You should be able to remove the nut now. Insert the blade back onto the bolt. In general, sharpen twice per season or after 25 hours of use to keep your blades in good shape. This can cause vibrations just like an imbalanced blade, which will result in the blade coming loose more often than it should. Pay attention to the position of the blade as you're removing it. When I put the pto lever to engage deck blades they won't engage unless the lever is jugled. @tyelford If you haven't already, disconnect the spark plug ASAP and every time you try and turn the mower blade by hand. You HAVE to listen to that! Figure out how often to sharpen your mower blades with a little math: Calculate how long it takes you to complete a mowing session. That way, you can install the sharpened blade right-side up later. Many newer motors have an aluminum blade, and if the blade is damaged, you'll need to buy a whole new blade. Remember to set foot-pound pressure accordingly before you can start tightening loose blades. Unfortunately, you can overtighten your mowers blade if you arent careful. You should also avoid hitting rocks or other objects while mowing. A razor-sharp blade dulls more quickly. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. It should remain level. Remove the nut securing the blade in position and pull the damaged blade out. 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. Thankfully blades are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So there you have it. The customer said the blades shut off and wouldn't turn on again. Make sure the mower blade is secure. Metal in Motion shows you how to diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower. Over time, lawn mower blades get dulled by usage. Read on as I attempt to answer some of the more common questions you might have on this topic! Clash between mismath's \C and babel with russian. Mower blades are made from fairly soft steel. Follow these steps to check the balance on your sharpened lawn mower blade: For more precision in judging blade balance, purchase a blade balancer. How do you tighten loose blades in a lawnmower? If you feel like you have been overly cautious with tightening the blade, try applying some more pressure. This is usually caused by overtightening the bolt that holds the blade in place. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. To fix it, try tightening the bolt. Be sure that the air filter and the carburetor are facing up. With the spark plug out, be sure to ground the spark plug wire to the engine to prevent a fire. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? If not, add some more paste and do it again. Other wise a dial indicator and test (truing) stand along with a hydraulic press is indicated via ""Ex-purts" shall be required . If the issue is due to piston seizure, you should try setting the piston free. Use a vise to clamp the mower blade still. wont turn even after engaging blade controls could mean the deck is the Repairing an aluminum blade usually doesn't work very well. However if theyre difficult to turn or seem to be stuck then its time to take a closer look.There are a few different things that could be causing your blades to be stuck. One way is to simply try to turn them by hand. Just make sure you dont go overboard. Next, use a screwdriver to tension the new spring while keeping the pulley from spinning. Most of them assume that the blade is supposed to be held as tight as possible, but then they (ideally) read the user manual and get confused when it tells them to leave the blade somewhat loose. (if so, the blade would spin independently of the shaft). Support the blade under its center, like a scale. Can a Self-Propelled Lawnmower Go Backward? It should turn over but (probably) not fire. 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. The blade was difficult to move. The blade was difficult to move. (refurbished) I was checking out the functionality before I mowed, and turned the mower on it's side. When theyre looking worn, you'll need to remove the blade from the lawn mower and hone the edges. You can also use a 4 inch (11.4 cm) hand grinder with a metal wheel. 3 Alternatively, use a belt sander. 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. The lawn itself can also hint when you need to sharpen your mower blades. It is a chronic, constant white noise now. It is now time to remove the blade. This is a common question from people who are new to lawn mowers. After all, nothing gives a homesteader greater confidence than having a few DIY tips under the sleeves. Need Help? If it has been bent, you can usually remove it with one bolt and take it to a local small-engine repair place. You will often find the lawn mower blade is hard to turn by hand because of an obstruction A Bent Blade. In the end, the blades should rotate without vibrating. After ten minutes, rock the blade until it starts to turn. Thats the bottom of the blade. This automatically gives the right sharpening angle. Sharpening a riding lawn mower blade is the same as sharpening a push lawn mower blade. Thank you for stopping by! Sharpening a blade by machine uses a blade sharpener, bench grinder or angle grinder. Changed deck belt and problem still persists. Fix your Lawnmower with our Lawnmower Troubleshooting tool. Step 2: Remove the Spark Plug. As I was turning it by hand, I could In the end, the most important thing is to have lawnmowing blades that work efficiently. Shop Troy-Bilt XP Horse XP 22 HP Single Cylinder Hydrostatic 46-in Riding Lawn Mower at Lowes.com, Parts and Diagrams for Troy-Bilt 13WX79KT011 Horse XP (2011). Remove the clutch and diagnose it to determine whether replacement is necessary or not. Keeping a rotation going will make sure each blade lasts a little longer. For 10 minutes youll turn. Move on to the next component, which is the drive belt of the engine. Throw some gloves on, hold or clamp down the blade activation lever on the handle, and try to unseize the engine. Following the above steps when fixing loose lawnmower blades should help you realize the desired outcome. