May have gone a little too long before replacing the blades on the brush hog

[ustmd]

Okay--so maybe I stretched it a bit. I bought the brush hog in 2009 when we got the tractor. The tractor has ~450 hours on it---probably 350-400 of those are brush hogging. I take the fifth over whether I had ever sharpened the blades.

Since the last few times I used it, it more beat the tall grass down as opposed to cutting it, I decided it was time to replace the blades. I ordered in new blades plus new pins and nut--I figured the odds of me getting everything off in one piece was pretty slim.

My major concern was getting the nuts off. Assuming the bolts were torqued to factory spec (600 ft/lbs) and 11 years of moisture, I figured I was in for a day of cussing and suffering--even with soaking everything in PB Blaster.

Then on Saturday morning, I was in Tractor Supply, where I found this on sale:

DeWALT High Torque 1/2 In. Impact Wrench Kit at Tractor Supply Co.

I didn't think twice.

It spun the bolts off no problem--even the one with the stuck cotter pin.

The hardest part was getting the pins to break loose, but more PB Blaster and some pounding eventually did the trick.

Okay--so maybe the blades where worn done a bit. :laughing:

 

[BrokenTrack]

Those are not worn down at all!

My bushog was bought in 1965 and has had (2) sets of knives on it in the last 55 years of service. I will have to get you a photo of them for you, but 50% of the steel on the cutting edges is missing. I have ground them down a few times, but I got my money out of them for sure.

 

[Gary Fowler]

That looks like lawnmower blades, not bush hog. Are you talking about a rear finish mower rather than a real bush hog?
As for wear, they dont look bad, a little wear where the tips turn up that gives the blade some lift which is normal for lawnmower blades. You just need to put a grinder on them and sharpen them up with emphasis on the tips. Remember you dont need a knife edge on mower (even lawn mower blade), leave about 1/16" landing on the edge.

 

[FTG-05]

Those are not worn down at all!

My bushog was bought in 1965 and has had (2) sets of knives on it in the last 55 years of service. I will have to get you a photo of them for you, but 50% of the steel on the cutting edges is missing. I have ground them down a few times, but I got my money out of them for sure.

I agree. They look pretty good from here!

 

[gstrom99]

I agree, not too bad looking. I'd have sharpened 'em. Are those nuts left hand or right hand thread? I've never had mine (King Kutter) off...

 

[Stimw]

These are old and new from my 5' Woods!
I don't know how old they were, I bought it WELL used.
They are not supposed to be sharp, if sharp they will chip with rocks or gravel.

 

[BrokenTrack]

These are old and new from my 5' Woods!
I don't know how old they were, I bought it WELL used.
They are not supposed to be sharp, if sharp they will chip with rocks or gravel.

I was bushogging one day and hit a basket ball sized rock, and split the thing right in half! Now that was a pretty hard hit, and in just the right spot!

 

[Diggin It]

That looks like lawnmower blades, not bush hog. Are you talking about a rear finish mower rather than a real bush hog?

I thought that too, except for the bolt/nut. The finish mowers I'm working on all have a center bolt that goes into the spindle, not a bolt/nut combo. But I don't see much wear on those blades. The blades on my walk behind field/brush mower are blunt edge, more like beater bars.

 

[oosik]

I bought my riding mower, JD G100, brand new in 2005. It still has the OEM blades. They look just like the used ones Stimw has pictured. Still plenty of use remains. Just keep 'em sharp - keep on truckin'.

 

[3Ts]

+1 I'd resharpen them (blunt edge) and continue to use them. Still have lots of steel there.

 

[95XL883]

I am not the OP so hopefully he will forgive this intrusion. I am in a similar situation as I bought my first tractor and brush hog about 7 years ago. My blades look like his. But I didn't see why they couldn't be sharpened. So this last weekend I took a Dremel to them. (I don't have a shop where my tractor is and am a little intimidated at trying to undo that large bolt. I guess I would measure the nut, buy the socket and a piece of pipe to extend my breaker bar and have at it but back to the point.). I positioned the tractor and brush hog so I could lay under it, put a jack stand in place in case it came down and went at the blades with the Dremel. It took maybe 15 minutes and I sharpened the blades too much as read the advice. In my naive mind, I don't intend to replace the blades until they shake the brush hog from being out of balance or lose so much metal that they are appreciably shorter.

I would phrase would I did as advice but I am naive in this area. I just have a Dremel and am not afraid to use it.

The only real problem I have with the brush hog is my wife likes running it so much that she gets most of the seat time on the tractor. . I appreciate her help even if it means I do all the maintenance including changing the shear pin/bolt. I find it amusing that I can be several hundred yards away, hear a bump as she hits something and note that suddenly the brush hog is much quieter. I know she will be over in a few minutes and I get to change the bolt.

