Rotary Cutter Looking for blade changing advice. Thanks! :)

[wildcatskye]

I was out brush-hogging last night, feeling real sorry for the MF135 working its little heart out and decided I was going to have to do something about this situation. At this point, I am mowing with metal stumps, rather than blades, and it is time to replace them - there is no more sharpening potential left. I am surely in the minority on this forum, because I am a "she", so I have to ask for instructions in real plain language . I am a farmgirl, though, and I can do my share. I do have a dear, sweet hubby who is big and strong. What we do NOT have going for us is "smarts". I am going to have to plead to get him to agree to this project, and I hope to know what I'm talking about. I have found a couple other threads on this subject, but was confused about things like "putting a bottle jack" next to the bolts. Is it easier to remove and replace blades by tipping the mower up on its side? If not, how do we go about getting the leverage we'll need? I just tried to find labels on what type of mower this is, but the only thing I found was a TSC label that said "IM 500". Without a tape, I am guessing it is a 5' mower. Can anyone out there on Tractor by Net help me out here? If so, feel free to email me @ lmueller@neo.rr.com Thank you so much for anything you can tell me! Respectfully, Linda

 

[sweettractors]

Just sent you a email. Ken Sweet

 

[RoyJackson]

Is it easier to remove and replace blades by tipping the mower up on its side? If not, how do we go about getting the leverage we'll need? I just tried to find labels on what type of mower this is, but the only thing I found was a TSC label that said "IM 500". Without a tape, I am guessing it is a 5' mower. Can anyone out there on Tractor by Net help me out here? If so, feel free to email me @ lmueller@neo.rr.com Thank you so much for anything you can tell me! Respectfully, Linda

I tip mine up on it's side against a tree. It just needs to be something stable and make sure that cutter can't move or slide.
Once up, I use an impact wrench (need a big one though...these blades are torqued on 300-450 foot pounds).

 

[o2batsea]

If you have a loader bucket, pick it up by chaining it to the bucket. It will be easy to get to the bolts. When I did my twenty odd year old John Deere mower I thought I would have to use a giant wrench to get the bolts loose. As it turned out the bolts were very easy to loosen and the blade change was far less of a chore than I though it would be.

 

[sweettractors]

My friend cut a 3 inch hole in the top of his deck with a cuting torch for the 3/4 drive socket to go thru so he could remove the blade bolts without a lot of fanfare. Ken Sweet

 

[Chilly807]

And if you're really lucky there'll already be a hole there. The Land Pride mowers have a hole cut from the factory for that purpose.

Incidentally, welcome to TBN Linda

Sean

 

[meangreanmashean]

I just did a seal change on my JD 403 shredder. After disconnecting the top link, I picked up the back end and chained it to the roll bar of the tractor. Easy access without laying on the ground or completely disconnecting mower. Good luck!

Steve

 

[TripleR]

Welcome to the forum Linda, my wife is turning into a farm girl too and helps on all machine maintenance/repair etc.

Tilting onto the side when possible is a good idea, but hard with our ten foot mowers. I "usually" just crawl under and work there. Removal of blades is going to depend on your attachments and I am not familiar with your model, but am sure Ken's email provided good info.

Tools I use often are an impact wrench, cheater bar, torch, floor jack.

When you flip it or crawl under, what you need is going to be pretty obvious; good luck and wish I could be of more help.

 

[Dead Horse]

Yep, hole in the deck just above the blade bolts. (Woods and Deere mowers are built this way as well may be others) This is by far the safest way to do it. If you don't have an access hole, have one cut. If the deck at that location is a single piece of steel, you can even use a steel cutting hole saw. Otherwise have someone with a smoke wrench do it for you. What ever you do, make sure the deck is well braced (not with just jacks or the tractor lift) if you are contemplating sending hubby under it.

 

[TripleR]

Yep, hole in the deck just above the blade bolts. (Woods and Deere mowers are built this way as well may be others) This is by far the safest way to do it. If you don't have an access hole, have one cut. If the deck at that location is a single piece of steel, you can even use a steel cutting hole saw. Otherwise have someone with a smoke wrench do it for you. What ever you do, make sure the deck is well braced (not with just jacks or the tractor lift) if you are contemplating sending hubby under it.

Agree 100%, heavy duty jack stands or something very solid and lower it to rest on them so you won't get any leak down and movement while you are under there.