ZD21 freewheeling blade, seeking advice for removal

[jbernal]

I have a ZD21 where the center blade is not tight enough and it freewheels on the axle but the bolt is super tight. Washer must be worn down and need replacement. Problem is that I can't get any leverage to hold the axle still so the tool I use on the bolt is irrelevant. I can get it out if I can get that axle fixed down somehow. Tried jamming some things in the belt to hold it still but it's no use. Anyone have an idea that will work? Thanks!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Air impact works real good for me.
NOT battery version, you need FAST action

 

[Flintknapper]

Clamp a 'vice grip' on the belt and it will jam against the pulley. Use an impact wrench to loosen nut/bolt. Check to see that the nut/bolt is not a 'left hand thread'.

 

[lugbolt]

they are not left hand thread. all RH.

use an impact wrench aka assault wrench. It's very hard to get them out with a hand wrench or ratchet/socket and even worse if the spindle shaft turns. If it's only the center one, run a screwdriver or prys through the u-joint and let it jam against the deck or frame, and that should hold it unless the gearbox is junk.

 

[jbernal]

they are not left hand thread. all RH.

use an impact wrench aka assault wrench. It's very hard to get them out with a hand wrench or ratchet/socket and even worse if the spindle shaft turns. If it's only the center one, run a screwdriver or prys through the u-joint and let it jam against the deck or frame, and that should hold it unless the gearbox is junk.

Didn't have enough room under there for my Shock-and-awe Assault Wrench but the part about the prybar in the u-joint gave me enough leverage to breaker-bar the bolt off. The crush-washers were spun. $11 later the new ones are in there and doing what they should be. Now I can mow without a mohawk. Many thanks!

 

[lugbolt]

here's a little bit of a laugh.

we know that Kubota is a japanese company, and a lot of their literature is originally written in japanese and then translated to Engrish for the US and canadian markets.

years ago the official nomenclature for those cupped washers was "corn, spring". Spring corn. I have no idea where the translation of that came from, I assume it was supposed to be "cone spring" but who knows. So for us grease monkeys in the shop, when we needed them, we'd just write "6 (or however many) spring corns" on the R/O and the parts guys would know exactly what we needed. The last 2 years I did it, they had a really high turnover rate so all the 'new guys' in parts would get to wondering what spring corns were.