Snapper Z series Question
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Snapper Z series Question
Do the Snapper Z series Yard Cruiser's have a faster blade speed than say the Snapper rear engine models with the same deck size? In this case a 42 inch. Never ran a Zero turn of any make.
I noticed today the city was using a Zero turn. Not a Snapper, not sure what it was. Anyway, it seemed the blades were really humming. Like twice as fast as my Rear engine Snapper. Are there different blade speed options on high end mowers? AS fast as they mow. I guessing the blades must turn a least twice as fast as regular mowers. Or not?
ih
I noticed today the city was using a Zero turn. Not a Snapper, not sure what it was. Anyway, it seemed the blades were really humming. Like twice as fast as my Rear engine Snapper. Are there different blade speed options on high end mowers? AS fast as they mow. I guessing the blades must turn a least twice as fast as regular mowers. Or not?
ih
#2
A rear engine snaper with one huge 30"+ long blade will not turn as fast as a mower with short 15 or 20 inch blades. That 30" blade is turning slower but the blade tip speed is likely close to the same because it is farther from the spinning shaft. The longer the blade, the slower it can turn and still have the same blade tip speed.
#3
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Thread Starter
Z Riders
Thanks Cheese, But how are the commercial mowers able to cut clean at a much faster ground speed if they don't have a faster PTO speed? 3 or 4 short blades?
Years ago, back on the farm. We had tractors with both the 540 and 1000 speed P.T.O's. It seems to me like the Rear Engine snapper's run more like a 540 pto speed. And the commercial mowers run more like a 1000 speed.
I'm I all wet on this? Thanks in advance for the education.
IH
Years ago, back on the farm. We had tractors with both the 540 and 1000 speed P.T.O's. It seems to me like the Rear Engine snapper's run more like a 540 pto speed. And the commercial mowers run more like a 1000 speed.
I'm I all wet on this? Thanks in advance for the education.
IH
#4
The engines run 3000 +/- rpm on all of them, so the PTO speed is similar on them all. The pulley diameters affect the speed of the blade shaft, and then the length of the blade along with shaft rpm determines the blade tip speed. A blade 30 inches long turning at 1000 rpm has a much higher blade tip speed than one 15 inches long at the same rpm. 540 is a common tractor PTO rpm but not the rpm of the blades on the mower behind the tractor.
Better commercial mowers have 3 or more blades that run on strong shafts with large bearings and spin faster rpms to provide more vacuum, move the grass out of the airway faster so the mower can move faster, and give the grass less time to react (bend) as it gets cut for a cleaner cut. Smaller homeowner models have smaller weaker shafts and thinner blades that can break apart on impact if they are going too fast. They go fast enough for the ground speed of the mower though.
Better commercial mowers have 3 or more blades that run on strong shafts with large bearings and spin faster rpms to provide more vacuum, move the grass out of the airway faster so the mower can move faster, and give the grass less time to react (bend) as it gets cut for a cleaner cut. Smaller homeowner models have smaller weaker shafts and thinner blades that can break apart on impact if they are going too fast. They go fast enough for the ground speed of the mower though.