I have a B2601 with a mid mount mower. Looking for an easy way to get the blades off to sharpen. I get the mower off of the tractor and then wonder do I turn the mower deck upside down or try to stand it up or do I leave the mower deck on the tractor and jack it up? I am not lazy but just old and weak tired guy so just wondering if someone has a better way to get to mower blades.
Mid Mount Mower blades
- Thread starter robert2601
- Start date
On my BX I leave the deck on,, raise it to its highest setting and use the loader to lift the front up and remove them with the PTO engaged (tractor off) to keep the blades from turning.
armylifer
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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
To add to the above post, use an impact wrench to remove the blade bolts. It makes the job much easier.
Old Machinist
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Kubota LX3310 cab, JD 4310, NH 575E cab backhoe, JD F725, Swisher 60", etc.
I will also add that many of the generic blades are 3/16" thick rather than 1/4" thick like the originals. When I put Oregon brand blades on my LX I had to buy another set of Bellville washers to get them tight. It had two washers on each blade from the factory and now has 3 on each blade. I saw the dealer had some 1/4" thick gator style blades when I went to buy the extra washers but I had already purchased the Oregon blades..
I used a short piece of chain with two hooks to hold the blades while I torqued them. Hooked one end on the blade and the other on the edge of the deck. I think the book calls for 85 ft lbs or thereabouts.
I used a short piece of chain with two hooks to hold the blades while I torqued them. Hooked one end on the blade and the other on the edge of the deck. I think the book calls for 85 ft lbs or thereabouts.
armylifer
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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
I am not sure what blades are used for your mower but the Oregon blades I purchased for mine are 1/4" thick.
If you do not have an impact wrench: my manual says to stop the blades from turning with a wooden block against the deck steel frame. Worked fine for me with deck turned upside down but may also be possible with the deck just lifted. Not sure if the PTO and belt will hold them in place. I needed a looooong lever to open those bolts, they probably had not been opened in years.
My first tractor had a belly mower. For blade maintenance I ran it up on a pair of car ramps. And yes, an impact wrench is certainly worth the money.
There's an oil-filled gearbox on the top, it has a vent (described in other threads). You can tip it up for a while, though maybe not "months" depending on where the vent is and which direction you tip it.
The easy way to get the blades off ... that depends and the suggestions made are all good ones. I pull the deck so I can see the condition of all parts coming apart, clean/straighten/repair the deck, and put things together correctly and "easily," as "put together correctly" seems harder than "take apart" usually.
I support the deck multiple places so it doesn't fall on me--that would not be good.
Other than that: Impact gun and torque sticks.
I sharpen the blades an average of twice per season. Once in the fall before storing it for the winter and once about half way through the season.
I take it off and raise it with the FEL using chains so it's vertical, two back wheels just resting on the floor to give it some stability. I find it easy to remove blades and scrape the deck. I've used both an impact wrench or 24" breaker bar to get the blades off. Then a 4 1/2" grinder with a flap disk to clean and sharpen the blades. Very quick and simple. Through cleaning and greasing and ready to go.
I take it off and raise it with the FEL using chains so it's vertical, two back wheels just resting on the floor to give it some stability. I find it easy to remove blades and scrape the deck. I've used both an impact wrench or 24" breaker bar to get the blades off. Then a 4 1/2" grinder with a flap disk to clean and sharpen the blades. Very quick and simple. Through cleaning and greasing and ready to go.
I sharpen once each year in fall after removing deck in preparation for snow duty.
The terrain following deck on my B1750 will stand on the gage wheels after lifting to vertical. Easy to stop blade rotation with block of wood. Take blades to vice to sharpen and reinstall after moving one position.
No air bleed in either gear box so no mess.
Been doing so for over 30 years without issues.
I would stand it upright so I'm staring right at the underside. As far as leaking oil out of the breather, that' shouldn't be an issue unless it will be vertical for a long period of time. 80/90 weight gear oil don't flow very fast and you may lose a few drops. Impact is the best to remove the bolts but if you don't have an impact find the pinch points where a block of wood fits well to secure the blades from turning. I use a dead blow hammer on my wrench to both loosen and tighten the blade bolts.
I used ramps for the MMM on my Deere 955 with an impact but I only used the impact for removing and not installing the blades. I use heavy leather gloves and torque wrench for installing the replacements. My Milwaukee M18 3/4" impact lets you set the rough torque level via its app but I wouldn't trust that since it isn't designed to be a precision level but just an adjustable ballpark figure to avoid destroying a fastener.
My Kubota F2690 has taken over mowing duties from the Deere and its flip up deck makes changes much easier! With an impact wrench and my "All American" blade sharpener I can take off the blades, sharpen them, and have them back in place and ready to mow in about 15 minutes which is really nice!
Rodger
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I never worried about that. For installation I just run the impact till it begins to hammer. Never had any come loose or stripped anything.
armylifer
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BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
I also do as Chim mentioned, The bolts tend to tighten up as you use the mower, rather than come loose.
RCW
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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Do what works for you.
I've always removed blades with an impact, but don't like to put them on with one.
That said, if done carefully, that's fine. Most impacts do have an adjustment for torque.
My mower has to come off each fall so I can put the front-mounted snowblower on. Gets stored vertical. In the spring I change gearbox oil and sharpen blades. Once a year sharpening is good enough for me.
I've always removed blades with an impact, but don't like to put them on with one.
That said, if done carefully, that's fine. Most impacts do have an adjustment for torque.
My mower has to come off each fall so I can put the front-mounted snowblower on. Gets stored vertical. In the spring I change gearbox oil and sharpen blades. Once a year sharpening is good enough for me.
Impact wrenches are fine for removing bolts or putting them back in without tightening. For tightening the torque is totally undefined; does not matter what you set it to. The hammering actions brings the torque infinitely high depending on how long you use it.
Always use a (good !) torque wrench for tightening bolts with a defined torque.
Always use a (good !) torque wrench for tightening bolts with a defined torque.
BAP
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2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
On my B2920, I use the loader and a chain to pick the mower up and then use my impact wrench to remove the blades. With the impact wrench, the bolts spin right off without having to block the blades. Put them back on the same way. The vent in the gearbox will not leak out any gear oil as long as it is only tipped up for around an hour or less.
I found these blades Sunbelt Outdoor Products | XHT & Predator Lawn Mower Blades and honestly they're AMAZING. Quality and durability is incredible. I have 2 sets. I ran my first set for over 2 seasons without sharpening and quite honestly when I rotated the brand new set I'd bought on so I could send the other out for sharpening they truly did not need attention. Despite hitting some rocks and scraping ground a bit. I had no trouble with them. Not even a knick in blades.
I cannot recommend them enough.
I cannot recommend them enough.