Dadgum mowing deck blade removal

[Dox4]

I broke a blade on my 1981 Sidewinder 60 inch mowing deck. The nut is 1 7/8 and probably hasn't been off since 1981. I found the 1 7/8 inch (3/4 inch drive) socket at Northern tool. I used a good Craftsman 1/2 drive ratchet with 2 inch extender and a 1/2 inch up to 3/4 inch drive adaptor and a cheater bar to try to free the nut. Even after using PB blaster, first the extender broke, then the 1/2 drive on the ratchet broke. Then heated the nut with a torch, used "Sea Foam" penetrating oil and a 3/4 inch drive breaker bar with a 6 foot cheater bar. Both my friend and I ended up on our butts when the breaker bar snapped. I haven't tried heated wax yet. Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[sandman2234]

Did you remove the cotter pin? Just messing with you...
David from jax


Welcome to TBN!!


Maybe a nut cracker to cut the nut off, rather than unscrewing it would be easier, but I think a little heat on the nut, and then a heavier duty socket/breaker bar, pipe extension would probably get it, but not being there makes it easier for me to guess. 3/4" drive would be the minimum, with one inch being a better choice.
Load it up and take it to a tire repair place or heavy equipment shop where they have good impact guns. If your socket holds up, maybe it will come off. Impacts do a lot better than a straight pull on the breaker bar, although a small one won't do much. I would expect a gun that would remove truck tires would probably do it.
David from jax

 

[EMS503]

If you don't have an impact gun, I would go with a nut craker. When putting it back togther I would put some anti sieze on the threads to make it easier next time.

 

[automech]

If you are removing a nut, heating it up cherry red/orange with a OA torch should have done the trick. Is that what you mean by heating it? It is definately a nut yes? Not a bolt threading into the spindle? No impact wrench eh? How are you holding the blade so it doesnt turn? Heat that thing up again and put your wrench on it and beat the wrench with a big hammer (poor man's impact) while you hold the blade solid.

 

[thatguy]

Im taking a WAG here.. By chance are they left handed threads and you are actually tightening it up more??

Good luck

Brian

 

[plastikosmd]

ya, my guess also, mine go on with LH threads

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

A impact wrench would help . I am also thinking LH threads. Try not to use adapters if you don't have to.

 

[wedge40]

Ya just what you need is more questions.
Are you accessing the nut from up above the deck or did you flip the deck over and the access is underneath? I'm asking because I had a hard time with my 1-11/16" with access from the top through a hole in the deck. My problem was the standard socket would slip under the deck when torquing on it. A deep socket solved this. I think I soaked mine with PB Blaster for a few weeks and I heated it up till it got red. Even after that it was a bear to get off. I'm all of 130lb soaking wet so I had a friend come over and when the nuts broke loose, and they will "BREAK" loose he ended up sitting on the grass both times. I now have a 3/4" impact wrench. I would find out if you can borrow an impact wrench or maybe rent one.


Wedge

 

[john_bud]

The county guys just cut them off with a OA torch and replace with new. All the heating and beating means the nut and bolt are no longer fit for the use.

jb

 

[ampsucker]

let me just say wow, i'm impressed! you've never had to replace you blades in 27 years! that must be one heck of a good blade! even sharpening while still on the deck, i would have worn them down to nubbins in a couple of years!

mine are off and one at LEAST several times a year.

with the kind of forces you are employing you might end up with a broken or damaged spindle. in fact, if that is what it comes to, it might be your easiest option if they are still available. just remove the bolts that hold the spindle on and replace the whole unit. then you can soak it in oil for a couple of months or get it in the vise where you can work on easier and once you finally get it apart, you'll have a spare spindle.

otherwise, agree with the previous posts.

good luck,

amp

 

[LBrown59]

The county guys just cut them off with a OA torch and replace with new. All the heating and beating means the nut and bolt are no longer fit for the use.
So now hoe do

jb

OK So now how do you get the cut off bolt out of the spindle so you can install the new bolt?

 

[pitt_md]

I cut the nut off. Not sure if thats what John_bud ment.

 

[J_J]

If you are looking at the blade and the cutting lip is cutting in a clockwise direction, then you will have a left hand thread. The nut or bolt is always designed to tighten up based on blade direction. I am thinking that I had a mower deck where the blades turned in a clockwise direction. In a single gear reduction gearbox, the input direction is opposite than the output direction. If you have a double gear reduction gearbox, the input direction is the same as the output direction.

 

[ampsucker]

i imagine some folks are thinking of the bolts with nuts on them that some style blades have. you can just cut those off and the blade will come right off.

for a spindle with the bolt threaded into it, it's not really practical to cut it off as you are just left with a spindle with a threaded rod still stuck in it.

amp

 

[john_bud]

i imagine some folks are thinking of the bolts with nuts on them that some style blades have. you can just cut those off and the blade will come right off.

amp

That's what I was thinking of.

jb

 

[Dox4]

Now it's after Thanksgiving, and it's time to get back to the mower. Thanks for all, the ideas. I considered the left hand threads, but I looked throughout the internet and couldn't find any references to left hand threads with these mowing decks. I only have about a 6 inch access hole on top of the deck to get to the nut, so a socket is about my only choice unless I take the bottom of the deck off. The owners manual says the nut should come right off "making blade changing easy". I have the new blades, 4 inch wide, 1/4 inch steel, so once they're replaced, they should last awhile. I'm off this afternoon to try a new craftsman 3/4 inch breaker bar and more heat, and, oh yeah, wax...

 

[sandman2234]

Grab a mirror and some light and look at the threads closely that are visible over the top of the nut to determine which way to turn the nut.
You won't regret buying a 3/4" breaker bar and a couple of sockets, after your wallet gets over the sting. My 3/4" ratchet is actually quite a bit longer than my breaker bar.
David from jax.

 

[dirtworksequip]

The last stuck on mower blade I had, I ended up cutting the blade off with a grinder and cut off wheel. Then that let me turn the bolt enough to get it loose. PITA

Sincerely, Dirt