Loose Cutter on Disk Harrow

[have_blue]

After investigating a lot of whanging and banging noise, I discovered a loose cutter on my disk harrow.

The harrow is a light duty King Kutter 66" model with 4 groups of 4 cutters. The cutters are 16", and scalloped. The loose one is held on by a large flange at the end of the shaft. At the other end is a large nut, which I tried tightening to no avail. None of the other cutters are loose. The shafts all have a bit of play in them, but not a lot.

How should I approach tightening this cutter? Nothing appears to be broken. (There was no manual with the harrow, which I bought new).

Thanks,,,

 

[RonR]

I've seen this on big farm disks. I think one of the risks of letting it run loose is that the loose blade can break off--just at the perimeter of the flange holding it!

I'd suggest taking the weight off the blades, back the nut off a little, then if you can reach the opposite end, WHACK it with a big sledge hammer. Then try to re-tighten.

As I recall, the nuts are castle nuts, where they have a key in them to keep them from backing off. I don't recall that they might be left hand threads, but maybe that's something to check also.

I know we used hammers and punches to try to take up the last little bit.

I guess another option would be to load it on a trailer and haul it to a truck stop. Let them try to tighten it with their biggest air impact.

Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[oliver28472]

All that wobbling has probably ruined the thread where the nut is. You might have to take the shaft out and have a machine shop rethread it for you unless you have the die. This may be true for the other 3 gangs too. Put never seize on the threads and get the nut as tight as possible.

 

[Indydirtfarmer]

That's not at all uncommon. Try some heat on the nut to see if it'll break loose. If it won't tighten, take it off, and put a thick flat washer behind it, then re-tighten. Use an impact wrench if available. They need to be VERY tight. Use a BIG pipe wrench to keep the axle from turning while tightening (or loosening for that matter)

 

[beenthere]

I'm wondering why just one loose one, and why the rest of the 'blades' on that axle are also not loose. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If I understand it right, I'd remoe the nut on the axle, and inspect each one of the blades and the 'dumb-bell' or dog bone separating the blades, as well as the bearings.

Seems to me something is not right that only 'one' blade is loose. I suspect a broken part and/or a failed bearing or spacer. But running it loose is not a good plan. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RonR]

Indyfarmer is right! My brain more fully engaged and I remembered that we usually took the nut off, installed a flat washer, slathered the shaft in grease (it was before never-seize reached we'uns in the country!) and tighten.

The threads could be completely rusted or galled behind the nut, so the washer gives you a second chance.

Ron

 

[have_blue]

Thanks for all the replies!

The nut was fairly tight, and I tightened it more. (It's a plain right hand nut, not a castle nut).

I wonder if the center of the loose disk is already broken out. I bet it is. Otherwise (as someone mentioned), why wasn't the whole gang loose?

I'll get to the bottom of it. I'll wait for a cool rainy day, get my air tools after it, and dismantle the whole works.

If it's broken, I hope I can find a replacement cutter!

 

[Panache]

Replacement cutters should be easy to find. Make sure the replacement is at least at thick as the one coming off. I replaced all of my front gangs with some that seemed to be twice as thick. It appeared to cut better with the extra weight.

 

[MMM]

Usually easy to see a broke center, the axle may be gouged. I've built mine up with mild steel rods and ground flush good as new. Then buff all mating surfaces on each pan/spacer clean before reassembling. You'll never get a tight fit otherwise and have recurring problems. (The spacers should spin axle, not the pans)
The nut probably has folding lock tabs that aren't much good. I replaced original nut with Nylock and Loctite243. then set entire gang down on a length of 2X4 and use a 6ft cheater. No problems last 2 seasons.

 

[SPT]

Let's see, we had an old Case disk harrow on the farm when I was a kid that we rebuilt more times than I care to remember. I think once you get a chance to get the weight off and pull the nut off the end, you will find that it is a square shaft. The reason the other cutters are "tight" is because they fit right on the shaft. The end one usually rides on a bearing with a square shoulder to hold the cutter so it will turn with the gang. If it has loosened up, most likely the cutter has slipped off the shoulder and that is why there is excessive play (and the noise). It really doesn't have to loosen up much for this to happen, as the thickness of the disk aren't that much and may not seem possible by visual inspection.
Anyway, hope all it needs is to be tightened and not replaced.
You said you don't have a manual, but any way you might get a copy of a parts page to help see what you have there?
Good luck and hope this helps.
Tim