I purchased this second-hand last year. Mechanically, them machine is sound and runs like a top (I did put a new carb on a couple months ago, only to find that the problem was a crushed fuel line...LOL).
I need to put a new deck belt on - that is the easy part. The hard part is that I have not been able to remove the blades from the spindles. I have pulled the deck and tried every tool I own and cannot budget the bolts. I have put penetrating oil on them and let them sit. I heated them with a propane torch... Still cannot get them off.
I assume the next "stop" would be a shop with an impact wrench? Anyone have a "tip" to try before taking that step?
SAFETY FIRST-Wear gloves, stand deck vertical with either front or rear of deck on pavement or ground and let it rest against wall, house, etc. Have a helper jam a 2x4 between blade and deck. Most important: you want to push down to loosen bolts, have helper wear gloves and stand opposite you supporting deck. Now your on left side of deck, helper on right side, you will need either a couple long combination wrenches or 1/2" drive ratchet and socket. If ratchet is short, place a long box end wrench or piece of steel pipe over ratchet handle. If you are using a combination wrench, place box end on bolt and place another box end wrench over 1 open end of wrench on bolt, holding wrenches together with one hand, feet planted firmly, knees bent push down and loosen bolts. Purchase some anti-seize compound from auto parts store and install on bolts before re-installing and torquing to specs. Yourself and helper need to be very careful performing this procedure, try not to slip. If you do not feel comfortable with this procedure DO NOT START, take deck to neighbor who owns air tools or shop. Please be extremely careful!
Metric bolts, look to be rounding off at corners. Do not try using standard wrenches or sockets on metric bolts. Spray them down with Liquid Wrench Brand penetrating oil and let them soak it in. Take deck to shop that has air tools and metric impact sockets, auto repair shop, tire shop, etc. I'm sure they'll be glad to remove them for you. I would purchase new bolts and anti-seize compound to go on threads and a torque wrench [ click type ] to torque to specifications so you will not have to deal with this issue any longer. Let us know how she works out.
By the way the threads are regular right handed threads and the metric socket is probably close to a 13mm.
#6
Fish
I vote for putting the deck in your trunk and stopping by a local shop at lunch break, let them zip it off with the correct size socket and be done with it. Hand the kid a $10 bill and thank him.
I vote for putting the deck in your trunk and stopping by a local shop at lunch break, let them zip it off with the correct size socket and be done with it. Hand the kid a $10 bill and thank him.
Well... after bending two large box-end wrenches, and crashing my nose into the front rollers on the deck (when one of the wrenches gave up - thus fracturing my nose...), I gave up for the time-being, sharpened the blades on the deck as best as I could, and put the deck back on the mower... 10 minutes later, the deck belt (that I knew needed replacing, has been ordered, but hasn't come in yet) came apart... sigh...
That being said - a fellow pastor told me to bring it over to his place and he will zip off the bolts for me! So - when belt comes in, I will unbutton the deck again, put in my truck, and head to his place.
