wood 42c blade question on 1948 Cub

[plumr]

I have a new to me 48 cub that came with a 42c woods mower. The blades are welded with a 30 degree up lift flair and are fixed solid with 3 bolts in each side. The cutting edges have been re welded in to the old blades. Is this normal? Where can i get new blades that will fit? What part number should i ask for.

woods mower blades

woods mower blades welded

[Dale Finch]

I know what happened to your spindle, because the same thing happened to one of mine. Let me show you some photos, and you will be able to see right away what needs to be done (if possible at this point) to get it right again.

While mowing, I hit a root, and the mower stopped and the tractor died. When I looked at the blades, they were separated from the spindle:

I found the blades and "plate" (flat bar) that had held the blades in place, and provides the STOP for the kickback feature:

The thick shiny area on the right side in the next photo is supposed to be welded along the top edge (and at the bottom edge at the other end). There is a small piece of metal under that weld that gives the proper gap, and it sits at a slight angle. There is a large pin that goes through the crossbar and blades, and then is locked in place with a rotating disc. (Check out the Woods Manual available in the PDF Manuals Link above)

I took the spindle and blades (to ensure the gap was correct and still allowed the blade to swing) to a friend, who welded the bottom bar back in place.

It has worked fine since, but you need to make sure that the balance is kept. I think that bar would be pretty easy to replace from flat stock with the proper hole for the pin drilled out.

I have bought new blades from my local Woods dealer, but I'm sure you could get them cheaper from eBay or such:
https://www.google.com/search?q=woods+42+blade+%233975&ie=&oe=
or this shows the parts breakdown, but their prices are quite high!
https://store.germanbliss.com/woods-42c-3-ih-farmall-cub-undermount-mid-mount-rotary-cutter-spindle-assembly-parts
and this shows the blades for many of the Woods mowers:
https://store.germanbliss.com/viewpart/woods/3975

[Dale Finch]

Here are a couple more photos from a different spindle that I rebuilt:

[Scrivet]

If I was guessing I would say plumr has a 42-C1 with fixed blades, a welded fin one at that, and Dale's pictures are of a 42-C2, 3, 4, or possibly 6 with swinging blades.

I don't know about finding fixed blades but they are different part numbers than swinging blades. Finding them may be tough, I've never tried. Fixed Blade is Woods Part #1508.

The cutting edge welded on? That sounds very unusual to me, maybe you are seeing some heat treating line for hardening the actual cutting edge of the blade?

[Dale Finch]

You are probably right, Scrivet. There is a Welded Fin Blade, but they don't show a picture of it...
http://farmallcub.com/rudi_cub/www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/OEM%20Implement%20and%20Attachment%20Manuals/Woods%20Mower%20Manuals/42C-4%20Rotary%20Mower/Page-11.jpg

Was it the second Item #14: Part #12064 - Welded Fin Blade? Or does that one also swing, but has a fin attached? Guess I thought all the 42 blades were swinging.

[Scrivet]

This is a few pages before yours in the Woods 42 manual and is what I'm looking at. The chart at the top shows the breakdown for 42C-1 as the letter A and what parts are used on it denoted by a number indicating how many of that part were used in the assembly. It also lists the difference for easy recognition. If they used all the serial numbers plumr has one of only 3,100 model Woods Model 42-C1 mowers, for what it's worth. To me it looks like the #14 you reference is a swinging welded fin blade.

[Dale Finch]

Learn something new every day! Thanks! So according to that footnote, would you have to change the whole spindle, or could you add a lower bar with the holes for the pins?

With all the roots and rocks at my farm, I can't imagine not having the swinging blades! I have enough problems as it is...

[Scrivet]

Based on reference #2 and the single asterisk footnote in the lower right, I'd say complete different spindle. Don't know whether that's fact. I find it interesting that the overrunning clutch "will fit old style machines" so maybe ??????????

I agree about the swinging blades. I have a Bush hog #412 which is a single solid blade like a push mower. I swapped it with my second Woods 42 to my Lions Club so they had a working mower. Luckily the deck needs serious work on the Bush hog, I couldn't dream of using that single blade where I use a Woods 42!

[plumr]

Here is the update on my 42-C woods mower serial # is 3241. The pictures show the fixed blade spindle with 3 bolt holes and a completely loose other plate that attaches with bolts thru the blade to the original spindle. You can see where the blades are welded with fin and the cutting edge. Is this a normal blade from factory??? I confirmed the model tag says "C" as model and serial is stamped 3241 on tag.

[plumr]

Here is the update on my 42-C woods mower serial # is 3241. The pictures show the fixed blade spindle with 3 bolt holes and a completely loose other plate that attaches with bolts thru the blade to the original spindle. You can see where the blades are welded with fin and the cutting edge. Is this a normal blade from factory??? I confirmed the model tag says "C" as model and serial is stamped 3241 on tag.

2019 blade.jpg

2020.jpg

[Scrivet]

I have never seen anything with a welded cutting edge like that! Welded fin is normal. Great pictures and I am amazed yours still has the serial tag. It looks like the 3,200 ending serial number may not be exact then if yours is 3,241. That is if the serial numbers are sequential on each unit made and not some type of date code for everything they made that day, week, or month. I think you can safely say yours is a 42C-1 (42 inches, Cub, first design). I still have no clue where to find blades.

[tst]

I have 42 C also, it has the uplift on it but the edge is not welded, I bet they found out that the blades were not available and welded the metal on the old blade to make a new edge

[SONNY]

It's been home welded add on.--- nothing wrong with that, I have welded cutting edges on many different blades. Just keep the approx. amount of metal on all of them and they will be fine.
When some of this stuff gets obsolete, IF you want to keep using it, you have to adapt.--- not the best idea, but it will work!--Just be careful when doing it!