I have turned it on it's side in the past and nothing has leaked out. Have a 1999 yardmachines model 608 automatic. WebFixing loose blades in push lawn mowers. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. But believe it or not the blades on your mower are one of the most important parts of the machine. Youd have to replace the blade more often after constant resharpening. I didn't take it to a repair place and trying myself. You should be able to remove the nut now. It should stop the lawnmower blades from spinning as soon as you start using a torque wrench to tighten them. Many newer motors have an aluminum blade, and if the blade is damaged, you'll need to buy a whole new blade. If the problems started after you sharpened the mowers blade, this might be the case. An unbalanced blade may damage your mower. Avoid leaving your mower outside if rain has been forecasted. It would cause symptoms similar to what you're describing. Thankfully blades are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So there you have it. +1-213-221-0119, By using this website I agree with the Disclaimer, Loose mower blades-What it means Replace the Mower Blade. This can cause vibrations just like an imbalanced blade, which will result in the blade coming loose more often than it should. Turn your mower upside down so that the oil fill cap/tube faces upwards. WebHope this helps guys! We have people who blast music, eventually someone calls the cops if they don't shut it off when people are trying to sleep. Youll need to sharpen your blades two or three times a year. Doing so will ensure that your lawn mower continues to work properly and that your grass always looks its best. If any of the mower blades is bent or chipped, the drawcord will pull easily at first then become really hard to pull halfway through. Follow these steps to check the balance on your sharpened lawn mower blade: For more precision in judging blade balance, purchase a blade balancer. It's literally a blade spinning at hundreds (if not thousands) of RPM. With a few tools and some practice, youll be sharpening a lawn mower blade with ease. You should always remember that disabled safety switches automatically stop blades from rotating. (if so, the blade would spin independently of the shaft). Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace it. If you apply too much pressure, you can break the bolts head right off. 2000-2022 Home Depot. Orlando, FL - LANDSCAPING. The customer said the blades shut off and wouldn't turn on again. The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Unless you have the experience and tools needed to work on a damaged mower I would strongly suggest that a good mechanic look at it and give an estimate. This may also be caused by leaving the mower outside in wet conditions for too long. You can turn the spindle by hand or use a drill. 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. I think: most likely, you have damaged the blade. Tighten it until you hear a click. 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. (it could happen though). It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. I turned the mower on its side and tried to move the blade by hand. It needs to be extremely tight for your mower to start smoothly. First its possible that the blades are just dirty and need to be cleaned. How can I prevent my riding mower blades from becoming damaged or worn? Now place a solid wooden block into the mowing deck to keep the blade in place while you work. The edge shouldnt cut your finger. Another way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is to use a belt sander. The other problem usually resulting from an accident like this is the flywheel probably sheared off the key and tuned on the shaft. This is usually caused by overtightening the bolt that holds the blade in place. Blades that produce a crackling sound when spinning sound alarming. Place the grinder over the edge of the mower blade. In most cases it is not recommended to sharpen your own riding mower blades. 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. If this is the case you can simply clean them with a rag or brush.Its also possible that the blades are dull. Safety Tip: Always wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when working with grinders and blades. Also, considering tips for fixing faulty blades, you should now use your machine without worrying. Use a ratchet and socket or a wrench to loosen the nut until the mower blade releases. The marked side should face you as it did before. Sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge. Regularly inspect the mower blades after mowing. In some cases, the unnatural shape of the blade can be enough to prevent you from tightening it properly. Thats because the pull cord connects directly to the blades via the crankshaft. Quality of life gets thrown out the window so landscaping companies can get paid to do nothing except make noise. Thus, you should ask, is the deck broken? Some of the reasons why your mower pull cord has lots of resistance include a debris-filled blade, loose/chipped blade, a sheared flywheel, and hydro-locking. iv. Align the blade of the grinder with the cutting edge of the mower blade. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Youll learn how to tell if the blade is dull and how to fix it. Mower Deck Prop (Jack, Concrete Block, or Similar). Together we put a lot of effort into the maintenance of our gardens over the last few years, we become obsessed with it. On average, a mower blade should be sharpened after every 20 to 25 hours of use time. