Rotary Cutter Question about JD 506 or 516 rotary cutter

[BobinIL]

I just purchased a good used John Deere 506 5ft rotary cutter. I have a question about the blades. It seems like they are quite loose. They move up and down probably 6" out at the end. Is this by design??? Most of the rotary cutters I have experience with the blades had very little play up and down. My only guess is that this may be the way it is supposed to be to have some give if you hit a rock or stump. Any experienced owners out there care to help me out.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

SIX INCHES???? WOW! That's a bunch. New, there's usually just barely any perceptable movement. With a few years use, you may get 1/2" or so "slack" at blade tip. 6" would indicate a severely worn pivot pin/bolt, worn, or eben WRONG blades. (too big of a hole?) That may be an accident looking for a location to happen. Blade sshould rotate freely on the bolt with only slight movement up or down at blade tips.

 

[BobinIL]

That is what I am thinking. It seems like the pivot pin is tight but the blades really hang down. I started the mower and it didn't run out of balance or knock and it mowed fine. The mower did not come with a manual so I do not know if this is the way it is supposed to be. I have owned bush hog, IH and a JD 413 and all were much tighter than this.

 

[N80]

There are PDF manuals on the JD web site. The blades on my used LX 6 have a little play, but nothing like that.

Not to hijack the thread (and this is related), the deck on my mower is scored toward the rear with a raised area which coincides with a blade tip. You can see this from the top of the deck! It was there when I bought it used and it has worked flawlessy for the last year (I have a concern about the gear box but that is for another post). I cannot imagine how a blade tip could have hit the underside of the deck since there is very little play in them. Maybe something got caught between the blade and the deck?