Sometimes a simple yard-work day turns into a much bigger project than you planned.
I was mowing when I hit something and bent the lawn mower blade. Instead of finishing the yard, I ended up spending hours figuring out how to get the damaged blade off and replace it.
Definitely not how I planned to spend the day. 😂
Today's project:
Mow the yard. Hit something. Bend the blade. Create an entirely new project.
What Happens When You Hit Something With a Lawn Mower?
Unfortunately, I found out firsthand.
I hit something while mowing and damaged the blade badly enough that it needed to be replaced.
A bent mower blade isn't something I wanted to keep mowing with, so my yard-work project quickly became a mower-repair project.
Watch My Mower Blade Adventure
Sometimes changing a mower blade is apparently an entire afternoon project.
First: Don't Keep Mowing With a Bent Blade
Once I realized the blade was bent, I stopped using the mower.
A damaged blade can cause excessive vibration and put additional stress on the mower. If you've hit something and the mower suddenly feels or sounds different, it's worth stopping and checking underneath before continuing.
Safety first:
Before working around a mower blade, shut the mower off and disconnect the spark plug wire so the engine cannot accidentally start. Follow the safety instructions for your specific mower.
Removing the Damaged Mower Blade
In theory, replacing a lawn mower blade sounds pretty straightforward: remove the old blade and install the new one.
In reality, projects don't always cooperate that easily.
The mower needs to be positioned safely, the blade has to be kept from turning while the bolt is loosened, and then the damaged blade can be removed.
It's also important to pay attention to how the original blade is positioned before taking it off. The replacement blade needs to be installed in the correct orientation for your mower.
Finding the Correct Replacement Blade
Replacement mower blades aren't all interchangeable.
The replacement needs to match the mower, including the correct blade length and mounting pattern.
Checking the mower model information or comparing the replacement with the original blade can help make sure you're installing the right one.
Installing the New Blade
Once I had the correct replacement, the new blade went back onto the mower in the same proper orientation.
The blade bolt needs to be tightened according to the specifications for your particular mower rather than guessing how tight it should be.
After everything is secure, the mower can be returned to its normal position and the spark plug wire reconnected.
What Was Supposed to Be a Normal Mowing Day...
This is pretty typical of how projects seem to work around here.
I start out planning to accomplish one thing and somehow end up learning how to fix something completely different.
At least by the end of it, I had a new mower blade and could get back to mowing.
Anyone else have projects like this?
You start with one simple job and somehow end up fixing three other things before you're finished. 😂
More of My Yard-Work Adventures
If mowing is your idea of exercise too, see why I actually enjoy push mowing.
You can also see how many calories I tracked during yard work and why this is my kind of motivation.
For more of our renovations, projects, finds and the things that don't always go according to plan, visit our About Us page.