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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a ramp for
one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8" high concrete brick
then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I recall. Not so
this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This time I put two
2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is about 3" from
the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the blade increased
by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no vehicle to put the
mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.

Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to service?


--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

On Jun 25, 12:27�am, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a ramp for
one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8" high concrete brick
then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I recall. Not so
this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This time I put two
2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is about 3" from
the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the blade increased
by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no vehicle to put the
mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.

Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to service?



After reading your other post concerning a heavy tool box, I am
suggesting (like another poster) you get a engine hoist,cherry picker,
shop crane (they are all the same thing, just different names). They
can be bought brand new for under $200. Used ones for about $100. You
will learn that it will save you TONS of money and frustration. Sorry
about the pun.

Hank

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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

W. eWatson wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a
ramp for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8"
high concrete brick then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty
easily, as I recall. Not so this time. Maybe rust or something has
tightened it up. This time I
put two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the
blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a
dealer.
Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to
service?


Easiest thing IMO is to just take off the mowing deck.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico



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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

Hustlin' Hank wrote:
On Jun 25, 12:27�am, "W. eWatson" wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a ramp for
one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8" high concrete brick
then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I recall. Not so
this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This time I put two
2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is about 3" from
the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the blade increased
by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no vehicle to put the
mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.

Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to service?



After reading your other post concerning a heavy tool box, I am
suggesting (like another poster) you get a engine hoist,cherry picker,
shop crane (they are all the same thing, just different names). They
can be bought brand new for under $200. Used ones for about $100. You
will learn that it will save you TONS of money and frustration. Sorry
about the pun.

Hank

Thanks, and I very much enjoy puns.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

dadiOH wrote:
W. eWatson wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a
ramp for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8"
high concrete brick then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty
easily, as I recall. Not so this time. Maybe rust or something has
tightened it up. This time I
put two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the
blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a
dealer.
Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to
service?


Easiest thing IMO is to just take off the mowing deck.

Interesting idea. I'll look in the manual. There may be instructions on how
to do that.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/



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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
dadiOH wrote:
W. eWatson wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a
ramp for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8"
high concrete brick then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty
easily, as I recall. Not so this time. Maybe rust or something has
tightened it up. This time I
put two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to

the
blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a
dealer.
Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to
service?


Easiest thing IMO is to just take off the mowing deck.

Interesting idea. I'll look in the manual. There may be instructions on

how
to do that.


I have two riding mowers. The Craftsman deck is easy to remove. The Monkey
Wards is very difficult. But I agree, at least on the Craftsman, is it
would be easier just to remove the deck.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/



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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

Ulysses wrote:
"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
dadiOH wrote:
W. eWatson wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the
blade sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I
made a ramp for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and
used 8" high concrete brick then drove up it. I got the blade off
pretty easily, as I recall. Not so this time. Maybe rust or
something has tightened it up. This time I
put two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from the left wheel track and the distance from the
ground to the blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a
dealer.
Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier
to service?

Easiest thing IMO is to just take off the mowing deck.

Interesting idea. I'll look in the manual. There may be instructions
on how to do that.


I have two riding mowers. The Craftsman deck is easy to remove.


I'm not so sure I would say "easy" but it isn't awful.

It would be easy if the holes in the studs were on the outboard side so I
could actually *see* the pins to pull or place them. Somewhere there is an
engineer that cackles merrily everytime he thinks of people trying to
blindly find the damn holes.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico



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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

Do any of your friends own a set of automotive wheel ramps?
Might be the way to take care of this.

Impact wrench might help, with removing the nut from the
shaft.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have
the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I
made a ramp for
one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8"
high concrete brick
then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I
recall. Not so
this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This
time I put two
2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from
the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the
blade increased
by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the
mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.

Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this
easier to service?


--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std.
time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700
feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/


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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a ramp
for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8" high concrete
brick then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I recall. Not
so this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This time I put
two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is about 3"
from the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no vehicle
to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.

Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to
service?


--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

Some people run the fuel tank dry, drain the oil, remove the battery, and
either stand the mower up on its back end or lay it over sideways. Requires
strength and care to prevent damage or injury but it is done.

Don Young


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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade


"dadiOH" wrote in message
...
W. eWatson wrote:
I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a
ramp for one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8"
high concrete brick then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty
easily, as I recall. Not so this time. Maybe rust or something has
tightened it up. This time I
put two 2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is
about 3" from the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to
the blade
increased by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no
vehicle to put the mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a
dealer.
Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to
service?


