Old JohnDeere 14SB 22 inch self propelle mower w/bad blade clutch. Bolt stripped

Cfs

Well-Known Member
I was gifted a 14SB. Silver cast aluminum deck and a 5 up Kawasaki engine and a blade clutch. I was told it needed a $150 repair and they just stuck it in their shed and did not run it for several years. I checked it for spark and it has spark, good clean oil and a newer spark plug. I sprayed some starting fluid and it took off and ran, but it howled and shook like a paint shaker. I flipped it over and found that the flange that has the bearing in it that the blade bolts to is cracked at one end and the blade was not able to sit level... Any way I attempted to remove the blade brake bolt...it's the one that has a female 5/16ths Allen slot in it.

I am trying to remove this bolt, I removed the pull starter and hooked a breaker bar to the flywheel nut. I am able to turn the bolt, it appears to be loosening for 2-3 turns and then it acts like the bolt or the crank is stripped. The bolt turns but it does not loosen any further, if I tighten it it will tighten and draw the head of the bolt in closer to the flange. The crankshaft is not turning...the breaker bar and 3/4 in socket are holding it firmly. This blade bolt has a head on it about the size of a 1\2 dollar and is shaped like a sombrero. I would like to remove the blade clutch and inspect the crankshaft and make sure it is not bent. I could use a dremel cutoff wheel and cut the flange in a spot or two and get it off
I welcome any input on getting the bolt completely backed out and any guidance on the terrible shaking it was doing. Can a blade clutch mower suffer a bent crank? I do not see any sign of impact on the blade. Could the cracked flange have been caused by a hit on a water pipe or curb etc. Hopefully someone has had a positive outcome in a similar situation.
Spit
 
I have determined that this is a Wagner 1piece blade clutch. The one with the 3 small springs on top of it. And it is a 21 inch mower not a 22. Hope this helps
Spit
 
So I guess I did not pay attention to the fact that this BBC is an early one piece design and the bolt I am trying to back all the way out is not removable. And the flange that the blade attaches to, cannot be separately replaced like it can on a two piece unit. Turns out that John Deere's service manual states that the engine and BBC need to be removed from the mower deck and disassembled off of the mower and replaced as a complete unit. It seems that there maybe a small retaining ring that is fitted onto the blade bolt in such a way that it prevents the bolt from being removed completely removed only loosened.
 
Sounds like you've nailed the diagnosis. That cracked flange is almost definitely why it's shaking like crazy.
Good luck with the project, hope you get it running smoothly.
 
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