Old hog

[tbb2383]

Hi, folks. My first message here. We recently bought 12 acres of bush, and overgrown fields, and I found a NH TC40D for sale on my way to work. It is now in my garage, and I got an old 6 ft bush hog with it. The blades are worn almost round and tear rather than cut. I've never done this before, but assume that new sharper blades will do a better job. Is it worth trying to sharpen, or since they have lost a fair bit of metal should I replace them? Thanks for any help. Tom

 

[Lunk]

Hi, folks. My first message here. We recently bought 12 acres of bush, and overgrown fields, and I found a NH TC40D for sale on my way to work. It is now in my garage, and I got an old 6 ft bush hog with it. The blades are worn almost round and tear rather than cut. I've never done this before, but assume that new sharper blades will do a better job. Is it worth trying to sharpen, or since they have lost a fair bit of metal should I replace them? Thanks for any help. Tom

First Off - Welcome to TBN!!!

Sharp blades will cut better, but some folks prefer them on the dull side when hitting heavy brush, as the shredding action on the remaining stubs keeps them from becoming a nemesis to proper tire inflation...Blades as worn as you say, sound like they should be replaced though. Maybe hit it once with the dull blades, and then replace...

.02 as always,

Lunk

 

[tbb2383]

Lunk: Thanks for the info, that makes good sense.

 

[Ford850]

You could use an angle grinder to put a square edge on the rounded blades first. Grind some of the top bevel down to remove as much material as you have time to do, making a somewhat narrower/sharper cutting edge. Then clean up the leading edge a little more by squaring it off. The squared edge will cut better than the rounded edge, but still act as a hammer to shatter the stumps/stubs as it cuts them. Also, try to set the cutter up so it is 1-2" lower in the front than the rear while cutting to reduce the effort needed to cut. Doing both of those things will give you more free horsepower to give a better cut. New sharp blades will give a better cut on grass, but I notice no difference in the heavy stuff.
Good luck.

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto that.. put about a 1/8 to 1/16 flat on the blades.. that will shatter studdy sapplings and prevent them from growing back.. plus won't make sharp spears to puncure tires... shoul still cut grss as well.

look the blades over.. if there are any cracks, especially near the shoulder bolts.. replace both.

if no cracks and the blades are just well worn.. sharpen them up as indicated and get a lil more life out of them. do make sur ethe box has lube in it.

soundguy