Changing blades on a John Deere disc.

[Steve in Boyne]

I have what I think is a John Deere disc. It is old with no markings, however it is still green. I am trying to replace the blades on the front row but am having trouble getting the nut off the outside end of the shaft or axle, not being able to determine where to hold it when I attempt to turn the nut. I have loosened all the nuts on the (yolks)of the shaft(axle). Any step by step procedure to take here? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...Steve

 

[thurlow]

BIG impact wrench is best; without it, you MAY be able to hold a spacer with a pipe wrench, but mostly likely they'll spin on the axle. Wedge a wooden 2 by between 2 or 3 blades and the frame and use a pipe wrench on the nut.........probably need a pipe on the pipe wrench.

 

[rrlund]

You've bent that strap iron tab back that bends over that nut haven't you?
Put a big pipe wrench or a chain wrench on one of the spools between the blades to hold it from turning.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Welcome to the forum. Have you looked at the other end of the gang? Some discs have a special wrench, that you put over the other end of the axle, to hold the "bolt" end, if you catch my drift. Most Of the time I have had luck with dropping the disc into the ground, and pulling it a little way, then try the nut, with a wrench on a spool, and one on the nut.

 

[msb]

Pipe wrench on the nut and smack it with a sledge hammer to take off and put back on.Use an old wrench.

 

[Steve in Boyne]

Dave. There is a type of rounded "dust cover" on the other end of the nut with no apparent way to get it off. There is very little clearance between this one and the one on the other side. The axle shaft rotates inside this cover. I have been advised to put a monkey wrench on the spacers but they just spin on the shaft. Thanks for the input.

 

[Doug Wi]

Nobody has suggested heating the nut. I have had very few come off without getting the nut hot.

 

[Ken Sweet]

Heat till cherry red and put the impact wrench to it. Ken Sweet

 

[flying belgian]

Throw a piece of chain around a the gang frame and weld the ends to the blade. If you don't have a welder you can drill a hole through the blade and bolt the chain to it. Your replacing the blade anyway so what's the difference.

 

[Anonymous-0]

May be a round axle.

 

[Anonymous-0]

You could chisel or cut the nut off. Just be careful to not damage the threads on the arbor bolt if you're reusing that.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Nature of the beast. Get some big pipe wrenches & a piece pipe to put over the wrench handle for added leverage. Heat it up if you have a torch. Believe me, there will be some skinned knuckles on this job.

 

[macbeth]

I heat the nut then take short pipe wrench , mine is a 24 inch with half the handle gone, and I just beat the wrench. It will shock the nut loose.

 

[showcrop]

As Anonymous-0 posted, pipes also.

 

[chcase]

I have what I think is a John Deere disc. It is old with no markings, however it is still green. I am trying to replace the blades on the front row but am having trouble getting the nut off the outside end of the shaft or axle, not being able to determine where to hold it when I attempt to turn the nut. I have loosened all the nuts on the (yolks)of the shaft(axle). Any step by step procedure to take here? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...Steve

Years ago I would put the disk into the ground and use a pipe wrench on a spacer spool and one one nut. Now I use a impact. Cheaper electric impacts are under a 100.00 A few times have had to heat the nut.Even a hand held torch using map gas will help break the bond.If you don't own a impact then call a buddy that does. It will make very short order of that job.

 

[DeltaRed]

All of the above... I have even had to cut the nut with a torch.Only cut one side,90 dregrees from the shaft..With enough finess you can cut clear through the nut and not damage threads. Use plenty of anti sieze compound when reassembleing.