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: you@domain.com. However, sharpening sometimes removes more metal from one edge than another. Another way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is to use a belt sander. For example, do loose blades mean freely spinning blades, or do they spell danger? 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. What to do if lawnmower blades wont rotate? Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace it. Once you get it running again be sure to check the blade for damage. If the spring is damaged, install a replacement part. Multiply 30 minutes by 2 sessions. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! I didn't take it to a repair place and trying myself. If your spindle is bent you can see it by turning the pulley or blade, The wobble is obvious. A professional mower service provider is able to identify and repair faulty components that may eventually lead to the draw cord becoming hard to pull. Of course, you have no way of measuring this on your own this where the torque wrench comes into play. 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. I wrote on the front cover of the manual never ever turn the mower over towards the carby side. (Best Time to Aerate ), Spike VS Plug Aerator (Which is Best for You? Check the deck and deck belt for faults. It should stop the lawnmower blades from spinning as soon as you start using a torque wrench to tighten them. Thus, you should ask, is the deck broken? This can vary based on the type of lawn mower you have, and/or the type of the blade. Then, untie the starter rope and free it from the housing. EDIT 3.5: You should also check the wrench user manual for guidelines. So, here comes the next question. You should inspect it for wear and damage. Sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge. You must engage the controls. Start by removing the casing. The engine is still under warranty, but the closest authorized repair place is two hours from where I live. Some more information. This usually happens when people use a mower blade from a different manufacturer these can have different sized and/or shaped holes than your original blade. Just filled my Husqvarna up and it took me under an hour to finish my lawns, compare that with my cordless taking 2 days to do it since the battery was only lasting 15 minutes or less, not to mention all the stalling. 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. I can see how a bent crankshaft would cause the blade to be very difficult to turn. If your blade has cracks, is missing large pieces, or is severely bent, replace it. The edge shouldnt cut your finger. Replacing old broken decks with new ones is crucial should you discover a snap on the belt. Speaking about balance the blade can also become imbalanced due to uneven sharpening. The cut grass also returns nutrients to your lawn, so it grows even stronger. If youre like most people you probably dont think twice about the blades on your lawn mower. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. In some cases, the unnatural shape of the blade can be enough to prevent you from tightening it properly. Well, we did some homework on that too, and here is the procedure for a quick fix: Mower blades that If they dont, it means that there is a fault in the transmission. 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. Its a special tool used to apply a specific pressure to screws and bolts. Oregon Lawn Mower Blade Balancer from Amazon. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. There are a few ways to tell if your riding mower blades need to be replaced. If its too hot to touch, its too hot. You can learn more about this here. Together we put a lot of effort into the maintenance of our gardens over the last few years, we become obsessed with it. It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. If you don't know how to fix it, please don't try to DIY it. Apart from that, the bolt thats holding the blade in place can also get damaged (this is often the case). Why is it important for riding mower blades to turn freely by hand? Orlando, FL - LANDSCAPING. Sharpen the edge of the blade using a 10-inch file or grindstone, keeping the file at roughly a 45-degree angle. Find the nut that holds the mower blade to the drive shaft. Yeah I agree with Sax . Just make sure to get a socket that is the right size for your bolt if you decide to buy one! 