Anyway, hope the OP doesn't mind the naive ramble. Thank you to all for advice that I am sharpening the blades too much. (But the cut grass looks nice from sharp blades.)

 

[3Ts]

I am not the OP so hopefully he will forgive this intrusion. I am in a similar situation as I bought my first tractor and brush hog about 7 years ago. My blades look like his. But I didn't see why they couldn't be sharpened. So this last weekend I took a Dremel to them. (I don't have a shop where my tractor is and am a little intimidated at trying to undo that large bolt. I guess I would measure the nut, buy the socket and a piece of pipe to extend my breaker bar and have at it but back to the point.). I positioned the tractor and brush hog so I could lay under it, put a jack stand in place in case it came down and went at the blades with the Dremel. It took maybe 15 minutes and I sharpened the blades too much as read the advice. In my naive mind, I don't intend to replace the blades until they shake the brush hog from being out of balance or lose so much metal that they are appreciably shorter.

I would phrase would I did as advice but I am naive in this area. I just have a Dremel and am not afraid to use it.

The only real problem I have with the brush hog is my wife likes running it so much that she gets most of the seat time on the tractor. . I appreciate her help even if it means I do all the maintenance including changing the shear pin/bolt. I find it amusing that I can be several hundred yards away, hear a bump as she hits something and note that suddenly the brush hog is much quieter. I know she will be over in a few minutes and I get to change the bolt.

Anyway, hope the OP doesn't mind the naive ramble. Thank you to all for advice that I am sharpening the blades too much. (But the cut grass looks nice from sharp blades.)

You use the tools that you have. I'd put an angle grinder from Harbor Freight on your wish list. Sometimes it's a small tool to do a big job, other times it's a big tool to do a small job. I once used an excavator with a 30" bucket to lay a 1" water line. It's the only digging tool I had access to and I've done things the other way around. Think about how you get an 1.5" hole in 3/8" steel without a hole saw and only a hand drill. It can be done, it just takes a long time.

 

[MF243RedTop]

OP, those don't look bad at all, just a bit of sharpening will do.
When the tips get rounded then it's definitely time.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

It's easy for me; I sharpen my blades at least once a year; usually twice, and when my mower leaves a little strip uncut down the middle, it's time for new blades.

 

[Harry Palmer]

USTMD Those blades are not much worse than the blades on my mower which I do try to sharpen about twice a year. Of course, I mow year around but from the end of April to the end of November I must mow weekly. My cutting area includes Bermuda grass, gravel (pea size) and weeds. I used to mow the top of the irrigation ditch but after they started using weed killer last year I've stopped mowing it. Nice to see others who "forget" to check their blades for wear. At least you have a good tool now to remove nuts & bolts. I have had impact wrenches but recently got a battery powered impact wrench. Wow, what a difference.

 

[Rebeldad1]

If I still had a brush hog I would be envious of your blades. They look just like new (ish).
Lots of time left before they need sharpening.
Switched to a flail mower, havn't looked back.

 

[nikdfish]

<snip>

Then on Saturday morning, I was in Tractor Supply, where I found this on sale:

DeWALT High Torque 1/2 In. Impact Wrench Kit at Tractor Supply Co.

I didn't think twice.

It spun the bolts off no problem--even the one with the stuck cotter pin.

The hardest part was getting the pins to break loose, but more PB Blaster and some pounding eventually did the trick.

Okay--so maybe the blades where worn done a bit. :laughing:

Thanks for mentioning the Dewalt on sale at TSC. I'd been thinking of picking up something & that was enough incentive to pull the trigger. The DCF899 is a good addition to the tool box.

 

[BrokenTrack]

If I still had a brush hog I would be envious of your blades. They look just like new (ish).
Lots of time left before they need sharpening.
Switched to a flail mower, havn't looked back.

I use Y blades on my flail mower, but I still sharpen them too. I can get about (4) sharpening's before the blades are toast.

 

[JDAOWNER]

MIKE FROM "ASKMIKE.COM" HAS A COUPLE OF VIDEOS ON SHARPENING BUSH HOG BLADES---WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

 

[California]

Saturday morning I was in Tractor Supply where I found this on sale:

DeWALT High Torque 1/2 In. Impact Wrench Kit at Tractor Supply Co.

I didn't think twice.

Anybody have that and HF's original Earthquake as well? Both claim 700 ft lbs torque but the DeWalt claims more 'breakaway'. Maybe its time to upgrade.