New Woods BB60 - AACK! No Quick Change

[Bob_Young]

Well, I goofed again. ASSumed and you know what that leads to.

Picked up a new BB60C today to replace a 30 year old Woods M5 Dixiecutter that was sold a few weeks ago. One of the reasons I went Woods instead of KK or Bush Hog is the blade quick change feature that I liked so much on the M5 and which they continued to use on my 3 yr. old BB720. I like sharp blades and after running 8 to 10 hours, they usually come off and get sharpened. I sometimes have a sharp spare set on hand that gets swapped right in.

Wasn't happy to find that the BB60 blade is retained with a threaded pin which held in place by a large nut and a lock washer. Looks like the industry leader is going the way of King Kutter. Could've saved a chunk of cash if I'd gone that way myself.

Thought I saw the QC feature touted in the Woods cutter brochure. Went back and looked only to find that it applied to the Medium & Heavy Duty models, not Standard Duty.

Posting to let folks know they don't make 'em like they usta.....ask those questions, look stuff over good before you buy. DON'T ASSUME
Bob

 

[shvl73]

I have the same cutter, an '03 model. I kept hearing about the quick change feature and assumed it was on newer models. Guess thats not so. I ended up buying a 1/2" impact w/ 500ft lbs of torque to remove the blades. Works great. I just picked up a cheapo HF 3/4" socket set for $40 that should work as well. Too bad though, that feature would be alot nicer.

 

[Bob_Young]

Just checked the Woods site. The Quick Change feature is now included in the new BrushBull "Extreme Standard Duty"....but not the regular Standard Duty.

Nuts. Next time I'll do my homework. Glad I have a set of 3/4" sockets.

shvl73: When you take your blades off, do you have to grab the head of the pin with something to keep the pin from turning while you screw the nut off?
Bob

 

[beersngars]

Guess I got lucky. After reading the first few posts, I thought mine was lacking the QC feature. But I just went to the Woods site and mine is the Extreme and does have the QC pins. Not that I even know how much of an advantage the feature is as I may have 10 hours on it and it is my first. How often do most guys sharpen the blades? Is it worth having a second set like some have with the lawn mowers?

 

[Bob_Young]

beers,
Most people don't sharpen them as often as I do; some never sharpen them. My ground is uneven, however, and there are rocks and a few steel posts that my Dad used to mark his tree plantings. So my blades take a beating.

If you aren't scalping or hitting rocks or steel, blades will stay sharp for quite awhile....even if you get into the woody stuff. Grass and saplings don't bother the edge at all in my experience. I don't think they have rocks in Ohio and Dad never planted trees there, so you're probably OK.

The best solution with what I've got is probably to prop the cutter up on its side or front, sharpen the blades with an angle grinder and forget about taking them off.
Bob

 

[Gator6x4]

Just checked the Woods site. The Quick Change feature is now included in the new BrushBull "Extreme Standard Duty"....but not the regular Standard Duty.

Nuts. Next time I'll do my homework. Glad I have a set of 3/4" sockets.

shvl73: When you take your blades off, do you have to grab the head of the pin with something to keep the pin from turning while you screw the nut off?
Bob

On the Woods the pin/bolt portion has a keyway on the side to prevent spinning when removing the nut.

 

[shvl73]

On the Woods the pin/bolt portion has a keyway on the side to prevent spinning when removing the nut.

Beat me to it!

I've sharpened mine three times in 4 years. Since I got the backhoe, there are less rocks in the way.

 

[bjcsc]

Keep in mind that if you sharpen them like a lawnmower blade and use them for brush, you're tires may be at risk. Instead of shattering to ground level you'll have punji sticks...

 

[Bob_Young]

Gator, shvl: Thanks for getting back on that. 450 ft. lb. torque on those nuts!!?? That's hernia country.

bjcsc: 30 years, no issues. Not saying it won't happen tomorrow. They never stay sharp long anyway.
Bob