Changing blades on tractor

[CubbaCudet]

Hello,

For the life of me I cant figure out how to loosen the bolts holding the old blades on my SLTX 1050.

Are the threads backwards? I used a block of wood to keep the blade from spinning (per instruction) and used WD-40 to loosen it but no luck.

Do I need an impact wrench? I removed the deck and flipped it upside down so the bolts are easy to access.

Also, any idea what size bolt holds the blades in place? 15/16? Instructions say nothing. YouTubers say several different sizes and I dont have money to buy a bunch of different sizes.

Thank you!

[Red Dave]

If I were you, I'd be using an impact gun.

But then, I've been using an impact gun on mower blades for many years. Between running, grass juice and corrosion those nuts can get very tight.

Just don't over tighten with the impact when you put them back on. Just make them tight and stop.

One other thing I've been doing since back in the 1960's, is to put a dab of Neversieze on the threads before putting blades back on. Just a dab, don't overdo it or that stuff gets everywhere.

[finsruskw]

Measure across the flats of the nut to determine size;

[Oak]

+1 on what Red Dave & Fins said. Harbor Freight has some pretty cheap impact and regular sockets that I use without any issues. I have an electric impact wrench I use on decks that works pretty good. Be careful using a breaker bar or something like that. I bent one of my newer decks that way because they are pretty thin now and using a cheater bar will bend them. WD40 isn't penetrating oil. Get some Kroil, PB Blaster or other good penetrating oil.

[finsruskw]

Or a gas wrench

[Ozcub]

Large shifting spanner and a piece of pipe to go over handle , tap tap tap with a rubber mallet and the nut should be on the ground
Also have the deck tilted blade side down a couple of degrees so you do not drive the spindle shaft out of the bearings
Oz

[guybb3]

Originally Posted by Red Dave

If I were you, I'd be using an impact gun.

But then, I've been using an impact gun on mower blades for many years. Between running, grass juice and corrosion those nuts can get very tight.

Just don't over tighten with the impact when you put them back on. Just make them tight and stop.

One other thing I've been doing since back in the 1960's, is to put a dab of Neversieze on the threads before putting blades back on. Just a dab, don't overdo it or that stuff gets everywhere.

Perfect advice. Sometimes I use Mobil 1 grease for never seize as well.

[ol'George]

When I began turning wrenches in the late 50's early 60's an "impact wrench" or "nut runners" of any kind were not popular,----- invented but not popular.
So we used what we had, like a box wrench or 6 point socket.
a breaker bar with an extension or a #5 hammer on just the breaker bar,
it usually did the job.
Adjustable end wrenches or monkey wrenches (Yes I still have a few) were good for square headed fasteners/nuts on farm machinery but not hex.
Today we have bat-tree, electric, pneumatic and even hydraulic impacts of many kinds that we only dreamed of "back in the day"

[Riverrat]

[QUOTE=Red Dave;531401]If I were you, I'd be using an impact gun.

But then, I've been using an impact gun on mower blades for many years. Between running, grass juice and corrosion those nuts can get very tight.

Just don't over tighten with the impact when you put them back on. Just make them tight and stop.

One other thing I've been doing since back in the 1960's, is to put a dab of Neversieze on the threads before putting blades back on. Just a dab, don't overdo it or that stuff gets everywhere.[/QUOTE

IMPACT WRENCH. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET OWNING ONE!!!! I have been down that road on mower blades without one. Riverrat