Rotary Cutter Should blades swing freely?

[tstellanova]

I've got a Frontier RC2048 (two blades).
It's been vibrating a lot so I looked at the blades-- looks like they're currently stuck at about 90 degrees to each other. One points radially out from the hub and the other is 90 degrees to that.

Should the blades be able to swivel freely about their mounting bolts, or are they supposed to be fixed in place, spinning only with the blade pan, around the hub?

Should I loosen the blade mount bolts or just whack the blade with a mallet to loosen it up?

The manual shows a couple photos where the blades are drooping parallel to each other (and not radiating from the hub): not what I would have expected, but I'm a newbie.

[TripleR]

The blades on all of our cutters move freely. Notice the blades on our renters' cutter.

[Soundguy]

the blades should swing free.

DO NOT!! loosen the bolts.

rotary cutters use shouldered bolts and when torqued properly, there should be clearance for the blade to move.

check for twine, fencing or plant debris sticking the blade.

post back

[sdkubota]

I was going to sharpen the blades on my King Kutter rotary mower when I noticed the bolt/nuts that held them had been spot welded together...looked factory done. I assume I remove the entire lower blade assembly with the center hub if I want them off to sharpen or try with them attached.

[Soundguy]

many mowers have an access hole int he deck to get at the nuts. if there is a spot weld.. you just grind that out first.

I'd never take a hog blade off to sharpen it. If I'm going to the trouble to take a blad eoff.. a new ones going on! unless they are new and I'm taking the pan off for seal or bearing repalcement ont he output shaft or soemthing like that.. etc..

[sdkubota]

many mowers have an access hole int he deck to get at the nuts. if there is a spot weld.. you just grind that out first.

I'd never take a hog blade off to sharpen it. If I'm going to the trouble to take a blad eoff.. a new ones going on! unless they are new and I'm taking the pan off for seal or bearing repalcement ont he output shaft or soemthing like that.. etc..

Like pappy always said..."you don't want to cut weeds, you want to severely beat them!"

[tstellanova]

Thanks for the help -- there was a wire/cable wrapped around the bolt. Removed it and now it spins freely.

[CNC Dan]

Thanks for the help -- there was a wire/cable wrapped around the bolt. Removed it and now it spins freely.

'Atta boy.

[cqaigy2]

'Atta boy.

yep i agree. Dont sharpen them if your cutting anything but grass. You can get a good punji stick that will puncture your tire otherwise.

[Soundguy]

i leave mine with a 1/16 flat busts a weed stem good.. helps kill it