OEM Mower Blades or Aftermarket?

[Sprinkler Buddy]

Which do you use and why?

 

[panabiker]

I guess it depends on the maker. The original blades on my Troybilt mower are exactly the same as the Arnold blades I bought at HD. I suspect they came from the same factory.

 

[ILENGINE]

Oregon makes almost all the mower blades just like they make almost all the bars, chains, and sprockets used on chainsaws.

 

[Rivets]

IL, have you noticed that the Oregon blades are almost twice as heavy as the OEM for the Snapper mowers? Haven't had a problem with them yet, but I am watching the three mowers I have put them on.

 

[ILENGINE]

Don't see a lot of the snappers any more in my area. It is that snapper probably specs out the thinner blades from the maker. It seems like the blades that we have been getting the last few years don't last nearly as long as the blades used years ago. Softer medal or something. See air lifts get worn off in one mowing season in some cases.

 

[east_tn_emc]

I have had a number of issues/problems with aftermarket (Stens and others) blades for my Ferris mowers. In most of those cases, the issues are that the blades are either a "bit" longer or a "bit" shorter than the OEM blades. When I say a bit, I am talking ~1/8 inch or so, but when you combine that over two or three blades on a deck, I end up with blades that will hit each other...not enough to break anything, but enough so that you can hear them "chatter" when the deck is running.

I never have run into that with the OEM blades. :thumbsup:
Just my experience....

but I am sure this question will get as much passionate and varied debate as "Ford versus Chevy" :biggrin:

 

[ILENGINE]

I have had a number of issues/problems with aftermarket (Stens and others) blades for my Ferris mowers. In most of those cases, the issues are that the blades are either a "bit" longer or a "bit" shorter than the OEM blades. When I say a bit, I am talking ~1/8 inch or so, but when you combine that over two or three blades on a deck, I end up with blades that will hit each other...not enough to break anything, but enough so that you can hear them "chatter" when the deck is running.

I never have run into that with the OEM blades. :thumbsup:
Just my experience....

but I am sure this question will get as much passionate and varied debate as "Ford versus Chevy" :biggrin:

Just had a set of OEM MTD blades that were too long and would hit about an 1/8 of an inch of each blade together.

 

[benski]

I usually stick some Oregon replacement blades on my mowers when the time comes. I also put them on my cheesy little balancing machine, and double check the length. I can mill off a little at each end and rebalance if necessary. I've found a few brand new blades that were quite a bit out of balance, fresh from the factory.:frown: