mower blade question

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm new to tractors and all. I'm learning quite a bit though. I have an old AC with a Woods L59 mower that works. Maybe someday I can afford something new soon. However, I decided to remove the blades from my mower to sharpen or replace. I actually pulled the mower out from under the tractor and flipped it over for easy access. Well, long story short... I can't get the blades off. I'm assuming that the mounting bolt loosens opposite of its normal spinning direction. I may be wrong. Any chance that these bolts could be reverse threaded?

Any tips or advice would be welcome.

 

[Bird]

Wickman, I'm not familiar with that particular mower, but so far I've never seen a mower that had blades held on with left handed threads. However, I have seen lots of mowers with the blades on so tight, and been that way so long with a little corrosion, that they were a bear to break loose. You might try a little penetrating oil first, then either a good strong impact wrench (I've seen some that the cheap half inch impacts wouldn't budge), or put a block of wood in there to keep the blades from turning and get a "cheater" bar on the end of a strong wrench, and PULL!

 

[CTyler]

I would try heating the bolt with a torch. Torque on it, heat etc..

 

[WCarlson]

I agree with Bird....use a good impact wrench and if necessary a block of wood to hold the blade. I, too, have never seen a left handed thread on lawn mower blades.
Bill

 

[jima1]

wickman,

I went through the same thing recently with my deck, you might find this discussion useful.

Looking back over it, I noticed there was mention of a Woods mower with left-handed threads, so there may be some chance.

This also gives me a chance to finish the story. I never did get the blades off my KK, after trying some of the excellent tips mentioned, and also after an experienced mechanic friend came over with a 500 ft-lb wrench. He was opposed to using the torch, saying it can damage the bearings, I don't know how easy that would be to do, but just to mention the possibility so others with more experience can comment.

But the story did end happily, for now at least, as my friend also brought his hand-held grinder, expecting to sharpen the blades after they came off. They didn't budge, but he sharpened them nicely right where they were just the same /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I can live with that until the blades need to be replaced in 5-10 years /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Jim

 

[Cdash]

I have a 5' KK RFM, bought it new 4 years ago, and the bolts ARE REVERSE THREADED!!! It gets me everytime I attempt to take the blades off, before I remember to do it backwards.

 

[chrisjbell]

So how bad does it get when you use "extreme measures" to get something loosened up and then find out that it was, in fact, reverse threaded? That can't be a good thing.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

When you finally get them off... put some grease on the threads and bolt it will help the next time you try to take them off.

 

[Egon]

Sometimes if you hold a heavy sledge on the flats on one side and the hit the opposite flat with another sledge it will help loosen up the nuts. Go around the nut using this method but be carefull not to round a flat.
Note: do not use a 20 ounce or so hammer. I'm talking 4 to 6 pound sledges. The light hammer will only mess up the flats. And two people work better at this than one.

If the nut is of a common size perhaps a chizel or " nut breaker" may be the way to go.

And never underestimate the power of speach.

Egon

 

[kensfarm]

I have a NH 72" RMM.. the bolts loosen in the counter-clockwise direction.. I have two sets of blades I rotate.. mowing takes about 6 hours.. so I always sharpen the blades before I go out for a day of mowing. I'd try the WD40.. w/ your mower is flipped over.. try getting between the top of the blades and the houseing. Since your friend sharpened the blades on the mower.. just using the mower might help unlock those tuff bolts. I have a stuck problem w/ the stump jumper on an old rotary cutter.. I've tried everything.. it needs a new platform welded where the gearbox mounts.. took it down the road to a weldor.. he called last night.. said the FEL bucket was done.. said they tried for half a day to get the stump jumper off.. no luck.. anyone know of a specialized puller made for stump jumpers? I guess I might have to break down and buy a BB600.. but I've been saving for a saw mill.