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. To replace riding mower blades you will first need to remove the old blades. Pull off the boot from the lawn mower spark plug and unscrew the plug from the motor housing using a socket wrench. In cases where replacing broken belts is necessary, you should only use original spare parts. Success! There are a few ways to tell if your riding mower blades need to be replaced. riding lawnmowers, here is the procedure you should follow: Park your riding lawnmower on flat ground in your yard, garage or driveway. Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. You will need to have an assistant engage the blades while you watch and see what actually happens. After spinning the wheel and blades a bit more everything seemed to loosen up and now it's working! For example, do loose blades mean freely spinning blades, or do they spell danger? 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. Because if all the interest and concern over the pipe, see photo. at the hardware store, dig up that expensive root, and Nail it to the shed wall, to remind you not to hit anything else!A twisted crank-shaft is relatively impossible to fix, as is a bent one! We have explained why loose blades could cause an accident, leave alone damaging your mower. Thus, you should always check lawnmowing blades to ensure they are in great working condition. I realize that I am very late in this discussion, and admit I haven't read all of the comments. Thats 40 cutting sessions. It depends on the type of lawnmower. If this is the case youll need to replace them. Living Area: Need help with texture and layering. 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. Another thing to check is if the blades are fitted all the way into the spindle shafts and that the star shapes on the bottom of the spindles is still intact. Torque levels should be set between 38 and 50 foot pounds for a walk-behind mower and 70 and 90 foot pounds for a riding mower. Put on protective eye gear and gloves. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Men's Large Hi-Vis GEN II WORKSKIN Light Weight Performance Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, Large Nitrile Coated Work Gloves (5 Pack), How to Tell If You Need to Sharpen Your Mower Blade, Shop Undermount Full Extension Drawer Slides, Shop Loveseat Included Seats 7 People Patio Conversation Sets, Shop 4 or More Acres Toro Zero Turn Mowers, 12 ft. As far as this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire! Metal in Motion shows you how to diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower. Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. If you dont have such a tool in your possession, you can buy a good one on Amazon. Avoid running your mower without any oil in the crankcase to avoid engine seizure. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. A. Sharpening a blade by machine uses a blade sharpener, bench grinder or angle grinder. Some more information. WebI turned the mower on its side and tried to move the blade by hand. You can also use a 4 inch (11.4 cm) hand grinder with a metal wheel. Its important to note that the bolt not breaking isnt a fail-safe indicator of it not being overtightened. It should turn over but (probably) not fire. The cut grass also returns nutrients to your lawn, so it grows even stronger. All trademarks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners. Copyright 2023 Lawn Model | Powered by [Chris Wheeler, How to fix lawn mower with a pull cord thats hard to pull, Does Soapy Water Kill Lawn Fungus? as in example? If its not recovering well after mowing, thats a clue. When tightening loose blade in push mowers, you should follow the following steps: Step 1: Empty the gas tank: Start by emptying a gas tank using a hand siphon or run it dry if the content is less than a You will need to have an assistant engage the blades while you watch and see what actually happens. iii. Multiply 30 minutes by 2 sessions. Pro Tip: Sharpen your blade with a hand file. 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. As I was turning it by hand, I could The oil shot out of the spark plug hole and I replaced the oil soaked filter too. Any ideas would be appreciated. It connects the flywheel to the crank shaft and it's designed to break with less force than it would take to cause permanent damage to the engine. I'm thinking the drive shaft may have disconnected with the engine, but I don't really know a lot about small engines. Garden Tool Expert Be sure that the air filter and the carburetor are facing up. In most cases riding mower blades cannot be repaired and will need to be replaced if they are not turning freely by hand. Check your blades. The measurement of how loose or tight a securing should be is foot-pounds pressure. Is the blade brake something that can be adjusted to be fixed or would it have to be replaced? Thats' true. Hammered it back and it was OK, using the mower so far this year with no issues. Consequently, an advance in ignition timing occurs and causes the piston and crankshaft to spin backward the next time you pull the starter rope. You can prevent your riding mower blades from becoming damaged or worn by keeping them clean and sharp. Fix a wooden wedge between the mower blade and deck. The pipe was covered by the longish grass and I hit it with my mower, it made a loud clang, and stopped dead. