MMM sharpening?

[whistlepig]

many thanks guys...

I've got 'er up on ramps and will be pulling the blades tonight. I don't have a grinder, but belt sander and file ought to be sufficient for a touch up.

Best thing I have used for sharpening is a right angle 5" hand grinder. Clamp the blade in a vise and sharpen away. I have mowed for a few thousand hours both at home and commercial mowing and have never balanced a blade. I am careful to keep my blades even when sharpening and that seems to work for me.

 

[GreenLawnFarm]

angle grinder is a must have. cheap and fast.

 

[Machold]

Great info... my problem is, above all, a gravel floor in the barn. It's a real bugger pulling the MMM out from under the B7400, and vice versa! I thought about horse stall mats, but I don't know if they'd stay still on gravel (I've only ever seen them applied to concrete floors). Next problem, hoisting the MMM so I can remove the blades. Any ideas would be appreciated. THX

 

[TripleR]

Great info... my problem is, above all, a gravel floor in the barn. It's a real bugger pulling the MMM out from under the B7400, and vice versa! I thought about horse stall mats, but I don't know if they'd stay still on gravel (I've only ever seen them applied to concrete floors). Next problem, hoisting the MMM so I can remove the blades. Any ideas would be appreciated. THX

I have used a sheet of plywood and a foor jack or ramps.

 

[thavil]

Great info... my problem is, above all, a gravel floor in the barn. It's a real bugger pulling the MMM out from under the B7400, and vice versa! I thought about horse stall mats, but I don't know if they'd stay still on gravel (I've only ever seen them applied to concrete floors). Next problem, hoisting the MMM so I can remove the blades. Any ideas would be appreciated. THX

Agree with TripleR, the plywood method is a good solution. I used to use stall mats on bank run gravel and it worked well. Suggest to make sure that your gravel isn't too deep and the mats should work. Either method you use, also suggest that you check out Larry's mower axle wheels to stand up your mower http://www.moweraxle.com/tractorstands.html. They work great and makes it easy to service the mower and blades.

 

[Tom_H]

my problem is... a gravel floor in the barn.

Agree with a sheet or 2 of plywood.

Next problem, hoisting the MMM so I can remove the blades.

Harbor Freight Tools puts things on sale at half price really often. I got a 440 lb. elec. hoist there for about $35. (They have bigger ones too.) It's in my garage trusses. I lift the MMM deck enough to tilt over a bit beyond vertical. Never has to have more than 50% of weight on hoist, 'cause other half is still on the floor. Then I pull the blades. I also got a chain hoist from H.F. for about $30 on sale that I lift other stuff with in the garage. Many people have hooks on the FEL, so a chain through the front anti-scalp roller and on a grab hook or two makes lifting MMM with FEL a snap.

 

[chucko]

I don't always pull the mower. I just drive up on some care ramps a layon my back to take the blades off. The two outside ones are easy to do but that middle one can be a little hard to get back on cause you can't see what your doing too good

 

[Machold]

Thanks, everybody, very good advice.