Another gettin' ready for grass ??

Mojoman · Apr 6, 2006

Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

So I removed the snowthrower last night, greased up all the fittings, etc., when I remembered I needed to sharpen my blades, and.......

I could not get my blades off! I had my torque wrench up to almost 150 ft/lbs (since I was trying to figure out the torque req'd to put them on) and they wouldn't budge. So my 1st question is.....
1.) Which direction to the nuts spin off? Is it righty tighty/lefty loosey or opposite because of the direction that the blades spin while operating?
2.) Will I need an impact wrench to remove...does the retaining nut get tighter with use of the mower deck?
3.) What is the ft/lbs for re-install?
4.) I've got the 3-in-1 blades, and I've not sharpened that kind before...is there a tried and true method I should use...griding wheel? hand file? I noticed that the sharpened edge runs along the curve as well as the flat so it confused me (it's okay though I confuse easily).

TIA,
Benny

Mojoman · Apr 6, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

anyone??? Help!

Bird · Apr 6, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

In my part of the country, I've never even seen a snowthrower, much less know how to sharpen the blades, and don't recall anyone mentioning blades that needed sharpening on one. But in view of the title of your post, are you by any chance talking about lawnmower blades that need sharpening and if so, what kind of mower, brand, size, etc.?

TillerofdaEarth · Apr 6, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

Soak the nuts with a good penetrating oil and see if that helps things Mojo. The threads always get gummed up and rusty from mowing. Let the oil soften things up and it should help a bunch.

I have an impact wrench that I always use to remove the nuts, makes getting them off a breeze compared to conventional wrench method. To reinstall the blades and nuts I just give a good tug on the nut with a wrench. Have never had a nut loosen.

For sharpening the blades I use a 4" hand grinder with 60 grit sanding disks on it. Touch up all edges of the blade that look like they were sharp prior to wear. Try to maintain original bevel as best you can. You can do a quick check for balance of the blade by sticking a large screwdriver or similar through the blade hole and set the blade parallel to the ground. If the blade does not rotate balance is good.

Mojoman · Apr 7, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

DOH! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Yeah Bird, I guess I wasn't real specific there......I figured you'd all draw the conclusion I was talkin' about my mower blades, not the snowthrower blades. Sharp snowthrower blades????.....that could be a **** of a weapon!

The LT in question is a Cub 2166 w/42" deck, 3-in-1 mower blades......I did soak the nuts with some PB blaster, I'm going to try them again tomorrow, and break out the impact wrench if I have to. Still, I'd like to torque the nuts to spec, don't feel comfortable with just going on "feel" when they're tight. Could be a bad thing if a blade went flying off /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

As far as sharpening goes, will it be too difficult to use a bench grinder, or will that mess them up? I could use a hand file, but it seems that would be a tedious project that way. I don't have a disc sander, closest thing would be a dremel (again sounds tedious/difficult). Otherwise, I have a guy that's always done work for cheap, maybe I'll take it to him and watch as he sharpens them so I know how next time.

RebelRAM · Apr 7, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

For sharpening my blades I normally just use a file. I don't use the bench grinder unless the blades are really dull and have chunks missing out of them from hitting rocks and other hard things. As long as you keep the bevel about the same as what they were from the factory it's hard to mess them up. I will say that mulching blades are a little more challenging because of the larger cutting surface and bends in some of the cutting surface, but as long as you take your time and keep your file strokes even across the whole surface, it's fairly easy.

Bird · Apr 7, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

Well, I'll admit I've never used a torque wrench to put lawnmower blades on. I just give the end of the ratchet handle a pretty good tug. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif If I'm not mistaken, the direction things turn will cause them to tighten rather than loosen with use. I'm certainly not saying that's a sure thing. Anyway, I've never had any get loose. I do prefer the impact wrench to remove the blades and the ratchet to put them back on. And I most frequently sharpened mine on a 6" bench grinder.

Mojoman · Apr 7, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

Well, I'm not sayin' I won't use the 'ol "strong arm" method and figure she's good and snug, but there's just something about that torque wrench "click" that's cool. Plus, now that I've got it, I want to use it when I can. Tools are good!

As far as sharpening with the bench grinder, that's what I was originally going to use until I really looked at my blades and found that they're sharp on the curved part too. I guess I was scratchin' the 'ol noggin trying to figure out how to do it on the bench grinder without f-in it up.

I take it that I don't need a specific type of file (other than a file made for filing metal) to sharpen these? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

RebelRAM · Apr 7, 2006

Re: Another gettin\' ready for grass ??

Yes a normal file is fine. Nothing fancy. Just smooth even strokes and keep moving around on the blade so that you don't create high and low spots.