| Occasionally, a riding lawn tractor or mower's blades | | | | angle will be adequate. Most of the wear will be |
| can become unbalanced, bent, or dull, and will need | | | | around the blade tip. Focus on this area. If the blade |
| either reconditioning or replacement. It is | | | | is significantly worn or gouged beyond reconditioning, |
| recommended that maintenance be performed on | | | | replace the blade. Follow the above procedures for all |
| the blades at least twice a year. To care for a riding | | | | the blades. |
| lawn mower's blades, follow the steps listed below. | | | | Balancing your Blades |
| NOTE: These materials are prepared for use by | | | | Before installing a new or sharpened blade, it is |
| trained technicians who are experienced in the | | | | important that the blade is balanced. If a blade isn't |
| service and repair of equipment of the kind described | | | | balanced properly, it will rattle and vibrate. This will |
| in this publication, and are not intended for use by | | | | damage other components on the riding lawn mower. |
| untrained or inexperienced individuals. Such individuals | | | | Blade balancing tools can be purchased at a local |
| should seek the assistance of a service technician or | | | | hardware store for a reasonable price. Clean all dirt |
| dealer. | | | | and debris from the blade. If the blade is not |
| Preparation | | | | thoroughly cleaned it will affect the balancing of the |
| As with many projects, think safety first. Always | | | | blade. |
| wear heavy leather gloves and safety glasses | | | | There are two procedures for checking the balance |
| goggles for protection and always disconnect both | | | | of a blade that we call out in this publication. The first |
| the battery ground wire from the negative battery | | | | is when using the vertical test method, the free |
| terminal and the spark plug wire from the spark plug. | | | | hanging blade will rotate on its own, heavy side |
| If the unit is equipped with a twin cylinder engine, | | | | downward. The horizontal test method is the second; |
| remove both of the spark plug wires from the spark | | | | this is when one side of the blade begins to drop |
| plugs. | | | | towards the table top. The side that drops to the |
| Removing the Blades | | | | table top or rotates downward is the heavier side, |
| Most riding lawn mowers have removable blades. In | | | | and needs further sharpening or material removed to |
| order to reach the riding lawn mower's blades, | | | | balance out the blade. After sharpening, test the |
| remove the deck before performing maintenance. | | | | blade balance again, and repeat until the blade is |
| DO NOT tip the riding lawn mower on its side. This | | | | balanced. Follow the above procedures for the |
| can result in serious damage to the unit. Remove the | | | | remaining blades. |
| riding lawn tractor's blades by turning the blade bolt | | | | Installing the Blades |
| or nut counter-clockwise with a standard long-handled | | | | Once the blade has been sharpened and balanced, |
| wrench. Do not be surprised if the blade bolt or nut is | | | | reinstall it with the proper orientation. If using an OEM |
| difficult to remove due to normal corrosion, dirt | | | | blade, the word "Bottom" is stamped on the blade |
| build-up and initial torque setting of 70 to 100 ft. lbs. | | | | for the side that should face the ground. If the word |
| Sharpening the Blades | | | | "Bottom" is not present, be sure to install the blade |
| Sharpen the riding lawn tractor blades by using a tool, | | | | with the raised tips toward the top of the deck. The |
| like a hand file, which is designed to be used on | | | | blade bolt or nut should be tightened properly using |
| hardened metal. It is not imperative that the blade be | | | | 70 to 100 ft. lbs. of torque. |
| as sharp as a knife. An edge at roughly a 45 degree | | | | |