I really liked this video. That c clamp method is gonna save my ass. I tried a couple other ways and it just wasn't working but I'm pretty confident it'll work now using your method.
Fix it Flip finally ended up getting out there and trying the c clamp method and it worked unbelievably well. I wasn't too sure it'd hold up cause my nut was super stuck but it held up like a champ and I got the blades changed in less than ten minutes start to finish. Thank you so much man.
Thank you so much for this video, 37 yr old woman here and just changed the blades with ease. Piece of advice for anyone who needs the wood pieces and can't find any....lowes floor samples work just as good and for free :)
You sir are my hero! I am a 64 yr. old female having a really hard time understanding how to use a Ratchet wrench. I needed the blades changed on my J D riding mower with no one available to help me. I found your video , and watched it 3 times. I did exactly as you said using a 30 year old wrench. With the help of a metal cheater bar, I was able to remove the nuts just as you showed. New ones are on tight, no vibrations and everything sounds fine. Thank You for taking the time to so every single thing to do.
Thank you so much!! When my husband died all my help died with him so I have to learn to do these things for myself. Your instructions are easy to follow and a Godsend!
I've changed mine a few times without removing the deck but this is the most sensible & direct video that I've seen. Congrats on your application & instructional skills!
Put my new Gator blades on with my impact wrench, but didn't feel comfortable not knowing if they were torqued down at 50 lbs. foot per John Deere manual for my Z335M zero turn mower. Was looking for another way to keep the blades from spinning when I used my torque wrench, as I did not have a spare 2x4 lying in garage. I searched TH-cam for ideas, and came upon your genius of an idea. I had just found a C-clamp in my toolbox the week before. It worked like a charm and I was able to finally get my yard cut with the new blades. THANK-YOU FLIP!!!
Thank you so much for this video. Me and my nine year old tried to get the second blade for 30 to 45 minutes and we couldn’t get it. Stopped and prayed. Praise the Lord. We watched your video that C clamp method was the best way to do it and we did it in few minutes. Blessings to you and your family. Proverbs 3:1-6.
May 29, 23. Thank you so much. I am a 64 yr old woman who likes to do thing's myself. This morning while mowing the belt came off my troy bronco. You did a fantastic job explaining how to put it back on. Thank you from Shelby MT!!!!
I actually did it late yesterday and all went very well. Removed as you suggested and resharpened and reinstalled. Thanks for the lesson. Gook me about an hour. I'm an old guy, 74, but got it done.
Hey man, cant thank you enough for this video. I ran over a bbq grill grate and it was wrapped around blade shaft. I didn't have anything to cut it away and fought with trying to get the blade nut off for 15 min before coming inside and finding this video. You bailed me out of a bad situation and I really appreciate you.
Hey, no problem, glad I could help. Sorry you ran that over. We've all be there before. I've sure hit a few things in my day. When you cut a lot it happens.
Damn near cut my pinky off trying to hold the blades and after watching the vids i now have a level deck, mower ramps, new blades, and 10 fingers. Thanks bud. Good vids
Glad I came across this. I'm a single 61 year lady fixing to attempt to change my lawn mower blades on my Troy-Bilt 2011 bronco riding lawn mower that's been taking very good care of . Keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
@@fixitFlip . Thank you for the response back . Unfortunately I wasn't able to change the blades because I couldn't get the nuts loosened up . I even sprayed WD-40 and that didn't work so I cleaned that off and went and bought some CRC Freeze-Off and still have gotten them off . I'm using the size socket I looked it up and it's in the book on my 2011 Troy-Bilt bronco yep still have the book on it matte of it still looks just about new . I've learned to do everything else on it but change the blades ugh 😩 .I don't have anyone to help me with this I've lost my whole family and i have to cut this 3 acres of land I live on with my 3 beautiful dogs if not then I have to worry about rattlesnakes coyotes and foxes coming on me . Don't know what to do now ugh 😫
I'm sorry to hear this. Check out my video on my Ego blades. They were really stuck on with Loc Tite. I go over a couple ways to get the bolt out. A long breaker bar from Harbor Freight and even a pipe on the end would do wonders. You can also spray it with some PB Blaster to help loosen it and then some anti-seize once you get it off so it won't get stuck again. Let me know if that works. Here is my video on the Ego blades: th-cam.com/video/MUg61Ykc11A/w-d-xo.html@@debmcgee9016
You helped me with a simple question I had concerning this matter, AND surprised me with an idea I much needed. I am a very mechanical guy and changing the blades seemed very straight forward, but I didn't know if the threads were left or right hand. (I reflect back to the midsize Dodges of the mid sixties). You cleared that up. What surprised me was your "C" clamp idea! Great job young man, and wonderfully clear auditory! Thank you immensely!
I was originally looking for a video on changing my PTO cable. After viewing a video on that subject, I saw your video on the sidebar. I have to say this is one of the most useful I've seen in a while. The ramp is brilliant and was easy to make. However, I used the removable sections the ramp for my rear wheel chocks. The C-clamp blade stop was one of those 'why the hell didn't I think of that before' solutions. One thing I have done for many years is to apply anti-seize paste to the blade nut threads. This is due to the first time I tried to remove the blades from my first riding mower, the nuts were completely seized up, requiring an impact wrench to bust them loose. Haven't had the issue since.
