ZD326P-60 Blade sharpening

[Rkhallman]

Without buying an owners manual, is there a short easy way to remove the blades, sharpen, and reinstall?

 

[Monster5601]

I have two sets of blades so I crank up the front and swap the blades. I sharpen the blades with a grinder paying attention to the blade balance.

 

[groundcover]

Impact wrench is the way to go. I got the jack/lift for my zd221 but found it's easier to throw a strap around the forks and pick it with the tractor. Flappy disk on the 41/2 in grinder and take the same amount off each side. Check for balance and reinstall. I try to rotate the blades over one spot to keep wear even.

 

[milkman]

I won't use an impact on my blade bolts. I bought a used ZD21 and the first time I went to sharpen the blades, I had to remove the deck to get the blade bolts out. The bolts are not very long and don't bite all the threads in the spindle, probably for a reason. The two outside spindles had extra long bolts as the threads for the original bolts had been stripped out and the one on the left pulled the threads out with the bolt. I replaced the two spindles and bearings with new blade bolts and use a torque wrench or short breaker bar to tighten. I have two sets of blades and have found it easier to just switch them out rather than remove and sharpen and reinstall, only have to get down under the deck one time, the older I get the harder it is to get up.

 

[missingstexas]

My ZD326-RP 2012 model has a built-in service lift. The front axle pivots to lift the deck. My blade bolts are 1 1/2" so I used an impact to remove them and replaced them with gator blades to try to get them to mulch a little better. There is a blacksmith near by that serrats (sp?) and then heat treats them and then guarantees them for 5 years.

 

[stihlman]

I use the impact on my ZD326P to change blades. You have to use some common sense when tightening the bolts and not let it hammer to long, I have never had a problem on it or my old ZD21

 

[Gary Fowler]

I use the impact on my ZD326P to change blades. You have to use some common sense when tightening the bolts and not let it hammer to long, I have never had a problem on it or my old ZD21

Same here. An impact is the best way to remove bolts since you can do it without trying to wedge the blade on the deck. When tightening, just snug it and then let the impact hammer just a few times till tight and the bolt no longer turns. Also don't use a 650 ft. lb wrench to tighten a 1/2" bolt. I find that my old Walmart special from CP does a good job but wont over-tighten. As with any tool, one has to just use a little judgement when tightening any bolt. I watch the socket for how much it turns after snug *(snug is when the impact quits spinning and starts to hammer) and tighten it 1/8-1/4 turn past snug tight. This is plenty of stretch in the bolt

 

[Gary Fowler]

Also for optimum blade life, switch the blades location by taking the blade from the discharge point and putting it on the opposite side. The discharge side blade gets more wear due to chopping everything 2-3 times as much as the other two. Put the discharge blade on the far side, the far side blade on the discharge side and leave the middle as is and they will wear out about the same time.

 

[jel1988]

Don't forget the balancing part. Balancers are cheap.

 

[bill18163]

I also use an impact on my blade bolts but I use a set of pre-set impact extensions I bought at Harbor Freight. The impact extensions are of different weights and I use the one for 80 ft/lbs. When it stops turning it's torqued to specs. I also have a Magna-Matic blade sharpening grinder and balancer that I just love. Sharpens really fast and the balancer is as precise as you can get. I would guess I can sharpen and balance one blade in less than five minutes.