Bush Hog blade angle question

[workinonit]

Agree 100%. You cant straighten those blades. They will break. If you don't want to run them like they are throw them away and get another set. I would run them. They cut weeds.

 

[5030]

Agree 100%. You cant straighten those blades. They will break. If you don't want to run them like they are throw them away and get another set. I would run them. They cut weeds.

They are heat treated so bending them would fracture them anyway.

 

[stevewarner1957]

As suggested, get the blade numbers and check to see if they are correct for your mower. I suspect they are a high suction variant or brush blade of some type. But if it mows, use it! Also if you change blades be sure and buy the bolt and nut ad most are not reusable as the nuts are lock type they will throw a blade if it backs off. That is BAD!!

 

[Zebrafive]

I too think they are the wrong blades, or somehow both were bent. I would worry about them contacting and cutting the upper deck, the "can opener" affect you sometimes see on used decks.

 

[CoyPatton]

I will add my 2 cents worth.
Bending heat treated metal without heating it will result in a stress fracture. If you are lucky you realize this while bending it. If you are not lucky, you realize it when you throw off a chuck of metal while mowing. Expect damages to something or someone when the latter happens. It could be DEADLY!

As for heating it to bend it, you may avoid the stress fracture, but you have lost the hardening of the metal. Expect to have serious nicks in the blades just from mowing thicker woody material that you were able to cut before.

SO BOTTOM LINE—leave be, either use as they are if they run ok on the mower or replace!

 

[Bearsixty7]

Get the number off your blades. Confirm they are the correct blade for your machine. From the pic's I'd say they aren't the correct blades. The blade should be parallel to the ground.

I would not attempt to alter those blades. Rotary cutters are already way dangerous with everything working properly.

That is my thought as well. those are the wrong blades for that cutter most likely.

 

[Ford850]

This same thing was discussed in this thread, specifically posts 29 and 41.

Rotary Cutter - Problems with my new Bush Hog 3008

1. Go slower 2. Make sure rotary cutter deck is tilted forward slightly (3/4" higher in the back than the front) to help expel the grass out the back so you are not cutting the same grass over and over.

www.tractorbynet.com

Bush Hog blades that were bent just like the ones shown in this OP. In the thread I linked above, Rustyiron replaced the bent BH blades with new ones and the same thing happened again. I've never seen blades bend like that before, but now there are 3 examples and all from BH brand.

 

[Thomas]

Helps to keep the inside of deck collecting mostly damp cutting

 

[TC 30]

They do appear to be bent up at the tip a little. Here is an illustration of the blade. I wouldn't try to straighten them, if it is cutting good, cut away. Replace them for peace of mind.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

It's a brush hog...if it's not vibrating to hell and make tall grass shorter I wouldnt mess with it.

This seems to be the wisest advice!