Yes, anti-seize is a great idea in this situation. And I actually started using the bottom part of the ramp as chocks shortly after this video as you can see in this one here. Thanks for stopping by! th-cam.com/video/KT9MX1ibk90/w-d-xo.html
This video really helped me by making me realize I was a moo-ron. I bought a blade-blocking clamp specifically designed for mowers. It worked fine on my little mower, but I have a heck of a time keeping it in place on my big 30” self-propelled TORO walk-behind. Now I realize that the clamp is nothing but a C clamp, and they come in any size you want. My life has just been made a bit easier!
I don't own a riding mower but I really like your creativity with the cutaway ramps, gave me an idea for how to solve another problem. C-Clamp method is another good idea. Well done video, short and to the point.
Great video, right to the point! One thing I find when it comes to cleaning the grass off the bottom of the deck, is after you scrape all the grass off, spray the underside of the deck with some WD40, it will make it easier to remove the grass and keep it cleaner and help with rusting from the wet grass, think of it like spraying cooking spray on a frying pan to help prevent sticking, I have been doing it for years and it works like a charm:) One again thanks for making this excellent video.
I clean my mower after every cutting and I apply WD-40 to the entire mower minus the belts of course. WD stands for Water Displacement and it keeps the mower from holding moister that causes rust and sticky parts. WD also keeps the mower clean and shiny!
61 year old woman whose visually impaired I ran over an extension cord and it's up above my blade on one side and after watching your video I was able to remove the blade and removed the extension cord with no problems I love the way you explain things and such a simple way that anyone can
Flip, very impressed with setting a C-clamp to block the blade turning. That was the only problem I had encountered to doing that task myself. I sprung for a hydralic jack and stands for other car related jobs. I like your wooden stands too.
I have the gator blades on my cub cadet for over a year now and love them and changing out troy built blades to them .They are heavier blades and chop the grass up so much smaller .I just check my cub cadet blades and they are still looking new .I have 3 acres to mow ,so 2 mowers are better than 1 .I also got a new string trimmer and started to use the true fuel and amazed that I can edge my whole property on 1 tank of fuel when with gas it took 2 tanks .I bought it because they say it makes the trimmers last longer .2 pulls and my troy built trimmer starts up every time .It is now a year old .Second summer for it .I have a long mowing season living in southside VA .My mowers only get a 3 month rest if they are lucky .Your video is great .
@@fixitFlip I had never used it either and only used gas and oil .I found out that the number one thing killing lawn equipment is this new ethanol fuel .I even added the additive that helps with ethanol gas but still had problems .There is only 1 gas station here that sells non ethanol gas .So true fuel was easier to buy than going out of my way to get gas .I get a whole can for 3.99 and since the problems I was having with my old string trimmer has stopped .I had already bought a new string trimmer so now have 2 of them that work great .Yea long season and feels like it gets longer every year .But taxes here better than NJ taxes after I retired .1 thousand here 3 acres and 15 thousand back in NJ for less than an acre .Bets is I only paid 15 thousand for 3 acres and put a modular home on it .I had dirt and a house back then
Man, one of blade nuts was really stuck hard. The ends of the blades were rather torn up as well and the blade kept slipping past the clamp. I finally clamped a small piece of 2x4 INSIDE as well as outside the cover and used a short breaker pipe over the ratchet handle AND a longer breaker rod inside the pipe. It finally broke loose. I ended up mowing most of the back yard with a large flashlight, lol! It got dark fighting the nut off. I also made something sort of like your lift. I always save wood pieces. It worked great! I did not have to bolt the two parts together. I used a large block in front of both of the stand parts. I am real surprised I did not knock the mower off the lift! Thanks! You are awesome!
Having the same type and model as yours saved me from a lot doubt to which direction I needed to go ===> Clockwise to loosen, Counter-clockwise to tighten though I had to use a six foot metal pole to finally break them free! Thanks a bunch!!
Seemed pretty straight forward but you happen to have my exact unit so a rolled the clip. Low and behold.....there's the "C" clamp blade stop. An old dog learns a new trick. I am most grateful sir.......thank you for posting.
Thank you for this! Straight to the job and get it done. No long narrative like reading a recipe online. I stumbled through it but came to check which direction I need to turn the nuts to detach the blade. Good work bro!
I bought a electric winch to raise the front of the mower. Hook it to a rafter in the garage. Man is that the ticket. No crawling underneath to clean the deck and change the blades. Hated the job of working underneath to clean the deck. So nice now. And u can just use an impact gun to zip the bolts out. So much easier.
Thanks for the easy to understand and follow directions. I think I damaged something on my riding mower when I drove over a metal cover in my yard. It helps me make repairs when I can view the steps I will need to take step by step with photos. My husband passed away a year ago and I am learning how to repair things around the house. Thanks again:) Teresa
Good video and informative. I like to remove the key also from the ignition for an added safety feature. Adding anti seize to those blade bolt threads helps also when removing the blades in the future. Thanks again
awesome new subscriber here & Wish I had of found uR Video yesterday bc now I got to put my deck back under after new blade change THANKS Great Tips & Tricks
Thanks for posting this! I just swapped the blades on my Troy Built Pony and was having a hell of a time getting the nut loose until I watched your video.
Very helpful! The C-clamp trick is definitely going into my repertoire, and I may build a set of those ramps to use in place of my Harbor Freight ATV/Mower lift.
