If your blade is just nicked, chipped, or dull, try sharpening it. Put on protective eye gear and gloves. It is the spinning of mowing blades that creates a force for cutting turf. A bent shape can also mess with the blades overall balance. Step 3: Place a wedge between the blade and deck: Step 6: Turn the mower back to its wheels: Fixing loose blades in riding lawn mowers. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. The edge shouldnt cut your finger. In cases where replacing broken belts is necessary, you should only use original spare parts. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace it. As I was turning it by hand, I could Also, considering tips for fixing faulty blades, you should now use your machine without worrying. If the grass in your lawn is excessively tall and youve set the mower close to the ground for a low mow, the tall grass may get stuck in the lawn mower blades. If there are no issues with the deck belt, no problem. To test this, youll need a lawn mower blade balancer I personally recommend this Oregon Lawn Mower Blade Balancer from Amazon. Most blades can be sharpened with less than 50 strokes of the file. Attach the hand crank and turn, turn, turn in a counter clockwise motion. Use the informative steps above to stay safe and keep your lawn mower performing optimally year after year. Your blade will reach its 20-hour limit in 20 weeks. Its a good addition to your mower maintenance tool kit. Some manufacturers may recommend the approach I mentioned above, while others will recommend that you tighten the bolt as much as possible. Am I being scammed after paying almost $10,000 to a tree company not being able to withdraw my profit without paying a fee. Multiply 30 minutes by 2 sessions. This can vary based on the type of lawn mower you have, and/or the type of the blade. The chances of this working are really low. If you keep doing that, eventually you wont be able to tighten it at all. Move the stone back and forth along the blade edge with medium pressure. There are a few ways to tell if your riding mower blades need to be replaced. Speaking about balance the blade can also become imbalanced due to uneven sharpening. Sharpening a blade by machine uses a blade sharpener, bench grinder or angle grinder. This exact thing happened to me last year (Husqvarna mower, long grass, hit a pipe, clang, mower stopped, cord stuck) and it was a bent blade. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. If it has been bent, you can usually remove it with one bolt and take it to a local small-engine repair place. Knowing how to sharpen lawn mower blades means using your blade sharpener at least once or twice during the mowing season. Insert the blade back onto the bolt. Thank you, and that makes sense that it would be that part. If it kicks back and backfires, etc., you'll have to reset the flywheel with a new 'Woodruff key'. the following steps: Start by emptying a gas tank using a hand siphon or run it dry if the content is less than a quarter. Your mower will last longer, too. You can learn more about this here. Since the crankshaft spins at a high RPM, hitting an obstacle may cause it to misalign. This may also be caused by leaving the mower outside in wet conditions for too long. Safety Tip: Always wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when working with grinders and blades. You cant re-add the material that has been lost by overtightening it over and over. A razor-sharp blade dulls more quickly. The lawn itself can also hint when you need to sharpen your mower blades. It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. As Ive explained earlier, doing so will shave off the bolts threads bit by bit, and it will eventually lose its ability to hold the blade in position altogether. Hi there, I can see that you are struggling to think what to put in this room and thought I might offer a little idea into the mix. Brace the blade with a piece of scrap wood and clamp the blade still. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. We like to help other people maintaining their garden and find cool products to write about. After four or five strokes, check the mower blade edge. If you don't know how to fix it, please don't try to DIY it. If its tough to grip the nut, get more leverage. Another way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is to use a belt sander. Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. If your spindle is bent you can see it by turning the pulley or blade, The wobble is obvious. The main wheel that turns with the blades can rotate 2 full turn freely and then for the next 1/4 turn it is very tight, then repeats. As I was turning it by hand, I could Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Another reason why you may be finding the drawcord hard to pull is that the mowers blades are too close to the ground during startup. Thanks for the answer; keep 'em coming. Mower Deck Prop (Jack, Concrete Block, or Similar). Unfortunately, blades sometimes become severely bent, preventing the blade from rotating properly. There are a few different places that you can take your riding mower to have the blades sharpened. Even though it's summer and there's no reason to use a leaf blower for 2 hours, Also if you work odd hours, which a ton of people in orlando do, you don't get to sleep because of this crap much of the time. But believe it or not the blades on your mower are one of the most important parts of the machine. When I moved here in 2004, never heard this crap drawn out for so long and on EVERY day of the week even weekends now. You are using an out of date browser. It might be hard to turn at first, but once it starts to move a little bit it should get easier. Take care of them and they will easily outperform and outlast cordless. Your email address will not be published. If the low height of the mower is causing the grass to stick in between the mower blades and is transferring the problem to the starter rope, consider raising your mower height as you start it. Step 2: Remove the Spark Plug. I was mowing the other day and there was a pipe sticking out of the ground. Your email address will not be published. Why is it important for riding mower blades to turn freely by hand? Replacing old broken decks with new ones is crucial should you discover a snap on the belt. You can also use a 4 inch (11.4 cm) hand grinder with a metal wheel. One way is to check the blades to see if they are damaged or bent. The oil shot out of the spark plug hole and I replaced the oil soaked filter too. Unfortunately, you cant really fix a damaged bolt. Only sharpen the blade so its as sharp as a butter knife. Although the sharpening has to be quite uneven for this to happen, I feel like its worth mentioning. Use extreme caution when having a helper engage the blades and make sure the parking brake is set while you are down there watching the There is a lawnmower service provider nearby who will help you with diagnosis, repair, and damage. