Woods DS96 Blade Removal Tips and Tricks?

[3BPercherons]

I bought a 4 year old Woods DS96 that has never had its blades removed. I understand the basic concept (remove cap screw, lock clip, keyhole plate and shims and then drop the blade & blade pin) but of course the keyhole plates and shims refuse to budge, even after a liberal soaking in PB Blaster and the use of what passes for me as brute force .

So, if anyone has any tried and true ideas for removing seized keyhole plates (or a link to a thread with said ideas; I searched but didn't find any) I would greatly appreciate the help.

 

[bullbreaker]

Woods Equipment Company - Manuals

Look here under DS96 it will take you to original manual.
I could'nt copy pdf for you for some reason.
Probably my limited keyboard skills.

Boone

 

[3BPercherons]

Woods Equipment Company - Manuals

Look here under DS96 it will take you to original manual.
I could'nt copy pdf for you for some reason.
Probably my limited keyboard skills.

Boone

Thanks, Boone, but I got a copy of the manual with the mower; the only hint it gives is that brute force may be necessary.

No kidding.

 

[mtk51]

Brute strength worked for me.

I set the mower down on some blocks to support the blade, liberal dose of PT Blaster (best stuff I've ever used) then a helper to hold a drift pin and pound on it with a sledge hammer. As I recall now, I drilled a hole through a 2x4 to hold the drift pin. Helper wasn't trusing enough to let me take a good swing.

 

[3BPercherons]

Brute strength worked for me.

I set the mower down on some blocks to support the blade, liberal dose of PT Blaster (best stuff I've ever used) then a helper to hold a drift pin and pound on it with a sledge hammer. As I recall now, I drilled a hole through a 2x4 to hold the drift pin. Helper wasn't trusing enough to let me take a good swing.

How did you set the drift pin against the edge of the keyhole plate? Through the access hole on top or from underneath the deck?

 

[mtk51]

Didn't read the post with much care I'm afraid. My mower is an older style single blade and does not have the keyhole plate. The pin has a tab that locks into a keyhole in the arm the blades attach to. The pin is threaded a nut pulls it up tight. Brute force is required to pound the pin out after the nut has been removed. I imagine yours will be the same.

I worked through the acess plate on top of the mower. You may need heat (a torch) to get those parts to loosen up. Heat the tab and expansion of the metal should break the rust grip.