It's is a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon and the hammock and a cool lemonade await. All you have to do is finish mowing the last few feet of the backyard. As you push the mower ahead of you, something catches your eye, but you are not sure what it is. There is a loud bang, and suddenly the lawnmower begins to shake violently. You shut down the mower and you see the brick that the kids painted to look like a turtle. Then you see that the brick had taken a chunk out of the lawnmower blade.
You can avoid a costly trip to the repair shop. Changing a lawnmower blade is a simple and quick do-it-yourself project. Here is what you will need:
- An adjustable wrench
- A pipe wrench or vise grips
- A wire brush
- Penetrating oil, or a spray lubricant (like WD-40)
- A couple of rags or old towels
- Duct tape
Safety First
Before you do anything else, think safety. Drain the gas tank and remove the spark plug wire. The last thing you need is the engine starting accidently. Wrap the sharpened ends of the blade (or the jagged end of the blade) with rags and duct tape.
Use a wire brush to clean the area where the large nut holds the blade in place. This will give you a clean area to work and will prevent the wrench from slipping. Coat the nut with penetrating oil or spray lubricant and allow a few minutes for the oil to do its job. Clamp the pipe wrench or vise grips to the shaft of the motor in the area between the old blade and the lawnmower housing. The pipe wrench is going to be used to prevent the shaft from turning while you turn the adjustable wrench counterclockwise to loosen the nut holding the blade to the shaft. Once the nut has come loose, remove the washer, and remove the blade.
Match the replacement blade to the blade just removed. The top of most replacement blades will be marked, as will the rotation. Be certain that when installing the replacement blade, the topside faces the housing of the lawnmower, not the ground. Using the pipe wrench once again, hold the motor shaft in place while you replace the washer and torque the nut, turning clockwise to tighten firmly. Remove your tools, turn the lawnmower upright and be sure to refill the gas tank and reconnect the sparkplug wire.
Start the lawnmower and get back to your mowing. Check to make sure the lawnmower is cutting as it had before. If it is not, check to be sure the blade was not installed upside down.
Finish the yard, put the lawnmower away and head for the hammock and the lemonade as you pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Author: Steve
About the author:
Steve is an expert in lawn mower parts and service. He frequently writes about lawn mower blades and other topics related to the industry.
Article source: Free Landscaping Articles.