I just changed the blades on my Husqvarna tractor - I had hit a nice sized rock and bent the left one pretty bad . I was able to remove and mostly straighten it and finish the job but I could see that my original blades were pretty well shot . The bent one was gone so time for new ones anyway . I found a set of mulching blades at Lowes and thought I'd try em out . I used a chunk of firewood to loosen the old blades but I really like the c-clamp idea and will use one next time . Thanks for the useful tip . The mulching blades work pretty well too .
C clamp: awesome idea. I came just to figure out which way to turn the freaking wrench! So, clearly, I needed all the recommendations you made. Thanks, man!
Thanks for the video. The homemade ramps and C clamp are great ideas. The major things I do differently is 1) to have a jack stand under the mower for safety reasons. And 2) clean the mower deck while the old blades are off and before the new ones are installed. It makes cleaning the deck easier and safer. The blades are not in the way and there is no worry about being cut by the blades. Always wear eye protection and gloves. PEACE.
Both good ideas. I have no idea why I did the cleaning with the blades on. I always do it after they are off. 95 degree heat may have affected my brain lol.
Nice ramps!! That will make it easy for me to spray rust preventative on deck for storage. If you don’t want to replace your deck, spray it before winter storage.
I guess your advice to spray the deck with a rust prevention or paint it on is a good idea. Had to replace my deck on my John Deere today. I ll get the grass out with a blower to help also. Farmers use that rust prevention stuff. It's clear green liquid freezes rust great.
Wow !! Im so glad i put your video on. I was trying to figure out how to remove the bolt. Then after seeing your video it didn't take long after that. So thank you for posting it.
Hey Flip Great video! I m only in my 2nd year of my Troybilt Pony 42, so I m gonna use this video instead of taking out the entire deck to sharpen the blades. I hit a few rocks and saw the dents. I ve sharpened blades before, I understand about the balance issue. YOUR VIDEO LOOKS TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL!! You have to be a video professional or have one operating your cam! (former steadicam op here)
Ha! Definitely not a professional. Just a guy with a lawn mower and a camcorder. Thank you for the kind words, though! What is a steadicam op? I don't even know....
Thanks for this video. Just bought my first home and was given this exact mower used. Wondering how the heck I was gonna sharpen/replace the blades. Super helpful video.
I have a brand new riding mower. Before I used it, I removed the deck and the blades. I sprayed the underside of the deck with rubberized undercoating. I also sprayed the top wells where the blades attach. Those are the recessed areas where the spindles go through. If I don't have time to clean off the grass, I don't worry because the moisture cannot get to the metal. There are also some coating sprays that will do the same. I used that other spray to cover the rest of the top. Yearly maintenance needed to keep the deck clear of wet grass which causes rust. A barrier is the answer.
Since making this video I have painted under my deck as well. Not the rubberized material you are talking about but just some rust-oleum. I may do a video on that this spring! It's definitely a good idea.
Very useful information. I bought my first riding lawn mower 2 years ago and I have always done my own maintenance on my push mowers, so I was wondering the best way to take the blades off and sharpen them.
Great video, the C-clamp works really well. I put a piece of pvc over the end of my wrench to get enough length to turn the nuts (I don't have a breaker bar). They are on tight all right.
Thanks Dude! I really appreciate the time you took making this video. Your tip on the C-clamp will be used when I change my blades this weekend. I have the Troy-bilt Bronco model, but I'm sure the same method can be used! Great job explaining and executing this task! 2 thumbs Up!
I really love this video!!! I got a new Troy-Bilt Bronco which didn't come with the mulch kit so I ordered one and the installation process included removing the mower deck!!! Oh Hell No! There has to be a better way! and "Voila" I ran across your video!!! Brilliant..Thank you so much!!!
I like the C clamp & block of wood Idea, time for me to change/ sharpen my blades also, I may try the Gator blades also, heard alott about them, I have a Snapper Z turn mower, your idea should make things much easier.....
I always add anti seize on the threads of the spindle shaft and where the blade touches the nut and the spindle. This facilitates easy removal the next time you need to remove the nut.
Subbed about 30 seconds in. I have an older model troy bilt bronco and I bent the blades recently on a tree root 😒😬 so many trees on my property. Thank you so much for this DIY replacing blades video. I have a C clamp from doing brakes on my vehicles, a torque wrench (hopefully the 3/8 drive works) and metal truck ramps that I will try to make work to do this right now.
That looked so easy. I already have my mowing deck off, it has baling twine caught on it & the blades need changed! The socket wrench I have is only like 5" long so it's just not cutting it!!
I wish I'd seen this BEFORE I helped my husband get 3 blades off his mower. At least I knew to take off the spark plugs :-). Thanks for a lot of great tips.
Clever ramp design.... I do basically the same thing using 2"X4" blocks on the blades. I might add that on my machine, a Kubota TG1860, the deck has three blades which need to be aligned in a certain pattern when in their tightened position. I presume this is to maximize balance when in operation.
The c clamp method is the way to go. Just saw this today after I swapped one blade and on the other the block of wood did not work at all in any configuration. C clamp is AOK !!!!!! Thanks for the video.
I did mine with 2 paint buckets and a screw/scissor car jack and just hold the blade. If bolt/nut is too tight, I use a closed end wrench with another wrench which hooks together ene to end to give you more leverage. Always use WD-40 ETC... on the nuts/bolts to keep rust, dust and heat from making the job harder next time.
