"Sharpened" the bush hog blades

[RalphVa]

Took the bush hog blades off and "sharpened" them.

Explained to my wife that the nuts holding the blades in place took longer to tighten up because I did not get the titties on the bolts lined up with the built-in brassieres in the bush hog hub.

Broke one of the two 4x1/2 inch bolts holding the tail wheel in place. For some reason the nylock nut decided to bind up on one of them and broke the bolt. Lowes has them. Normally run it without the tail wheel a bit and then retorque a few days later and put the tail wheel back on.

 

[Hodado]

I know they’re a b__ch to take off I think I’d rather flip it over and use the angle grinder

 

[RalphVa]

Don't have an angle grinder and would not want to be underneath there trying to hold one of those up to grind the blades.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I always take a farm or hi lift jack and raise the cutter. Put a jack stand under it. Clamp some vise grips on blade so I can hold it. Sharpen with an angle grinder.

 

[Doughknob]

I flipped mine with bucket forks onto a pile of old tires. Removed blades and sharpened on the bench grinder.

 

[jaxs]

I do the flip-n-grind because my 1/2"air impact doesn't have enough balls to loosen nuts on blades. I've tried 3/4" breakover bar,socket and cheater pipe. All I did was flop and drag the shreader around from one side of shop to the other,out the door and in the dirt without budging the nuts.
i can't figure why 4 angle grinders sometimes aren't enough for me and some people get by without even one.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I hope you all are just cutting desirable grasses since you're sharpening brush hog blades. If you are cutting brush and weeds, dull blades are better, they leave a shattered stalk that won't grow back and also won't leave a sharp point to puncture tires.

And the best thing to use to try to remove the blade nuts is a Milwaukee 18V 1/2" impact, Haven't found anything yet it won't remove ...or break off

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I flipped mine with bucket forks onto a pile of old tires. Removed blades and sharpened on the bench grinder.

Bench grinders are not used much anymore. I worked 8n a shop over 1/4 mile long. Built drilling rigs. Not a bench grinder in that place.

 

[jaxs]

If that fellow didn't already have the handle Old Grind,I'd just change to it. I have 4 angle grinders, a bench grinder with 2 stones + spare stones in a drawer, a bench grinder with 2 wire wheels. The mandrel with buffing wheels doesn't count, does it? .

 

[RandyT]

My lawnmower blade grinder came with the adapter for bush hog blades. Used it once not too impressed. Rather use my 9 inch angle grinder.

 

[Smokeydog]

Multitool Belt grinder is sweet for finish mower blades. Really can remove metal fast. Bush hog blades sometimes gets sharpened. Agree woody stems need to be shattered not cut. Usually they wear too much material at the tip and get replaced with new bolts in about five years. Lot depends on the rock population. We have lots of quartzy iron ore, head size rocks that seem to grow from the ground. Much harder than usual limestone and high appetite for steel. 600’ rock wall, rock house, rock walls and foundations on log cabins, barns and spring house speak to their abundance.

 

[MESSMAKER]

You guys are making it too hard. Lift your mower as high as possible. Lower it to rest the wheel end on jack stands or sawhorses. Crawl under with an angle grinder, a short section of 2 x 4 to wedge the blades in place and some leather gloves. Use a bit of care with the grinder and few minutes on each blade and you are done. A keen edge and perfectly ground bevel is not necessary.

 

[Hay Dude]

Before a cut, I just fold mine and sharpen with my DeWalt cordless. I keep my cordless grease gun, grinder and blower (for clogged radiator) in the cab and a 60v battery in the case with the grease gun.
I can charge my battery with the cig lighter charger.

 

[jaxs]

I urge you resist the temptation to crawl beneath a Bush Hog for any reason,much less to use a grinder. Countless people have been crushed beneath cars that fell from blocks. The nature of a Bush Hog on blocks is far more unstable than a car. Add to that the danger of using hand held grinders while standing with feet apart and body above work multiplied 10x laying on your back with grinder in odd positions. If you don't have time to take mower off tractor and flip it on it's back or suspend from a crane,wait until you do have time or just skip sharpening altogeather like thousands do. You don't need a front loader. For $150-$200 you can buy a 3 point gin pole you will wonder how you got by without while moving,loading and unloading heavy items.

 

[Hay Dude]

I dropped an old school on/off grinder sharpening bush hog blades while laying on my side. It didn’t have a paddle switch. The grinder slashed my left arm and wrist. Bled so bad I had to remove my shirt, tie it around my arm and drive to hospital. Lost at least a pint of gravy on my seat in truck. Still have those scars 35 years later.

God bless the paddle type safety switch and e-brakes on these tools.

 

[tomplum]

Does anyone bother "balancing" the two blades if you find that you're taking a lot of meat off?

 

[jaxs]

I've never seen anyone attempt balancing blades but blades are usually replaced in pairs if one is damaged. Very important to balance blades that mount to engine shaft on push mowers but that is for engine's benifit,no impact on quility of cut.

 

[5030]

I hope you all are just cutting desirable grasses since you're sharpening brush hog blades. If you are cutting brush and weeds, dull blades are better, they leave a shattered stalk that won't grow back and also won't leave a sharp point to puncture tires.

And the best thing to use to try to remove the blade nuts is a Milwaukee 18V 1/2" impact, Haven't found anything yet it won't remove ...or break off

Wimpy. I use an IR 3/4" drive air impact or my Thor 1/2" drive air impact. Both produce in the excess of 1600 foot pounds reverse and the 3/4" will make 2000 foot pounds. No bolt will stand up to that power. Break 'em or shake em, don't matter to me. Fastenal has the replacements. Both cost less than your Milwaukee. In fact, both together cost about what your one tool cost.

Go visit Torque Test Channel if you doubt me. The do the 'real beans' tests, not what the box claims and don't deliver.

 

[Cycledude]

Sharpened my 6 foot Woods Dixie cutter last year by removing the blades, it was a bit complicated figuring out how to remove them because of how they have the nuts locked in place but once I had that figured out it was pretty easy and also went back together very easy.
No they don’t need to be very sharp but the blade edges were pretty beat up from rocks, it cut much better after sharpening ! Greased and oiled the nuts when putting it back together so next time taking it apart hopefully should be a little easier. Had it on the tractor 3point during sharpening but sitting on wood blocks to make sure it couldn’t somehow lower itself, most of the work was actually done from the top.

 

[tomplum]

I've never seen anyone attempt balancing blades but blades are usually replaced in pairs if one is damaged. Very important to balance blades that mount to engine shaft on push mowers but that is for engine's benifit,no impact on quility of cut.

Not an expert here, I would think if they were horribly out of balance it could be rough on the gearbox. Though maybe a heavier built box compared to one on a shaft drive belly mount rider or maybe even finish 3 pointer. Dunno. Just wondered who took the time to do it. Rider mower blades should be balanced.