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Sundar Narasimhan 17-06-2003 02:08 AM

mower blade stuck.. Q: how to remove..
 
Hi, I've had a John Deere mower for about 7 years, and every year have
not had much trouble (although I've cried foul a couple of times)
removing the blade for sharpening. This year however, no matter what I
do, the bolt (that holds the blade onto the mower deck) seems to be
stuck solid.. and I'm seeing the bolt head beginning to strip as I go at
it w/ a spanner/wrench + hammer.. Any suggestions on how I can get it
out.. WD40 doesn't seem to help (the thing is probably so tight that
it's not doing anything).. I've been wondering if I should put ice on
the bolt and somehow heat the collar to make it expand making it easier
to turn..

Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance.


Salty Thumb 17-06-2003 02:32 AM

mower blade stuck.. Q: how to remove..
 
Sundar Narasimhan wrote in
news:GYsHa.50759$YZ2.212663@rwcrnsc53:

Hi, I've had a John Deere mower for about 7 years, and every year have
not had much trouble (although I've cried foul a couple of times)
removing the blade for sharpening. This year however, no matter what I
do, the bolt (that holds the blade onto the mower deck) seems to be
stuck solid.. and I'm seeing the bolt head beginning to strip as I go
at it w/ a spanner/wrench + hammer.. Any suggestions on how I can get
it out.. WD40 doesn't seem to help (the thing is probably so tight
that it's not doing anything).. I've been wondering if I should put
ice on the bolt and somehow heat the collar to make it expand making
it easier to turn..

Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance.


I once had a nut that was holding a wheel barrow axle stuck, probably
10+ years of rust and neglect. I ended up cutting it in half with a
Dremel (and it still didn't give without a fight). Obviously don't do
this if you can't find a replacement nut.

Won't banging on it with a hammer damage the transmission or whatever?

Nonya 17-06-2003 03:32 AM

mower blade stuck.. Q: how to remove..
 
Ahhh, many a bolt I've had stuck. And many a knuckle busted trying to get
them loose. You're on track with the idea of heat though....here's what to
do...

You state that you are starting to strip the bolt now, so this is truely the
best way to go about it.

Take a pair of large Vice Grips (if you have some) and adjust them until
you can get the tightest grip you can on the bolt. Now, once you have the
pliers set, remove them. Now apply heat with a propane torch, waving back
and forth at first (for about 10-15 seconds), then applying direct heat for
about a minute. Remove heat and immediately clamp the pliers back onto the
bolt (watch out it's hot :)). Again, it is imperitive that you had the
tightest grip to begin with as you likely won't get another chance. Tap the
bolt a couple of time with a hammer, preferably a small sledge hammer, and
enjoy the ease with which the bolt comes off. If you are still having
trouble, use the hammer to tap the pliers handle to force the bolt around. I
hope you have as much success as I've had in the past, with far fewer
bruised knuckles....

S


"Sundar Narasimhan" wrote in message
news:GYsHa.50759$YZ2.212663@rwcrnsc53...
Hi, I've had a John Deere mower for about 7 years, and every year have
not had much trouble (although I've cried foul a couple of times)
removing the blade for sharpening. This year however, no matter what I
do, the bolt (that holds the blade onto the mower deck) seems to be
stuck solid.. and I'm seeing the bolt head beginning to strip as I go at
it w/ a spanner/wrench + hammer.. Any suggestions on how I can get it
out.. WD40 doesn't seem to help (the thing is probably so tight that
it's not doing anything).. I've been wondering if I should put ice on
the bolt and somehow heat the collar to make it expand making it easier
to turn..

Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks in advance.




Spud Demon 17-06-2003 08:43 PM

mower blade stuck.. Q: how to remove..
 
Sundar Narasimhan writes in article GYsHa.50759$YZ2.212663@rwcrnsc53 dated Tue, 17 Jun 2003 00:07:02 GMT:
stuck solid.. and I'm seeing the bolt head beginning to strip as I go at
it w/ a spanner/wrench + hammer.. Any suggestions on how I can get it


A socket wrench is better than a spanner because it has 3 times as many
faces on which to apply torque. (so 3 times as much torque before you strip
the head.)

For some bolt sizes, there's a metric size which is slightly smaller. You
can use these even after the head has started to strip by tapping the socket
on (gently!) with a hammer, then attaching the ratchet.

Keep using the WD-40.

--Thundermaker$yahoo.com (Spud Demon)
The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.

David Hill 18-06-2003 12:44 AM

mower blade stuck.. Q: how to remove..
 
One old trick was to make a collar / reservoir round the bolt with something
like plastercine then let the bolt soak in WD40, or diesel oil for 2 or 3
days.
also taping with a hammer can help break the seal that has formed.
I have the same sort of problem with some Key clamps, the grub screws are
seized solid after 11 years, problem is they face down so cant oil them
easily, the heads are below the surface, and all I do is break Allen keys.

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk





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