I really liked this video. That c clamp method is gonna save my ass. I tried a couple other ways and it just wasn't working but I'm pretty confident it'll work now using your method.
Thanks, glad I could help. Hope it works for ya. I think it will!
Fix it Flip finally ended up getting out there and trying the c clamp method and it worked unbelievably well. I wasn't too sure it'd hold up cause my nut was super stuck but it held up like a champ and I got the blades changed in less than ten minutes start to finish. Thank you so much man.
That's what I like to hear! Glad it worked for ya!
I was gonna make a rude remark about the ramp but I like cramps part... cause I have a ride mower 😂😂😂😂
Well thanks for not making the rude remark. There are enough on here already. lol
At my tender age of 82 I followed your instructions and changed my first set of mower blades. Old folks can learn new things. Thank you for your help.
That's awesome! I'm glad I could help. No problem and great work!
Thank you so much for this video, 37 yr old woman here and just changed the blades with ease. Piece of advice for anyone who needs the wood pieces and can't find any....lowes floor samples work just as good and for free :)
No problem and good tip!
It’s nice to see that there are other females that work on their own stuff…. #girlpower 💪🏽
The ramps are truly cool. Finally a good, sensible, regular dude fixing his mower type video.
Ha ha, thanks for the kind words!
You sir are my hero! I am a 64 yr. old female having a really hard time understanding how to use a Ratchet wrench. I needed the blades changed on my J D riding mower with no one available to help me. I found your video , and watched it 3 times. I did exactly as you said using a 30 year old wrench. With the help of a metal cheater bar, I was able to remove the nuts just as you showed. New ones are on tight, no vibrations and everything sounds fine. Thank You for taking the time to so every single thing to do.
That is awesome! This makes me very happy! Nice job getting the job done, and smart move using the cheater bar!! Glad I could help.
Thank you so much!! When my husband died all my help died with him so I have to learn to do these things for myself. Your instructions are easy to follow and a Godsend!
I'm sorry for your loss but glad I could help! Comments like these are why I do these videos!
I've changed mine a few times without removing the deck but this is the most sensible & direct video that I've seen. Congrats on your application & instructional skills!
Thank you very much!
Put my new Gator blades on with my impact wrench, but didn't feel comfortable not knowing if they were torqued down at 50 lbs. foot per John Deere manual for my Z335M zero turn mower. Was looking for another way to keep the blades from spinning when I used my torque wrench, as I did not have a spare 2x4 lying in garage. I searched TH-cam for ideas, and came upon your genius of an idea. I had just found a C-clamp in my toolbox the week before. It worked like a charm and I was able to finally get my yard cut with the new blades. THANK-YOU FLIP!!!
Awesome, and no problem, Clark! Glad to hear it!
Thank you so much for this video. Me and my nine year old tried to get the second blade for 30 to 45 minutes and we couldn’t get it.
Stopped and prayed. Praise the Lord. We watched your video that C clamp method was the best way to do it and we did it in few minutes. Blessings to you and your family.
Proverbs 3:1-6.
This comment warmed my heart. So glad I could help. And I looked up the verse. Great verse.
It's great to watch a video made by someone who knows what he is doing and describes the process in detail.
Thanks for the kind words.
May 29, 23. Thank you so much. I am a 64 yr old woman who likes to do thing's myself. This morning while mowing the belt came off my troy bronco. You did a fantastic job explaining how to put it back on. Thank you from Shelby MT!!!!
No problem! Glad you got it fixed!
I actually did it late yesterday and all went very well. Removed as you suggested and resharpened and reinstalled. Thanks for the lesson. Gook me about an hour. I'm an old guy, 74, but got it done.
No problem and nice job getting the project done! Always feels good to a job like this done on your own!
A floor jack and impact gun will do the same
@@miketipton5001 That's correct. I use an impact in many of my mower videos.
Hey man, cant thank you enough for this video. I ran over a bbq grill grate and it was wrapped around blade shaft. I didn't have anything to cut it away and fought with trying to get the blade nut off for 15 min before coming inside and finding this video. You bailed me out of a bad situation and I really appreciate you.
Hey, no problem, glad I could help. Sorry you ran that over. We've all be there before. I've sure hit a few things in my day. When you cut a lot it happens.
Damn near cut my pinky off trying to hold the blades and after watching the vids i now have a level deck, mower ramps, new blades, and 10 fingers. Thanks bud. Good vids
That's what I like to hear. Glad I could help, man. Happy mowing.
This was gold. Thank you very much. I didn’t want to take the whole thing out just to change the blades. First time lawn mower user here
No problem, glad I could help!
Excellent video. I am installing a mulch kit, new blades and a block to keep grass from feeding out of the deck. This video made the whole job easier!
Thank you and glad I could help!
I just bought a bronco and I watched EVERYTHING you did. You are a GOOD TEACHER. CHEERS!
Thank you, William! I appreciate the kind words and glad I could help. Cheers!
Everybody needs a hero. Today, you are mine, thank you for showing me how to do this!!
🤣🤣 Not all heroes wear capes. No problem.
Glad I came across this. I'm a single 61 year lady fixing to attempt to change my lawn mower blades on my Troy-Bilt 2011 bronco riding lawn mower that's been taking very good care of . Keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
You've got this! Let me know if you have any questions!
