impact wrench for blade changes

[Stonewall]

Eric,

I noticed on your website that you encouraged folks to use something other than an impact wrench when changing blades because it might cup the flat washer on the spindle. Does the cupped washer change the cutting height or is there something else that causes it to be a problem?

[Lawngeek]

blade bolts need not be super tightened just makes it harder to chenge them unless you wanna buy the impact machine and haul it around

[KirbysLawn]

I've always used 2 15/16th wreches with no problems. I did have a repair & it was put on with impact, like to never got it off. I'll stick to the hand tools.

Ray

[Eric ELM]

I hope I said it will flatten out cupped washers, not cup flat washers. They put spring like tention on the blade to hold it tight.

No, it won't change the cutting highth, just ruin the affect of the washer.

[Runner]

I have a Makita rechargable impact gun. Works great. (and fast) and it goes right with me out into the field if I have to do a mid day change.

[Craig Turf Management]

I use an impact wrench for the speed, and the cool sound it makes. But seriously, I change six blades every day when I get back to my shop, and the impact saves me both time and skinned (skint) knuckles. I just use my good sense and don't put them on too tight. Hope this helps. Bill

[Vandora Lawn & Landscape]

An impact gun can be very helpful to loosen stuck blade bolts, however, ususally, I tighten by hand so as not to overtighten.

[Eric ELM]

Originally posted by Runner
I have a Makita rechargable impact gun. Works great. (and fast) and it goes right with me out into the field if I have to do a mid day change.

Where did you get that and how much was it? This sounds like a handy device to have on the job. I have several Makita tools, but I have never seen the impact gun.

I know if you clean off the nicks in the bolt threads with a die, it makes putting the bolts in by hand much easier. Bolts are full of nicks in the threads even when brand new, so this is the first thing I do when getting new mowers.

[Stonewall]

Eric,

You did say "flatten out cupped washers" on your site, but I misunderstood. Sorry. I never realized they were cupped.

[racerdave]

I don't have any problems removing bolts with an impact. But I do with installing any bolt with an impact.

1. You will never know how tight the bolt is unless you have an impact with a torque limiter built into it. These are expensive.(a real clutch calibrated to release a predetermined values. Not a throttle valvbe found on most impacts)
2. The next thing that will happen is your employees will tire of starting the bolts by hand, and they will stick them in the socket and cram them on the spindle with the impact. ruining the bolt,spindle,and your day.

3. I personally recommend using a torque wrench for such a critical component as a mower blade.

[John DiMartino]

I have always used an impact to take em off,and put em on.I always start all 3 by hand,then run them up,and just give the gun one quick bump.I cant see how a torque wrench is neccesary,since you arent going to stretch a 5/8" bolt by hand anyway,and they cant come off and hurt someone since the blade will just slip on the spindle,and the clockwise rotation keeps the bolts from backing out as long as the spindles are turning.It would be next to impossible to hold back the spindle and properly torque the bolts on my Dixie.I do have a set of Matco torque sticks ,as they are called,there are 4 different ones used for doing car lug nuts,they are thin in the middle and absorb the impact above a certain torque,they are accurate enough for tire/wheels,but i dont bother using them on the Dixie.

[TJLC]

I also use an impact wrench to remove and put on blades. I set it at the lowest setting and it seems to work fine. I think you just have to use a little common sense and listen to the sound of the wrench as you tighten.

[Runner]

Eric, Mine came from a local outfit called Midstate Bolt and Screw. They have about everything you could think of. I got it for Christmas, but Santa just told me it was just over $200. For whoever was concerned about the overtightening, this only goes to about just over 80 ft. lbs. of torque; the recommended torque for these bolts.

[eslawns]

Originally posted by KirbysLawn
I've always used 2 15/16th wreches with no problems. I did have a repair & it was put on with impact, like to never got it off. I'll stick to the hand tools.

Ray

Ditto.

[CMerLand]

For your safety and that of your guys who will not be as careful as you may wish they would be, get away from the wrenches and get yourself a socket and a 20 inch breaker bar.(Craftsmen, im sure all the tool companies got em)

Had a wrench slip off and twice a guy nearly took off his thumb when it hit the blade. The breaker bar keeps the hands completely clear of the blades so if the socket slips your safe.

We also always use a torque wrench on our walker blades and torque to 60 ft lbs. Any tighter you defeat the purpose of the sheer pins that protect the gearboxes. IF overtightened the pressure on the blade will keep it locked to the gearbox on impact and somethings gotta give.

