While there are exceptions, the most common blade angle that you will find is going to be a 30-to-35-degree angle. When you sharpen the blade, you want to make sure that you keep it sharpened as close as possible to this to get the best performance and longest life from your blades.
Today we’ll some of the most common questions about blade timing, orientation, and installation to give you a comprehensive look at what you need to know!
Should mower blades be level?
Yes. Mower blades need to be level so that you can make sure that you are getting an even cut – so they should all be at a consistent level across the entire width of the deck. This ensures as you mow in rows that the cuts blend perfectly so that you can get that nice, even look of a fresh-cut lawn.
How should mower blades be oriented?
When viewed from below, it looks as if your blades turn counter-clockwise, but the opposite is actually the case. Checking the discharge chute is the easiest way to ensure if your blades turn clockwise or counter clockwise.
If it located on the right side of your mower and angled back, then you know the blades should be turning counterclockwise.
What level should a lawn mower be set at?
You most common setting for your standard variety push mower is going to be 3.5 to 4 inches above the ground. If you are testing a new setting, the easiest thing to do is to simply cut a small test strip with the level setting you are trying and you can see the results right away.
How much pitch should a mower deck have?
You’ll get varying answers, depending on your type of mower, but the most common setting it a pitch of about 1/8 or up to ½ inch. Some prefer a setting of ¼ inch, but your tastes may vary. You can give each of these settings a try to see what you like best for your particular mower and lawn terrain.
At what position should blades be on 3 blade mower deck?
The center blade is always going to be located ahead of the two accompanying outboard blades. This helps to ensure that as the riding mower is engaged all of your blades with overlap. No special timing adjustments are required, as that is exactly how these blades are designed to function.
Just be sure when aligning that the spark plug has been safely disengaged!
Should you stagger lawn mower blades?
No, you will not have to stagger lawn mower blades, nor should you try. The way that the blades are designed ensures that they always overlap naturally as they are cutting the lawn. As such, no special modifications are going to be required on your part.
Should mower blades be parallel or perpendicular?
Depending on your mower, the manual is usually going to advise that your blades should be perpendicular. Checking to see if they are out of alignment will require removal of the deck, so be sure to consult your owner’s manual for proper instructions and don’t forget to remove that spark wire before accessing the internals of your mower.
How do you balance a lawn mower blade?
One simple method involves clamping a pivot point, such as a handy nail, in a vice so that you can see if the blade is balanced and grind accordingly as needed. This is something that you will always want to after sharpened, as an imbalanced blade will not only tear up your lawn but may actually damage the mower itself.
Why does my ride on mower cut uneven?
Uneven mowing may be caused by a few different things but two are the most common. First, simply check to make sure that the grass clippings have been properly cleaned in your deck and if this is not the case, most of the time it simply worn or damaged blades.
Blades should generally be replaced every 100 to 200 hours, so if it’s been awhile then a nice, new set should do the trick nicely.
How can I make my mower deck higher?
Typically, this will be done with an adjustment level or a lawn, depending on your model of mower. This is easily done and an ideal height is going to be 3.5 to 4 inches for the perfect lawn.
This height also helps to ensure that your grass has a better chance of fighting weeds, as 2.5 to 3 inch lawns are not as resilient in this regard.
Why does my mower leave a row of grass between two blades?
If your mower is leaving strips of grass then most often it is a result of damaged or improperly installed blades. With recently-sharpened blades, this can also be an indicator that they were not balanced after sharpening, and this is something that you want to correct quickly as they can do a lot of damage.
Should mower blades face same direction?
With 3-blade mowers, the orientation of the blades is not going to matter. This is because a 3-blade design ensures that there is absolutely no chance of the blades hitting each other. There is an overlap in place that will prevent this and no special timing adjustments should be required.
Which side of mulching blade goes up?
With mulching blades you can look for a marking that will help with installation. This will generally read ‘bottom’ or might simply be a model number, but this will give you the information at a glance. If you do not see it, just remember that the blunt side should be facing the deck and the edged portion of the blade set for a clockwise rotation (when viewed from above).
Can you put mower blades on wrong?
Yes. The most common installation mistake is putting the blades in upside-down. Thiis will damage your lawn and could even damage the mower, so you want to make sure that the blade edge is angled to rotate in a clockwise direction to ensure proper installation.
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
