Had a Hrx217 come in to the shop this week with self propelle issues. When i turned the mower on its side i noticed that the customer had modified and welded a 3rd blade at 90° to the other 2. I sent a picture to our service rep. His response.....now i seen everything! I finished my repairs and red tagged it so our guys wouldn't start it upon picking up mower. Thought I'd share! Great video Dony!

if one can't figure out how to line up a star pattern should they really be changing the blade in the first place?

@scottfirman

5 жыл бұрын

No they shouldn't. That being said. I accidentally installed my top blade on Honda Harmony upside down. I couldnt figure out why the mulching blade was doing a bad job on a piece of paper. I am used to using a Ninja blade on a Snapper. To me it is more efficient and only requires one single blade. The two Honda blades are heavy as all hell compaired to the Snapper Ninja blade.

@stans5270

5 жыл бұрын

When your parts guy asks if you have a star pattern and you answer yes, and they hand you a 5 point star pattern instead of a 6-point pattern, who's really to blame?

@barryestell6324

4 жыл бұрын

I serves a new Craftsman tractor that was put on wrong from the factory ! AYP made mowers for Sears for a while now there MTD

@yarpos

4 жыл бұрын

probably not median IQ isnt very high people rush, people dont actually look at what they are doing

@dejavu6475

3 жыл бұрын

They maybe should not be operating the mower either, it's a toss up.

This video could not have been more timely. I am in the process of reviving my ancient push mower, which sat unused for several years. Thanks to the videos on You Tube, it is running, and now is time for a new blade. Thanks.

It's hard even to imagine people get this wrong. How can you miss the star pattern? And doing on the ground or with the mower at an angle is no excuse.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

If anyone installing those Blades and does not see those Star Shapes..... May as well go inside and eat some pies! No point being outside doing anything! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I use a impact to break the nut loose but always tighten by hand. I can feel the tension required better by hand than I can with a impact or even a torque wrench plus it makes you slow down to avoid alignment mistakes.

I always take the old blade with me to the store to get the right one. No problem that way. I mark the blade so it goes on right!!

Solid advise from someone that actually knows what he's talking about. Glad to be subscribed. ✌️

Great Lesson.I have been getting mowers from the dump and fixing them up for resale.Half of them have the blade upside down,and or not fit on the on the locating pins correctly.The spindle You showed with the star half wrecked could be made usable with a little careful file work.I am Subscribing to see more tips and Tricks.Great channel donyboy73

Thanks very very much Donny! I’ve been watching your videos for more than 10 years.

Great video, except, from 3:03 onward your blades are upside down. Lower/trailing edge of blades are always installed closest to the mower deck or they will dig into the ground or snag on objects protruding above the bottom of the deck.

@sandrarichardson2713

Жыл бұрын

I think this is what I did...put the blades on upside down. I thought it was mowing weird for brand new blades. Then Wham!! hit a stump and what a noise and that blade started digging a furrow. Hope it did not bend the spindle. Will check tomorrow. Thanks for pointing this out. Jesus bless.

Im learning a lot from Dony it is good to know these things before time

I learned something new thanks, fyi , I think I put my blades on upside down ? Can u tell me show us which side of our blades go up or down .Godbless bless y'all real good.

@tinytreepublishing8383

3 жыл бұрын

The little wings should point up toward the bottom of your mower deck. The blade works by sucking/lifting the grass and then cutting it. Installed the other way, they will blow the grass down toward the ground and beat it with the dull edge of the mower blade.

Excellent VIDEO

Not many people turn the mower upside down to put on the blade! The awkwardness of having the spindle at 90 degree angle when trying to mount a new blade requires special care (and a good back). Thanks for the great video, as usual.

Never knew that the star patterns were different. Thanks for the information.

I'm one of the idiots who messed up and didn't make sure the blade was tightened well (I installed it hanging from the spindle not having removed the deck), and my star pattern is so flat, I can't use the blade to wrench off the top bolt of the spindle to replace it since the spindle cracked where it's bolted. Any tips? I tried everything I could think of today for about two hours. No luck. Good video. It at least confirmed what I had sadly learned today.

I just did this last week. Putting a blade on to a new spindle is easy. Putting it on an old spindle with dried grass, dirt and really no contrast between the ridges and grooves of the spline with limited lighting is a horror show waiting to happen. Add the fact that you're now upside-down, lying on your back not directly over the spindle, are just additional problems. 3 Tips - 1 - Compare your old blade with the new one to make sure that everything [including the star pattern] is the same. 2 - Hand-tighten the blade when attaching it to the spindle [wiggle it around when doing it so it slips into the grooves correctly]. Only use an impact to snug the nut, not to run it down. 3 - Use a light when under the deck. Being able to properly see is a big help.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

Good tips! But most people are idiots! LOL

I’ve seen the arbor shaft threads get damaged from hitting something with the mower while mowing. I had to rethread the shaft using a tap.

As always great information Donny ...... thank you

Great video, thanks. Sam already mentioned that folks need to be really sure they put the blade on right side up, seems silly but apparently it's a common mistake. I'm not in the repair business, just enjoy your videos, but first thought "yay, at least someone has made things standardized" until you pointed out there are 5 and 6 star patterns. Ugh. RichE San Diego

Thanks. I always check the part number in my manual before ordering a new blade. Quick question. My riding mower uses two blades. One was just damaged beyond repair and needs to be replaced. The other is fine and works well. Must I replace them both at the same time if one is still in good shape?

My GT52XLS has 3 blades and some star patterns are not holding much, not deep enough? My new middle blade fell off after about half an hour's work once I stopped the tractor and was idling it before turning it off. I tightened the nut really well, but not too tight and I wonder why it unscrewed itself and fell off so quickly?