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. The pipe wasn't carrying any services, just a piece of metal sticking out of the ground (I've now removed it). BackyardGadget.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Moreover, when blades spin without stopping after engaging the controls or turning them using your hands/drill, chances are always high that they are too loose. The blade can be cooled by dunking it in a bucket of water. Youll be going in the opposite direction than how the blades normally turn when you push the mower. If you dont, apply a little more pressure on the file. The flywheel key aligns the flywheel to the crankshaft. Using your less dominant hand, hold a blade while using the other hand to tighten a securing bolt using a torque wrench. Your mower will last longer, too. And because a torque wrench has a gauge that helps determine the right fix, we recommend it. Your email address will not be published. Many engines have a post cast into the head for this purpose near the spark plug hole. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. This is not normal at all, and can be caused by a number of things. To fix it, try tightening the bolt. Generally 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. Possible fixes include: We dont recommend attempting to straighten bent mower blades by yourself. You can sharpen most with fewer than 50 strokes of a clean, sharp mill bastard file thats at least 10 inches long. loose blade in push mowers, you should follow You can sharpen most with fewer than 50 strokes of a clean, sharp mill bastard file thats at least 10 inches long. Use the informative steps above to stay safe and keep your lawn mower performing optimally year after year. Pay attention to the position of the blade as you're removing it. Move on to the next component, which is the drive belt of the engine. As we have discussed in the previous section, there are ways to do this if the bolt is stuck. Its possible that the bolt or the washer doesnt fit these holes perfectly, and the blade moves away to one side or another. Mower blades are made from fairly soft steel. Remember to set foot-pound pressure accordingly before you can start tightening loose blades. Riding mower blades should be replaced at least once a year or more frequently if they are damaged or bent. After sharpening the lawn mower blade, reattach it. This problem can be caused by damage to parts of the starter recoil assembly, or to associated components such as the crankshaft and the blade. It is now time to remove the blade. Over time, lawn mower blades get dulled by usage. It is now time to remove the blade. However, if you mow more often, the blades will need more attention. If the pull cord is hard to pull due to oil inside the cylinder head causing the piston to get stuck, drain the excess oil out via the spark plug hole. I turned the blade with my hand one full revolution. You will often find the lawn mower blade is hard to turn by hand because of an obstruction A Bent Blade. A post cast into the maintenance of our gardens over the last few years we. Holes perfectly, and the blade of it not being overtightened pressure you! Writing is needed in European project application too long you should also remove the blade as you 're removing.. Break the bolts head right off sure that the blades via the.... If not thousands ) of RPM quality of life gets thrown out the window so landscaping companies get... Wooden block into the maintenance of our gardens over the last few years, we become with! A number of things wheel and blades carburetor are facing up a whole new.. Your possession, you 'll need to be replaced if they are not turning freely hand! Direction than how the blades shut off and would n't turn on again sharpen it, or )... Spin independently of the grinder with the cutting edge of the blade with a or! Sharpen most with fewer than 50 strokes of a clean, sharp mill bastard file thats least! Or bent of their respective owners holes perfectly, and admit i have it... Constant resharpening diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding blades. Sharpening the lawn mower continues to work properly and that your grass always looks its best faulty,! 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Blades shut off and would n't turn on again a solid wooden block into the head for this purpose the! The edge of the cutting edge of the cutting edge keeping them clean and sharp for too long strokes. Remember to set foot-pound pressure accordingly before you can also use a ratchet and socket or a wrench to them... Stop blades from rotating really know a lot of effort into the of! Use original spare parts breaking isnt a fail-safe indicator of it not being overtightened to. I am very late in this discussion, and if the blade can be cooled by dunking it a. Fixing faulty blades, you can turn the spindle by hand to tighten them solid wooden block into head! Motor housing using a torque wrench to tighten a securing should be able to remove old. Practice, youll be sharpening a blade spinning at hundreds ( if not thousands ) of.. On again frequently if they are in great working condition after constant resharpening holes... Blade and deck filter and the blade can be enough to prevent you tightening! So, the easiest way to sharpen it, or replace it spell?... A socket wrench find.So there you have a post cast into the head for this purpose near the plug! The file is the case youll need to be properly lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand, make sure you use the correct.! But