Murray Wasn't Mowing Right (replacing a blade)

[Wingnut]

This is almost like history (http://www.mytractorforum.com/showthread.php?t=32020&highlight=found+crank) repeating itself or its a rite of spring.


Time for my first mowing though very late in the season (the Bluebonnets are blossoming). The Murray was cutting right!

So once again I had to remove the deck and investigate.

[Wingnut]

One bent blade had to be replaced and now its mowing right once again!

[okieduc104]

That brings up a question, How many of you remove the deck to change blades?


I never do, unless I replace some deck parts or the belts. I jack the rear up with a big floor jack and use a long breaker bar , socket and a ratchet.

I had a Sears service policy (never again, the cost is way too high after the first year) and they sent a highly trained and skilled "Technician" out from Brownwood (40 miles) to service the mower every year. he replaced the spindles without dropping the deck. He had a hoist in the back of his van and lifted the mower strait up, after he drained the oil. Serviced new belts,new spindles, one spindal drive pully, blades then let it back down and filled it with gas and oil, cleaned his hands with a dirty rag and left. He was here a total of 1 hour.The mower even worked!

[Wingnut]

This little Murray was a good investment, it was a recondition at Home Depot for $399. I only expected to last 2 years, but it is still going strong.

[glenn27]

I never remove the deck, either--on my Scott's (JD product)now, or the Sears years ago--unless something is very wrong---Run the front wheels up on 6X6 blocks--
Raise the deck to highest notch--yes--I do kneel down on a boat cushion--
And A 24" ratchet and 1/2" socket takes the bolts right off--
I always clean the threads good and the bottom of the spindle housing--a dab of never seize and good to go. I hand tighten as far as possible-whilest holding the end of the blade in my other hand (work glove there)--then give it extra pull--never had one come loose..:trink40:

[Ken in NJ]

That brings up a question, How many of you remove the deck to change blades?


I never do, unless I replace some deck parts or the belts. I jack the rear up with a big floor jack and use a long breaker bar , socket and a ratchet.

I had a Sears service policy (never again, the cost is way too high after the first year) and they sent a highly trained and skilled "Technician" out from Brownwood (40 miles) to service the mower every year. he replaced the spindles without dropping the deck. He had a hoist in the back of his van and lifted the mower strait up, after he drained the oil. Serviced new belts,new spindles, one spindal drive pully, blades then let it back down and filled it with gas and oil, cleaned his hands with a dirty rag and left. He was here a total of 1 hour.The mower even worked!


I have never removed a deck to change the blades .. seems like too much work to do it that way to me ... But I look for a quick way to do stuff like that. Jacking it up works for me ..

[davidg]

i always remove the deck on my deere, it is easier than jacking the mower up, gettign it blocked up, changing the blades, then lowering it. my father in law argued with me one day that it was quicker to leave the deck on so we tried it both ways.

first we did it his way. jacked it up and blocked it, slipped the blade clamp on, changed out 1 blade and lowered it. total time, 30 minutes.

then my way. pull 5 pins, pop the belt, slide the deck out and flip it. install teh blade clamp, hit 2 bolts with the impact, slip the new blade on, impact again, remove clamp, flip deck, slide in place, slip the hangers back on, pop the belt back on. total time, 5 minutes!

never again will i leave a deck on to change blades if it comes off that easy!

my murray and my Craftsman don't even have decks on them, the craftsman deck is leaned against the shop, but i have no clue where the hangers are for it. the murray didn't have a deck when i got it.

[Steve (Magnolia, TX)]

I drop my deck...

Kinda like davidg said... 5 pins (and a spring), pop the belt and the deck is dropped.

So far this spring (on my "Other") I've 'rebuilt' the deck (2 new spindles, 2 new blades, new belt, after thoroughly cleaning it) and had to install a new 'back' pulley for the drive belt... and I replaced the drive belt while I was at it. That's besides cleaning (and oiling) the air cleaner element and changing the engine oil... and checking the spark plugs.

[xdiver86]

I always drop the deck on my gs6500. the 54" decd is just too far to reach. Besides I like to clean it out real good and paint it with used oil. Also lets me get at the zerk on the center spindle a lot easer.

[Dan Lovell]

Dropping a deck on a WH is no problem at all, it takes me less than a minute to drop one. I like to clean the deck when I change blades. Takes me about five minutes to put it back on.



Dan

[lawnmowertech]

i use a impact wrench

[Wingnut]

Well I did it again and had to replace a blade this morning.

[RED-85-Z51]

Murray blades are notoriously soft..a tiny root, or a good chunk of dirt can tweak one..honestly.

If you can, upgrade to Gator blades, they are harder and thicker, they dont bend without alot of effort.

When I dumped my scrap bin last year, I had over 2 dozen bent Murray blades that looked like brand new...just tweaked down. No evidence of impact.

[Maybar]

Murray blades are notoriously soft..a tiny root, or a good chunk of dirt can tweak one..honestly.

If you can, upgrade to Gator blades, they are harder and thicker, they dont bend without alot of effort.

When I dumped my scrap bin last year, I had over 2 dozen bent Murray blades that looked like brand new...just tweaked down. No evidence of impact.
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Maybe we can get Wingnut to attempt straightening his bent blade and report back how easy they are to bend.

[jdkubotamurray]

I drive up on my steel ramps with brace bought back in 1979. New ramps are polymer but would work as well.

[Wingnut]

************************************************** ******
Maybe we can get Wingnut to attempt straightening his bent blade and report back how easy they are to bend.



I thrown it away already!

[RED-85-Z51]

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Maybe we can get Wingnut to attempt straightening his bent blade and report back how easy they are to bend.

Apples to oranges.

It's hard to apply a constant force on a blade to striaghten it back. That's because the impact the caused the bend had alot of momentum behind it, and the deed was done in a fraction of a second.

It's about the bending..and flexability. Thin and broad blades flex, therfore when they hook on something, the momentum carrries though, and they twist.

A harder, thicker blade, will glance off or break whatever it hits, to a point.