Land Pride Rotary Mower Tail Wheel Fix

[bobnewjersey]

I bent the tail wheel on my new Land Pride "Bush Hog" medium duty rotary mower. Before I take torch and hammer to it does anyone have any other suggestions? I bent it very slightly, but just enough to bugger it up. Also.......any advice on sharpening the blades on the machine versus taking them off? The torque spec's are off the wall to remove them. Can anyone tell me what size torque wrench and cheater bar they used to get the job done?

 

[Darren]

A tool called a torque multiplier is used on high torque stuff. They have a geared head and an input for a ratchet drive or torque wrench and an output for a socket. Typical is 1/2" in and 3/4" out or larger.

 

[djradz]

Get yourself one of those inexpensive (~ $50) China made 3/4" drive sets. If you need more torque, add a pipe.

I think it's pretty hard to do any amount of sharpening while the blades are still on the cutter. A much better job, with a 7 to 7-1/2" angle grinder can be done while mounted in some sort of vise or portable work bench (outdoors, I prefer).

 

[pennwalk]

About sharpening. There were questions about hardening and temper with sharpening. I ended up buying new blades and bolts and a Chinese 3/4 socket set at TSC. The blades were surprisingly cheap. I can not tell the difference so I guess that means my old blades didn't need to be sharpened. The socket set didn't have the 1 11/16 socket it turned out I needed. <font color=red> What the heck are 16ths I can't even see 8ths anymore</font color=red>/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I made due with the next size up. I had no trouble getting the nut off. I made the new one as tight as I could and will check it from time to time. I thought about using some locktite blue and I may still. There are a couple of threads about sharpening bush hog blades in the attachments forum.

Chris

 

[marty]

I also have bent the rear wheel and was able to straighten it once I used a vice - grip and clamp to hold the wheel from spinning. I removed the shaft and heated it, put it back in place and clamped it, and then wacked it with a maul.

I sharpen my blades with a 4.5" grinder while they are on, just make sure that you block-up the mower.

 

[ewoss3]

I also vote for the 4" grinder unless you have very large chunks torn out of the blade

 

[bobnewjersey]

Thanks for the input!