Installing new blades

[DERICK1679]

I just put new blades on my Bush Hog 296 cutter, and didnt pay attention to how tight the old ones were. After installing the new blades, tightening, hitting the bolts with a hammer, and tightening again, there is still about 3/4 of an inch up and down movement on the blades. Is this slack suppost to be there or should the bolt get tighter. Thanks for the help.

 

[Kubota-guy1911]

Could you have accidentally installed the washers wrong? Maybe the bolt is bottoming out before the blades are drawn up tight.

kj

 

[DERICK1679]

This one only has a washer (lock) on the nut side at the top. I looked at the bolt and it seems like it would bottom out before getting tight, and i would expect it too as the blades are able to free spin under normal conditions, I just didnt recall near that much wobble in them.

 

[sld]

Are the new blades as thick as the old ones?

 

[DERICK1679]

Same thickness and same part number Bushhog 7555. Have a 15 acre mow tomorrow, guess I'll find out pretty quick.

 

[PAB_OH]

I'm just guessing here so take it for what you paid for it, DON'T RUN WITH THE BLADES LOOSE!!!

I can't imagine any manufacturer designing blades to be loose. The nut is supposed to clamp the blades to the rotating shaft.

I'd guess you got something installed wrong or you lost another washer when you removed the old blades.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The blades are held on with a shoulder bolt. The blades are supposed to be loose on the bolt so they can fold back when they hit an immovable object like a rock for instance. If you have the nuts tight, that should be sufficient. Do they not have a cotter pin safety lock on the nuts to keep them from loosening off. I think they do on my bushhog.

 

[RickB]

There is a key forged into the blade bolt. You may not have the key indexed with the slot in the blade bar. If so, your blade bolt is probably trashed.

 

[DERICK1679]

Thanks for all the help. I went ahead and mowed and all went well. I also called the new holland store monday and they also confirmed theat 1/2 to 3/4 play was normal. Thanks againg for the responses.

 

[PAB_OH]

The blades are held on with a shoulder bolt. The blades are supposed to be loose on the bolt so they can fold back when they hit an immovable object like a rock for instance. If you have the nuts tight, that should be sufficient. Do they not have a cotter pin safety lock on the nuts to keep them from loosening off. I think they do on my bushhog.

Doh! I was thinking of the bolts used to hold mower blades to the spindles.