Mower Deck Prop (Jack, Concrete Block, or Similar). You HAVE to listen to that! The drive belt of the engine powers the belt system, and chances are that it could have some wear and tear. You should only take this step if the blades still do not spin. WebSharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. As I was turning it by hand, I could And, you should probably, I hit a pipe with a mower and now it won't turn. If the mowers drawcord is hard to pull due to a sheared flywheel key, you should replace the flywheel key by following the procedure detailed below: i. Detach the spark plug wire, then remove the engine casing by unscrewing the bolts that secure it in place. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. Mower blades are made from fairly soft steel. Followed 1saxman's advice. Unfortunately, you can overtighten your mowers blade if you arent careful. Is it Normal for a Lawn Mower Blade to be Spinning Freely? It may not display this or other websites correctly. In cases where replacing broken belts is necessary, you should only use original spare parts. 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. 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. BackyardGadget.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. What Causes a Lawn Mower Blade to Keep Coming Loose, and How to Fix it? And as indicated the key may have been sheared. It makes it more difficult to pull the starter cord. Possible to fix a safety cutoff on a Briggs and Stratton 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. +1-213-221-0119, By using this website I agree with the Disclaimer, Loose mower blades-What it means WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. If you feel like you have been overly cautious with tightening the blade, try applying some more pressure. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Replace the Mower Blade. A bent crankshaft is a type of physical damage that typically occurs when you run over objects like large stones while mowing. Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace 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. It might be hard to turn at first, but once it starts to move a little bit it should get easier. It should cut easily. It is also likely that your mower blades wont spin because of a safety switch fault. 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. If the spring is damaged, install a replacement part. I had one for 15 years, and only ran over the cord twice. Gas mowers are just more powerful, don't stall and save you so much time. This depends on how often and how long you mow. Doing so will ensure that your lawn mower continues to work properly and that your grass always looks its best. In some lawn mower models, the flywheel key is designed to shear whenever the blade hits something. Another common cause is when you hit something really hard, such as the edge of a sidewalk and the blade becomes deformed. Fortunately, its fixable. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. rev2023.3.1.43269. This value is measured in ft/lb or foot-pounds. Only sharpen the blade so its as sharp as a butter knife. Occasionally take your mower for servicing. Turn the blade over. If there is no problem with the deck and drive belt, then check the blade clutch. 453 S Spring St Ste 400 Are lawn mower blades really supposed to be loose and, just how loose is too loose? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? It was well inside my property line and I assume it was once used to hold a flag or sign. Thanks, Joe. 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 It is the spinning of mowing blades that creates a force for cutting turf. I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. When thats the case, spray it with some penetrating oil. Yeah I agree with Sax . If you have ever had to remove a broken bolt, you know all too well how much of a pain it is. Mower Deck Prop (Jack, Concrete Block, or Similar). If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. Now you can tilt it up with the carb side high to check for a bent crankshaft. I have turned it on it's side in the past and nothing has leaked out. Sharp lawn mower blades are necessary for a good-looking lawn. Well, we did some homework on that too, and here is the procedure for a quick fix: Mower blades that I know that it does not look good for this mower at this point. In one spot of that revolution it becomes "harder to turn". Is the blade brake something that can be adjusted to be fixed or would it have to be replaced? 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. Unfortunately, you cant really fix a damaged bolt. We like to help other people maintaining their garden and find cool products to write about. Youd have to replace the blade more often after constant resharpening. For 10 minutes youll turn. First its possible that the blades are just dirty and need to be cleaned. This blog is written by a group of Garden Tool enthusiasts. Thats because the pull cord connects directly to the blades via the crankshaft. If your blade is just nicked, chipped, or dull, try sharpening it. It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. It's a Husqvarna mower, one year old with a Briggs & Stratton engine. 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 Based on the answer above, more questions come to mind. Remember to set foot-pound pressure accordingly before you can start tightening loose blades. To fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. WebSharpening a lawn mower blade by hand uses metal files or abrasives. An unbalanced blade may damage your mower. Avoid running your mower without any oil in the crankcase to avoid engine seizure. Roll the mower outside of the garage or shed to avoid fumes. Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. The engine is still under warranty, but the closest authorized repair place is two hours from where I live. How can I tell if my riding mower blades need to be replaced? If it doesnt, or you have lost it, try looking for an online manual or ask your local mower dealership for help. 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. as in example? 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. His mower is fecked anyway. It only takes a minute to sign up. Keeping a rotation going will make sure each blade lasts a little longer. Once you remove the blade, examine it to determine whether to sharpen it, or replace 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 You can only ensure proper torque is applied to your lawn mower with a torque wrench. The customer said the blades shut off and wouldn't turn on again. Just make sure to buy one made by the mowers manufacturer, as these bolts arent necessarily interchangeable. It is the blade brake that squeaks. 