Pro-Ez Blade System Information (Swing tips)
First introduced in 2012, the Pro-Ez Blade System was designed to keep waste and costs at a minimum. Quite often mower blades were thrown away with plenty of usable metal left on the blade, except at the cutting edge where it is needed most. By making the cutting portion of the blade replaceable, customers were able to reduce the amount of blade thrown away, reducing overall waste. The added benefit of replacing a smaller portion of the blade meant that costs were also greatly reduced over time.
About the Pro-Ez Blade System
History
The original Pro-Ez Blade System used standard Grade 8 bolts to mount the tips to the blade bars. There was a collection of washers, lock washers, and spacers used in these setups. Progressive discontinued the original setup due to customer complaints that removal of the standard Grade 8 hardware was difficult due to the bolt heads wearing, making it impossible to put a wrench or socket on the bolt heads. Customers needed to cut the bolts off in many cases, making service difficult. Original Pro-Ez blade bars can be identified by the shape of the blade tip mounting hole – the original blade bars had round holes in all locations.
While Progressive no longer sells the original Pro-Ez Blade Bars with the round blade bolt holes, we have “Tips With Hardware” kits still available that are only compatible with the original Pro-Ez Blade Bars. Customers that have our original blade bars can still purchase a box with 50 tips and all the hardware (bolts, nuts, washers, spacers, lock washers) required.
| Part # | Description | QTY per box (Blade Tips, Bolts, Nuts, Spacers, hardened washers, lock washers) |
|---|---|---|
| 526596 | PRO EZ CH HIGH LIFT TIPS WITH HARDWARE | 50 each |
| 526636 | PRO EZ CH LOW LIFT TIPS WITH HARDWARE | 50 each |
Today’s Pro-Ez Blade System
Today, Progressive uses a more advanced Pro-Ez setup that includes a special blade bolt with a built-in spacer collar. The many hardware pieces required in the original setup were eliminated down to 3 simple pieces – the blade bolt, a lock washer, and a nut. The blade bolt is equipped with a built an oval shaped spacer collar designed to fit into the oval shaped mounting holes on the end of current generation Pro-Ez blade bars – identified by the outer most holes being oval in shape. The new bolts sit flat against the blade bar, and the oval shape keeps the bolt in the correct alignment, allowing “one-handed” tightening and eliminating the previous difficulty in servicing the blades.
Most Progressive mowers can be equipped with the Pro-Ez blade system, with only a few exceptions. Please refer to the charts below for purchasing information.
Current Generation Pro-Ez Blade System
Common Items
The items in the following chart are used in all current generation Pro-Ez Blade System setups, regardless of model.
| Part # | Description | QTY per kit |
|---|---|---|
| 526594 | High Lift Blade Tip Kit | 50 |
| 526648 | Low Lift Blade Tip Kit | 50 |
| 526686 | Pro-Ez II Hardware Kit (Blade Bars with oval blade tip mounting holes only) | 25 |
Blade Bar Kits – Per Mower
The following chart lists which Blade Bar kit is used in current generation Pro-Ez Blade System setups, and the number of blade bar kits that need ordered.
| Mower | Blade Bar Kit Part # | Blade Bars Per Kit | Kits Required for Full Mower |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD65-2 | 521648 | 7 | 1 |
| TD65 | 521649 | 9 | 1 |
| TDR-X | 541502 | 9 | 1 |
| TDR-12 (1) | 521648 | 7 | 1 |
| TDR-15 (2) | 521649 | 9 | 1 |
| TD92 | 526780 | 9 | 1 |
| Pro-Max 36 | 526778 | 6 | 1 |
| TDR-22 | 526784 | 12 | 1 |
| TDR-26 | 530060 | 14 (3) | 1 (3) |
| TDR-30 | 526782 | 8 | 2 |
Notes
1 — TDR-12 – Starting at Serial #2012121, the TDR-12 is built will all gear boxes turning the same direction. TDR-12 mowers built before Serial #2012121 had one wing deck that is geared to turn in a different direction. This is easily identified by the Red painted blades installed on this reversed wing deck. Pro-Ez blades CAN NOT be used on TDR-12 mowers with a reverse-direction deck.
2 — TDR-15 – Starting at Serial #2015251, the TDR-15 is built will all gear boxes turning the same direction. TDR-15 mowers built before that had one wing deck that is geared to turn in a different direction. This is easily identified by the Red painted blades installed on this wing deck. Pro-Ez blades CAN NOT be used on TDR-15 mowers with a reverse-direction deck.
3 — Blade Bar Kit 530060 – When ordered, customers will automatically receive 2 boxes with 7 blade bars in each box instead of a single box of 14. This is done for shipping purposes only.
The Pro-Ez Blade System is not available for Pro-Flex 120 mowers.
IMPORTANT: Proper installation of Pro-Ez Blade Bolts requires they are torqued to a maximum of 85 ft-lbs. Incorrect installation of Pro-Ez Blade Bolts can result in premature failures, which could lead to unsafe operating conditions. Always hand tighten Pro-Ez Blade Bolts with a properly functioning and calibrated torque wrench, do not over tighten.
