Garden Tractor, blade to spindle nut, how do you torque the nuts properly?

[JasperFrank]

I never seem to get this right. And end up with loose blades. Cub Cadet says the nuts need 70 to 90 Foot Lbs. But they give you no freaken way to lock the spindles to get a good reading if you are using a torque wrench. I have an impact driver, yet I never use it to spin ON nuts. Is here some rule, on how you can manage the foot Lbs of an impact driver?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I give mine a few raps with an impact wrench and let it ride. I used to get hung up on it, now I don’t care.

 

[Eagle1]

^^^^^^^ This or wedge the blade tip against the deck with a piece of scrap wood and have at it.

 

[2manyrocks]

Just be careful that the wedge doesn't burst loose and send a sharp blade flying at your hand or other body parts while you are tightening.

 

[Eagle1]

 

[zzvyb6]

I believe most blade bolts tend to be self tightening. My battery impact does the job.
However, I have learned thru experience that some brands of blades are not thick enough to be retained by the bolt and require a washer to fill the gap. Off brand mulching blades do this, as I have found by experience. In this case, the blade will be only marginally tight and may actually cut some grass.

 

[WranglerX]

I use 4x4 block and "C" clamp (clamped to mower deck) to block blade from spinning then you can use just about any method to "torque" the nuts.... Personally I have no problem accessing the "nuts" with torque wrench as tractor front is jacked up and I have easy access to nuts.... As for the tool I use,. 3/8 drive pneumatic ratchet to do most of the mundane chore except the final torquing....