After four or five strokes, check the mower blade edge. Its important to note that the bolt not breaking isnt a fail-safe indicator of it not being overtightened. Move on to the next component, which is the drive belt of the engine. Safety Tip: Always wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when working with grinders and blades. Let it sit as directed, then scrub the debris away with a stiff brush. Pro Tip: Sharpen your blade with a hand file. Often, you wonder if they are too tight to spin. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking Manage Preferences. Quality of life gets thrown out the window so landscaping companies can get paid to do nothing except make noise. I turned the blade with my hand one full revolution. Can I sharpen my own riding mower blades? Blades that produce a crackling sound when spinning sound alarming. The flat guide should be against the rear of the blade. Use a vise to clamp the mower blade still. This guide will teach you how to sharpen lawn mower blades. Sharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. You will need to have an assistant engage the blades while you watch and see what actually happens. Are lawn mower blades really supposed to be loose and, just how loose is too loose? Hopefully it is only a Hydraulic lock and perhaps the flywheel key has been sheered as has been indicated . Check your blade for the grease pencil or paint mark you made earlier. To test this, youll need a lawn mower blade balancer I personally recommend this Oregon Lawn Mower Blade Balancer from Amazon. The battery lasted 2 years before we started having issues, I think we've gone through 3 or 4, I've lost count. The engine is still under warranty, but the closest authorized repair place is two hours from where I live. It can be really frustrating when you attempt to pull the starter rope on your mower and encounter lots of drag, followed by the mower failing to start. You can locate them on the clutch, operators seat, and clutch or the transmission. Just make sure to buy one made by the mowers manufacturer, as these bolts arent necessarily interchangeable. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. First, remove the spark plug and lubricate the spark plug hole. WebSharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. Then, untie the starter rope and free it from the housing. If you can't detect a bent shaft, and if the blade turns easily with the plug out, you can replace the plug and new air filter, check/adjust oil level and try to start it. How do you fix them? How can I prevent my riding mower blades from becoming damaged or worn? Its a special tool used to apply a specific pressure to screws and bolts. If your blade is indeed imbalanced, try sharpening the heavier side some more, just to take a few layers of metal off it, evening the blades balance. If you inadvertently run your mower without any oil in the crankcase, it may cause the piston to seize. If its too hot to touch, its too hot. This makes the blade unbalanced. 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. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. Orlando, FL - LANDSCAPING. White Smoke coming out of Briggs and Stratton engine, Lawn mower runs for a few seconds then stops, Difficult to start a four stroke mower when cold - how to diagnose the problem, Diagnosing faulty ignition coil on lawn tractor. What can a lawyer do if the client wants him to be aquitted of everything despite serious evidence? Most manufacturers sell replacement parts for their mowers, and a new bolt shouldnt be a huge expense. Hello Everyone,I was mowing my lawn with a gas powered push mower and it hit a small, hidden stump. Another common cause is when you hit something really hard, such as the edge of a sidewalk and the blade becomes deformed. A screwdriver is an easy tool to use. Or both. Rotating blades should do so at the right torque but not too loose to damage the engine or your mower altogether. (refurbished) I was checking out the functionality before I mowed, and turned the mower on it's side. If not, add some more paste and do it again. How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? Clean cuts with a sharp mower promote good lawn health. Although the sharpening has to be quite uneven for this to happen, I feel like its worth mentioning. You can even break or deform the washer with enough pressure, and lets not forget that every time you overtighten the bolt you shave off a little bit of its threads. Pull off the boot from the lawn mower spark plug and unscrew the plug from the motor housing using a socket wrench. Apart from that, the bolt thats holding the blade in place can also get damaged (this is often the case). why did my mower suddenly start running slower? Problems in safety switches could range from faults in the electric components to tripping. We have explained why loose blades could cause an accident, leave alone damaging your mower. Thats the bottom of the blade. Ready to find the outdoor power equipment you need? Sharpen the edge of the blade using a 10-inch file or grindstone, keeping the file at roughly a 45-degree angle. Although it worked for you, I do not recommend self-repairing a mower if you don't know how to verify it is working properly. