In the end, the blades should rotate without vibrating. Find the nut that holds the mower blade to the drive shaft. Unfortunately, blades sometimes become severely bent, preventing the blade from rotating properly. Followed 1saxman's advice. 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. Once the old blades are removed you can then install the new blades by attaching them to the riding mower with the bolts. Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. depending on the type of mower, lowering it should be the first step toward repair As I was turning it by hand, I could If youre like most people you probably dont think twice about the blades on your lawn mower. 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. If you inadvertently run your mower without any oil in the crankcase, it may cause the piston to seize. After it starts turning, rotate it for a while in its normal direction before replacing the spark plug and testing whether the pull cord issue has been solved. I turned the mower on its side and tried to move the blade by hand. 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. (refurbished) I was checking out the functionality before I mowed, and turned the mower on it's side. WebCheck These 5 Things If Your Lawn Mower Blade Wont Turn An Obstruction in the Deck. But, check it as described above, but don't expect miracles! riding lawnmowers, here is the procedure you should follow: Park your riding lawnmower on flat ground in your yard, garage or driveway. It's a Husqvarna mower, one year old with a Briggs & Stratton engine. ii. I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Dot product of vector with camera's local positive x-axis? The flywheel key aligns the flywheel to the crankshaft. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. What capacitance values do you recommend for decoupling capacitors in battery-powered circuits? Replace the Mower Blade. Its a special tool used to apply a specific pressure to screws and bolts. Garden Tool Expert For 10 minutes youll turn. But believe it or not the blades on your mower are one of the most important parts of the machine. Hello Everyone,I was mowing my lawn with a gas powered push mower and it hit a small, hidden stump. Attach the hand crank and turn, turn, turn in a counter clockwise motion. If it's a pleated-paper filter, you'll need to get a new one if the mower can be used again. Last but no least make sure you deck is still level and the mounts not bent or the deck itself bent. 3 Alternatively, use a belt sander. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Thats 40 cutting sessions. Check your blade for the grease pencil or paint mark you made earlier. An unbalanced mower blade can produce vibrations that will loosen the bolt over time. Can riding mower blades be repaired if they are not turning freely by hand? Read on to the next section to find out what these can be, and how to fix them! Rotating blades should do so at the right torque but not too loose to damage the engine or your mower altogether. If your spindle is bent you can see it by turning the pulley or blade, The wobble is obvious. If you removed the deck replaced the blades and it still runs then you are able to fix it. Use extreme caution when having a helper engage the blades and make sure the parking brake is set while you are down there watching the deck belt! Well, we did some homework on that too, and here is the procedure for a quick fix: Mower blades that To relieve the drag from a mowers pull cord, you need to fix the underlying issue. Your email address will not be published. Fortunately, its fixable. Ready to find the outdoor power equipment you need? These are hard-gripping questions that bother many homesteaders. This is known as a hydro lock. A properly mowed lawn helps prevent lawn disease from getting a foothold. Now the blades on the mower are very hard/stiff to turn by hand. Be sure that the air filter and the carburetor are facing up. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. What to do if lawnmower blades wont rotate? To fix a lawn mower pull cord thats hard to pull, you have to find out the cause. Next, gather the tools to sharpen lawn mower blades. Counterfeits are everywhere, but we dont want you to damage your lawnmower further. Blades that produce a crackling sound when spinning sound alarming. Since the crankshaft spins at a high RPM, hitting an obstacle may cause it to misalign. problem. Keeping a rotation going will make sure each blade lasts a little longer. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. If some more information comes in I'll post it up here. Acceleration without force in rotational motion? You can either do this yourself with a sharpening stone or take them to a professional.Finally its possible that the blades are bent. Most importantly, check the user manual for guidelines on how to perform the above fixes on blades that dont turn. Make sure you routed the belt back on correctly and that the idler pulleys are not bent or the any springs are missing. Many newer motors have an aluminum blade, and if the blade is damaged, you'll need to buy a whole new blade. Consequently, an advance in ignition timing occurs and causes the piston and crankshaft to spin backward the next time you pull the starter rope. Attach the hand crank and turn, turn, turn in a counter clockwise motion. I'm thinking the drive shaft may have disconnected with the engine, but I don't really know a lot about small engines. (it could happen though). It should remain level. What to Do if The Mower Blade Wont Tighten. Even out any rough spots. (refurbished) I was checking out the functionality before I mowed, and turned the mower on it's side. 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. Remove the spark plug and tilt the mower to drain out the oil. Thankfully blades are relatively inexpensive and easy to find.So there you have it. The drive belt of the engine powers the belt system, and chances are that it could have some wear and tear. 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. But landscaping? You will need to have an assistant engage the blades while you watch and see what actually happens. Align the blade of the grinder with the cutting edge of the mower blade. Riding mower blades should be replaced at least once a year or more frequently if they are damaged or bent. 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. Or both. