ruffdog's latest activity

The bolt is not being sheared. It is being killed by countless rapid lateral shock loads that fatigue the metal at the weakest...

^^agree. That bolt is doing a bunch of gyrating in the hole somehow. ....and why?

Does it matter which side of the collar you insert the bolt head in - i.e. is the bolt head always on the right, or is the orientation...

My rotary cutter has a 1/2" shear pin. When it breaks, it shears neatly at both the top and bottom (flush with the shaft). What's left...

Using a 6** type Loctite and a grade 8 bolt would stop this problem. Heat would be needed to get it apart later.

Another 140+ cabbage plants, 4 doz. various squash, 18 Brussels Sprouts and 12 Buttercrunch lettuce set last evening and today and got...

I can see why they recommend a grade 8 bolt there. I'm thinking that bolt is to retain the clutch hub to the shaft, not a shear bolt, as...

Agree^^ on the "rattling" marks on the bolts. It looks like those bolts are being hammered from all directions...a lot. My cutters will...

I am trying a longer bolt so we'll see. However, the interesting thing is the sheared spot is actually about a 1/4" short of the shear...

Firstly is it possible that the shaft is being asked to collapse to less than its min ? Consider odd situations : mower rear raising up...

I have been using a self locking nut, snug it and back it off 1/2 turn.

I have a 3.5 inch one in there now so we'll see on that part. I tighten them until the head of the bolt and the nut make contact with...

You are in business! Git'er done.

^^Agree, it would be worth a try. Are you tightening the shear bolts or leaving them a tad loose with a nyloc nut?

I have one of the classic Ariens rear drive mowers. I guess after 34 years it has paid for itself. Yes, I have to engage the handle...