Rotary Cutter Blades

jordatf · Sep 4, 2015

should the blades on a bush hog be sharpened and balanced? If so, any suggestions as to how?

sweettractors · Sep 4, 2015

A simple way to get "close enough" is the sharpen and then slide over a 1/2 diameter round rod to check for balance. Ken Sweet

jordatf · Sep 4, 2015

Thanks

Xfaxman · Sep 4, 2015

sweettractors said:
A simple way to get "close enough" is the sharpen and then slide over a 1/2 diameter round rod to check for balance. Ken Sweet

That works for rotary mower blades, but not rotary cutter blades.

He has a 6' bush hog. I guess you could rig up a balance beam or weigh them.

SPYDERLK · Sep 5, 2015

Xfaxman said:
That works for rotary mower blades, but not rotary cutter blades.

He has a 6' bush hog. I guess you could rig up a balance beam or weigh them.

View attachment 439761

I was wondering about that. ... I guess you could find the pt on the length of each blade
where it balances. They should match. I find eyeballing the sharpened ends to be close enuf.

Mikejeakins · Sep 5, 2015

That's a good question. I was wondering that also.

amaxwell · Sep 5, 2015

jordatf said:
should the blades on a bush hog be sharpened and balanced? If so, any suggestions as to how?

I just use a handheld rotary grinder and sharpen each side about the same amount,never tried to balance them and never had a problem. A lot of how sharp you want them depends on want you want to cut. For just grass I sharpen them to about a 1/16" edge, and for brush cutting I leave them as dull as I can so they shatter the remaining trunk ,not shear it to leave a sharp edge to puncture a tire.

TerryR · Sep 5, 2015

I've sharpened the blades on my rotary cutter several times with a bench grinder. I try to grind them both about the same but never worried about it past that. I don't think you can take enough off just one of them to make a difference unless you really are taking out a big ding in only one.

Terry

4570Man · Sep 5, 2015

I don't balance them. I don't even balance lawn mower blades. I don't see any need to balance them. I know some people will say the spindle bearings will last longer, but with over 10 mower most having over 1000 hours I have only had to replace one blade spindle. It didn't even wear out, it got bent hitting a large rock.