Frozen Nuts

[Dave01]

Sorry for the title! I'm having a hard time getting the blades off my 48GT deck, I haven't had them off since I bought this tractor last fall. I've struggled before with deck nuts but have always been able to loosen things up, but not this time. I've sprayed with Break-Away penetrating oil twice a couple days apart, have tapped to set up vibrations, am using a 1 1/8" box end wrench, have tried hitting the wrench with a hammer, can't get any of the 3 nuts to budge.

I don't have an impact wrench, any other tricks I could try?

 

[OldMachinist]

If you have the deck off then I would use a torch to heat the nuts. Even a propane torch should supply enough heat to loosen the rust bond. Also a breaker bar and a 6 point socket would be good.

 

[OhioGuy]

Hey Dave,

I'm a big fan of a product called PB Blaster, it's a penetrating oil type solution.
That and an impact driver.

They make pretty powerful batter operated impact drivers now (Dewalt), maybe you could rent one, or take the deck to a garage and have them loosen them for a couple bucks?

A torch applying some heat will usually free them up too, most people don't have torches.

Curt

 

[Dave01]

I've got a propane torch, I'll heat it up and see what happens.

 

[Nittany]

You might also check to see if a neighbor or friend might let you borrow a 3/4" drive socket set - that's what I use on my 48" deck blades (not too expensive at TSC or Harbor Freight).

Nittany
CC 2518 w/48" deck

 

[gator]

Try pinemountainman's wax trick on this this thread

 

[5030]

You sure they aren't left hand threads?

 

[Outlander]

A decent air impact wrench should buzz those right out.

 

[DieselPower]

A impact gun is the ideal way to get them off. If you don't have one try the wax trick that gator directed you to in the other thread. It has worked for me numerous times over the years.

 

[Dave01]

I hope they're not left hand threads, would be a first for me on mower decks!

I'll be trying the wax trick tomorrow, that sounds pretty neat. Thanks for all the good suggestions.

 

[Fordlords]

I'm eager to hear if the wax trick works. Usually if a stuck nut or bolt even remotely tries to tick me off, on goes the air compressor and out comes the impact. With those blade nuts, they are torqued pretty tight to begin with, and the buildup of grass and whatnot makes them extra difficult to break free. Nice thing with impact is it will direct the force at the nut without turning the spindle, which makes it so easy.

If the wax doesn't work, go to Sears and get a long 1/2" drive breaker bar.

-Fordlords-

 

[OhioGuy]

The only decks I've seen with left hand threads discharged on the left hand side. I think the design always puts the rotation in a direction that would tighten the blades, otherwise, blades would be flyin everywhere!

Curt

 

[micman32]

I have the same problem. The nuts get so tight I couldn't remove them. My dad has an impact wrench so now it's not a big deal anymore but before I couldn't budge them and had to take it to the dealer to loosen. What a pain!

Michael

 

[Dave01]

Exactly right, you want the blade rotation to tighten the nuts if anything.

You know what's confusing? Bike pedals. One has right hand thread, one left hand so the pedals can't loosen when pedaling. Every time I go to remove them I scratch my head trying to get straight which is which.

 

[arthurb]

I always use a 1/2" wrachet with a 3' piece of black pipe over the wrachet to use for leverege. It always works for me. Also, I spray WD-40 on my mower deck nuts before I put them back on. Good Luck.

 

[tallyho8]

I always use a 1/2" wrachet with a 3' piece of black pipe over the wrachet to use for leverege. It always works for me. Also, I spray WD-40 on my mower deck nuts before I put them back on. Good Luck.

You have a very good ratchet. We have broken many ratchets doing this. We use a breaker bar now with a pipe on it.

 

[Dave01]

Well I tried the wax trick and it didn't work - but I rushed it so it really wasn't a fair test. Heated the nuts, melted some wax into them, reheated, melted some more. I know it sounds foolish but I couldn't wait a half hour, tried them after only a few minutes, no luck. I popped the deck back on and mowed, needed to get it done this afternoon.

I'll give it another try. If no luck I'll bring the deck to a guy who has an impact wrench, once I get them off once I'll be OK for the next time.

 

[OhioGuy]

I think the bike pedal threads are the same as mower blades, forward pedal tightenes them, so the left would be left handed and the right would be right handed?

I always apply a liberal amount of grease on the threads of the blade spindles before putting the nuts back on, it seems to reduce the corrosion and helps on the next removal.

Curt

 

[DieselPower]

I actually use Locktite on blade nut's/bolts. It may seem dumb to use something on them that would make them even harder to get off but the opposite is true. Use the general purpose / light duty blue Locktite. It completly seals the threads and prevents water/moisture from entering and rusting them up which is the whole reason they are hard to get off in the first place. You will be amazed how much easier they are to remove next time.

 

[Sumosized]

I always used Never-Seize on my push mower. Put it on the Cub, hopefully i'll help.... although I did buy an electric impac, so I'll probably never know.