Gravy
Platinum Member
J.J.
What are you thinking? A TORQUE SPEC on a PT? There ain't no such animal!
What are you thinking? A TORQUE SPEC on a PT? There ain't no such animal!
Mowing 48" Finish Mower Blade challenge
- Thread starter Jiminy
- Start date
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MossRoad
Super Moderator
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- Aug 31, 2001
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- 58,044
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- South Bend, Indiana (near)
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Boy, this is a weird one. I thought of all the things you guys did, too, like proper rotation, belt routed incorrectly, etc... The blade should rotate so the bolt gets tighter, so that made me thing if incorrect direction. The center blade is probably connected directly to the hydraulic motor through the spindle and has no slip connections. The outer spindles are powered by the belt which is rotated off of the center spindle and through the tensioner. The only way for the center blade to spin in the wrong direction would be if the hydraulic motor is turning in the wrong direction.
Very weird, indeed.
Very weird, indeed.
Assuming that the bolt hole isn't wallowed out in the center spindle, I believe that I would make sure that the blades were all turned the right way and that none of them was backwards and that they all three were tightening up tight against the blade, and then I would observe the blade rotation [with caution] to make sure they were turning all the same way. They may be something keeping the center blade from tightening up all the way like it should. Maybe the blot is a little too long or there is a flange that the blade needs to slip over and it is not. Is maybe the blade bent or the center blade stopping abruptly and causing it to loosen up, while the two outer blades has a little give before they completely stop.
KMA
Gold Member
Easy way to verify all blades have the same rotation would be to lift the deck all the way up, turn off the tractor and move an outside blade by hand ensure the others move in the same direction.
KentT
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J_J
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Measure the depth of the hole on the spindle and see if the bolt has enough space to tighten with sufficient torque. If not, grind off the end of the bolt to fit tight. Does your blade have a large washer next to the blade for the bolt to tighten?
3238dpw
Gold Member
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- Nov 12, 2006
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- Power Trac 425, C-121 Wheel Horse, 2 Exmark 60 inch zero turn mowers
Do you have a picture of the blade and is the bolt reverse thread or standard?
Seeing the KentT's picture of the mower makes me think about when i don't tighten one of my blades enough. This is on my Exmark mower and when I was very sloppy about tightening it, like I tightened it by hand and forgot to go back and use a wrench. If I don't use it very long and shut it down the blade's mass will make it want to keep spinning and since it wasn't that tight it would spin right off. I wonder if the Blade mounted to the motor is stoping more quickly then the rest due to it being solidly mounted and a small amount of slip in the belts. Then it is slowly turning a small amount every time you shut it off untill it finally comes off. I would try checking it every time after you mow if you are not already. After all it is easy enough to check, just a pull back on the stick and it is easily accessible.
Seeing the KentT's picture of the mower makes me think about when i don't tighten one of my blades enough. This is on my Exmark mower and when I was very sloppy about tightening it, like I tightened it by hand and forgot to go back and use a wrench. If I don't use it very long and shut it down the blade's mass will make it want to keep spinning and since it wasn't that tight it would spin right off. I wonder if the Blade mounted to the motor is stoping more quickly then the rest due to it being solidly mounted and a small amount of slip in the belts. Then it is slowly turning a small amount every time you shut it off untill it finally comes off. I would try checking it every time after you mow if you are not already. After all it is easy enough to check, just a pull back on the stick and it is easily accessible.
J.J., Thanks. Yes there is a large washer next to the blade for the bolt to tighten. It seems some of the thread may have been stripped in past lives, and it is only catching at the top of the spindle hole. In initial mowing yesterday, it seems to be holding. Thanks...your input along with everyone elses input has been awesome. Jim --