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Post by Angus in NCMO® on Jul 15, 2011 22:06:24 GMT -5
Just wondering how many acres everyone expects out of a set of blades on a disc mower / rotary mower? I think the ones pictured have around 500 acres on them. Prolly not gonna run them much longer, but may push them just to see how far they will go.
I sharpen with a sanding disc about every 40-80 acres depending on conditions, and I try not to sharpen the outer edge to keep from rounding off. It seems to me that square ends cut cleaner and take less hp/fuel.
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Post by Dave-ECIA on Jul 15, 2011 22:29:39 GMT -5
At a buck fifty a blade, I don't mess with trying to sharpen them. Most of my hay ground is on sand and it eats blades. I'm lucky to get 200 acres out of a set before they start getting a ragged cut and I flip them over.
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Post by Angus in NCMO® on Jul 15, 2011 22:35:18 GMT -5
I can sharpen a lot faster than I can change them -- that's the main reason I run them as long as I do.
As long as the outer end stays square, I keep sharpening. Seems to me like if I try and run much over 75 acres, fuel consumption starts creeping up and the cut starts getting pretty shaggy.
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Post by cornandbeef on Jul 15, 2011 22:39:16 GMT -5
I usually pick up something so 80 is good. If im lucky I get to flip them.
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Post by jd9600guru on Jul 15, 2011 23:35:10 GMT -5
Wow Angus you're getting every oz. of use outta those babies. Do you guys use a portable grinder to sharpen them?
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Post by Dave-ECIA on Jul 16, 2011 7:04:35 GMT -5
Ok, last night I had a moment..... don't know what I was thinking. I get 200 out of a blade, both sides. About 100 each side.
I never really thought about sharpening, just get out the air wrench at the shop and buzz through them. Can probably change/flip the set in my 1411 in about 10 minutes?? Might have to get out the mini angle grinder and see how fast I can sharpen.
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Post by Angus in NCMO® on Jul 16, 2011 7:58:43 GMT -5
Dave, if you're gonna sharpen 'em, this is what works best for me. By swiveling the blade back a little, it is much easier to touch them up. AND, with the small vice-grips, the blade don't swing completely under the turtle, making it impossible to get to.
guru, I've been using a hand grinder with a sanding disc. Pretty cheap way for me to get more useful life out of 'em. 1 sanding disc will sharpen 16 blades about 4 times for a pretty good return on on the sanding disc.
And when it's time to change them, I've been using an 18v Milwaukee 1/2" cordless impact. I keep it with me all the time for when the unexpected little obstacle takes out a couple blades.
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Post by Dave-ECIA on Jul 16, 2011 8:29:03 GMT -5
What brand is your mower?? My New Holland has the bolt running the other way. Head on top, nut in a countersink below. You need two wrenches to change??
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Post by jd9600guru on Jul 16, 2011 9:38:30 GMT -5
Ima guessin a kuhn/JD by seeing the bolt head guard on the drum
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Post by Angus in NCMO® on Jul 16, 2011 11:25:57 GMT -5
What brand is your mower?? My New Holland has the bolt running the other way. Head on top, nut in a countersink below. You need two wrenches to change?? Deere 946, actually very easy to change with an impact, just a few seconds after scratching out the gummy buildup with a screw driver or something similar. the bolt head on the underside is similar to a carriage bolt design only a hex pattern instead of square -- so only the impact is needed if no gum buildup. Like guru was saying, I'm just squeezing the value out of these blades instead of changing, especially since it's easy to bring them back to factory sharpness with a sander (as long as there's a square end). ;D |
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Post by Dave-ECIA on Jul 16, 2011 12:14:41 GMT -5
Ic. Sounds about as easy to change as the NH.
Don't have anything to mow again for a couple weeks. I'm gonna give the sharpening a try and see how it works.
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Post by kwestfarms on Jul 17, 2011 12:01:56 GMT -5
Most around here just change blades . Does't take long and blades not that expensive. We have rocks and if running too low or too fast ground speed , blades are not usually worth sharpening.....John
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Post by turdypointbuck on Jul 17, 2011 14:35:57 GMT -5
Got our first disc mower this year. Been over probably 200 ac or so and are still on the first blade. We mow mostly prairie hay with it. Usually give them a touch up with the grinder once a day, makes a world of difference if we do. I'd say i'll mow another day or 2 with with them, probably 50 acres then flip them over.
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Post by Roy@ranch on Jul 21, 2011 21:30:17 GMT -5
I probably run mine around 300 acres and pitch them. I don't think I have ever had any wore down that much. As far as time to sharpen vs replacing, I use a cordless impact and I can't imagine sharpening being any quicker, unless you count going and getting the blades. Your right on the square edges, for sure.
Roy
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Post by feelnrite on Jul 22, 2011 13:51:19 GMT -5
I dont really know how many acres I get but I do sharpen them and it does make a world of difference in the hp required and the cut. I remember the first Kuhn mower I bought the manual said to not run blades that were misshapened because it would cause the disk to be out of balance and wear bearings more. I dont really know about that but is what it said. I would change those if they were mine. I use a 4 inch grinder to sharpen with.
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