Rear Finish Mower Sharpening blades on RFM

[tld]

Is there a good procedure to use when sharpening blades on RFM? Are concrete blocks OK to use to hold up the mower. I know I shouldn't rely on the hydraulics. What about a difficult blade removal?

 

[sandman2234]

Concrete blocks are a good way to get killed if you crawl under it and they give way. They are not made for stacking stuff on, so if you need something, try solid wood blocks, or better yet, jackstands.
However, I just load my tractor on the trailer and leave a couple of feet of the bush hog sticking out past the trailer. Take a short stool and sit down while I grind the blades. Be sure to wear your safety glasses!!
David from jax

 

[kenmac]

ditto on the concrete blocks being a killer. They aren't made for that. I use a 4.5'' angle grinder on mine after I weld up the bad spots where I always hit rocks

 

[tld]

Thanks. Not ready to check out of this world yet!

I don't have a trailer, but could buy jackstands. I was thinking about taking the blades off to sharpen. Would PT 6 x 6 work if laid on their side, or maybe a 6 x 6 and a 2 x 6 to give 8 inches of clearance to get blade off.

Just trying to get SAFE ideas....and thanks for the conc block info.

 

[kenmac]

That should do it.Anything solid.. I also take my blades off to sharpen

 

[Kernopelli]

Is there a good procedure to use when sharpening blades on RFM? Are concrete blocks OK to use to hold up the mower. I know I shouldn't rely on the hydraulics. What about a difficult blade removal?

I use jack stands and an angle grinder. If I have to remove the blades I use an impact wrench but have found that a 1/2" drive socket with a breaker bar works fine...sometimes have to give the breaker bar a good smack with a heavy hammer to make a sudden impact to break the nut loose. If using a wrench or socket to take the nuts off it is helpful to wedge a small piece of wood between the belt and pulley to keep the blade from spinning.

 

[kenmac]

If / when you get them off. Use some anti sieze on the threads. They won't be so hard to get off next time

 

[cperky]

if you have a front end loader then you can simply lift up one end of the mower and easily remove the blades or just sharpen them in place

 

[PAB_OH]

Concrete blocks are a good way to get killed if you crawl under it and they give way. They are not made for stacking stuff on,

Seriously? I wonder what they were thinking when they built all the load bearing walls of my home with concrete blocks? I'm going to find me a good lawyer!

Sorry, one of the threads in the Safety forum has got me riled up. Concrete blocks are fine to use as long as the load is applied correctly. I mean seriously, basements are built out of these things and they carry a pretty decent load on those walls. If you have to stacke them to get the height you need just use two adjacent blocks on the bottom and put a third on top of the two lower ones to keep them from tipping. If you don't have basic common sense about loads then yes, YOU can kill yourself. Concrete blocks are not inherently dangerous.

If you want to be absolutely sure you won't die being crushed by a falling RFM get yourself a couple solid steel blocks.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have two dirt piles that I drive my dozer up on to get under it that I use for my mower also. It's just wide enough to lower both ends of the mower onto and allows me plenty of room to get under it. My blades come off with two bolts and one nut. With my impact gun, it takes all of ten seconds to remove a blade.

Eddie