Blade Comparison
Why buy John Deere replacement blades? Application-specific design
Comparison is of John Deere blades against comparable competitive blades (blades not manufactured by John Deere, but sold to fit the same equipment).
Stake Test Results
- Features
- John Deere Rotary Blade
- Competitive blade
- Size of center hole:
- Perfectly sized to spindle alignment boss.
- Center hole too large leads to moderate blade and deck vibration.
- Location of center hole:
- Hole is located in exact center of blade
- Mislocated center holes leads to serious vibration and blade-to-blade contact.
- Flatness of blade/spindle contact area:
- Blade remains flat while tightening blade bolt.
- As blade is tightened, ends do not remain flat and blades become misaligned.
- Material and Heat Treatment
- Combines carbon with boron and other materials to provide hardenability for long life without brittleness.
- Some competitive companies sell hardness only, compromising safety with brittle blades. Others don't control the material or heat-treating process, resulting in blades that are too soft and wear quickly or are too hard and brittle.
- Rigorous Testing
- Fatigue Test:
- Blades shaken over 6 million cycles to simulate abusive environment.
- Stake Test:
- Blade approaches 200 mph, then encounters 1-inch steel rod. Blade must BEND, not fragment (see results above).
- Aftermarket blade fragments in stake test. (See results above)
- Field Test:
- All new blades are tested at field test sites in Wisconsin and Florida for wear and longevity.
