Pulling Bush Hog blades with a 1" impact...

[Ford960]

Well I got to try out my new 1" impact wrench today to remove the blades on my Bush Hog 305 mower. As I was going out the door my old lady said that she had just started the rice for dinner. At that point I know that I have about 20 minutes to get anything done including getting out the tools and moving the tractor up to the shop trailer. When she came out to say that supper was ready I already had both blades off and had sharpened one with the other in the vise.

The hardest part is lifting that big impact into position as it weighs over 30 lbs. It's so nice though to just squeeze the trigger and instantly have the nuts spinning loose. Then a couple of taps with a hammer to drive the bolts out and the blades drop on the ground.

Putting them back on was equally nice as the big impact hammered the nuts home and I could only move then a fraction of a turn with a breaker bar and 6' cheater pipe. I was impressed that my air compressor didn't even cycle once and the only time that it came on is when I bled the pressure off to change the clamp on the 1/2" air hose for the impact after I had finished the blades.

I bought this impact from Harbor Freight about a month ago on sale for $99.99 and had a 20% off coupon so it cost me $80. Best $80 that I've spent in and long time.

Now I think that I'll pull the blade (the other one broke) on the Squealer and replace them so that I'll have a spare cutter if I need it.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Well I got to try out my new 1" impact wrench today to remove the blades on my Bush Hog 305 mower. As I was going out the door my old lady said that she had just started the rice for dinner. At that point I know that I have about 20 minutes to get anything done including getting out the tools and moving the tractor up to the shop trailer. When she came out to say that supper was ready I already had both blades off and had sharpened one with the other in the vise.

The hardest part is lifting that big impact into position as it weighs over 30 lbs. It's so nice though to just squeeze the trigger and instantly have the nuts spinning loose. Then a couple of taps with a hammer to drive the bolts out and the blades drop on the ground.

Putting them back on was equally nice as the big impact hammered the nuts home and I could only move then a fraction of a turn with a breaker bar and 6' cheater pipe. I was impressed that my air compressor didn't even cycle once and the only time that it came on is when I bled the pressure off to change the clamp on the 1/2" air hose for the impact after I had finished the blades.

I bought this impact from Harbor Freight about a month ago on sale for $99.99 and had a 20% off coupon so it cost me $80. Best $80 that I've spent in and long time.

Now I think that I'll pull the blade (the other one broke) on the Squealer and replace them so that I'll have a spare cutter if I need it.

On the Squeeler blades. Replace them with the heavier duty blades that come standard on the 28X series of same width. I bought a spare set for my 286 and they were suprisingly inexpensive. (6 months ago, seems like I paid around $60 with freight included) They're a tad thicker and have a little bit better "lift" than the O.E.M. Squeeler versions. I know several folks that have replaced their Squeeler blades with 'em and are quite pleased with the results. If you're interested, I have a part # (at home) PM me and I'll fire it back to you.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Ford,
Ive got the same mower as you and been wondering about the best way to get those blades off Ive been dressing them up every so often with my angle grinder, but they may be lookin to get changed pretty soon If I could only get rid of those rocks out in the field, darn things just keep growin a new crop

Thanks fer the tip !

 

[slowrev]

I tried my 600+ ft pound 1/2 inch impact on my old Rebel BH and nothing. Guess I will watch for a deal on a honkin big impact at HF. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Ford960]

Scott_VT,

You need a 1-11/16" socket in a 3/4" drive and a breaker bar to match. Align one of the nuts with the hole in the deck and use a 6' pipe with the socket and breaker bar to loosen the nut. I bought the tools at TSC but NAPA or other place should have them. A short extention will help too.

Once the nut is loose I use a large ballpeen hammer on top of the nut and strike that with a small hand sledge till the bolt drops. Take off the nut and tap the bolt loose till it and the blade drop on the ground. I then use a rake to retrieve them from under the mower. That way I don't have to crawl under there.