Easiest thing IMO is to just take off the mowing deck.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

For a Deere, removing the deck may be overkill, especially if it's been on
for a decade.

For my Deere, I tried the car ramp thing but for reasons I've forgotten,
didn't think it would work. My next effort was to drive it up the edge of a
ramp going into the storage shed, which was possible but still awkward.
Finally I went to Sears and got a light-weight hydraulic car jack for about
$30. Now I can just jack up one side and do the work, or put supports
under it, jack up the other side and have it completely raised up.




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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

I was kind of looking forward to using a fairly high ramp, but when it got
down to it, my neighbor's long handled wrench did the trick. I did get it up
on an 8" slanted ramp, and with some fooling around while lying on one's
back, and using a 2x4 to make sure the blade didn't move, off it came.
Actually, there were two blades--to my surprise. The blades are now off
getting sharpened.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

We knew you could do it. Good job.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I was kind of looking forward to using a fairly high ramp,
but when it got
down to it, my neighbor's long handled wrench did the trick.
I did get it up
on an 8" slanted ramp, and with some fooling around while
lying on one's
back, and using a 2x4 to make sure the blade didn't move,
off it came.
Actually, there were two blades--to my surprise. The blades
are now off
getting sharpened.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std.
time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700
feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/


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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I was kind of looking forward to using a fairly high ramp, but when it got
down to it, my neighbor's long handled wrench did the trick. I did get it
up on an 8" slanted ramp, and with some fooling around while lying on one's
back, and using a 2x4 to make sure the blade didn't move, off it came.
Actually, there were two blades--to my surprise. The blades are now off
getting sharpened.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

Glad you got them off okay. Be careful not to put them back on upside down;
it's pretty easy to do when you have limited access.

Don Young


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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade


"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I was kind of looking forward to using a fairly high ramp, but when it got
down to it, my neighbor's long handled wrench did the trick. I did get it
up on an 8" slanted ramp, and with some fooling around while lying on one's
back, and using a 2x4 to make sure the blade didn't move, off it came.
Actually, there were two blades--to my surprise. The blades are now off
getting sharpened.

--
W. eWatson

(121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
Obz Site: 39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet

Web Page: www.speckledwithstars.net/

As someone else pointed out, it's easy to put them back on improperly. For
that reason, and for convenience, I bought a second set of blades, so when
it's sharpening time I take the dull pair off and immediately put the
sharpened ones on. Then I can sharpen the removed blades at my convenience.
It's half as much work because the hardest part is getting the dang thing up
high enough to work on the blades, and this way I only have to do it once.


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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

A come-a-long and a sky-hook, right? g



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Default Changing My Riding Mower Blade

On Jun 25, 6:53*am, "Hustlin' Hank" wrote:
On Jun 25, 12:27 am, "W. eWatson" wrote:

I have a 10 year old Deere lawn mower, and decided to have the blade
sharpened. The last time I did this was about 4 years ago. I made a ramp for
one set of wheels, left probably, from a 2x6 and used 8" high concrete brick
then drove up it. I got the blade off pretty easily, as I recall. Not so
this time. Maybe rust or something has tightened it up. This time I put two
2x6s on bricks and rolled it up. The center of the blade is about 3" from
the left wheel track and the distance from the ground to the blade increased
by maybe 4-6", so clearance is tricky to work. I have no vehicle to put the
mower into, or I'd be tempted to take it to a dealer.


Any suggestions on how to build a ramp that would make this easier to service?


After reading your other post concerning a heavy tool box, I am
suggesting (like another poster) you get a engine hoist,cherry picker,
shop crane (they are all the same thing, just different names). They
can be bought brand new for under $200. Used ones for about $100. You
will learn that it will save you TONS of money and frustration. Sorry
about the pun.

Hank


you get a engine hoist, cherry picker, shop crane (they are all
the same thing, just different names).

Kind of reminds me of the kid's game of "One of these things is not
like the others." g

Engine Hoist:
http://www.ytmag.com/gallery/jd2010art4/hoist.jpg

Cherry Picker:
http://randwick.ses.nsw.gov.au/album..._starts_up.jpg

Shop Crane:
http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/d...Shop_Crane.jpg
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