How to remove blades from bush hog without the headache
Learning how to remove blades from bush hog mowers is one of these chores that each tractor owner eventually has to face, usually right when the grass is growing quicker than you can keep up with. It's never ever exactly a "fun" Saturday afternoon project, but if your mower is usually starting to leave streaks of uncut grass or vibrating like it's attempting to shake itself apart, it's time to get below there and change those dull blades out. Most people dread this job because these bolts are notorious for being seized, rusted, and generally stubborn, using the right method, you can find it performed without losing your temper or your own knuckles.
Obtaining your gear jointly first
Before you even consider crawling under that will deck, you require to make sure you have the particular right tools. Attempting to do this particular with a regular adjustable wrench is a recipe for disaster. You're going to need some serious leverage. Most Bush Hog brand mowers use a fairly large nut—often close to 1-1/2 inches or even 1-11/16 inches—so verify your specific model before you start.
A heavy-duty impact wrench is your own best friend right here. If you possess a high-torque pneumatic or cordless impact, use it. It'll save you twenty minutes of pressuring. In case you don't possess one, you'll want a long breaker bar and probably a "cheater pipe" (a length associated with steel pipe to slide over the particular handle for further leverage). You'll also want a large flat-head screwdriver or a putty knife to scrape away the baked-on grass plus mud, a stop of wood to wedge the cutting tool, and a few penetrating oil like PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench.
Security is the most important part
I can't pressure this enough: safety is usually everything when you're working on farm gear. Before you also touch a wrench tool, make sure the tractor is converted off, the essential is within your pocket, as well as the PTO base is totally disconnected. A person don't want any freak accidents.
Since you'll be working beneath the deck, a person need to have the mower off the particular ground safely. In the event that you're using the tractor's 3-point hitch to lift it, perform not trust the hydraulics to hold it up while both hands are near individuals blades. Always make use of heavy-duty jack appears or solid wood blocks to help the weight of the particular deck. I've noticed hydraulics fail, plus it happens quick. Give the mower a good shove once it's on the particular stands to create sure it's reliable before you reach underneath.
Being able to access the blade bolts
Most contemporary rotary cutters have got an access opening on the best of the terrace. This is a lifesaver. Instead of attempting to swing the massive wrench while lying on your own in the dirt, you can just align the blade enthusiast with that opening and work from the top.
If your mower doesn't have an access gap, you'll be functioning from underneath. This is how things get messy. Scrape away all of the old grass and dried mud from around the bolt head and the nut. If you can't see the metallic, you aren't heading to get a good grip with your socket. As soon as it's clean, saturate that nut in penetrating oil. If this looks particularly rusty, let it sit for twenty mins. Go grab a coffee or a Gatorade; let the essential oil do the hard work for you.
Smashing the nut unfastened
Now comes the part where you get out there how much the previous owner (or past you) over-tightened things. If you're using the entry hole, drop your own socket through the particular top onto the nut. Underneath the deck, you'll need to wedge a block of wood between the knife and the side from the mower floor. This keeps the particular blade from spinning while you're quality around the bolt.
If you're making use of an impact wrench, give it several bursts. Usually, the vibration and torque will pop this loose pretty quickly. If you're utilizing a breaker bar, this is where you'll need several muscle. Remember the old "lefty-loosey" rule—most Bush Hog blades use standard right-hand threads, so you'll become turning it counter-clockwise to loosen.
If the particular nut refuses to budge, don't just keep pulling till you around the edges of the nut. Hit it with additional oil. If it's really stuck, a small amount of heat from a torch can increase the nut sufficient to break the rust's grip. You should be careful not to overdo it plus damage the closes in the transmission.
Dropping the blades and checking the hardware
When the nut will be off, the cutter and the bolt need to drop out. End up being careful—those blades are usually heavy, and actually a dull a single can give a person a nasty bruise if it lands on your feet. Have a second to look at the blade bolt plus the washer .
Bush hog bolts have got a "D-shape" or even a shoulder that matches into the blade bar to maintain them from spinning. If that shoulder is worn down or the threads look stretched and slim, don't try to reuse them. It's a lot cheaper to buy fresh bolts than this is to replace a gearbox since a blade flew off at five hundred RPM. Also, check the "stump jumper" (that big round plate the blades are usually attached to). In the event that it's cracked or even badly bent, you've got bigger difficulties to deal with.
Cleaning plus prepping for the particular new blades
Since you curently have the mower up and the blades off, this is usually the perfect period to give the underside of the deck a thorough cleaning. All that packed-on grass holds wetness against the metal, that leads to corrode and finally holes within your deck. Clean it down to the metal in case you can.
Before you decide to put the new blades upon, I always suggest putting a little bit of bit of anti-seize lubricant on the threads of the bolts. You may thank yourself immensely the next time you might have to perform this. It helps prevent the nut from rusting onto the bolt, making the particular next removal a five-minute job instead of a two-hour ordeal.
Installing the fresh blades
Whenever you're putting the particular new blades upon, make sure they will are facing the right way. It sounds silly, yet people wear them upside down more often than you'd think. The "lift" or the slanted part of the cutter needs to be pointing upward toward the floor, not down toward the earth. The sharp edge needs to be trailing in the direction of rotation.
Hand-thread the nut onto the bolt very first to make sure you aren't cross-threading anything. Once it's on there directly, use your block of wood again to jam the knife, on this occasion on the opposite side so it doesn't spin while you tighten.
You want these nut products restricted . Look at your guide for the specific torque specs, but usually, we're referring to 400 to 400 foot-pounds of torque for your big ones. If you don't possess a torque wrench tool that goes that will high, you're generally looking for "as tight as a person can get it with a long breaker bar. " If you used an influence wrench to take them off, a person can use this to zing them back on, but always give them a final check with a manual wrench tool to be certain.
Final checks before mowing
Once everything will be tightened down, remove your blocks of wood and your jack stands. Decrease the mower back again to the ground and reconnect the PTO shaft. Prior to you heading out there into the high field, engage the particular PTO at the low idle. Listen for almost any weird vibrations or clanking sounds. If everything seems smooth, you're great to go.
Knowing how to remove blades from bush hog gear is an ability that saves a lot of money at the repair center. It's a filthy, sweaty job, but there's a specific satisfaction in viewing that clean, even cut across a pasture once you're done. Just take your own time, use the right tools, plus always keep safety at the front of the mind. Now, go get that lawn cut!