

Older decks with double-D center holes could have been upgraded to use blades with 3/4" holes.

 

These decks all use blades with a 3/4" center hole.

1977 model 75-42MS02 replaced by (Do not have operator manual)

1978 model 85-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual)

1979 model 95-42MS00 (Do not have operator manual)

1979 model 95-42MS01 (Do not have operator manual)

1980 model 05-42MS01 (Have operator manual)

1981-1983 model 05-42MS02

1984 model 05-42MS03 - Last year for bearings with 3/4" ID

1985 model 05-42MS04 - First year for bearings with 17mm ID unless older spindles were updated.

1986-1988 model 05-42MS05

1989 model 15-42SC01

1990 model 15-42SC02

1990-1992 model 15-42SC03

1993-2007 and 2009-2012 model 78345 - These decks all use blades with a 3/4" center hole.

 

Note - 17mm is .669"