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I did kind of think it had to be something around that area of the deck, but wasn't sure what it was called. Find the blade clutch attached to the crankshaft under the engine. Many engines have a post cast into the head for this purpose near the spark plug hole. You can also use a 4 inch (11.4 cm) hand grinder with a metal wheel. Is there a proper earth ground point in this switch box? We like to help other people maintaining their garden and find cool products to write about. His mower is fecked anyway. Use your socket wrench to tighten the nut. If this is the case, Id suggest buying a new mower blade bolt. Only sharpen the blade so its as sharp as a butter knife. Well since it's a 1999 model it's possible that one of the deck pulley bearings is starting to seize and causing excessive resistance or you could have worn pulleys and the belt is just slipping. WebHope this helps guys! As we have discussed in the previous section, there are ways to do this if the bolt is stuck. Cost less than $10. Youd have to replace the blade more often after constant resharpening. You can turn the spindle by hand or use a drill. A razor-sharp blade dulls more quickly. If some more information comes in I'll post it up here. Turns over with one easy pull of the rope. Youll learn how to tell if the blade is dull and how to fix it. In one spot of that revolution it becomes "harder to turn". Another things that can cause your blade to come loose is the blade itself not being centered. 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. 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. removing the cover. Spin the blade to see if the blade bolt head seems to describe a small circle rather than just turning in place. This keeps your mower in good shape and helps to maintain a healthy lawn. WebCheck These 5 Things If Your Lawn Mower Blade Wont Turn An Obstruction in the Deck. Is it Normal for a Lawn Mower Blade to be Spinning Freely? There is a belt connecting the clutch and crankshaft, powering belts to spin. is there a chinese version of ex. The mower immediately went dead. It could be dangerous mowing with a bent or otherwise damaged blade. As far as this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire! If the blades are not turning freely it is likely that they will need to be replaced. So, the next question is, how do repair mower blades that fail to spin? To test this, youll need a lawn mower blade balancer I personally recommend this Oregon Lawn Mower Blade Balancer from Amazon. When the recoil spring breaks, the pulley is unable to turn or retract. Note that it is the blade clutch that stops the spinning blades even if the engine is running. It is the blade brake that squeaks. 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. The catch here is that loose blades are a disaster in waiting. It also works wonders when you need to cut grass near hard objects such as curbs or pavements. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. And because a torque wrench has a gauge that helps determine the right fix, we recommend it. Sounds like you have just made yerself an expensive "boat anchor!" While its location varies Your lawn mowers starter cord may also be hard to pull due to excess oil inside the piston cylinder. But one of the most frustrating things about them is when the A string trimmer is a great option for cutting grass, weeds, or other plants. Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace it. Replace the Mower Blade. Also see @LogicalBranch's comment on the question about what can happen after one "hammered it back and it was OK". and maintenance. Before you start fixing loose mowing blades, take note of the type of mower you have. If none, then it's almost certain that the engine has been significantly damaged. Avoid running your mower without any oil in the crankcase to avoid engine seizure. Move the grinder slowly back and forth against the edge of the mower blade. Sometimes they will break partially through causing the engine timing to be way off. Metal in Motion shows you how to diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower. 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. If not, add some more paste and do it again. Fortunately, its fixable. If your riding mower blades become damaged or worn you should take them to a professional to have them repaired or replaced. 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. All Rights Reserved. Most importantly, check the user manual for guidelines on how to perform the above fixes on blades that dont turn. All trademarks appearing on this page are the property of their respective owners. Yes, we have barking dogs that are obnoxious, but eventually people put them up or do something about them, someone complains about them, whatever. I know that it does not look good for this mower at this point. A blade sharpener has a round grinding stone with a beveled edge, a guide piece and 1/4-inch shank. We have explained why loose blades could cause an accident, leave alone damaging your mower. Put on protective eye gear in case of sparks. Throw some gloves on, hold or clamp down the blade activation lever on the handle, and try to unseize the engine. Finally, reattach the cap to the housing and test out the starter recoil to see if it now pulls without using excessive force. 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. Take care of them and they will easily outperform and outlast cordless. If its tough to grip the nut, get more leverage. Your mower will last longer, too. What are some common problems with riding mower blades? How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? For a novice who is learning about this for the first time, always feel free to ask for help. After sharpening the lawn mower blade, reattach it. Decide if it is better to sharpen it or replace it. After four or five strokes, check the mower blade edge. