Servicing Mower Blades


Checking for Bent Mower Blades

  1. CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling blades or working near blades. Replace blades if defective. Never straighten or weld them.

    Park machine on a level surface, not on a slope.

  2. Disengage mower blades.

  3. Fully raise the mower.

  4. Lock the park brake.

  5. Stop the engine.

  6. Remove the key.

  7. Wait for engine and all moving parts to stop before you leave the operator’s seat.

  8. Block the mower.

  9. MXT009299
    MXT009299-UN-21SEP13

    Measure the distance (A) from blade tip to level surface with a ruler or a leveling gauge available at your John Deere dealer.


  10. Rotate blade 180° and measure the distance between other end of blade and surface.

  11. Check all blades. Install new blade if difference between measurements is more than 3 mm (1/8 in.).


Removing Mower Blades

  1. Remove mower from machine. (See Removing Mower in the Removing and Storing section.)

  2. Use a suitable lifting device to raise mower to gain access to blades.

  3. Insert wood block between blade and mower to prevent blade from turning when removing bolt.

  4. MXT009300
    MXT009300-UN-21SEP13

    Remove bolt (A), large washer (B) and blade (C).



Installing Mower Blades

  1. Check that deflector cup (D) is properly seated between mower spindle and blade.

  2. Install blade (C) with cutting edge toward the ground.

  3. Install large washer (B) and bolt (A).

  4. Insert wood block between blade and mower to prevent blade from turning when tightening bolt. Tighten to 67.8 N•m (50 lb-ft).


Sharpening Blades

  1. CAUTION: Avoid injury! Blades are sharp. Always wear gloves when handling blades or working near blades. Always wear safety eye protection when grinding.

    MXT009301
    MXT009301-UN-21SEP13

    Sharpen blade with grinder, hand file or electric blade sharpener.

    1. Keep original bevel (A) when grinding.

    2. Blade should have 0.40 mm (1/64 in.) cutting edge (B) or less.


  2. Balance blade before installing.


Balancing Blades

  1. Clean the blade.

  2. MXT009302
    MXT009302-UN-21SEP13

    Put blade on a nail in a vice or in a vertical wall stud. Turn blade to horizontal position. If blade is not balanced, heavy end of blade will drop.


  3. Grind bevel of heavy end. Do not change blade bevel.

BS62576,00014EC-19-20130919