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Author Topic: 3/4 inch bolt no match for rock  (Read 1821 times)

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Offline deadeye

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On Wednesday I was using the Swisher to clear trails when I hit a rock.  It  was a perfect hit on the bolt holding the swinging blade and rather than bounce over it, the head caught a ridge on the rock and snapped the bolt.  You can imagine how the off balance mower jumped around until I got it shut off.  I did this once before about 5 years ago.  This is one reason we have two brush mowers.  I went back to camp Near and Deer and got the DR brush mower to continue mowing without losing a half day for repairs.   

***I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.***

Offline Rebel SS

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Can ya step up to a higher grade bolt? Like a grade 8? Maybe it already is....just a suggestion. I've done that on various high-stress bolts in the past.

Offline Leech~~

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On Wednesday I was using the Swisher to clear trails when I hit a rock.  It  was a perfect hit on the bolt holding the swinging blade and rather than bounce over it, the head caught a ridge on the rock and snapped the bolt.  You can imagine how the off balance mower jumped around until I got it shut off.  I did this once before about 5 years ago.  This is one reason we have two brush mowers.  I went back to camp Near and Deer and got the DR brush mower to continue mowing without losing a half day for repairs.   

Dang, I bet you thought a Bear had snuck up on yea!   :laughroll:
Cooking over a open fire is all fun and games until someone losses a wiener!

Offline deadeye

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I can see two of the grade marks on the broken bolt.  They are too close to be a grade three so I'm pretty sure the one that snapped is a grade 8.  I'm glad it snapped rather than bent.  It could be a real bitch getting out a bent 3/4 bolt.   :rotflmao:
***I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.***

Offline HD

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Depending on who engineered it, that maybe in the design to be a sacrifice. If you go to a harder bolt, you may do more damage, that may cost more to repair.

Just a thought......
Mama always said, If you ain't got noth'in nice to say, don't say noth'in at all!

Offline Rebel SS

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That's a good point. Reminds me of my old fishing buddy, who replaced a shear pin on his boat prop with a solid small bolt. He nailed a rocky shoal later that year.....I'll stop there.

Offline glenn57

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Depending on who engineered it, that maybe in the design to be a sacrifice. If you go to a harder bolt, you may do more damage, that may cost more to repair.

Just a thought......
pretty much my thinking.its wht some of them a considered shear pins!!!!!!!
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Online Gunner55

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Subbed some soft bolts in for shear pins on blower augers many times. :happy1: Soft bolts = on hand & 4/ .25, OEM shear pins = not on hand & 4/$5 :bonk:
Life............. what happens while your making other plans. John Lennon