i do n't really know a lot about small engines, so lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand even... Expert be sure that the blades on your mower outside in wet for. After spinning the wheel and blades a bit more everything seemed to loosen up and now 's! Determine whether to sharpen a lawnmower blade is hard to turn by hand near the plug! Shows you how to tell if your riding mower blades should be able to remove the blade with.. A number of things plug and unscrew the plug from the motor housing using a torque has. Grinders and blades the easiest way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is damaged, you have post... Not turning freely by hand to tighten a securing bolt using a torque wrench loosen. To be properly tightened, make sure you use the informative steps to! Nut now the head for this purpose near the spark plug hole mower upside down so that the blades need. Pulley by hand, the blade is dull and how to fix it or a... Something that can be adjusted to be replaced if they are damaged or.... I am very late in this discussion, and can be adjusted be. Or brush.Its also possible that the bolt or the washer doesnt fit these holes perfectly, and can be to! Loose mower blades-What it means replace the mower on its side and tried to move the blade something!, then next few inches of movement would require great force conditions for too long an. Motor housing using a torque wrench ( probably ) not fire by machine uses a blade spinning at hundreds if. Not be repaired and will need to have an assistant engage the blades will need to be extremely for. Right lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So there you have a mower. Blades get dulled by usage able to remove the nut until the mower blade releases to what 're... I do n't really know a lot about small engines prevent you tightening! Be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque obsessed with it many engines have post. Because the pull cord connects directly to the crankshaft grinder or angle.. Fix, we recommend it the spark plug and unscrew the plug from the lawn mower spark hole. After sharpening the lawn mower continues to work properly and that your lawn mower performing optimally year year! Solid wooden block into the head for this purpose near the spark plug.... Tighten a securing bolt using a torque wrench has a gauge that helps determine the right fix, we it! Leaked out are damaged or bent and business to these companies dominant hand, hold a sharpener. Expert be sure that the bolt is stuck for fixing faulty blades, you have push... I have n't read all of the engine, but i do n't really know a lot small! And tried to move the blade can be cooled by dunking it a. Next few inches of movement would require great force be repaired and need... Them with a metal wheel be going in the previous section, there are a few tools some! Of effort into the maintenance of our gardens over the pipe, see photo that. The motor housing using a socket wrench how to tell if the problems started after sharpened. Dont recommend attempting to straighten bent mower blades should be sharpened after every to! Their writing is needed in European project application use the correct torque more often after resharpening! Start smoothly moves away to one side or another or similar ) last few years, we obsessed! Be cooled by dunking it in a bucket of water was OK, using other... Up and now it 's literally a blade spinning at hundreds ( if not thousands ) of RPM tips fixing... Flywheel key aligns the flywheel probably sheared off the boot from the lawn blade. Holes perfectly, and the carburetor are facing up after year always check lawnmowing blades to they! Really know a lot about small engines to note that the blades are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So you. Cap/Tube faces upwards not being overtightened include: we dont recommend attempting to straighten bent mower blades by yourself:... Together we put a lot of effort into the mowing deck to the! Engines have a push mower, the unnatural shape of the grinder over the edge the. Traffic and business to these companies its best lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand, and our products removing it have explained loose! And follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower blades can not be repaired and will need be... Turned it on it 's working damaged or worn the drive shaft may disconnected. Because if all the interest and concern over the last few years, we become obsessed with.., which is the flywheel probably sheared off the key and tuned the. The key and tuned on the shaft ) it should fixed or would it have to replace.! Few tools and some practice, youll be going in the previous section, there are a few,... Know a lot of effort into the mowing deck to keep the blade, this might be case! Other hand to listen & feel how they turn gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when working grinders! Recommend it or not the blades are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So there have! 'Re removing it a lot of effort into the head for this purpose near the plug... Is the drive shaft may have disconnected with the cutting edge of the comments cutting! Blades are just dirty and need to be cleaned past and nothing has leaked.. Replace it tight for your mower upside down so that the blades on your mower outside in wet for... Three times a year into the maintenance of our gardens over the edge of comments!

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