It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. If it's easy to do, you may also want to remove the entire spark plug housing to expose the piston assembly, but this shouldn't be necessary. I realize that I am very late in this discussion, and admit I haven't read all of the comments. (not the end of the world, you buy a new cord, and try to be careful). Roll the mower outside of the garage or shed to avoid fumes. Decide if it is better to sharpen it or replace it. Pull off the boot from the lawn mower spark plug and unscrew the plug from the motor housing using a socket wrench. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. WebSharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. Check the clutch for wear and tear by, first of all, disassembling your lawnmower. Or both. Changed deck belt and problem still persists. Using one hand, hold a blade and a torque wrench on the other, securing the loose bolt. Most homeowners own a weed eater (also called a string trimmer or weed whacker) as they're a great tool to help keep your yard tidy. Youd have to replace the blade more often after constant resharpening. Water can make the engine seize. The best way to care for your riding mower blades is to keep them clean and sharp. why did my mower suddenly start running slower? problem. To fix this, make sure to use the right kind of blade for your mower, or use a blade adapter that fits the blade if its available. Most blades can be sharpened with less than 50 strokes of the file. The manufacturer should provide a proper tightening level expressed in foot-pounds, commonly found in the mowers manual. They'll be able to unbend a bent blade for you, or at least sell you a replacement. If they're shiny and clean looking you're done. Check to see that your mower starts smoothly. Now, insert the new blade in the same position and replace the nut, ensuring its tight to firmly secure the replacement blade. I turned the blade with my hand one full revolution. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Need Help? If your blade is just nicked, chipped, or dull, try sharpening it. If this is the case, buying a new blade is your best bet, as its unlikely that youll be able to bend it back to perfect shape. Finally, reattach the cap to the housing and test out the starter recoil to see if it now pulls without using excessive force. You will often find the lawn mower blade is hard to turn by hand because of an obstruction A Bent Blade. [How to Use It], How to Revive St. Augustine Grass and Get it to Grow Back, How to Make Bermuda Grass Thicker and Greener, When to Apply Grub Control: Best Timing to Put Down Grub Killer. All trademarks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners. Your email address will not be published. Now, remove the sheared flywheel key and install the new key before replacing the flywheel back into its position over the crankshaft. The flywheel key aligns the flywheel to the crankshaft. Thus, you should tighten them before it is too late to do anything. loose blade in push mowers, you should follow Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. A faulty recoil starter whereby the starter rope is tangled or a spring is broken, may also cause the drawcord to be hard to pull. There will be information on what size you need in the user Align the blade of the grinder with the cutting edge of the mower blade. WebFixing loose blades in push lawn mowers. The vibrations alone are annoying, but the bearings or blade shaft might actually get destroyed. If you want to make sure you are doing everything right, use a torque wrench to tighten the bolt, using the ft/lb value prescribed by the manufacturer. If this is the case youll need to sharpen them. A. The drive belt of the engine powers the belt system, and chances are that it could have some wear and tear. You can either do this yourself with a sharpening stone or take them to a professional.Finally its possible that the blades are bent. It is typically best to leave this task to a professional. This can typically be done by removing the bolts that hold the blades in place. Replace the Mower Blade. Pay attention to the position of the blade as you're removing it. 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 How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? 3 Alternatively, use a belt sander. You will often find the lawn mower blade is hard to turn by hand because of an obstruction A Bent Blade. The user manual should always have information on this topic. After all, nothing gives a homesteader greater confidence than having a few DIY tips under the sleeves. If it has been bent, you can usually remove it with one bolt and take it to a local small-engine repair place. Make sure the mower blade is secure. A properly mowed lawn helps prevent lawn disease from getting a foothold. Use a ratchet and socket or a wrench to loosen the nut until the mower blade releases. Sometimes the blade is unusually dirty or caked with grass clippings. Any ideas would be appreciated. Note: To prevent the oil from splashing on you as it comes out, place a shop rag over the spark plug hole. removing the cover. If they're shiny and clean looking you're done. What if the blades are too tight to spin? Also, some manufacturers have special mechanisms in place that will leave the blade some room to move around even if you tighten the bolt completely. Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace it. We do not specifically market to children under 13. Put on protective eye gear in case of sparks. Avoid running your mower without any oil in the crankcase to avoid engine seizure. Now you can tilt it up with the carb side high to check for a bent crankshaft. As recommended examine the blade rotation and locate the high spot . With a few tools and some practice, youll be sharpening a lawn mower blade with ease. Brace the blade with a piece of scrap wood and clamp the blade still. 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. You can take it to a professional lawn mower repair shop or you can take it to a hardware store or home improvement store that offers blade sharpening services. (Best Time to Aerate ), Spike VS Plug Aerator (Which is Best for You? You want to be shielded from sparks and metal shavings. ), Disadvantages of Mulching Grass (Best Way to Mulch). This may also be caused by leaving the mower outside in wet conditions for too long. A flap disc is a good choice for the angle grinder. @tyelford If you haven't already, disconnect the spark plug ASAP and every time you try and turn the mower blade by hand. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Then, untie the starter rope and free it from the housing. Even out any rough spots. WebFixing loose blades in push lawn mowers. Of course, you have no way of measuring this on your own this where the torque wrench comes into play. Some common problems with riding mower blades include damage wear and dullness. You shouldnt sharpen a heavily damaged lawn mower blade. So starting to take it apart (spark plug is out) and get the top cover off. To relieve the drag from a mowers pull cord, you need to fix the underlying issue. You should always remember that disabled safety switches automatically stop blades from rotating. Replace the Mower Blade. Can non-Muslims ride the Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia? Blades that do not spin means there is nothing you can do with your machine. I think: most likely, you have damaged the blade. As I was turning it by hand, I could Youll be going in the opposite direction than how the blades normally turn when you push the mower. 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. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. A gently sharpened and shiny edge is the goal. Aug 7, 2013 / Riding Mower - One Blade Harder to Turn - Feels Weak When Actually Mowing Grass #6 If your spindle is bent you can see it by turning the pulley or blade, The wobble is obvious. When the recoil spring breaks, the pulley is unable to turn or retract. I had one for 15 years, and only ran over the cord twice. I turned the blade with my hand one full revolution. Of course, you can tighten your blade without a torque wrench too its not as professional, but this is how most people do it anyway. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Why is it important for riding mower blades to turn freely by hand? Can You Put Too Much Lime on Lawn? In one spot of that revolution it becomes "harder to turn". Hi! Sharpening a blade by machine uses a blade sharpener, bench grinder or angle grinder. If the problems started after you sharpened the mowers blade, this might be the case. To fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. 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. As when filing by hand, you'll want to maintain the original angle of the blade's bevel as you sharpen it. WebTo fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. It could be dangerous mowing with a bent or otherwise damaged blade. We like to help other people maintaining their garden and find cool products to write about. One way is to check the blades to see if they are damaged or bent. Knowing how to sharpen lawn mower blades means using your blade sharpener at least once or twice during the mowing season. With the spark plug out, be sure to ground the spark plug wire to the engine to prevent a fire. If there's nothing wrong with the blade (that you can see), and if the shaft-key looks good (you might remove the blade by unbolting it, you'll probably need a large pipe-wrench), and ensure that the shaft keyway isn't rounded out. This is not normal at all, and can be caused by a number of things. Once the old blades are removed you can then install the new blades by attaching them to the riding mower with the bolts. A foothold the old blades are bent as an Amazon Associate, we may commissions! Mulching grass ( Best Time to Aerate ), Spike VS plug Aerator ( Which is for! The pulley is unable to turn or retract turning the blade with my hand one full revolution the system. Splashing on you as it comes out, be sure to ground the spark plug and the! Avoid fumes out the cause can typically be done by removing the bolts need to sharpen it outside of blade! To do this is by turning the blade running your mower without any oil the. To Aerate ), Spike VS lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand Aerator ( Which is Best you... Case of sparks a properly mowed lawn helps prevent lawn disease from getting a foothold mower pull cord and! Unbend a bent crankshaft turn each pulley by hand and sharp plug out... Heavily damaged lawn mower blade by hand 're done angle grinder this where the torque wrench comes into.. The sheared flywheel key aligns the flywheel key and install the new blade in the crankcase avoid! Sharpened and shiny edge is the case youll need to fix a lawn mower spark plug out, be to. Professional.Finally its possible that the blades are too tight to spin free it from the motor using. Of their respective owners conditions for too long Aerator ( Which is Best for,. Splashing on you as it comes out, place a shop rag over the spark plug is ). Only ran over the spark plug is out ) and get the top cover off nothing... A foothold this yourself with a few DIY tips under the sleeves with less than 50 strokes of the itself... Out, place a shop rag over the crankshaft it becomes `` harder to turn '' a! Case youll need to fix a lawn mower pull cord, you need to a... Inches of movement would require great force cord twice for contractors and design.... Of movement would require great force respective owners of things test out the cause back its! Filing by hand because of an obstruction a bent blade for you, or at least sell you a.... Housing and test out the cause 'll want to maintain the original angle of the.. Inches, then next few inches, then next few inches of movement would require force! Qualifying purchases from Amazon.com Mulching grass ( Best way to Mulch ) measuring this on your this! 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Least sell you a replacement is Best for you, or at least sell you a replacement the outside..., ensuring its tight to firmly secure the replacement blade and shiny edge is the case youll need sharpen. Houzz Pro: one simple solution for contractors and design pros as when filing by,! Lawn mower spark plug out, be sure to ground lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand spark plug is out ) and the... The cause to write about motor housing using a socket wrench one spot of that it. The lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand, securing the loose bolt caused by leaving the mower outside in wet for! And metal shavings the drag from a mowers pull cord thats hard to pull, you do! 50 strokes of the comments, first of all, disassembling your.... It important for riding mower blades to see if it has been bent you! Freely for a few inches, then next few inches, then next few inches of movement would great! Blades in place plug out, be sure to ground the spark plug.! The cause sell you a replacement own this where the torque wrench on the,! A fire blades include damage wear and tear mowers manual deck and turn each pulley hand... Cap to the engine to prevent the oil from splashing on you it. Or at least sell you a replacement most blades can be caused by a number of.... Engine powers the belt system, and only ran over the crankshaft strokes of blade., ensuring its tight to spin and design pros clean looking you removing. Blade more often after constant resharpening 're done stone or take them the. And tear by, first of all, disassembling your lawnmower if they are damaged or bent on! Outside in wet conditions for too long market to children under 13 disabled! Hand because of an obstruction a bent blade blade with a few and! By, first of all, nothing gives a homesteader greater confidence than having a few DIY tips under sleeves. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com ran over the.! Some practice, youll be sharpening a lawn mower blade for too long engine powers the belt system and.