To put them back after sharpening I raise the mower all the way and block it up. Then put the bolt in the blade and up in the SJ aligning the key. A couple of raps with a hammer and it stays in place while I crawl out and put the lock washer and nut on. Tighten the nut as much as you can with the 6' pipe.

I also find that putting the pto in gear helps to hold the blades in position under the access hole, just don't forget to disengage the pto again before starting the tractor like I didn't this morning. Luckily I noticed as the starter was just starting to spin and stopped before it fired.

Good luck gettiing your blades off, really makes shapening easier and a good time to check for cracks. I do that by hanging from a short piese of rope and striking them with a hammer. If they ring like a bell then they are ok.

Let me know if you have any problems.

Farmwithjunk,
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to put that on my to do list.

 

[Ford960]

I tried my 600+ ft pound 1/2 inch impact on my old Rebel BH and nothing. Guess I will watch for a deal on a honkin big impact at HF. Thanks for the tip.

A 3/4" impact should have enough to loosen the nuts but I found that the 1" impact was cheaper. Even though I did have to get a 1/2" hose to run it and that set me back another $29.

Those nuts are torqued to 450 ftlbs at least and I actully bent the 2' breaker bar the first time that I pulled the blades.

 

[RobJ]

I don't know why they don't put a cap nut on these blades. Mine haven't been off for a while and the threads sticking through the nut were wasted.
I used an angle grinder to gring them flush and got them right off.

 

[Ford960]

PB Blaster works rather well too.

 

[Soundguy]

This post has painfully just reminded me that i need a new impact gun.. as mine is woefully insuficient. I used to have just a pancake compressor and a 3/8 gun.. not good for much. i moved up to a 1/2 gun when I bouhgt my 5hp/27g compressor.. that one has made changing lawnmower blades a breeze. A 3/4 or 1" gun.. wow.. almost makes my mouth water...

I probably shoul dhave just got a 3/4 when i got the compressor.. but the 1/2 was on such a good sale i couldn't pass it up.. and the 3/8 was useless for anything but um? say// 1/4 and 3/8 fasteners...

Soundguy

 

[RobJ]

The 3/8 are very handy for dissembly of small and medium engines and such. Much faster than hand tools. They'd probably get everything off my Bota except for the rods, mains, head and rockers. Maybe a few others. Lighter and easier to work with. I had one of the small fist size models with the butterfly control on top. Not the gun type. I could zip all the crap off an engine in no time. 3/4" 1", those suckers start getting heavy but will crank out the power. My Snap-on 1/2" inch cranks out about twice the power as some of the chinese made 1/2" models. And my snap-on is 25 years old!

 

[Soundguy]

For the small stuff.. I'm usually to lazy to get my 3/8 air gun out to do the job.. when I do go for it.. it is usually because i have a stuck bolt.. which invariable becomes a twisted off bolt!!

Yes.. even the 1/2 gun is a bit heavy to swing all day.

Soundguy

 

[RobJ]

And I forgot air ratchets. Handy in certain places but just to darn loud!!

 

[Ford960]

And I forgot air ratchets. Handy in certain places but just to darn loud!!

And they are really good at hammering on your knuckles too. Seems like while it's destroying your fingers that you can't let go of the trigger. More than once I've had to unplug the air hose.
I also have a butterfly 3/8" impact, it's nice to use on small stuff.
A few years ago I showed the old lady how to put new front shocks on the car and gave her my 1/2" impact, told her to put the socket on the wheel nut and pull the trigger. She got a big grin on her face and said "So that's why guys like these things" after the first nut spun off the stud.

 

[RobJ]

And they are really good at hammering on your knuckles too. Seems like while it's destroying your fingers that you can't let go of the trigger. More than once I've had to unplug the air hose.

Yes... you have used an air ratchet before!! All of the above.

 

[firemanpat2910]

thats why my old grandpappy used to say hand me the "wiz, bang, ****"
when he wanted an air ratchet. When you use it its wiz wiz wiz BANG and you sream sh%t. He also called e rings c clips and tue arcs "Jesus clips" every time he tried to put them on he would watch them fly over his shoulder and holler "jesus"