@@fixitFlip . Thank you for the response back . Unfortunately I wasn't able to change the blades because I couldn't get the nuts loosened up . I even sprayed WD-40 and that didn't work so I cleaned that off and went and bought some CRC Freeze-Off and still have gotten them off . I'm using the size socket I looked it up and it's in the book on my 2011 Troy-Bilt bronco yep still have the book on it matte of it still looks just about new . I've learned to do everything else on it but change the blades ugh 😩 .I don't have anyone to help me with this I've lost my whole family and i have to cut this 3 acres of land I live on with my 3 beautiful dogs if not then I have to worry about rattlesnakes coyotes and foxes coming on me . Don't know what to do now ugh 😫
I'm sorry to hear this. Check out my video on my Ego blades. They were really stuck on with Loc Tite. I go over a couple ways to get the bolt out. A long breaker bar from Harbor Freight and even a pipe on the end would do wonders. You can also spray it with some PB Blaster to help loosen it and then some anti-seize once you get it off so it won't get stuck again. Let me know if that works. Here is my video on the Ego blades: th-cam.com/video/MUg61Ykc11A/w-d-xo.html@@debmcgee9016
You helped me with a simple question I had concerning this matter, AND surprised me with an idea I much needed. I am a very mechanical guy and changing the blades seemed very straight forward, but I didn't know if the threads were left or right hand. (I reflect back to the midsize Dodges of the mid sixties). You cleared that up. What surprised me was your "C" clamp idea! Great job young man, and wonderfully clear auditory! Thank you immensely!
Wow, thank you very much for the compliment! I truly appreciate it. And glad I could help!
I was originally looking for a video on changing my PTO cable. After viewing a video on that subject, I saw your video on the sidebar. I have to say this is one of the most useful I've seen in a while. The ramp is brilliant and was easy to make. However, I used the removable sections the ramp for my rear wheel chocks. The C-clamp blade stop was one of those 'why the hell didn't I think of that before' solutions. One thing I have done for many years is to apply anti-seize paste to the blade nut threads. This is due to the first time I tried to remove the blades from my first riding mower, the nuts were completely seized up, requiring an impact wrench to bust them loose. Haven't had the issue since.
Yes, anti-seize is a great idea in this situation. And I actually started using the bottom part of the ramp as chocks shortly after this video as you can see in this one here. Thanks for stopping by! th-cam.com/video/KT9MX1ibk90/w-d-xo.html
Dude the c clamp with the piece of 2x4 is genius! Good job bro!!!
Thank you sir!
This video really helped me by making me realize I was a moo-ron. I bought a blade-blocking clamp specifically designed for mowers. It worked fine on my little mower, but I have a heck of a time keeping it in place on my big 30” self-propelled TORO walk-behind. Now I realize that the clamp is nothing but a C clamp, and they come in any size you want. My life has just been made a bit easier!
Glad I could help. Harbor Freight has good prices on all sizes of c clamps. That's where I get mine.
I don't own a riding mower but I really like your creativity with the cutaway ramps, gave me an idea for how to solve another problem. C-Clamp method is another good idea. Well done video, short and to the point.
Thank you, sir. I appreciate the kind words. Glad I could help.
Great video, right to the point! One thing I find when it comes to cleaning the grass off the bottom of the deck, is after you scrape all the grass off, spray the underside of the deck with some WD40, it will make it easier to remove the grass and keep it cleaner and help with rusting from the wet grass, think of it like spraying cooking spray on a frying pan to help prevent sticking, I have been doing it for years and it works like a charm:) One again thanks for making this excellent video.
Thank you for the compliment and good tip with the WD40!
I clean my mower after every cutting and I apply WD-40 to the entire mower minus the belts of course. WD stands for Water Displacement and it keeps the mower from holding moister that causes rust and sticky parts. WD also keeps the mower clean and shiny!
That’s a damn good tip. Thanks!
Excellent video. I've had a riding mower for 10 years, but still learned handy tricks from you. Thank you for posting this.
Wow, thank you for the compliment! I'm glad I could help.
61 year old woman whose visually impaired I ran over an extension cord and it's up above my blade on one side and after watching your video I was able to remove the blade and removed the extension cord with no problems I love the way you explain things and such a simple way that anyone can
Wow, comments like these are why I do this. So glad I could help and proud of you for taking on the project! Nice work!
@@fixitFlip thank you could tell me how to frame a wall next
@@reginawaddell6426 Ha! Now that's a whole other story, lol.
Flip, very impressed with setting a C-clamp to block the blade turning. That was the only problem I had encountered to doing that task myself. I sprung for a hydralic jack and stands for other car related jobs. I like your wooden stands too.
Thanks, I appreciate it! Your jack and stands will come in hand plenty down the road I'm sure.
I have the gator blades on my cub cadet for over a year now and love them and changing out troy built blades to them .They are heavier blades and chop the grass up so much smaller .I just check my cub cadet blades and they are still looking new .I have 3 acres to mow ,so 2 mowers are better than 1 .I also got a new string trimmer and started to use the true fuel and amazed that I can edge my whole property on 1 tank of fuel when with gas it took 2 tanks .I bought it because they say it makes the trimmers last longer .2 pulls and my troy built trimmer starts up every time .It is now a year old .Second summer for it .I have a long mowing season living in southside VA .My mowers only get a 3 month rest if they are lucky .Your video is great .