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? [3] Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade into place, which can be reused. For 10 minutes youll turn. Its best to keep an extra mower blade on hand. Cost less than $10. How often should riding mower blades be replaced? Mower blades are made from fairly soft steel. Could it also cause the problem with the leaking oil while the mower is turned on it's side? Multiply 30 minutes by 2 sessions. If you removed the deck replaced the blades and it still runs then you are able to fix it. When thats the case, spray it with some penetrating oil. It should be as sharp as a butter knife and free of any nicks or rough spots. Next, gather the tools to sharpen lawn mower blades. In general, sharpen twice per season or after 25 hours of use to keep your blades in good shape. Thank you, and that makes sense that it would be that part. removing the cover. Replacing old broken decks with new ones is crucial should you discover a snap on the belt. To replace riding mower blades you will first need to remove the old blades. What should I do if my riding mower blades become damaged or worn? [3] Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade into place, which can be reused. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? I was mowing the other day and there was a pipe sticking out of the ground. Every now and then youll run into a lawn mower blade that just keeps coming loose no matter how many times you tighten it. 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. Where can I take my riding mower to have the blades sharpened? Align the blade of the grinder with the cutting edge of the mower blade. It is now time to remove the blade. Otherwise, you can simply use the correct size wrench. Have a 1999 yardmachines model 608 automatic. This keeps your mower in good shape and helps to maintain a healthy lawn. By clicking Accept I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. However, how strong and BackyardGadget.com 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.com. Remember to set foot-pound pressure accordingly before you can start tightening loose blades. Tip: If using a powered sharpener, be careful not to overheat the edge of the blade. After all, nothing gives a homesteader greater confidence than having a few DIY tips under the sleeves. Unfortunately, blades sometimes become severely bent, preventing the blade from rotating properly. If you have ever had to remove a broken bolt, you know all too well how much of a pain it is. Now, insert the new blade in the same position and replace the nut, ensuring its tight to firmly secure the replacement blade. Using the pull starter is completely impossible, the rope would break if I pulled it any harder. (not the end of the world, you buy a new cord, and try to be careful). I didn't take it to a repair place and trying myself. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. As I was turning it by hand, I could hear gurgling sounds coming from the engine. Your email address will not be published. Mower blades are made from fairly soft steel. How do you tighten loose blades in a lawnmower? You can learn more about this here. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. You should inspect it for wear and damage. As far as this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire! The blade was difficult to move. WebTo fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. loose blade in push mowers, you should follow In the end, the most important thing is to have lawnmowing blades that work efficiently. Is it Normal for a Lawn Mower Blade to be Spinning Freely? You should always remember that disabled safety switches automatically stop blades from rotating. After all its the blades that do all the work when it comes to cutting your grass.So how do you know if your blades are in good condition? As such, when you pull the starter rope, the piston faces resistance from the excess oil, causing the starter rope to be hard to pull. If this is the case, buying a new bolt should fix the problem. If the blade drops in either direction, it means that the blade is unbalanced. Since the crankshaft spins at a high RPM, hitting an obstacle may cause it to misalign. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. All trademarks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Sharpen the other edge. But, check it as described above, but don't expect miracles! After ten minutes, rock the blade until it starts to turn. This is known as a hydro lock. It may not display this or other websites correctly. In one spot of that revolution it becomes "harder to turn". There will be information on what size you need in the user If it wobbles now, it will wobble on your mower too. Why Wont My Lawn Mower Blade Turn (The Short Answer), Check These 5 Things If Your Lawn Mower Blade Wont Turn, Fixing a Lawn Mower Blade That Wont Turn. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Place the grinder over the edge of the mower blade. Use a socket wrench of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other hand to keep the blade from turning. If it has been bent, you can usually remove it with one bolt and take it to a local small-engine repair place. Throw some gloves on, hold or clamp down the blade activation lever on the handle, and try to unseize the engine. This site 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.com. Him to be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware hold!, I was checking out the cause of a sidewalk and the blade from rotating properly been! And the blade using a socket wrench of the world, you can tightening... Important to note that the blade from turning need to have the blades and it still runs you! Cause is when you hit something really hard, such as the edge of the appropriate size and the... 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