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. Youll need to sharpen your blades two or three times a year. JavaScript is disabled. If this is the case youll need to replace them. A bent crankshaft is a type of physical damage that typically occurs when you run over objects like large stones while mowing. Sharpening a blade by machine uses a blade sharpener, bench grinder or angle grinder. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Use a socket wrench of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other hand to keep the blade from turning. Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. Make sure the key does not remain in the ignition. Is variance swap long volatility of volatility? Use a ratchet and socket or a wrench to loosen the nut until the mower blade releases. Step 2: Remove the Spark Plug. Thanks, Joe. I bought my current home 12 years ago, we didn't like the idea of storing gas containers in the garage, so we went with Cordless, better for the environment, etc. Next, use a screwdriver to tension the new spring while keeping the pulley from spinning. [3] Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade into place, which can be reused. The blade was difficult to move. Put on work gloves and protective eyewear for safety. You can locate them on the clutch, operators seat, and clutch or the transmission. And because the pull cord connects to the crankshaft via the flywheel, a bent crankshaft may cause it to get stuck or pull with lots of difficulties. Orlando, FL - LANDSCAPING. Better get it looked at. As far as this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire! I wouldn't think a dinged key would cause the engine to be hard to turn over. How can I prevent my riding mower blades from becoming damaged or worn? Now the blades on the mower are very hard/stiff to turn by hand. Find the blade clutch attached to the crankshaft under the engine. Pull off the boot from the lawn mower spark plug and unscrew the plug from the motor housing using a socket wrench. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be aquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade with a Drill-Powered Blade Sharpener: Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade with an Angle Grinder: When the blade looks complete, check the sharpness. Once you get it running again be sure to check the blade for damage. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Oh no! WebI turned the mower on its side and tried to move the blade by hand. If it has been bent, you can usually remove it with one bolt and take it to a local small-engine repair place. Fix a wooden wedge between the mower blade and deck. This can typically be done by removing the bolts that hold the blades in place. How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? One thing you can do is to flip the mower over and make sure that the blade hasn't been bent so much as to be contacting the mower deck. The catch here is that loose blades are a disaster in waiting. For a novice who is learning about this for the first time, always feel free to ask for help. One way is to check the blades to see if they are damaged or bent. Only sharpen the blade so its as sharp as a butter knife. After accessing the flywheel, keep it in the same position using a flywheel holder, which is a tool that grips the flywheel and prevents it from turning. 453 S Spring St Ste 400 It may not display this or other websites correctly. Pro Tip: Sharpen your blade with a hand file. Living Area: Need help with texture and layering. A razor-sharp blade dulls more quickly. So, the next question is, how do repair mower blades that fail to spin? This action causes the pull cord to jerk back halfway through and become difficult to pull. Follow the angle of the existing edge, taking care to even out any rough spots. To replace riding mower blades you will first need to remove the old blades. Move on to the next component, which is the drive belt of the engine. You should only take this step if the blades still do not spin. 3 Alternatively, use a belt sander. The manufacturer should provide a proper tightening level expressed in foot-pounds, commonly found in the mowers manual. #1 re: electric lawnmower blade hard to turn Hello I have recently purchased a b&d electric lawn mower. So that's why I went with gas. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. We emphasize it because there are slight to extreme variations in the procedure for fixing loose blades in both cases. Turn it over to the other edge and repeat. It was purchased new and was only on it's third mowing). For 10 minutes youll turn. WebGenerally speaking, the blade should be tight enough so that it doesnt move around on its own, but you should be able to move with your hand by applying some pressure. Use a vise to clamp the mower blade still. Sharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. You will often find the lawn mower blade is hard to turn by hand because of an obstruction A Bent Blade. You can sharpen most with fewer than 50 strokes of a clean, sharp mill bastard file thats at least 10 inches long. Use a socket wrench of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other hand to keep the blade from turning. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Possible fixes include: We dont recommend attempting to straighten bent mower blades by yourself. Replace, if any, broken belts, or remove grass debris that might be hindering blades from working properly. , chipped, or replace it the mowing season disaster in waiting the key does not remain in the manual... Freely by hand cause it to misalign mowing season carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire free. Or three times a year damage that typically occurs when you run over objects like large stones while mowing my... 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Become severely bent, preventing the blade can also hint when you need to sharpen your will.