Any secrets for removing Scag blades?

[aloha]

I have a Scag Turf Tiger and have been unable to remove the mower blades.

The owner's manual says nuts are torqued to 75 ft. lb. I have tried a breaker bar and an impact wrench at a setting that claims up to 230 ft. lb., and have been unable to budge nuts at top or bolts at bottom of any of the spindle shafts.

I have generously sprayed WD-40. There is no sign of rust or damage to threads to explain why they seem frozen. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[lilranch2001]

I have a Scag Turf Tiger and have been unable to remove the mower blades.

The owner's manual says nuts are torqued to 75 ft. lb. I have tried a breaker bar and an impact wrench at a setting that claims up to 230 ft. lb., and have been unable to budge nuts at top or bolts at bottom of any of the spindle shafts.

I have generously sprayed WD-40. There is no sign of rust or damage to threads to explain why they seem frozen. Any suggestions are appreciated.

If the Scags bolts are anything like the eXmarks, a breakover bar wont touch them.

I do not know what my Ingersol Rand Impact rating is but, it works like a charm on the eXmark. I bought it when I bought the eXmark because I tried the breakover bar.......:mur:

And did you try reversing the impact, maybe they are reverse threads

 

[aloha]

I thought about the possibility of the threads being left-hand, but enough thread protrudes to see that they are normal right hand threads.

 

[Alan L.]

I have a wildcat, the threads are definitely not left handed. Mine are usually very easy to take off with my electric impact wrench. If I overtighten I have one that sometimes I have to use a breakover but its not too difficult then. I'd do some liquid wrench and then replace all 3 bolts - they have been way overtightened I think.

When I put them back on I barely let the impact tighten them at all so they won't be hard to get off.

 

[EddieWalker]

The last time that that I changed my blades, two came off easy and one was a bear. My impact is rated for over 500 pounds and it wasn't moving. I sprayed the nut with some 3 in 1 penetrating oil and waited an hour. Then it came off easy.

Eddie

 

[dirtydan]

I have had the same problem with my Scag Wildcat. In fact I have busted 2 bolts trying to get them off. I have since been using a torque wrench when putting them on. I have not busted any since, though the last time one came off pretty hard but finally let go. I do feel I had been over tightening. I could be wrong about this but I wonder if when you scalp the dirt hard if that could be tightening the nuts on tighter. I seldom do this anymore which could also explain why they come off easier. We have a clay soil here and I have seen these blades dig into the dirt and bend them and they are tough blades. Some I have been able to bend back with a press but some are just ruined. After going through a few blades and 2 bolts I have learned to be very careful about scalping. I will try using some penetrating oil the next time one comes off hard and hopefully that will help.

Dan

 

[Alan L.]

I suppose it could also be a function of how often the blades are removed. I take them off and sharpen them about every 15 hours, 20 at the most, and I make sure I don't overtighten. Or maybe removing them often just keeps them limber.

 

[angusman]

From time to time on my Tiger Cub they get a bit too tight...I now use torque wrench and have no problem but I sharpen about once every two weeks...about 15 hours.

 

[lilranch2001]

I spoke to the eXmark dealer regarding this, as I had a cup washer break when I put new blades on last week

He said everyone he knows just impacks the bolts on and off
I asked him after 10 years should I consider replacing the bolts, he said he wouldnt

 

[picker77]

I use a stout electric impact wrench on my TT's blade bolts and it works fine, but since new I also made sure I used a little dab of anti-seize paste on them occasionally when tightening them. If yours are that much trouble to get off I'd definitely buy three new bolts and nuts, and use a big time breaker bar (with a pipe cheater handle) on the old ones. They'll either come off or twist off. If you have a small torch (propane would work) it wouldn't hurt to also heat the nuts a tad first. If you break one getting it off, so what. Then I'd trashcan all three of the old bolts and nuts and use a touch of anti-seize compound on the new ones. A two-dollar tube of anti-seize from the auto parts store is worth gallons of penetrating oil!