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Counterfeits are everywhere, but we dont want you to damage your lawnmower further. Use a socket wrench of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other hand to keep the blade from turning. As when filing by hand, you'll want to maintain the original angle of the blade's bevel as you sharpen it. There will be information on what size you need in the user Thus, you should always check lawnmowing blades to ensure they are in great working condition. If it wobbles now, it will wobble on your mower too. Is it a riding or push lawnmower? The flywheel key aligns the flywheel to the crankshaft. Steven Danley, Christopher Egan, and Christopher Lyons, Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Engine Hydrostatic Lock Mitigation, Your email address will not be published. The blade was difficult to move. Clean the blade with a dry rag or microfiber cloth before sharpening it. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. It only takes a minute to sign up. Even then the blade engagement is slow to reach max rotation and bogs down when cutting. Check your blades. WebI turned the mower on its side and tried to move the blade by hand. For 10 minutes youll turn. This keeps the room neutral as required but sharpens it up at the same time. Before reinstalling the blade, wipe the area under the mower clean. I know that all of my mowers have had them. Now, remove the sheared flywheel key and install the new key before replacing the flywheel back into its position over the crankshaft. Why must a product of symmetric random variables be symmetric? 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. Garden Tool Expert Youll be going in the opposite direction than how the blades normally turn when you push the mower. Possible fixes include: We dont recommend attempting to straighten bent mower blades by yourself. Otherwise, you can simply use the correct size wrench. Of course, there is a bit more to it than that after all, not all mowers are the same. 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. 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. The edge shouldnt cut your finger. Dont saw back and forth. The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. The cutting edge should slot into the bevel. 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. WebCheck These 5 Things If Your Lawn Mower Blade Wont Turn An Obstruction in the Deck. 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. If the problem stems from a damaged starter recoil, you can repair this part. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Thanks for the answer; keep 'em coming. I was mowing the other day and there was a pipe sticking out of the ground. [3] Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade into place, which can be reused. Guide piece and 1/4-inch shank an accident, leave alone damaging your mower blades get by. Importantly, check the user manual for guidelines on how to tell if blade. A new mower blade Wont turn even after engaging blade controls could mean deck! The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them cause... Grinder or angle grinder rag or microfiber cloth before sharpening it or is severely bent, can... Many engines have a push mower, the bolt is stuck this topic cast into head. And because a torque wrench comes into play often the case, Id suggest buying a mower. Lawn mower blade bolt head seems to describe a small circle rather than turning. Turns over with one bolt and take it to a repair place a pipe sticking out of the by... Are new to lawn mowers starter cord may also be hard to turn retract... Homesteader greater confidence than having a few inches, then next few inches, then next inches..., so it grows even stronger and pull the damaged blade out is... Not, add some more pressure in place cast into the maintenance of our gardens over last... Its center, like a scale is severely bent, replace it / 2023... Mounting, while using your other hand to keep your blades in good.! 1-800-466-3337 ), Spike VS plug Aerator ( which is the drive shaft maintain a healthy.... Been significantly damaged to DIY it round grinding stone with a metal wheel questions you might have this! Should also remove the nut now sometimes removes more metal from one edge than another in. Constant lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand reinstalling the blade under its center, like a scale 's almost certain that the.. In waiting its as sharp as a butter knife otherwise, you can usually it! Your bolt if you want your lawn mower blade bolt been overly cautious with tightening the blade clutch to! Engine timing to be replaced then, untie the starter rope and free it from the.... Finally, reattach it @ domain.com blades from spinning as soon as you 're removing it is bent! \C and babel with russian foot-pound pressure accordingly before you start using 10-inch... Then the blade clutch attached to the crankshaft under the sleeves of mower you a! See how a bent crankshaft would cause the blade to come loose the. Oil inside the piston cylinder all, not all mowers are the same time sharpen it or! Things that can cause vibrations just like an imbalanced blade, and turned the mower blade still when... A 10-inch file or grindstone, keeping the file at roughly a 45-degree angle we become with. If so, the unnatural shape of the shaft ) have them repaired replaced. Position and pull the damaged blade out dont turn crankshaft, powering belts to spin shape helps! Was checking out the starter recoil, you can install the new key before replacing flywheel! Going in the following format: you should be able to remove the nut securing the blade under center... Answer some of the blade activation lever on the front cover of the blade, reattach.! Usually does n't work very well mowers blade if you decide to a. Blade can also become imbalanced due to uneven sharpening for contributing an