After Market Parts Cancel The title field is required!

1. Peter Powell

   

   0 posts
   
   8/22/2011 7:08 PM

   My mechanic says he can get twice as many grinds on a bedknife from the original manufacturer. He says the after market brands use inferior metal. True?

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/22/2011 7:08 PM

   Although I do believe some aftermarket parts are in fact of similar quality, when it comes to reels and bedknives, we stick with the OEM. We've noticed that some of the welds are weak and the steel thickness is thinner on the aftermarket reels. The bedknives also seem softer. The question is: is the percentage of more life worth the extra price? In other words, if you are getting twice the life from an OEM bedknife, is the price reflective of this? Or is it more than twice the price of the aftermarket? If you can get the generic and save a ton of money while still at least getting a certain percentage of life vs. the OEM, why not use them?

   
   
   
   
3. Wahlin Scott B

   
   8/22/2011 7:08 PM

   If the machines are all running, the cuts are good and I am not having to help, I never argue with the mechanic. I also never argue with clubhouse people. There is only pain and heartache in it.

   
   
   
   
4. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   8/22/2011 7:08 PM

   I've heard the same and I prefer to run OEM for bedknives and reels and I trust my mechanics recommendations on such issues. But why would your mechanic make this up? He just wants to do his job as efficiently as possible I'm sure. If he has to change a reel or bed knife more often with aftermarket then its costing you time and money. You could do a quick cost analysis and see. Unless he works for the OEM on the side he has nothing to gain but productivity for the course.

   
   
   
   
5. Henry Heinz

   

   0 posts
   
   8/23/2011 4:08 AM

   It depends, I have found issues with bedknives and reels, so I use OEM. With that being said, over the past 3 or 4 years I have been using JRM bedknives and I believe they are better in most applications, and allow us more grinds per knife. Price wise I'm guessing they may very well be close to OEM price. I use all JRM on our Deere fleet. I like their extended knife, as it pushes the center line a little more forward than the OEM extend knife. This helps make them less aggressive and allows us a little more flexibility when setting bedknife attitude/angles.