Mowing Finish mower vs rocks

[Corm]

Yep frank_f15, that's how I'd try it to. I've used that method many times thru the years. Good luck Pete! This may cut into your Ethan project funds.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Corm

 

[mikim]

<font color="blue">Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. </font>

NO --- it's ALWAYS better to be lucky than good ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif (I have to count on it) ... When my luck runs out ..I'm gonna be in big trouble. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Bird]

Frank, I do basically the same thing by trying to rock'em back and forth with an impact wrench when necessary.

 

[Boondox]

Ed and Frank -- Already tried back and forth with both a breaker bar and the impact wrench. No luck. Not knowing what was inside the hub (heat sensitive seals?) I was reluctant to try heat. So I'm off to the dealer with a bribe of coffee to see if they have one torn down I can look at. Pete

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Boondox,

Around here we have geodes. For those who never saw one, they're very hard rocks but hollow. often lined with some kind of crystal. Usually about 5 inches in diameter. They are suspended in the limestone bedrock and end up on the surface as the limestone dissolves.

One time this construction laborer saw some laying around on our farm and was telling me how they were formed as they were shot out of volcanoes! He said that he lived in the next county that gets a lot of tourists and you can't find geodes over there any more because the tourists buy them.

"Well, I've got a machine that I pull behind my tractor that finds them." I said.

His eyes lit up as he considered the possibilities. "How's it work?" he asked.

"Actually, its a bushhog..."

His original expression returned. I guess there's no market for geode dust.

John

 

[bbse]

Pete,

I have a Land Pride FDR2572 and the first time I went to remove the blades for sharpening, I couldn't get them off. I had to get a impact socket, a long heavy duty breaker bar, tie then down with a chain and use a 5' cheater bar. Once they broke loose they came right off. I used an anti sieze lube and tighened them down sanely. I have not had a problem since and it has been several months.

 

[longway5]

I once had the misfortune of doing noticeable damage to a mowing deck. At work we have a couple of commercial Toro front mount mowers, and not only did I hit a rock, but the deck had bounced up in the air at the same time so that it fell back down on top of the rock. The blade was bent like a banana, and on its first rotation after impact started to tear out some of the deck reinforcement underneath. On its second rotation it was stopped completely by the same former-reinforcement material and through the wonders of belts and drive shafts, stalled out the diesel. To this day, I still remember exactly which rock it was.

 

[alan40]

Darn Pete I thought Fairfield was the only place to regrow rocks. I purchased a Bush Hog Razorback rotory cutter (light duty) two years ago and love it. Now that I know were most of the bad spots are I lower it right to the deck and use it almost like a finish mower. Works O.K. Would like a finish mower to but building a sugar house this summer instead. Have to have year round outdoor projects or I could lose my sanity or whats left of it anyways /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Hope everything works out. Say Hi to the pack for me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BillyP]

I don't know what kind of impact wrench you used but you might try another. I went through the same thing, couldn't get the blade bolts loose. I borrowed an impact wrench but to no avail. Drove the tractor over to a shop and borrowed their impact wrench. They came right loose.

I've had the same mower as you for 4 years now. The only problem was a broken blade from a rock. It broke where they turn the blade up for the high lift.

 

[Boondox]

Thanks, Al! I've been digging around my tiny shop with the backhoe checking out the feasibility of expanding it...and you wouldn't believe how many rocks I've unearthed! Now I understand why there are so many stone walls in Vermont!

I hear you on the outdoor projects. The shop is one of mine. Then a little 16x20 stick construction barn for the sheep and chickens. Then I want to find a boxblade and slope my land so maybe the water will not run thru the garage every spring. The list seems endless...and endlessly enjoyable.

Pete