Thank you, I appreciate it. That is a long mowing season! Never tried the true fuel, that is interesting.
@@fixitFlip I had never used it either and only used gas and oil .I found out that the number one thing killing lawn equipment is this new ethanol fuel .I even added the additive that helps with ethanol gas but still had problems .There is only 1 gas station here that sells non ethanol gas .So true fuel was easier to buy than going out of my way to get gas .I get a whole can for 3.99 and since the problems I was having with my old string trimmer has stopped .I had already bought a new string trimmer so now have 2 of them that work great .Yea long season and feels like it gets longer every year .But taxes here better than NJ taxes after I retired .1 thousand here 3 acres and 15 thousand back in NJ for less than an acre .Bets is I only paid 15 thousand for 3 acres and put a modular home on it .I had dirt and a house back then
The C clamp method worked, i was not having any success with one of my blades this and a break bar saved my butt. IT WORKS
Good, glad it worked for you!
Best blade changing method I've ever seen! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you and no problem!
Man, one of blade nuts was really stuck hard. The ends of the blades were rather torn up as well and the blade kept slipping past the clamp. I finally clamped a small piece of 2x4 INSIDE as well as outside the cover and used a short breaker pipe over the ratchet handle AND a longer breaker rod inside the pipe. It finally broke loose. I ended up mowing most of the back yard with a large flashlight, lol! It got dark fighting the nut off. I also made something sort of like your lift. I always save wood pieces. It worked great! I did not have to bolt the two parts together. I used a large block in front of both of the stand parts. I am real surprised I did not knock the mower off the lift! Thanks! You are awesome!
That's awesome, I'm glad it worked for you! They can get really stuck sometimes, that's for sure! Good idea with the pipe.
Use a cheater bar or impact driver
Buy a Fenix headlamp! You will thank me later!
Did you apply anti seize compound to the spindle threads when you installed the new blade? This will make it so easy to remove that nut the next time.
@@77Avadon77 that IS a cheater bar what I did.
Having the same type and model as yours saved me from a lot doubt to which direction I needed to go ===> Clockwise to loosen, Counter-clockwise to tighten though I had to use a six foot metal pole to finally break them free! Thanks a bunch!!
6-foot pole! That's impressive!
Seemed pretty straight forward but you happen to have my exact unit so a rolled the clip. Low and behold.....there's the "C" clamp blade stop. An old dog learns a new trick. I am most grateful sir.......thank you for posting.
Great! I am glad you found something useful. Happy mowing!
I have a mulch baffle on mine and run your engine a little high and you'll be impressed how well the Gator Blades mulch up the clippings.😊😊
I'm going to do that this fall when the leaves come down.
Thank you for this! Straight to the job and get it done. No long narrative like reading a recipe online. I stumbled through it but came to check which direction I need to turn the nuts to detach the blade.
Good work bro!
Thank you sir. That’s what I am shooting for! Skip the mumbo jumbo! 👍🏻
@@fixitFlip wish to had one on tightening the belt!
BY FAR BEST VIDEO ON THIS..i will follow it to the T. I get mine soon
Thank you for the kind words.
Your c clamp idea is a game changer! Thank you!
You're welcome! Glad it helped!
Which way toremovebladesoncraftsman54” mower. Clockoranticlock
I bought a electric winch to raise the front of the mower. Hook it to a rafter in the garage. Man is that the ticket. No crawling underneath to clean the deck and change the blades. Hated the job of working underneath to clean the deck. So nice now. And u can just use an impact gun to zip the bolts out. So much easier.
Sounds like an awesome setup you have!
Really like the C clamp idea! Great video. Although it probably would be easier to scrape the grass off the deck when the blades were off.
Yes I normally do. Not sure why I did things out of order in this video. I have a video on my channel all about cleaning and repainting your deck.
Thanks for the easy to understand and follow directions. I think I damaged something on my riding mower when I drove over a metal cover in my yard. It helps me make repairs when I can view the steps I will need to take step by step with photos. My husband passed away a year ago and I am learning how to repair things around the house. Thanks again:) Teresa
So sorry to hear about your husband. But I'm glad I was able to help in some small way!
Love the c-clamp idea! Only thing different I might do is put some anti-seize on the spindle threads before installing the new blades.
Thanks, and yep, that's a good idea as well!
Perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I always used the 2x4 to stop the blade. The clamp is great.
Great. Glad I could help.
I like it that your mower, truck,and shirt match. Good video.
Ha ha, I wish I could say I planned that.
Good video and informative. I like to remove the key also from the ignition for an added safety feature. Adding anti seize to those blade bolt threads helps also when removing the blades in the future. Thanks again
No problem. And yes, the anti seize is a great idea.
awesome new subscriber here & Wish I had of found uR Video yesterday bc now I got to put my deck back under after new blade change THANKS Great Tips & Tricks
Great, welcome aboard. Glad I could help out!
Hey, Fix. This is an awesome video. Loved your attention to safety! Many great tips, very well explained and super camera work.
Wow, thanks for the compliments!
Thanks for posting this! I just swapped the blades on my Troy Built Pony and was having a hell of a time getting the nut loose until I watched your video.
No problem, glad I could help.
I liked the fact he mentioned the nut size, I can now check if I have a socket etc that size good video thank you
Thanks. I try to be as helpful as possible.
Good work young man. The clamp is great idea.
Thank you, sir!
