Changing Rotary Cutter Blades

[Beltzington]

Removing them is easy enough as gravity does most the work, replacing them is another story. Here is my solution, it is easy, very stable, and provides great access, your opinions may very

With the top-link disconnected I used the FEL and ROPS to raise the rear of the deck (FEL down lifts RC up.) In case anything failed I also attached a chain to the tractor.

 

[kebo]

Very novel and ingenious! The only other thing I would do is to use some 4x4 posts to prop it up as one added safety measure. Or... you could have done this inside a structure and used another chain from the tailwheel up to a sturdy rafter.

 

[EddieWalker]

A long standing member on here died last hear relying on his loader to hold up a lawn mower that he was replacing the blades on. You will be fine until the second something fails. I wouldn't do it.

I stack up some treated blocks that I have in a stack and rest the mower on top of the blocks. Then I crawl under it to remove and install the new blades. I do this once a year. Quick, simple and safe.

 

[Beltzington]

Admittedly it doesn't look safe however if hydraulics fail or the tow strap breaks the attached grade 70 chain keeps it from falling, I tested it. At some point you have to trust mechanical connections otherwise we would stay in bed all day hoping the roof doesn't cave in. Because the low pivot points there is very little weight is applied to the strap once the deck is up, you can almost lift the strap off the ROPS with one arm.

 

[Steave]

You may have it safe enough but keep in mind at a certain point it could give and the lift arms have nothing to hold them down. They could just spring up suddenly. Be careful so we can keep you around.

 

[k0ua]

You may have it safe enough but keep in mind at a certain point it could give and the lift arms have nothing to hold them down. They could just spring up suddenly. Be careful so we can keep you around.

I am not endorsing this method, but from what I can see I don't think the lift arms will come up. as they have several hundred pounds of rotary cutter pushing them down. The vector of the force just gets greater the higher he lifts the rear of the mower. That is why the force on the strap gets less and less until it would reach zero if the mower came to 90 degrees, and the downward force on the lift arms gets greater until the entire weight of the mower was resting on the lift arms at the 90 degree angle.

 

[MF283]

I lift mine up by the tailwheel, stand it on the front with it leaning into the bucket away from me, drain gearbox in the process.

Ronnie

 

[TerryR]

I used to raise mine as high as I could with the 3-point and block it, but I find it easier to just leave it on the ground on the shop floor where it's relatively clean and lay on the floor and reach under. If I do it every year or so it's not hard.

 

[JRobyn]

Probably also want to be sure to remove or disconnect the PTO shaft before doing this!

 

[CobyRupert]

That's pretty close to the same view I saw last summer when I was brushing and looked back to see the results of what I think was the front guard of the mower catch on a stump and lift my 7 foot cutter pretty much straight vertical.
In that split second I started to wonder if it could come all the way over and land on my head and the back of the tractor. Don't know if that's possible. Don't want to find out!!

 

[ch1ch2]

I lift mine up by the tailwheel, stand it on the front with it leaning into the bucket away from me, drain gearbox in the process.

Ronnie

Ditto except for draining the gearbox.

 

[Richard]

I guess I should shut up....

I grab the mower with a chain which is attached to my backhoe. I simply flip the darn thing over onto its back, do what needs be done.....then flip it back.

I like your idea but I'd never get under it myself unless I had something that it could fall on and still give me cowering room.

Then again, I sleep outside in a tent as I fear my roof falling in....

 

[ovrszd]

Then again, I sleep outside in a tent as I fear my roof falling in....

Dang it, you beat me to it.....

 

[Apsterbobed]

Removing them is easy enough as gravity does most the work, replacing them is another story. Here is my solution, it is easy, very stable, and provides great access, your opinions may very

With the top-link disconnected I used the FEL and ROPS to raise the rear of the deck (FEL down lifts RC up.) In case anything failed I also attached a chain to the tractor.

I like this idea. I always have just cranked the top link as short as it will go then lift the 3 point. Once in the air I chain it to the roll bar, then roll under in an old office chair. Although I have a finish mower so the blades are fairly light.

 

[4570Man]

I think it is fine. If you wanted to feel safer put a load on the loader so it can't possibly lift back up even with hydraulic failure. It also appears he put a second safety chain on the top link.

 

[tjkubota93]

It seems perfectly safe with the safety chain. I might let it down so the chain holds and strap is a backup. Kinda like when you work on a car you jack it up then let the weight on the stands, maybe leaving the jack close as a last chance back up.

 

[MESSMAKER]

Looks OK to me. Safety chain works for me. I guess if the hydraulics fail and the strap releases and the safety chain breaks you could be in trouble. You also have the possibility of being struck by lightning or snake bit while performing this operation.

 

[RalphVa]

On my LX-4 cutter, I used a quick-on clamp to hold the blade, bolt and stump jumper in place when replacing the nut onto the bolt. On the Frontier RC-2048, its stump jumper stays in place. Don't need a clamp.

I just raise the back of the cutter with top link cranked up short and then put jack stands underneath the back of it.

Ralph

 

[Gary Fowler]

The only time I ever had reason to work on a bushhog blade and stump jumper, I just used the FEL to flip it up 90 degrees then let it gently fall back against the FEL about 10 degrees. Then there was no danger of it falling on me as I removed the nut holding on the stump jumper and blades for repair. It is much easier to hold them up when you don't have to hold them overhead.