Not really wanting to use a grinder. My blades have some damage. Not looking to return to new. Just file down some of rougher dings and add a bit of edge to them. I have standard size files but need something bigger. Recommendations?

Looked at the grinder and file but, I'm not good at setting the angle correctly and have no patience to do that work...


Found out for $6 a blade the local Ace Hardware will clean up and sharpen blades. Got two sets for the mower, just pull one off, drop it at ACE and it's ready in a day or less...

But if anyone has a BigAss File it would be ACE.

To remove blades on a rotary mower is a whole different deal than a lawn mower.

If you're going to use a file, get a good one. I have a set of Grobet files & realized how bad all of the other files I've ever used, actually were.

quote:

rotary mower

I jack up the JD 130 on HF Daytona jack, slip in a stand for safety and use the mini Bosch impact to get the blades off, and at the same time, put on the sharp set and it's good to go.....

Don't have to pull the deck that way, thought about a set of roll on floor ramps but that would be more crap to store.....

What mower?

If it's a "brush hog" type, you don't want much of an edge on it. Big rotaries are more about beating things into submission than cutting.

A grinder with a flap disk is my go to both for the bigguns and push mower/lawn tractor blades.

I use a belt-sander instead of a big file.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
To remove blades on a rotary mower is a whole different deal than a lawn mower.

REEL Mower?

It is a land pride rotary mower. PhPaul is correct.

Mine does cut fairly well though.

My grandfather used to use the acetylene torch on one with REALLY big (thick) blades. Probably not what you are looking to do in this case.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
To remove blades on a rotary mower is a whole different deal than a lawn mower.

REEL Mower?

A bush-hog type rotary mower has two (for up to 6 foot cut, more for the REALLY big ones) blades pinned to a T shaft. The blades are between 2 and 3 feet long and weigh about 15 pounds apiece. The pin that holds the blade on the T shaft (while allowing it to swivel if it hits something it can't cut) is usually about 1 or 1.25 inches in diameter and held in place with a clip and a 1/2" bolt.

If things have had a chance to rust up, they can be a bit of a bear to get off, but usually a little (or a lot...) percussive maintenance will get them free.

Now, the T shaft that's bolted to the output shaft of the right angle gearbox is a whole other story. In nearly 40 years of running and maintaining bush hogs, I have NEVER successfully removed one. No amount of verbal lubrication, BFH's, pullers, smoke wrenches, brute force and just plain unbridled violence has ever gotten one to move, much less come off.

Which, I suspect, is why blown out lower shaft seals on gearboxes are so common. They're pretty much impossible to replace so you just pump it full of cornhead grease, say "Fuck it" and run it until it won't run any more.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
To remove blades on a rotary mower is a whole different deal than a lawn mower.

REEL Mower?

This was my thought as well, not a huge deck bushhog style. Never heard it called a rotary mower before.

quote:

verbal lubrication

quote:

percussive maintenance

I will need to remember these phrases.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

This was my thought as well, not a huge deck bushhog style. Never heard it called a rotary mower before.

Yeah you could consider any mower a rotary that has a deck and rotating blades.

In high school and during the summer while home from college I ran a 20ft bat wing and a brush hog on the farm, don't remember ever sharpening those things up, if they were we had a service man come out and do the work.

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick-SP2022:

quote:

verbal lubrication

quote:

percussive maintenance

I will need to remember these phrases.

You're welcome. Mechanics 101 Vocabulary...

16" half round bastard, that's what I use on mower blades.

Grainger lists a 16" Bastard Cut,never used one myself.
https://www.grainger.com/produ...e-Rectangular-13H040

I quit using files on mower blades and use a flap disk on an angle grinder. Sounds like it would make quick work on a brush hog too.

You could try these guys, they have a little bit of everything it seems.

https://www.harryepstein.com/

Thanks guys I have a collection of smaller files. My local source has a 12" bastard file for $14 I am going to try it. I suspect it won't be ideal but might work to a degree. I am not up to removing or replacing the blades. That is a job for the Kubota dealer in the off season. I have done most of the mowing I need. I probably have another 4-6 hours to do before things completely drying out for summer. A bit of touch up will get me through. I appreciate the thoughts and suggestions guys.