Removing Mower Blades


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Old 05-08-17, 06:35 AM
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Removing Mower Blades

Have a Hustler Raptor 42" ZTR.

Is it necessary to remove the mowing deck to remove the blades for sharpening?

How do you guys do it?
 
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Old 05-08-17, 06:42 AM
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I have a different ZT, but I jack the front up with my car jack, and support it on jack stands. With the deck all the way up, this gives enough clearance to change the blades.

Or you can buy one of those purpose made ZTR/Tractor lifts which will lift the front higher.
 
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Old 05-08-17, 01:41 PM
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Or buy a Kubota ZD21 like mine. It has a built in jacking system that rotates the front axle to the vertical position allowing you to crawl under it safely. I think jack and jack stands are the best alternative. A drive up ramp may hinder you from getting to the deck due to the length of the ramps themselves occluding the working area.
 
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Old 05-08-17, 02:46 PM
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Lifting Mower

Thanks, guys. That Kubota feature sounds great. Since I am stuck with a low budget machine, I think I will try my scissor jack. Thanks again.
 
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Old 05-08-17, 04:20 PM
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Yeah, I think ANYTHING besides removing the deck is a better solution

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Old 05-09-17, 07:45 AM
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First I tried a Hi-lift farm jack but it always felt tippy & unsafe going up.
Then for a bit I used a chainfall from a stout branch in a tree. The front of a ZT is pretty light so that seemed safe, but was time-consuming.

Now I have an electric winch (600# cap.) bolted above & braced to the header over my garage door. The cable drops down into the door opening & I hook it to the ZT front roller bracket. I use either jackstands or a 2x4 strut for extra support, depending on how high I lift it.
This gets it up highest and quickest.
 
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Old 05-09-17, 07:58 AM
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Or you can buy one of those purpose made ZTR/Tractor lifts which will lift the front higher.
I just bought a 42" ZTR and looking at it yesterday it could be a bear trying to clean the deck or take the blades off. My old MTD 30" RER I could just lift the front end and put a jack stand under it. This one at 560# would be a little difficult. Never heard of those lifts but I may just spring for one. WAY easier than taking the deck off if I could even do that.
 
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Old 05-09-17, 03:35 PM
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I use something similar to this:


The one we have has a hand crank similar to what you would find on a boat trailer with a strap to raise the stirrups.
Many of our bigger front mount decks have a built in power lift for the deck. The mid mounts I use this tool as well as any other riding mower.

For some of the really big mid mounts, I fire up the fork lift
 
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Old 05-09-17, 03:41 PM
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However you come up with to do it, you should lift the frame of the mower so the deck still hangs, do not lift on the deck specifically as you can cause damage to the mounting.
 
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Old 05-10-17, 06:02 AM
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My mower has this ability but I still find it quicker to use the winch.
How's this for access:
 
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Old 05-10-17, 08:48 AM
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I'm probably getting one of these this year.

https://www.harborfreight.com/catalo...t?q=Mower+jack

In the past, I had been using an old screw type bumper jack for a pick up truck.
 
 

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