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Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions

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Britcheflee

10-31-2007 16:09:38




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I was told that to remove the blades for sharpening on my brush hog you insert a large socket into the access hole on the top and remove the nut....well, the nut looks like it has fossilised onto the bolt and I doubt I am going to get it off easily - particularly as the whole thing spins around and I need a giant pair of grippers to hold the bottom of it on the underside of the blade.

This is the stump jumper type with two heavy blades...anyone either have a trick to getting these off or, see any reason why I cant reach under there with a grinder tool and just put a better edge on it like that?

ALSO I guess with my 8N you have no option but to engage the deck to lift it? The lift will not raise and lower without the pto shaft turning?

Finally....I wonder why they did not design the orc with a thread so you can use the safety cover that went over the pto shaft originally.

Lee

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Ramon

11-01-2007 13:43:20




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
At our shop (ex-Ford dealer) we never ground blades on ours or customers. We would pull and take to the forge and hammer out a new edge as needed. The comment about the advantage of a dull (or a bit rounded) blade was correct also. We believed it was a better kill on larger brush that way. Grassy areas are a different story. Also, needed the sharpest for the bane of northern Missouri called the "multifloral rose" that spreads like Kudzu does in the south.

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LeeMo

11-01-2007 13:03:15




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I just gave up on getting the blades off of mine. I raise it up and put a stump under it so I can use my hand held grinder on it. Works just fine. I mostly cut grass with mine these days the saplings and such have been mowed for so long they're gone but Zanes cautions about pointy stalks are right on. The tractor doesn't work as hard though with sharper blades. Just depends on what you want to use it for.

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Britcheflee

11-01-2007 13:05:11




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to LeeMo, 11-01-2007 13:03:15  
Here is a pic of the pasture after I went over it with the brush hog:

third party image

Lee



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ZANE

11-01-2007 08:41:27




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I have learned over the years that a dull Bush Hog blace will cut allmost as good as a new sharp one. A sharp Bush Hog blade has one big dis advantage too. It cuts sprouts off at a sharp angle and they can ruin the heck out of a good tire. A dull blade sort of disentegrates the sprout stem and it won't go into a tire.

The only time I take a Bush Hog blade off is when I break one. If you want to loose weight just try running a Bush Hog with one blade missing! :O)

Zane

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tp

11-01-2007 13:08:01




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to ZANE, 11-01-2007 08:41:27  
I have a TSC brand that I change the blades on every weekend when used. Even new blades have rounded edges and yes dull blades will beat down almost anything if speed and horsepower are non issues. I use mine for just hoggin down fields AND finish mower work as well....(cut short) but without the finish mower. It does quite well if you don't let the height get away causing grass to ball up against rear wheel. Razor sharp blades allow close cutting and minium horspower and speed required. I like working in 2nd or 3rd (dependent upon ground roughness) at around 1100 - 1200 rpm on my 640. Much more peaceful and relaxing and does a heck of a job. Blade bolts have welded bead to match keyway of sorts in in solid middle disk to prevent rotation when nut removed or replaced. When the bolts and blade wears enough for the bolt to fall out during assembly, I gray tape the bolt head to the blade and uneven weight wedges the bolt in the disk hole until I get it turned and the nut on from top. Takes about fifteen minutes to change blades while still unattached and sitting on 4x4's on ground. I re-sharpen during the week for the next weekend. (no electric at property) Happy Hoggin!

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Ross Pugh(NC)

11-01-2007 08:38:44




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
Britchlee, ifn' you go a boom pole see if you can use it to lift the bush hog and block it up good or better yet turn it over. You may already have one, but if not get yerself a cheap 4" hand grinder and you can probably sharpen 'em without removin' 'em. They ain't supposed to be as sharp as yer lawnmower blades, anyway.



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soundguy

11-01-2007 06:49:17




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I've never removed a blade to sharpen.. only to replace.

You just now noticing that your 8n 3pt lift is pto driven?!?!

Don't rely on 3pt hyds to hold the mower up.. crib it securely before you climb under with an angle grinder.. that's all i do.

Those ORC are 'universal fit.. no need to put a thread on them to fit a ford cap..

Soundguy



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Britcheflee

11-01-2007 07:36:54




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to soundguy, 11-01-2007 06:49:17  
That was another point I was going to make...noticed the deck gradually dropped - I assume it is right on the limit of what it can lift.

Well, I actually really noticed that the pto shaft turned when the lift was in action after I removed the safety cover to the pto - which was just recently as I didnt have any need to use it...sadly with old age my x-ray vision is a little weak.

Then, I just thought that I was doing something wrong - like the small lever on the other side could be engaged-disengaged. But, it appears not.



Lee

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rodgernbama

10-31-2007 21:07:41




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
Only reason I'd take them off would be to replace them. I sharpen mine without removing them.



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BillM (OH)

10-31-2007 19:35:20




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I have never removed the blades on a bush hog or finish mower for sharpening. I block them up and use the side grinder for sharpening, and I have stood the hog all the way up on its side in the past to weld on the stump jumper. If you want to lift without turning the blades, just disconnect the shaft.



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K.W. in Tx

10-31-2007 19:03:15




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I had to cut some off with a torch before. And replace with new ones. A torch is also a good way to get a bevel back on those rounded off blades. Then take a grinder and get the bevel sharp. Lots of time doing it that way we never had to take the blades off, but you'd have to have some skills with a torch first to do it this way.



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gshadel

10-31-2007 18:19:02




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I know exactly what you mean, been there, done that. I ended-up just jacking one end of the brush hog up in the air and blocking it real good with jack stands & wood blocks, & got under there with a grinder. Much easier than taking those fossilized bolts off & removing the blades.
If you want to lift your brush hog for transport, but don't want it running, just disconnect your PTO shaft until you get where your going, then hook it up and go to work.

George

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JMOR

10-31-2007 17:02:55




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
I unhook mine from the tractor, raise up one side until it is vertical, then stand up and grind. I previously raised it by looping a rope thru a branch in a tree and pulling it up with the N. Now I use a FEL to raise it. Of course, you add a safety prop or chain or whatever to cover your a$$ from an accidental fall.
Laying on the ground will wear thin pretty quick.



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Peter, Covington, LA

10-31-2007 16:38:44




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
Most folks seem to swear by Kroil as a penetrating oil. You could drop some on each bolt each day for a few days, then put a socket & breaker bar on it. Hopefully, the nuts will "see the light" and come off.

If they've been on for a generation or so, and you haven't the muscle power to loosen them, perhaps you can find someone with an impact wrench who would let you come by and present them with the opportunity to help.

You can raise the deck without the blade spinning if you disconnect the shaft from the PTO. I suppose there are many ways this is done, but on mine you turn the outer ring and it slips off.

Best of luck!

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Tom N MS

10-31-2007 16:15:59




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 Re: Sharpening blades on older brush hog and other questions in reply to Britcheflee, 10-31-2007 16:09:38  
The bush hogs I have had had a square shoulder on the big bolt so you could turn the nut from the top and the bolt held itself.....Yes, you are right, the PTO shaft must turn for the pump to work to raise the lift..... ..ORC threads would be nice but I bet that would add a ridiculous amount to the cost..... ...



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