44a Mower Blade nuts seized on spindle

[digital_lighting]

Hello All,

I did some searching here to try to find the answer for my question, but i couldn't find any relevant threads. I am doing my winter maintenance on my Cub 1250. I have already repaired some worn bits on the mule drive, replaced the right front tire, etc.

I moved onto the next project, sharpening the Mower blades. I have a 44A mower deck, i believe. I was able to get the center blade off without much issue, but i cannot get the other nuts off. I have a 1-1/8" Trailer hitch wrench that i have been using. The problem is, the spindle is moving even when i have the blade embedded in a chunk of wood. This caused the other blade to move. I have chocked off both blades and now the spindle is slipping on the belt.

My method has been using a combined approach of heat from a propane torch and PB Blaster. I have been fighting with this for 4 days.

How big of a deal is it to sharpen these blades still mounted to the deck? I'm concerned about the blades being out of balance. There's no real reason to remove them entirely as the spindles all rotate easily.

[olds45512]

An impact wrench will take them right off, if you don't have one it won't hurt to sharpen them installed.

[DoubleO7]

What I have done with great success on the narrow frame decks is:
Use a pipe wrench up close under the blade. You don't want to crush the "can" that is on some spindles between the blades and the deck itself.
Let it swing against the deck perimeter so that it will hold the spindle while you use the 1-1/8" wrench.
Put a cheater pipe on the 1-1/8 if needed.

The above has not been J-Mech approved.

[digital_lighting]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'll let you know how it turns out!

[PaulS]

Do you have any threads showing below the nut. I found that when I had any threads showing they seem to get botched up. My 42 in deck on my 102 used to get extremely hard to remove when threads were showing. I used the friction washers to have the nut just flush with the shaft when tight. I have had some luck using a breaker bar on the stubborn nut and giving the bar a hit with a hammer to loosen it.

[Sam Mac]

Originally Posted by olds45512

An impact wrench will take them right off, if you don't have one it won't hurt to sharpen them installed.

What he said. A good 1/2" impact should do it.

[digital_lighting]

Originally Posted by PaulS

Do you have any threads showing below the nut.

Not really, in the neighborhood of 1/32nd of an inch. Basically enough to verify that it is right handed threads.

[john hall]

x's 3 on an air wrench. If you have a compressor, get one, you'll thank yourself. Also, you could just toss the deck in the back of your truck and take it to a willing shop that will take them off for $5-10--I'd certainly call around first. If the nuts are or get messed up, do yourself a favor and replace them. Wire brush the threads really good or you'll be fighting the same battle mid-summer when you have to pull them again.

[Mike McKown]

If you don't have a torch, don't have and impact, you can try taking a two pound hammer and repeatedly smacking the shoulder of the hex nut. I don't mean play with it either.

Quite often, this will jar the nut loose where a wrench will take you the rest of the way.

I always lube the threads when I get those nuts off. When I tighten them, I don't know how tight they are but I'd guess a good bit less that what the spec is. I haven't had any problems but if you want to copy my method, do so at your own risk.

[bill682]

You can remove the deck belt cover and hold the spindle nuts with a 1-1/4" socket. Good idea to clean under the cover while it's off. I think the manual even states this to remove blades.