Rear Blade Why doesn't my rear blade cut?

[dcyrilc]

I think that you are going to be surprised at what a difference all of this makes. Now I can hardly wait for you to bend it while rolling all that dirt. As you know, there's a thread that can help you out deciding on a new one that will work good for you. Now you're going to get us a picture similar to that one of mine that you posted, right? :thumbsup:

I almost had that yesterday just from extending the top link and increasing the angle of attack. I wanted soooooo bad to try it out tonight, but my wife called and said dinner was ready and they were waiting for me just as I finished unbolting the cutting edge. I still had to flip it and reattach it. I know way too well that I couldn't get away with play time too!
BTW, we live about 5 miles from the ranch and it takes about 15 minutes to get home.

I'll play and take some pix this weekend.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I almost had that yesterday just from extending the top link and increasing the angle of attack. I wanted soooooo bad to try it out tonight, but my wife called and said dinner was ready and they were waiting for me just as I finished unbolting the cutting edge. I still had to flip it and reattach it. I know way too well that I couldn't get away with play time too!
BTW, we live about 5 miles from the ranch and it takes about 15 minutes to get home.

I'll play and take some pix this weekend.

Your lucky, my drive is 62 miles.

 

[dcyrilc]

Your lucky, my drive is 62 miles.

I made sure we bought a house near the ranch. I have to go there and feed cattle every morning and evening (seven days a week). Plus hold down a 40 hour/week job. No way I could add another 4 hours of commuting each day.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I made sure we bought a house near the ranch. I have to go there and feed cattle every morning and evening (seven days a week). Plus hold down a 40 hour/week job. No way I could add another 4 hours of commuting each day.

Well, we've been in our house for 24+ years and have had out remote property for 10+ years. I figured that we would have been moved out there 5 years ago, it just hasn't worked out yet. Oh well, someday. :drool:

 

[Baby Grand]

I tightened the Cat 2 pins and that helped alot. I'm going to have to check them though, because the holes in the blade are much larger than the threads on the pin. In fact, the lock washer just fits inside the hole and is actually keeping the pin centered in the hole.

Is there enough room to drill these holes oversize and fit some some flanged bushings to bring the bolt hole back to a good fit diameter? Looks like you are making good progress!

-Jim

 

[dcyrilc]

Is there enough room to drill these holes oversize and fit some some flanged bushings to bring the bolt hole back to a good fit diameter? Looks like you are making good progress!

-Jim

I'm not familiar with flanged bushings, but I figured I would eventually have a piece welded in with the right size hole or check for pins with a larger threaded shaft. I've seen Cat 1 pins with different mounting shaft sizes, Cat 2 should be available the same way. For now it will work as is until they loosen again. If it gets me by for a few months, I'm good with that.

My main concern now is getting the bolts which attach the blade to the boom tight.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

My question for play in the blade wasn't for side-to-side movement, but rather tilt side-to-side. In other words, if you were to put a block under one end of the blade and lower it, how much would it angle before the block supported the full weight? I found most of my problems tonight I think. With the exception of the bolts holding the cutting edge on, every bolt on the blade was loose.
quote]

I double checked how much slop my 9 foot blade has end to end. Less than 1 inch. :thumbsup: dcyrilk, still waiting on some more pictures, and another update as to how well the blade now works with everything corrected.

 

[dcyrilc]

I double checked how much slop my 9 foot blade has end to end. Less than 1 inch. :thumbsup: dcyrilk, still waiting on some more pictures, and another update as to how well the blade now works with everything corrected.

Sorry, my mount came in for the mower and I've been trying to get some mowing done. Got to get pix of that too...if this rain ever stops.

Another reason I haven't done any blade work. Just too wet. Pulling the material into the holes just makes mud right now.

I think I have about 6" of play (tilt) in everything. I'll need to figure out how to overcome this issue as the blade just follows the conture of the potholes rather than passing over them and filling them.

I know that new joints (balls?) can be installed into the lower lift arms, but I'm not sure how much of the wear is in that vs split between the ball and the arm. Might be better to replace the entire lower lift arms. ($=ouch).

If you look at the tip/tilt on thebody of the mower in this pic, you can see how much play the lower lift arms have in them. The mower was mounted level and the tip/tilt is all from play in the lower lift arms with the offset weight of the mower.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

First off, no need to apologize, I'm just giving you a bad time. Secondly, forget about new lower arms, way to much $$$$. Just get new lower arm ends. Cut off the old ones and weld on some new ones. It's almost hard to believe that they are as worn out as the are. Are there other pins and such that are worn also? Be sure to check the pins and balls down where the arms attach to the tractor. Plus I think with that much weight hanging off to one side, it is going to be pretty hard to have it actually be level when you have it up. Sort of, (that is how it is) but hopefully not as bad as what you have now.

Good luck with your :tractor: repairs. :thumbsup: Don't forget the pics when you get a chance.

 

[dcyrilc]

First off, no need to apologize, I'm just giving you a bad time. Secondly, forget about new lower arms, way to much $$$$. Just get new lower arm ends. Cut off the old ones and weld on some new ones. It's almost hard to believe that they are as worn out as the are. Are there other pins and such that are worn also? Be sure to check the pins and balls down where the arms attach to the tractor. Plus I think with that much weight hanging off to one side, it is going to be pretty hard to have it actually be level when you have it up. Sort of, (that is how it is) but hopefully not as bad as what you have now.

Good luck with your :tractor: repairs. :thumbsup: Don't forget the pics when you get a chance.

I agree with you that the mower will never sit completely level. Hopefully I can get things to a point where everything works properly. I knew I had a picture of the mower from that angle and the offset weight does a great job of showing the wear.

I know that you can buy replacement balls and have them installed. Do you know if the balls are designed to wear faster than the arms? I know that my left lift rod? is worn at the ball on the top end so that the ball will actually come out of the arm past the weld bead that is suppose to retain it.

At any point, it's all just time and money to get everything fixed. Have to prioritize the repairs. I figure it will be several years before I have everything working the way I want. When you get a 50 HP PTO tractor with a solid engine and trans for a few $K, you can afford to put a few $K more into it to fix it up. I knew going into it that it would need some work. The unfortunate part was that I found the boom mower that I just couldn't live without and spent the repair money on the mower.:laughing: Now I'm having to nickle and dime the repairs.:laughing: