Mowing 422 Brush Cutter Blade Bolt Broke Again

[toy]

I quit using the back stop bolt. Just another thing to break. So what's breaking is the bolt holding the blade on.

I notice that the new spacers are smaller in diameter than the old ones. Today I had a blade hang up (clear with a few hammer taps) and noticed that the washer was bent. This is the one I put on yesterday. The extra gap between the spacer and the blade puts more stress on the washer.I will start using grade 8 bolts and washers now. Maybe a double washer.

I still use the kick back bolts, I believe if memory is right I have only broken two of those bolts so it hasn't been an issue with me. I did use a longer bolt and a stack of washers on them to keep the blade from going back and hanging up on them. I am thankful that the bolts that hold the blades on has never broke on my machine, that is a scary thought.

 

[washita]

these are the reasons i switched to the disc style blades on my brush hog, cheaper to replace the blades when they ''exit stage left'', less mass =less energy when blades come loose, feel better knowing i was not the only owner to have problems with broken bolts/crossthreaded bolts etc.etc. for the jobs i encounter the cut quality is excellent

 

[BobRip]

these are the reasons i switched to the disc style blades on my brush hog, cheaper to replace the blades when they ''exit stage left'', less mass =less energy when blades come loose, feel better knowing i was not the only owner to have problems with broken bolts/crossthreaded bolts etc.etc. for the jobs i encounter the cut quality is excellent

Do you have pictures and source for the disc style blades?

 

[TRUKFXR]

Rob,
I think Washita has the conversion disc that mounts to the brush-hog. You remove the two large blades and replace it with a large disc that has about 6 short blades mounted around the outside circumference.

 

[cqaigy2]

I haven't lost any blades yet either. But then isn't anything worse then the occasional metal T post. When i first broke off the 'kick back' bolts, I use stacked washers or whatever i had available to stack on the 'kick back' bolts to help dampen the shock when the cutter blades hit them. I didn't use grade eight bolts. So far so good.

I am interested in that disk blade conversion though.

 

[cqaigy2]

Bush hog cutters have had this access hole in the deck to change out the blds as far back as I ca remember.

I think the PT brush hog style decks are the only ones ive seen with out access thru the top.

 

[Homebrew]

Rob,
I think Washita has the conversion disc that mounts to the brush-hog. You remove the two large blades and replace it with a large disc that has about 6 short blades mounted around the outside circumference.

I have that kit also, but haven't used it yet. My understanding was that this kit converted the deck to a finish mower. I don't know how well it would work as a brush cutter...at a minimum, I would think the blades would get dulled and not work as well for finish cutting a lawn.

 

[TRUKFXR]

The blade bolts break easily too, if you hit something. After breaking many bolts,
using it to cut brush, I added two bolts to each blade and that helped. However, now
I bent the disc that holds the blades. Something has to give, so I guess it is cheaper
in the long run to just keep replacing the two hold-down bolts.