CMerland

[racerdave]

What do you guys think about slitting a piece of 1" dia pvc and slipping that over the sharp edge of the blade while removing and replacing?

just a thot

[Grateful11]

Did a little checking:

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=BTW200SH

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=BTD040

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=BTD060

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=6918DWD

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=6911HDWA

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=6916DWD

http://www.makita.com/product/tool.asp?MODEL=6914DWBE

Makita has quite a collection of these. One goes to 148ft/lbs.

[Grateful11]

Did a little more checking. The 200 model Makita goes for $550! Also almost all of the major cordless companies have these. Dewalt has one for about $230 that will go 70 ft.lbs. on occasional use. Looks like the 6911 Makita is the best deal at $210.

[Mowman]

After getting stiches in my finger last year I bought an impact to get the blades off. I don't use it to put them back on though. I use a socket wrench to reinstall them. Best investment I made. No more BUSTED up knuckles or cut fingers.
Good Luck,
Mowman

[awm]

my little 12 volt plug into the cigerette lighter
impact wrench takes all the work out of changing blades
about 40 dollars on ebay

[lawnboy82]

the lawn mower shop that i deal with wont let the machine leave the yard after they do the blades without tightening them with the impact wrench. something about a liability or whatever, i dont know

[AltaLawnCare]

Originally posted by John DiMartino
I do have a set of Matco torque sticks ,as they are called,there are 4 different ones used for doing car lug nuts,they are thin in the middle and absorb the impact above a certain torque,they are accurate enough for tire/wheels,but i dont bother using them on the Dixie.

Glad to see another Matco tool user out there. Those "torque
extensions are sold individually also, but I also wonder how accurate they are.
Hand tools to tighten , impact to remove.

[JJ Lawn]

I would imagine that every lawnmower manual will tell you to 'torque' the blades to the specification in the manual. At least every manual I have says that. There are reasons for this.

One being that on some mowers if you tighten the bolts or nuts too tight you can put undue pressure on the spindle bearings which will cause them to wear faster. (Some folks will scoff at this but it is a valid reason.) Another, as CMerLand said about the Walker, you defeat the purpose of the shear bolts if over tightened. When I damaged one of my gearboxes on my Walker the first question Walker asked was, "What did I have my bolts torqued to?" I told them, and they replaced the box under warranty. Saved over $200.

To save the knuckles and fingers, when taking off or putting on bolts/nuts use a six point socket instead of a twelve point. A 6 point will hold better and not slip as easily. And wear gloves. Also, replace the nuts or bolts when they start to round over from wear.

Jim

[geogunn]

I use an air impact wrench to remove the spindle bolts and then to install the bolts 'till they just make contact. I then torque to 115 ft/lbs. this may or not be the right ammount. probably not right but it "feels good".

GEO

[TLS]

I use an impact for removal and installation. It has 4 settings, I set it on 2 and it seems fine. One of these days I am going to check the torque after the impact is done to see where it is at.

[Mr.Ziffel]

Exmark Lazer Z Operator's Manual says in the blade changing section:

"Torque to 115 - 120 ft. lbs."

I have both a beam torque wrench and a click torque wrench and cannot get either wrench to that high of a setting [I can set the click that high, I just can't get the bolt that tight]. I've just been running a few threads up by hand so they're started cleanly and finishing off with the impact.

Some one here or at Exmark told me that if you significantly undertighten the bolt that it will actually self-tighten to the point where it's difficult to remove. Apparently that's what happened to me once because I needed a big block of wood and a cheater pipe to get one of the blades off a couple of weeks ago. Now I just make sure the impact hits it for a few seconds at the end and no problem getting them off. Will M.

[Alan]

I have used the impact wrench for years. Run the bolt/nut up and let the wrench rap for about a second. On the Howard Price I let the wrench hammer a bit more, 1" spindle involved on that. Never had a problem either getting them off or stripping anything out, so I guess I'll just keep burping the gun on them and get back to mowing. I don't bother carrying tools to change blades in the field, I find they get so tight from just running that it's about impossible to get them off with hand tools anyhow.

[captdevo]

Never use an impact on Walkers!!!

The blade bolts should be torqued 60ftlbs. if not, it could effect the purpose of the shear bolts and cause gear box problems.

[Greenkeepers]

We use impact gun on and off..... Set it to the lowest pressure . We do them too much to have to do them all by hand. When I get the new shop set up It'll be every night

[Likestomow]

I just bought a Snap-on cordless impact wrench on eBay. I've been using an electic one. I have one customer that has almost 3 acres and I cut it at the end of the day. My blades have taken a beating by the time I get to her house, and I've always wanted to change blades without taking a half hour to do it. I've tried using a breaker bar, but the spindles alway slip.

Now I can snap those sharpe blades on in a jiffy. And jobs like flat tires will be a little easier too.