OT (sorta) RM306 blades (behind Jubilee)

BearGap · May 28, 2018

I have a Woods RM306 that I got with my Jubilee some 15 years ago, and it is used to mow most of the larger areas on my farm. One of the blades broke today, and I am having trouble getting it off. I've tried heat, a socket wrench with a 3 foot bar, and an impact wrench. The problem is the bolt's shoulders are just rounded off, so everything slips. I am aware this is a left-handed thread.

So what to do? Is there some sort of tool that grips an essentially round-headed bolt that I could use? Should I take an edge grinder and just cut the head of the bolt off? If I do...then what? How to remove the stub from the spindle? I finished most of the mowing I had with my Farmall Cub with a 5' belly mower, but that takes twice as long as when using the Jubilee, and 2-3 hours more is not to be sneezed at, so I want to replace those blades ASAP (I have spare blades on hand). Thanks

Ultradog MN · May 28, 2018

It's hard to advise without knowing how you are set up for tools.
How much heat are you using?
An oxy-acetylene rosebud? I hope...
Can you get a pipe wrench on it?
If you can heat the area around the threads a dull red then get a big pipe wrench on it with a 5' cheater it will probably come off.
When you put it back together give it a abundant dose of anti seize compound.

Bob · May 28, 2018

Find a much bigger nut that fits over the rounded bolt head, weld it SECURELY to the offending bolthead, allow it to cool to ambient temp, and it will likely unscrew easily.

Clamp the ground lead to the blade so welding current doesn't pass through and ruin the bearings.

If you don't weld, it would probably be worthwhile to have a guy with a portable welder stop by, or get the mower to a welding shop vs. wasting any more time on it with ineffective methods.

pomester · May 28, 2018

you could take the grinder to the bolt head and make two parallel sides that you could get a crescent wrench on -

BearGap · May 29, 2018

Thanks for the help...I do not have an oxy-acetylene torch, but I will try a pipe wrench. I have a light duty wire welder I can try for the weld-on nut idea, too. While I was looking around I thought I better get some replacement bolts as these are surely going to be ruined. I checked a couple of places, found it is referred to as 5/8 NC x 2-3/8 Nylock bolt, HT (Left hand thread), but good heavens...$27.49 each?!? Why on earth? Is there some alternative? That price just blew me away.

Tim PloughNman Daley RIP · May 30, 2018

Are you certain the blade bolts are left handed? I have a WOODS 660 Finish Mower with 3-blades and they are fastened on with RH bolts. The fact that the heads are all rounded off and you can't get them to budge also suggests they might indeed be RH threads too. May have to take the mower to a dealer or machine shop to get them off.

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

OT (sorta) RM306 blades (behind Jubilee)

BearGap

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Ultradog MN

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Bob

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pomester

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BearGap

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Tim PloughNman Daley RIP

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