So my rotary mower blade finally broke, which is a blessing; otherwise, I’d have to had tried sharpening it. I might add I broke it “trimming” the community garden; a combination weed, rock, and debris patch.
I remembered there were a few 22” blades in the storage area. Did they fit? Yeah, well maybe, but it was a big round hole in the center of the blade and the old one had a kind of rectangular shape, which seemed to make a lot more sense because the blade wouldn’t get loose and just spin loosely. So I went to the hardware store I bought the mower and sure enough they had the exact blade I needed! In fact, they had half a dozen blades.
After thinking about the installation operation for a few days I decided to take the blade out of it’s plastic container. If you ever want to keep something secure get the packaging boys for that blade to do the job, either them or the fellows doing the little peanut packs they had out on the airplane.
Once freeing the blade I got down to the serious matter at hand and what I had been worrying about since this operation had been envisioned. Mainly, how would I know which way to place the sharp part of the blade? Which way did the rotary motor rotate? I had carefully taken off the old blade and laid it down beside the mower so I would know. I then picked up that blade and took it to the store with me. Now, I had no idea, which way it went.
There were two courses of action. I choose to read the directions. “Take off the gas tank, drain the gas, detach the spark plug, drain the oil…” What? How about tilt the mower up in the air a little?
But then in the section that explained how to put the blade on was the answer I needed. “The blade is marked on one side with the word ‘BOTTOM.’ Place this side down and tighten with a torque wrench to 600 pounds.”
I’m not sure on the torque spec but it was high.
Down to the mower put the blade over the rectangular hole. Does fit quite right. One side is touching the housing. Maybe, when I tighten it on? Does “seem” right. I better take it off; it’s a pain but I better check it. Take it off. Look, at blade “BOTTOM” is on top. How did that happen? Easy, I forgot all about it when putting the blade on. Now, the blade goes on easily, everything aligns nicely. No problem.
Another crisis in suburbia solved. Fortunately, I hired a young man who has his own mower to come cut the grass.
I remembered there were a few 22” blades in the storage area. Did they fit? Yeah, well maybe, but it was a big round hole in the center of the blade and the old one had a kind of rectangular shape, which seemed to make a lot more sense because the blade wouldn’t get loose and just spin loosely. So I went to the hardware store I bought the mower and sure enough they had the exact blade I needed! In fact, they had half a dozen blades.
After thinking about the installation operation for a few days I decided to take the blade out of it’s plastic container. If you ever want to keep something secure get the packaging boys for that blade to do the job, either them or the fellows doing the little peanut packs they had out on the airplane.
Once freeing the blade I got down to the serious matter at hand and what I had been worrying about since this operation had been envisioned. Mainly, how would I know which way to place the sharp part of the blade? Which way did the rotary motor rotate? I had carefully taken off the old blade and laid it down beside the mower so I would know. I then picked up that blade and took it to the store with me. Now, I had no idea, which way it went.
There were two courses of action. I choose to read the directions. “Take off the gas tank, drain the gas, detach the spark plug, drain the oil…” What? How about tilt the mower up in the air a little?
But then in the section that explained how to put the blade on was the answer I needed. “The blade is marked on one side with the word ‘BOTTOM.’ Place this side down and tighten with a torque wrench to 600 pounds.”
I’m not sure on the torque spec but it was high.
Down to the mower put the blade over the rectangular hole. Does fit quite right. One side is touching the housing. Maybe, when I tighten it on? Does “seem” right. I better take it off; it’s a pain but I better check it. Take it off. Look, at blade “BOTTOM” is on top. How did that happen? Easy, I forgot all about it when putting the blade on. Now, the blade goes on easily, everything aligns nicely. No problem.
Another crisis in suburbia solved. Fortunately, I hired a young man who has his own mower to come cut the grass.
Labels: mower
posted by Rick Kinnaird at 2:34 PM
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