I recently bought this one at Home Depot. Have only used it once to change blades on my Tiger Cat II but it had no problem breaking them loose. It's probably more expensive than others but Milwaukee makes great cordless tools in my opinion:https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...ss-Cordless-1-2-in-Impact-Wrench-with-Friction-Ring-Tool-Only-2767-20/302654201

 

I was originally looking at this one actually. I might go with this if I decide not to get the ryobi. I already have a bunch of ryobi tools though so I figured it would make more sense to stay with the same brand so the batteries and chargers were compatible.

 

Just get out a breaker bar and get those spindle bolts loosened. Then use the ryobi from here on out and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Do you think 300 lbs of torque enough to tighten them though? The ones the guys use in the shop I believe are closer to around 1500 lbs of torque. I wanna be sure that they're not going to constantly become loosened while cutting.

 

The ryobi may be rated fro 300 ft/lbs of tourge but most likely in this application is only going to deliver around 75 ft/lbs of torque give or take. I've seen spindle bolts require anywhere between 65 to 120 ft/lbs of torque so the ryobi should be just fine. I personally tighten spindle bolts by hand to maybe 65 ft/lbs and if I have to change a blade in the field I don't have any problems.

 

How tight are you guys going? Sheesh, my 18v dewalt still puts them on and takes them off with very little issues. Occasionally if I hit something and they tighten up I’ll have to bust out the air impact but that’s like maybe twice a year.

 

1/2” Milwaukee high torque impact, put them on on first setting, take them off on second setting

 

 

not going to do to much without a battery Thumbs Up:drinkup:

 

How many mowers are we talking about? I got by with three Exmarks changing the blades with a socket and ½ inch breaker bar for years until I needed an air compressor for something of which now I cannot recall. Then I bought an air gun and been happy with that since. If you have a compressor and haven't bought an air gun yet, make sure you check out the stats on your compressor and make sure it can run the air gun sufficiently at the gun's recommended psi. The SCFM is the number that needs to be powerful enough to run the gun. If you do get a gun, make sure to oil the gun as the manufacturer recommends. They last longer that way.
Other than that, I'm fairly certain you wouldn't need too much torque on those bolts holding the blades to the spindles.
I have seen lots of guys using the cordless impacts now. I would think any of the "impact" drivers would be able to handle that project.
Don't be too concerned about them falling off if not tight enough. I have had a couple do that, after finding out the mech got distracted when putting the blades on, they just fall straight down and never had one hit another blade. Your mileage may vary though.
Whatever you decide, make sure to have some kind of system to make sure the blades are balanced every now and then. If they get too far off-balance, they will hasten the wearing out of your spindles.

 

I use a ryobi 18v 4ah impact wrench. It claims to do some ridiculous torque but wont always get truck lugs loose. Its perfect for blades. Wont over tighten terribly and it always breaks them free. Quick and easy.

 

Use a blade block
Cheater bar and wrenches

employees will over use Impact guns when putting blades back in and strip or over tighten your blades causing you bigger issues

 

cheater bar sounds like it would over tighten worse than impact.

 

Have you tried using your existing Ryobi? If you use it consistently to install and remove, you shouldn't have a problem. Well...unless you hit a rock or something and the blade gets super tight. But a $15 breaker bar and a length of pipe can solve that 99% of the time.

 

I use a electric impact wrench. Works well.

 

I usually use my mid range dewalt impact that’s rated for about 300 foot pound. Sometimes it’s too small to take them off but I’ve never had a blade that came off that I put on with it. I’ve got the bigger dewalt impact too but the height of it is a pain. Seriously a breaker bar and a lighter duty impact is the best combination.

 

my ryobi cordless is the preferred tool. I've yet to have any issues getting blades on and off with it. 300ft lbs and that's plenty for blades.

 

I use a ryobi. Worst case, a breaker bar to loosen them and a ryobi to get them off. Seems to work for me.

 

I bought a 24v Kobalt impact last yr, love it. Best tool I've bought in yrs. I literally havent charged it but 1 time since buying it, taken off so many sets of blades, changed 2-3 sets of wheels and so on.. it holds its juice forever. It was around $120 (+/-) and worth every penny

 

Dewalt 1/2 does the job