Rich:Rich wrote: ↑Sat Dec 19, 2020 3:25 pmThis gray collar between the blade ferrule and the blade itself is present on mine. It's referred to in the MT manual (6.2.2.4) and is to be kept intact. It's to keep moisture from seeping into the joint between the blade and the ferrule. Quote:
Check that silicone, sealing the blade to the blade ferrule, is not damaged. If a damage is obvious, repair that no moisture can enter into blade body and blade ferrule
The silicone between the blade and blade ferrule (I think) refers to this:
I was referring to the goopy stuff between the blade ferrule and the ring with the bolt through it (which the 180-17 blades don't have). As we both presume, that stuff doesn't look like factory stock. I will be able to comment more authoritatively on this in the near future, since I have 3 new 183-59b blades on order from the MT factory in Germany to replace my 180-17 blades (but that is another story for a future thread).
Steve