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How are you guys getting to your ZT blades? The first time I used my floor jack, but that barely got it high enough to remove the blades. Been looking @ a Smittybilt Trail Jack to get more height.

I use my floor jack and an 8x8 block of wood I got off a construction site.

I take the deck off. Takes less time then a jack or the mower lifts. Maybe 2 minutes off 2 minutes on. And I can get a good look at everything.

I have a Harbor Freight lawn mower lift. Paid $80 for it, works great. Its on sale tomorrow (Labor Day) for $75 using their 25% off coupon. Picks up the front end to about 45 degrees. Blade changes take 5 minutes, mostly because I move slow in my old age!

If I'm on a job we pull mower half way up the tailgate before the back tires hit it and stop the mower there.Gives plenty room and a 15/16 wrench 5 mins back mowing. Now at home I have a mow jack I purchased at tractor supply company.

Not sure exactly what you are changing them on but we change three sets on our Tiger Cat Scags some times twice a day and we use a floor jack under the front of the deck. Have been for a couple of years now. We can change the blades in less than 10 minutes max.

Floor jack here too.

A buddy of mine from work gave me a 1968 Chevy bumper jack. Couple of 2 X 6's screwed together for the proper height, works great.

Engine lift crane, Yard crane, block & tackle over first floor verandah, 14" truck ramps ( must be flat topped ), axle stands under the caster mounts lifting the mower with piano straps and even 1/2 way up the trailer ramp.
Have used them all at one time or another.
Ramps can get in the way of the blade nuts so axle stands are my prefferred on site method.
Slip a strap over my shoulder and hook it to the caster wheels, shorten the straps to give a good lift with my knees and kick in the axle stands.
ZTR's are very light on the front end.
If I have brought them I reverse the rear wheels onto the ramps first .
Now lifting the back, that is totally different.

Lifting the back: same, floor jack.

7394 said:

Lifting the back: same, floor jack.

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Yeah , but you ain't going to lift it with a strap over your shoulders.
And if you can I surely don't want to bump into you in a dark alley :laughing:

Bert- True, back is too heavy for strap over shoulders lift for me as well.

I can lift it, but barely to any height & not for long. But my Z is small..

At 1100 lbs the mower is too heavy for a light weight lift. I tried various jacks and jack stands, then a lawnmower lift, and now have settled on using metal car ramps and solid rubber wheel chocks. Both from Harbor Freight. The metal ramps are just a tad higher than the poly molded ones and its easier for me to access the center blade from the front. I do have to stop short on the left side so I can drop my left side blade bolt out without binding on the ramp. Once I figured this out its been much easier to do. Like a number of others I tried the electric cordless impact to remove and retighten the blade bolts and its worked out fantastic for me. No backup wrench required and no blade slippage in use. So far so good.

If you sit the ramps on a length of upside down carpet you will be able to turn them 90 deg so they are out of the way of the blade bolt.
Most cars go a tad over 2000 lbs ( 1 ton ) and the luxury ones weigh in a bit over 2 ton ( 4400 lbs) so almost any car jack will lift any ride on.
Problem usually is height hence the earlier reply using a block of hardwood on the jack.

truck jack with a little steel spacer I purpose welded up just for this.
One inch wrench on the spindle and 15/16" on the nut
You could use a little wood block to jam the blades and skip the one inch wrench

Somebody said they remove the deck - - - - - - REALLY? What model mower is this. The deck on my 1500 48" cut zero turn ain't coming off. no way no how.

RaulMcCai said:

truck jack with a little steel spacer I purpose welded up just for this. One inch wrench on the spindle and 15/16" on the nut You could use a little wood block to jam the blades and skip the one inch wrench Somebody said they remove the deck - - - - - - REALLY? What model mower is this. The deck on my 1500 48" cut zero turn ain't coming off. no way no how.

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Are you saying the deck on your mower can not be taken off?
I can remove my toro decks in half the time it takes to get the jack ready.
Pull the front pins lift deck off of the rear hangers take belt off pto. Back mower up over the deck. Less then one minute.
Now I can check all my pulleys and lube everything under the mower.

I would never remove my deck from my z master. It weighs over 250 pounds . with the foot plate folded up I can access every pulley and housing assembly.

BoylermanCT said:

I have a Harbor Freight lawn mower lift. Paid $80 for it, works great. Its on sale tomorrow (Labor Day) for $75 using their 25% off coupon. Picks up the front end to about 45 degrees. Blade changes take 5 minutes, mostly because I move slow in my old age!

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Just thought I would ask you about the lift. Mine too came from HF and can not get the jack to raise up the mower deck. have tried to bleed and even went to youtube and still no luck. what am I missing? sure hope you can shed some light on this thing. Thank you in advance.

donelwell said:

Just thought I would ask you about the lift. Mine too came from HF and can not get the jack to raise up the mower deck. have tried to bleed and even went to youtube and still no luck. what am I missing? sure hope you can shed some light on this thing. Thank you in advance.

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Does it have oil in the pump?

2 1/2 ton automotive floor jack under the front edge of the mower deck. The deck comes up, contacts the deck up stops and the machine will raise up enough to do blade replacement on my Scag Tiger Cub. MoJack Pro for my Hustler X-ONE rear discharge machine as it stays at a cemetery with dirt floors in the sheds.

Hi jekjr,
I was at my local Scag dealer today and started drooling on a 52" Tiger Cat II!!!! I had to leave before I did something "bad" like sign a purchase order!!!!
"The "Colonel" as I sometimes call my bride of 49 years was sitting in my van waiting for me to "check on some parts" so to speak!!!!! I got the "look" as I got back into the van as she saw me looking at the new Scags, just can't get away with even a look!!!! Haha!!!!

donelwell said:

Just thought I would ask you about the lift. Mine too came from HF and can not get the jack to raise up the mower deck. have tried to bleed and even went to youtube and still no luck. what am I missing? sure hope you can shed some light on this thing. Thank you in advance.

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I've never had an issue with my lift. The release pedal controls a valve which lets the lift lower. I am thinking the valve is stuck open. Also check the lift locks on either side of the lift. Make sure they are disengaged.

jekjr said:

Does it have oil in the pump?

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yes, took small rubber plug out and put two full cans of water 5 gal, and pumped and would lift them but not the small lawnmower I have. I put what oil came out and put plug back in. any help? sorry cant get to computer everyday.