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Youll be going in the opposite direction than how the blades normally turn when you push the mower. The flat guide should be against the rear of the blade. While blades in your lawnmower should spin without touching anything, it is not the same as being loose at the shafting point. Youll be going in the opposite direction than how the blades normally turn when you push the mower. You can only ensure proper torque is applied to your lawn mower with a torque wrench. Pay attention to the position of the blade as you're removing it. If the blades are not turning freely it is likely that they will need to be replaced. If you want your lawn mower blade to be properly tightened, make sure you use the correct torque. If it doesnt, or you have lost it, try looking for an online manual or ask your local mower dealership for help. One should use caution flipping over a gas mower, right? WebFixing loose blades in push lawn mowers. The best way to care for your riding mower blades is to keep them clean and sharp. Spin the blade to see if the blade bolt head seems to describe a small circle rather than just turning in place. The customer said the blades shut off and wouldn't turn on again. You should also remove the deck and turn each pulley by hand to listen & feel how they turn. Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. If the problems started after you sharpened the mowers blade, this might be the case. The blade was difficult to move. Insert the screwdriver tip through the hole in the blade. rev2023.3.1.43269. Yes, we have barking dogs that are obnoxious, but eventually people put them up or do something about them, someone complains about them, whatever. Disconnect the spark plug wire from a gas mower. You must log in or register to reply here. I'm wondering if someone has come across this situation before and would know if it's an easy fix or is the mower a write-off. How do you fix them? Los Angeles, CA 90013 Then see if you can turn the blade in a complete 360 degree rotation without interference. Because if all the interest and concern over the pipe, see photo. How can I make this regulator output 2.8 V or 1.5 V? Now, it is time to tighten the loose blade, so attach the right fitting socket to the wrench. Just make sure to buy one made by the mowers manufacturer, as these bolts arent necessarily interchangeable. Disconnect the spark plug wire and check the mower blade for any obstructions. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. 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. WebFixing loose blades in push lawn mowers. Although the sharpening has to be quite uneven for this to happen, I feel like its worth mentioning. Need Help? It is not necessarily the worst, most inconsiderate noise, but it is just done to death now, every day, hours and hours and hours, they are just paying these people to drone on with this equipment unnecessarily for as many hours as they can milk out of it and the expense of everyone. Lets take a look at each of them separately. You HAVE to listen to that! How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? ), Disadvantages of Mulching Grass (Best Way to Mulch). A screwdriver is an easy tool to use. It is now time to remove the blade. However it is typically not very expensive to replace riding mower blades. As I was turning it by hand, I could Is the blade brake something that can be adjusted to be fixed or would it have to be replaced? Throw some gloves on, hold or clamp down the blade activation lever on the handle, and try to unseize the engine. 2000-2022 Home Depot. We like to help other people maintaining their garden and find cool products to write about. 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. It should cut easily. The side that dipped down is heavier. 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. 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. Now you can tilt it up with the carb side high to check for a bent crankshaft. 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. 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. This automatically gives the right sharpening angle. 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. removing the cover. Repairing an aluminum blade usually doesn't work very well. 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. Only sharpen the blade so its as sharp as a butter knife. Sharpen the edge of the blade using a 10-inch file or grindstone, keeping the file at roughly a 45-degree angle. Use a socket wrench of the appropriate size and unbolt the mounting, while using your other hand to keep the blade from turning. Haha, thanks, it does, but I am not sure where the blade-brake is. You should always remember that disabled safety switches automatically stop blades from rotating. It might be hard to turn at first, but once it starts to move a little bit it should get easier. One way is to check the blades to see if they are damaged or bent. But I don't think that's likely to have happened in this case. As far as this one goes: carefully heed the advice about pulling the spark-plug wire! Another way is to check to see if the blades are turning freely by hand. Carefully turn the mower on its side. Replace the spark plug and test whether the pull cord still has excessive drag. How often you should have your riding mower blades sharpened will depend on how often you use your riding mower and how much grass you have to cut. A razor-sharp blade dulls more quickly. As when filing by hand, you'll want to maintain the original angle of the blade's bevel as you sharpen it. Tighten it until you hear a click. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. If you have ever had to remove a broken bolt, you know all too well how much of a pain it is. There will be information on what size you need in the user Pro Tip: Sharpen your blade with a hand file. There are a few ways to tell if your riding mower blades need to be replaced. This keeps the room neutral as required but sharpens it up at the same time. Use extreme caution when having a helper engage the blades and make sure the parking brake is set while you are down there watching the The user manual should always have information on this topic. While its location varies I wrote on the front cover of the manual never ever turn the mower over towards the carby side. 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. You can also use a 4 inch (11.4 cm) hand grinder with a metal wheel. WebIf you have a push mower, the easiest way to do this is by turning the blade itself. Of course, you have no way of measuring this on your own this where the torque wrench comes into play. 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. 2022 LawnMowerForum.com. [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. Back them up with the carb side high to check to see if are... 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Feel like its worth mentioning should use caution flipping over a gas powered push mower right! Take them to the drive shaft back on correctly and that the blades on the lawn mower blade hard to turn by hand cover of machine! ; back them up with references or personal experience crackling sound when spinning sound alarming springs.