Very helpful! The C-clamp trick is definitely going into my repertoire, and I may build a set of those ramps to use in place of my Harbor Freight ATV/Mower lift.
Thanks, I'm sure that lift does the job as well! Th C-clamp trick comes in handy.
I just changed the blades on my Husqvarna tractor - I had hit a nice sized rock and bent the left one pretty bad . I was able to remove and mostly straighten it and finish the job but I could see that my original blades were pretty well shot . The bent one was gone so time for new ones anyway . I found a set of mulching blades at Lowes and thought I'd try em out . I used a chunk of firewood to loosen the old blades but I really like the c-clamp idea and will use one next time . Thanks for the useful tip . The mulching blades work pretty well too .
Yes, I love my gator blades. I will probably never switch back! The c-clamp trick works wonders!
C clamp: awesome idea. I came just to figure out which way to turn the freaking wrench! So, clearly, I needed all the recommendations you made. Thanks, man!
Ha ha, glad I could help!
The nut is tightened the opposite of what you're used to. Lefty Tighty - Righty Loosey.
George from Texas cool, thanks man.
@@stevensaldutti2408 It's the same as any other nut. Righty tighty Lefty loosey.
I get that, but when it's upside down I sorts second guess myself.
Thanks for the video. The homemade ramps and C clamp are great ideas. The major things I do differently is 1) to have a jack stand under the mower for safety reasons. And 2) clean the mower deck while the old blades are off and before the new ones are installed. It makes cleaning the deck easier and safer. The blades are not in the way and there is no worry about being cut by the blades. Always wear eye protection and gloves. PEACE.
Both good ideas. I have no idea why I did the cleaning with the blades on. I always do it after they are off. 95 degree heat may have affected my brain lol.
Great ideas and demo! This is a chore that I hate, but you just made it a lot easier for me.
Thanks, glad I could help.
The best I've seen. It make all the sense in the world ! Great information and easy to follow instructions. Thanks for your easy to follow fix.
Thank you very much! Hope it works out for you!
Nice ramps!! That will make it easy for me to spray rust preventative on deck for storage.
If you don’t want to replace your deck, spray it before winter storage.
Thanks and good idea!
I guess your advice to spray the deck with a rust prevention or paint it on is a good idea. Had to replace my deck on my John Deere today. I ll get the grass out with a blower to help also. Farmers use that rust prevention stuff. It's clear green liquid freezes rust great.
No BS and this video is correct and easy to follow. Secret: this is the same way most hardware store service centers do it.
Thank you!
Wow !! Im so glad i put your video on. I was trying to figure out how to remove the bolt. Then after seeing your video it didn't take long after that. So thank you for posting it.
Awesome, and no problem. Glad I could help!
Thanks, Flip. Common sense and no drama - and it works!
Thank you! 👍🏻
Hey Flip Great video! I m only in my 2nd year of my Troybilt Pony 42, so I m gonna use this video instead of taking out the entire deck to sharpen the blades. I hit a few rocks and saw the dents. I ve sharpened blades before, I understand about the balance issue. YOUR VIDEO LOOKS TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL!! You have to be a video professional or have one operating your cam! (former steadicam op here)
Ha! Definitely not a professional. Just a guy with a lawn mower and a camcorder. Thank you for the kind words, though! What is a steadicam op? I don't even know....
Thanks for this video. Just bought my first home and was given this exact mower used. Wondering how the heck I was gonna sharpen/replace the blades. Super helpful video.
Glad I could help. Happy mowing!
I have a brand new riding mower. Before I used it, I removed the deck and the blades. I sprayed the underside of the deck with rubberized undercoating. I also sprayed the top wells where the blades attach. Those are the recessed areas where the spindles go through. If I don't have time to clean off the grass, I don't worry because the moisture cannot get to the metal. There are also some coating sprays that will do the same. I used that other spray to cover the rest of the top. Yearly maintenance needed to keep the deck clear of wet grass which causes rust. A barrier is the answer.
Since making this video I have painted under my deck as well. Not the rubberized material you are talking about but just some rust-oleum. I may do a video on that this spring! It's definitely a good idea.
Thanks a lot! Followed your way and had my blades replaced. Way easier than removing the deck. And the c clamp method is really helpful.
No problem. Glad I could help.
Thank you for sharing your inventive skill and imagination with the application of home made accessories. This video gets my vote! A+
Thanks a lot! I appreciate the A+
Very useful information. I bought my first riding lawn mower 2 years ago and I have always done my own maintenance on my push mowers, so I was wondering the best way to take the blades off and sharpen them.
Glad it helped!
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Nice tips! C clamp method looks like a winner! I clean my deck while the blade is off, a little more room under there to do it then
Thanks! Yes, definitely easier to clean under the deck with the blade off. That's how I did it this past spring.
Darn good stuff....c-clamp and ramps are excellent and great for people like me that have initiative but little imagination. Thanks.
Ha ha thank you, I appreciate it!
Great video, the C-clamp works really well. I put a piece of pvc over the end of my wrench to get enough length to turn the nuts (I don't have a breaker bar). They are on tight all right.
Awesome, glad it worked for you. Yeah, I have a pipe laying around in case I need some extra leverage from time to time.
Thanks Dude! I really appreciate the time you took making this video. Your tip on the C-clamp will be used when I change my blades this weekend. I have the Troy-bilt Bronco model, but I'm sure the same method can be used! Great job explaining and executing this task! 2 thumbs Up!
