Removing brush hog blades

[MinnesotaEric]

Put a block under it to support it and have at it. I have a video of what I did on my Woods BB720X rotary cutter.

 

[richheyn]

I had the same problem with my bush hog. Woods has a much better design in terms of removing the blades.

Try Corrosion X. It's much better than any of the other penetrating oils I've used. Even if it does not do the trick, it's worth having around.

Amazon.com

 

[kenhar]

Rust is probably the main problem but the weight of the blade suspended on the bolt (33) is also putting it in a bind. Working through the 3" hole is also a problem. Without getting under the hog, place a large piece of steel on top of the bolt that will rise above the body of the hog and use a sledgehammer (8 lb). The bolts probably won't be usable when you are done anyway.

 

[spankyscamp]

Cut a piece of 4 x 4 to support under the stump jumper. Apply penetrating oil to the bolt. Use a steel rod of your choice and a hand held sledge hammer and pound away. That is how mine came out. Didn't have to replace the bolts. Everything has been working for about 6 years. Nothing bent and doesn't wobble.

 

[charlessenf]

I was thinking heat. Would a decent hand held propane torch do or do I need Oxy-Acetylene? I've used propane torches on stuck fasteners with success before but the fasteners were a lot smaller.

There's no room for a normal gear puller unless I remove the blade carrier entirely. Then I could get at it from above without going through the 3" hole in the deck.

Given the thickness of the materials involved I'd bet an Oxy-Acetylene welding torch would be required. But getting things RED HOT might screw up the parts unless you can temper them if needed - (not a blacksmith by a long shot, just thinking out LOUD).

So, if time is on your side, smaller torch, longer heating and chemicals first.

 

[NUTTERDW]

That’s weird cause mine usually just fall out.

A few years ago a friend called with the same issue about getting the bolts out of his brush hog. I went over and he was trying to drive them out with out a support under them. I had him get a block of wood for support and on the second hit the bolt dropped out.

 

[Deanes]

I found it easier just to drop the whole stump jumper unit from the shaft and get everything out where I can work on it.

 

[mmaliga]

Heat was my friend. Oxy-Aceylene to cherry red. Probably affected hardness, but they came apart.

 

[ericm979]

Put a block under it to support it and have at it. I have a video of what I did on my Woods BB720X rotary cutter.

That's a nice big opening in the deck. Wish mine had that.

A few years ago a friend called with the same issue about getting the bolts out of his brush hog. I went over and he was trying to drive them out with out a support under them. I had him get a block of wood for support and on the second hit the bolt dropped out.

I'm going to try that, using a bigger hammer than I had last time. It's at my Oregon property so I have to bring any tools with me when I go there.

I found it easier just to drop the whole stump jumper unit from the shaft and get everything out where I can work on it.

I've thought about that. If I had a full set of equipment it'd be easier to do, but I only have what I can carry up. So no workbench or vice for example.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

That's a nice big opening in the deck. Wish mine had that.

Perhaps you could cut an access plate out? Weld tabs on it and drill corresponding holes through the tabs and the underlying top of your rotary cutter, and then either use nut plates or weld on nuts so that you can bolt on and off your access plate.

 

[ning]

This thread is simultaneously making me want to pull my blades (while I can) and dread pulling my blades (because I probably can't)
Which will win?
I'll put it on my to-do list

 

[scootr]

Are they off yet?

 

[johnems]

Are they off yet?

For me I use my 1/2-inch Milwaukee high-capacity impact and then I use my air hammer with a flat pounding ponding tool in it.

 

[ScipioUSA]

I just did these on my super well used (not quite used up) King Kutter. Came with my tractor purchase last year. Has the same pinched up "key". Difference for me was that the bolt spun and I couldn't get the nuts off.

I ended up having to drop the stump jumper and just cut the nuts off with an angle grinder and a cutting disc. Made it lots easier to work on out of the machine.

Turns out the slot for the bolt is also just rusted away, so I held the mushroom with channel locks until I could just zap them tight with the impact.

Doubt I'll have to replace these again before something on this thing dies entirely. I figure its a good thing for me to learn how to weld on since I can't make it much worse....

 

[RayIN]

I have an old King Kutter 6'.
Years ago I had trouble removing the bolts. After I had the blades sharpened, I painted the thread, and shoulder of the bolt with Thread-Eze. I've had the bolts out many times since then and the Thread-Eze is still there, so I don't add more.
Now that I have a 4" grinder, I sharpen the blades on the mower. I raise the mower, place 8"sq wood blocks under each side. This gives me plenty of room for access when sharpening.
The blades hinge on the bolts, so I C'clamp a stop on the backside of the blade and lay under the rear of the deck.
It's surprising how fast a 4" grinder will resharpen a blade, unless the leading edge resembles a #2 pencil.

 

[5030]

O/A torch with a Rosebud end always does the deed.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Without a doubt the stump jumper is flexing everytime you hit the bolt, take a good bottle jack and jack it up on the stump jumper as close to the bolt hole as you can get it, then hit the bolt with a brass pin or whatever driver that you have and it will come right out. Many years ago I was in the same situation and had beat till I was give out, my dad rode up on his horse and saw what was going on and asked me if I wanted that bolt out, I told him that I wanted both of them out, so he told me get him a bottle jack and in just a minute the bolts were out, he got back on his horse and rode off never said a word about it, I wish he was still here to get advice from.

 

[Mike1955]

Without a doubt the stump jumper is flexing everytime you hit the bolt, take a good bottle jack and jack it up on the stump jumper as close to the bolt hole as you can get it, then hit the bolt with a brass pin or whatever driver that you have and it will come right out. Many years ago I was in the same situation and had beat till I was give out, my dad rode up on his horse and saw what was going on and asked me if I wanted that bolt out, I told him that I wanted both of them out, so he told me get him a bottle jack and in just a minute the bolts were out, he got back on his horse and rode off never said a word about it, I wish he was still here to get advice from.

Lineman he was smart and he had been there. I might add that the effectiveness would be enhanced, if a fellow had the luxury of a concrete pad to be working on. But I miss the past generation too. And we are the old folks now. Thanks for that suggestion it will help me out to

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Lineman he was smart and he had been there. I might add that the effectiveness would be enhanced, if a fellow had the luxury of a concrete pad to be working on. But I miss the past generation too. And we are the old folks now. Thanks for that suggestion it will help me out to

Yes he had, when it came to farming, cows, horses etc he always had the answers I needed, I try to help my now grown boys out without being asked and like him without saying to much about it, time is precious and you are spot on about us being the older folks now.