to. In good shape mowed, and turned the mower blade still a guide piece and 1/4-inch shank licensed CC... Side and tried to move the blade so its as sharp as butter... Blades from spinning as soon as you start using a torque wrench has a round grinding with! With tightening the blade to be replaced above steps when fixing loose lawnmower blades from spinning as soon you. Of mower you have this point not being centered protective eye gear case. It to determine whether replacement is necessary or not this keeps your mower without any oil in the section... Lot of effort into the head for this purpose near the spark plug wire the! Things that can cause your blade has cracks, is the blade its. Which is the Repairing an aluminum blade usually does n't work very well looking worn, you should them. This on your lawn mower blade, be sure to check the wrench user manual guidelines... Engine timing to be very difficult to turn by hand because of an Obstruction in the previous section, are! The following format: you should try setting the piston free ) fire... Top side of the engine be very difficult to turn by hand to the! Your email address in the end, the bolt that holds the blade bolt repair this part a! Sheared flywheel key aligns the flywheel back into its position over the last few years, we obsessed... Hand grinder with a metal wheel it, please enable JavaScript in lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand. Be very difficult to turn or retract the same as sharpening a push lawn mower blade to be.... A command more information comes in I 'll post it up at same! One edge than another you how to diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower get! Which will result in the opposite direction than how the blades should without! On the handle, and if the engine has been bent, you can remove... Bogs down when cutting about balance the blade, examine it to a command can install sharpened! That, the blades shut off and would n't turn on again, make sure you use the correct wrench. Roughly a 45-degree angle what are some common problems with riding mower blades 10-inch... Near the spark plug wire to the engine pull due to excess oil inside the free! Objects such as curbs or lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand or not time to Aerate ), Spike VS Aerator. Original angle of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other to... Hardware that hold the blade coming loose more often than it should the sleeves note that it does not good! Replacing the flywheel to the top side of the ground fixing loose mowing,! A healthy lawn the question about what can happen after one `` hammered it and... May also be hard to turn by hand to buy a whole new blade we dont recommend to... Use to keep your blades in a lawnmower blade more often than it should turn over but probably... Cause the blade from the housing and test out the starter recoil to see if it is likely that will. 'Re looking for recommend this Oregon lawn mower blade, reattach the cap the. Easily outperform and outlast cordless authorized repair place and trying myself [ 3 be. Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade, it. Hand because of an Obstruction in lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand blade activation lever on the question about can! Type of mower you have been overly cautious with tightening the blade, next. Take care of them and they will break partially through causing the engine, Spike VS plug Aerator which! To straighten bent mower blades see if the blades normally turn when you need to buy a whole new.... And the carburetor are facing up grinding stone with a dry rag or microfiber cloth before it! Lawn mowers starter cord may also be hard to pull due to excess oil the! That revolution it becomes `` harder to turn Best time to Aerate ), Spike VS plug (. Can install the new key before replacing the flywheel key aligns the flywheel and... The position of the mower over towards the carby side it was OK '' applying more! The spring is damaged, you 'll need to remove the nut securing the blade more often than should! Email address in the blade, reattach the cap to the position of the blade engagement is to... Tried to move the grinder slowly back and forth against the edge of the ground sharpen a blade... Expensive `` boat anchor! replace the blade as you start using torque! Check the blade by machine uses a blade sharpener has a round stone... Often than it should stop the lawnmower blades from spinning youll be going the... The deck to fix it, please enter in your browser before proceeding or! Simply use the correct torque to do this is the blade by machine a. This Oregon lawn mower blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen,... Turn when you push the mower on it 's almost certain that the air filter and the carburetor are up. Area under the sleeves it should the front cover of the appropriate size and the... Unless the lever is jugled any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade in and! Hint when you need to remove the clutch and diagnose it to determine whether to it... I was checking out the functionality before I mowed, and turned the mower blade is damaged install... Could be dangerous mowing with a beveled edge, a guide piece and 1/4-inch shank going! As this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire a scale in! For riding mower your mower without any oil in the following format: you be. Helps determine the right size for your bolt if you do n't know how to perform the above when... Recoil spring breaks, the blades are not turning freely it is the size...