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! It should work just fine on the Bronco!
Thank you so much for bringing this video 🙏
You're welcome!
thanks for the idea , i was originally goong to jack it up and put cinder blocks under th front . the hell with taking the deck off !!
No problem!
I really love this video!!! I got a new Troy-Bilt Bronco which didn't come with the mulch kit so I ordered one and the installation process included removing the mower deck!!! Oh Hell No! There has to be a better way! and "Voila" I ran across your video!!! Brilliant..Thank you so much!!!
Thank you for the kind words and glad it helped!
Always meant to get a breaker bar for this job. Spent too many years wailing on a combination wrench with a hammer. Time for a Harbor Freight run..
That's where I got mine. 👍👍
duenge u can double ur wrenches for leverage. 🙄
Could not remove one of my blades just tried the clamp and block of wood and it worked great thanks for the great tip
Awesome, glad I could help!
I like the C clamp & block of wood Idea, time for me to change/ sharpen my blades also, I may try the Gator blades also, heard alott about them, I have a Snapper Z turn mower, your idea should make things much easier.....
I've been very happy with the gator blades. Snapper Z turn, very nice!! Hope it makes things easier for you.
Wow such a smooth operation and complete and clear instructions. Brilliant. Thanks.
What a great compliment! Thank you!
Wow! I did this and it worked perfect! Thanks man.
Glad I could help. Love hearing things like this!
Thanks for the tip of using a clamp to stabilize the blade. Great idea. I was really struggling to remove the blade using a block. Clamp made it easy
Great, glad I could help.
great video. We used the C clamp method after trying at least 5 other ways that kept moving and shifting. THANKS FOR THE TIP !
No problem, glad it helped!
I’m really glad I watched this. The c-clamp made it so much easier. Thanks!
No problem. Glad I could help.
Great Video, Precise and Informative Flip! Thanks for the Clip. I really need to make one of those Ramps! Is there a clip for that?
Thank you! There sure is a video for that. Right here is a tutorial on how to make them:
th-cam.com/video/SJD6qVtz1uM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for the post. This is MUCH better than the instructions in the Operator's Manual.
No problem. Glad I could help.
I always add anti seize on the threads of the spindle shaft and where the blade touches the nut and the spindle. This facilitates easy removal the next time you need to remove the nut.
Yes, that's always a good idea as well!
Subbed about 30 seconds in. I have an older model troy bilt bronco and I bent the blades recently on a tree root 😒😬 so many trees on my property. Thank you so much for this DIY replacing blades video. I have a C clamp from doing brakes on my vehicles, a torque wrench (hopefully the 3/8 drive works) and metal truck ramps that I will try to make work to do this right now.
That should work! Thanks for the sub!
That looked so easy. I already have my mowing deck off, it has baling twine caught on it & the blades need changed! The socket wrench I have is only like 5" long so it's just not cutting it!!
Yeah, a breaker bar would give you some extra leverage. Helps a lot!
Yup, good tip lyerlyman!
Easy to understand step by step instructions, lawn looked pretty good, thanks
No problem. Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for the C-clamp tip, that saved my neighbors from hearing a tremendous amount of profanity,
😂😂 No problem. I feel your pain.
I wish I'd seen this BEFORE I helped my husband get 3 blades off his mower. At least I knew to take off the spark plugs :-). Thanks for a lot of great tips.
Ha ha, well I'm glad you got them off. Now you know for next time!!
@@fixitFlip The clamp is on order! Thanks again.
@@TaraTanaka No problem!
Use anti-seize liberally on those shaft nuts or you will fight them every time they need to come off.
Dealing with that now
Hey man, thanks for the help my boss is blowing a fuse on matenence and having me take apart a bunch of stuff ive never worked with before.
No problem. Glad I could help. Good luck with the boss, lol.
Clever ramp design.... I do basically the same thing using 2"X4" blocks on the blades. I might add that on my machine, a Kubota TG1860, the deck has three blades which need to be aligned in a certain pattern when in their tightened position. I presume this is to maximize balance when in operation.
Thank you!
The c clamp method is the way to go. Just saw this today after I swapped one blade and on the other the block of wood did not work at all in any configuration. C clamp is AOK !!!!!! Thanks for the video.
Right on, Frank. No problem, glad I could help! 👌🏻
Much easier to clean the deck before installing the blades, but otherwise a good video. Thank you. : )
Thanks!
And there the know it all
Great tips. The clamp trick worked great. Thanks. You turned an hour job into about twenty minutes.
No problem!
Now that's a neat and tidy lawn fit for Hank Hill, I tell ya what
Lol
I did mine with 2 paint buckets and a screw/scissor car jack and just hold the blade. If bolt/nut is too tight, I use a closed end wrench with another wrench which hooks together ene to end to give you more leverage. Always use WD-40 ETC... on the nuts/bolts to keep rust, dust and heat from making the job harder next time.
That works too!
Thank you for suggesting the c-clamp method. Will save me future frustrations trying to block the blade
No problem. It's a lot easier than the wood blocks!
Have a happy and safe 4th of July bud> cheers man
Thank you sir!
Thank you for the clamp idea, this saved the day and about an hours frustration trying to get the left blade off.
No problem. Glad I could help!
I will be using that C clamp Idea next time. Thanks!
You're welcome. Hope it helps!