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. Then see if you can turn the blade in a complete 360 degree rotation without interference. Now, it is time to tighten the loose blade, so attach the right fitting socket to the wrench. The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. As you can see, overtightening your lawn mowers blade can cause quite a bit of trouble. Youll need to sharpen your blades two or three times a year. Also, mulching mower blades have a very specific bend, and are very difficult to sharpen, and repair from being bent or hitting a hard object. Whether you choose to buy push or ride-on mowers, it must work optimally without any hitches. As I was turning it by hand, I could Spin the blade to see if the blade bolt head seems to describe a small circle rather than just turning in place. Repeat the process by turning it over and grinding the other edge. This sounds like the key. Some more information. Sounds like you have just made yerself an expensive "boat anchor!" Mowers run smoothest when the blade is balanced. If it kicks back and backfires, etc., you'll have to reset the flywheel with a new 'Woodruff key'. Unfortunately, blades sometimes become severely bent, preventing the blade from rotating properly. You can try to file a warranty claim but chances are that it will be denied since the signs of "abuse" will be obvious. You must log in or register to reply here. To relieve the drag from a mowers pull cord, you need to fix the underlying issue. Find the nut that holds the mower blade to the drive shaft. It would be move freely for a few inches, then next few inches of movement would require great force. JavaScript is disabled. 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. For 10 minutes youll turn. The edge shouldnt cut your finger. Decide if it is better to sharpen it or replace it. 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. Step 2: Remove the Spark Plug. Together we put a lot of effort into the maintenance of our gardens over the last few years, we become obsessed with it. Finally, reattach the cap to the housing and test out the starter recoil to see if it now pulls without using excessive force. Using your less dominant hand, hold a blade while using the other hand to tighten a securing bolt using a torque wrench. How do you fix them? why did my mower suddenly start running slower? The edge shouldnt cut your finger. Hopefully it is only a Hydraulic lock and perhaps the flywheel key has been sheered as has been indicated . How can I prevent my riding mower blades from becoming damaged or worn? It needs to be extremely tight for your mower to start smoothly. 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. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Blades that do not spin means there is nothing you can do with your machine. 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. Repairing an aluminum blade usually doesn't work very well. The blade was difficult to move. Multiply 30 minutes by 2 sessions. Another way to sharpen a lawnmower blade is to use a belt sander. Reconnect your spark plug wire and your power source. [3] Be careful not to lose any washers or mounting hardware that hold the blade into place, which can be reused. Figure out how often to sharpen your mower blades with a little math: Calculate how long it takes you to complete a mowing session. 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. 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. You can only listen to so much landscaping before it starts to drive you crazy. Browns and greys can often be brought to life again with purples and plums, move away from solid wooden tables and consider glass or decorative pieces (such as the one in the first image example) and a few cushions. With that, adjust foot-pounds pressure to 30. 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. You should be able to remove the nut now. Metal in Motion shows you how to diagnose and follow the electric pto circuit on a riding mower. This action causes the pull cord to jerk back halfway through and become difficult to pull. For example, do loose blades mean freely spinning blades, or do they spell danger? Use your socket wrench to tighten the nut. Support the blade under its center, like a scale. Otherwise, you can simply use the correct size wrench. After sharpening the lawn mower blade, reattach it. WebTo fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. Once the old blades are removed you can then install the new blades by attaching them to the riding mower with the bolts. Let me first start off by saying that I am by no means gifted when it comes to motors, I probably know less than anyone on here. 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. and maintenance. WebHope this helps guys! When tightening I know that all of my mowers have had them. Now place a solid wooden block into the mowing deck to keep the blade in place while you work. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. But landscaping? Instead, you should invest in a replacement blade thats the same size as the one youre disposing of. Oh no! Take care of them and they will easily outperform and outlast cordless. 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. WebTo fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. 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. Dig out any mud and grass clippings that have caked under there too. Nearly every weekend you will find us doing small or big jobs or just enjoying our garden. Check the deck and deck belt for faults. The cost of replacing riding mower blades will vary depending on the make and model of the riding mower and the blades that you purchase. When the recoil spring breaks, the pulley is unable to turn or retract. @tyelford If you haven't already, disconnect the spark plug ASAP and every time you try and turn the mower blade by hand. Hey, you'll have to tie down the engine/blade control bail to spin the blade to check for bent shaft. The flywheel key aligns the flywheel to the crankshaft. In the end, the most important thing is to have lawnmowing blades that work efficiently. It should be as sharp as a butter knife and free of any nicks or rough spots. Cost less than $10. Then, using a flywheel puller, pull out the flywheel. Align the blade of the grinder with the cutting edge of the mower blade. Replace the spark plug and test whether the pull cord still has excessive drag. These are hard-gripping questions that bother many homesteaders. This makes the blade unbalanced. One way is to check the blades to see if they are damaged or bent. Start by removing the casing. If they're shiny and clean looking you're done.