Rear Finish Mower changing blades/working under Swisher 66 trail mower

[AppleMan]

I'm trying to figure out a better way to clean out the grass from underneath my Swisher 66" trail mower and find a way to change the blades. I've been jacking it up and using cinderblocks but that isn't the safest. It's too heavy for me to push onto it's side and the front wheels rotate/twist making it hard to chock all wheels. If anyone has a good way to work underneath these, especially how to chock the blades from turning so I can get them out, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[4570Man]

Do you have a tractor with a loader? An air wrench will cure the other problem.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

You can pick up a cherry picker pretty cheap at Harbor Freight.

I've got the 57" Trail Cutter and have been thinking about this myself. Pretty good cutter but I hate the way you have to adjust the height. These should be pop-out pins - and I plan to find something like that to replace the bolts.

1 Ton Capacity Foldable Shop Crane

 

[Greenland South]

Before I got my tractor I would winch it up to the garage rafters until vertical. I drain the oil and remove the gas tank first. I'm getting pretty good at this procedure as I change the shaft bearings and blades every spring. Of all the machinery I own this one requires the most maintenance. I took them at there word when they said rough cut.

 

[4570Man]

Why do you change the shaft bearings every spring?

 

[Greenland South]

Why do you change the shaft bearings every spring?

If I don't, I get to about mid June before I have a major failure and haul it back to town to do them along with the spacers and washers and maybe a shaft. The bearings only cost $6 each and I can get them changed in a little over an hour.
Admittedly I do abuse this thing a bit. As time goes on though most of the really tough cutting is getting to be less each year.

 

[AppleMan]

I do, but it's not great. They say it can handle 750b, but I think it's much less after using it 10 years. The mower weighs 560lbs. I completely didn't think about air wrenches, thanks much!

 

[AppleMan]

You can pick up a cherry picker pretty cheap at Harbor Freight.

I've got the 57" Trail Cutter and have been thinking about this myself. Pretty good cutter but I hate the way you have to adjust the height. These should be pop-out pins - and I plan to find something like that to replace the bolts.

1 Ton Capacity Foldable Shop Crane

Thanks I'll check them out.

 

[4570Man]

If I don't, I get to about mid June before I have a major failure and haul it back to town to do them along with the spacers and washers and maybe a shaft. The bearings only cost $6 each and I can get them changed in a little over an hour.
Admittedly I do abuse this thing a bit. As time goes on though most of the really tough cutting is getting to be less each year.

I have mowers with thousands of hours on them with all factory spindle bearings. They also get abused. The only spindle bearing I have ever had fail had 800 hours on it.