Apparently most here are more intelligent that we thought!! Great explanation Dony!

AND make sure they have blade flipped correctly, cutting edge relative to the ground, looked like you had each example backwards?

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, hi, hi :). OMG, you are here too? LOL

@onefixjunkie4715

3 жыл бұрын

Hey I did that.. it fit well but was upside down

I'd say lads that make this mistake were the same kids that were trying to shove a square peg into a round hole!

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

OMG, LOL

Hello sir, Good video and I know you are legit as Steve’s Small Engine saloon recommends you. However I would note that several times in the video you demonstrate installing the blades upside down I realize the point of this video is to focus on the spindle pattern and not the upside downside orientation of the blades however I think you should point this out as it could cause a real confusion with some of your less experienced watchers. Thank you

good video. Recommend you make one that demonstrates replacement of spindles,

Hey buddy I got some new 6 point blades for my 42” and the new blades the points don’t fit tight they have a little play are the blades defective or will they work ? I tried to send video but it wouldn’t work

What are the 2 small holes for on the blade? I found replacement blades at Canadian tire with the correct start pattern but the 2 small circular holes are slightly different distances from the edge of the star pattern.

Another excellent video by Dony!!! Thank you!

I think if you hit a stump no matter how lined up your star is you will still shear all your star point off

should be obvious if you can't line it up, you have the wrong part!

@Ghis1964s

5 жыл бұрын

Seems like there are some people that need to go to their toddlers toy-box and play a bit with the shape-sorter wooden puzzle ;)

@thinkingimpaired5663

5 жыл бұрын

It's not an issue if you're doing the work, it's a problem when you hire somebody and expect that person to overuse their undersized brain.

@magnatron7734

5 жыл бұрын

Not of youre laying in your back

@yarpos

4 жыл бұрын

people may noy even try to line it up, put the blade in place , put the nut on and wind it up, all done

Great video. How much torc is recommended on the nut? Anyone?

Got a used Ariens tractor from my neighbor and just went to change the blades only to find he had the completely wrongs blades on the mower. My spindles look like yours (green grass one) and I'm wondering if I can fix the mushroomed out pattern with a Dremel tool. Hate to have to buy new spindles for an old mower.

Have an LT1500 Craftsman 42" riding mower which is a weird model I guess as there are few video on this particular pile of junk from from Sears. New Spindles, new blades installed correctly, new deck belt installed correctly. I have leveled the deck as much as possible using the ridiculous little double nut leveling device located on the left rear side of the deck just in front of the left rear tire. All tires are inflated properly. The deck is leveled correctly from front to rear per manual. Problem is I get an strip of grass between the blades that isn't mowed and the right side of the mowed path is slightly higher than the left side. I have tried everything I know to try besides buying a new mower which I can't afford. I'm having to mow twice in two different directions to get a decent mowing job done. Any ideas? Thanks for your videos. Good stuff!

My father in law PROUDLY drop off a garage sales lawnmower for me . He also changed out the Blade with after market blade that supposed to chop and dice grass into smitheren Brought it to my fourplex rental Grass is quite tall and it is raining Not wanting to come back another I mow in the rain IT WAS HORRIBLE . I chalked it up as Mowing in the rain 2.5 weeks latter . Some thing Tall grass and freaking rain Some horrible result Tug and pull and Horrible After I’m done with the mowing in the rain the second time I flipped the mower to clear the jammed up grass OMG the blade is installed upside down !!!!!! I have been WHACKING the grass in the rain The third time mowing was easy Blade right side up and not raining ! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@donaldshimkus539

5 жыл бұрын

He must have watched this video and and copied what that guy did. Lol.

Good morning DB73 :-) All very good points. On the blade, is there a this side down stamped anywhere?. Excellent video. Thanks a bunch. Cheers !!***.

And wrong side up. Lol. Thanks for the vid.✌️

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

LOL

LOL Very clear to me that there are some folks out there who should not be allowed to hold a wrench!!!!

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

LOL - Now you know why Beer exist!

I done this same thing about a year ago and I had to learn the hard way. Cost my the price of a new shaft on my cub cadet

I'm amazed that anyone could fail to put the blade on correctly. I would clean the star out from dirt first, and If the nut is not flat then replace it. Perhaps a touch of thread locker on the threads. Easyer than falling off a log lol :-D

@scottfirman

5 жыл бұрын

Thats how people screw up. They dont clean up the base first. I had a guy all mad because I told him his blades were not holding any more because the star pattern was destroyed from him crushing them. Now both spindles require replacement. He wanted a new mower. I convinced his wife it was cheaper fixing what he had. Well, he passed away 6 months later and she told me she was happy that she listened to me. She mowes the lawn now.

@zx8401ztv

5 жыл бұрын

RC Hobbyist Extreme Yes we all screw up at times, but not cleaning metals that need to be close fitting for strength or sealing is such a simple task. It sounds like you helped the lady a lot, she would have needed every penny for burial costs and such. If it was a mower given to me, i would look at the possibility of adding pins through the mount or aluminium welding to build up the star, then use a dremel to slowly reform them. It may fail but i would have nothing to lose lol.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

If anyone installing those Blades and does not see those Star Shapes..... May as well go inside and eat some pies! No point being outside doing anything! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Thanks Don

Buffe the spindles with electric grinder wheel And use antiz to stop most rusting

When mowing, my riding mower leaves a uncut section down the middle. can you tell me why?

Thanks Don.

i have a question i have mtd yardman zrt mower i cant find any blade hubs for it is a 42inch deck Hydro static the the joysticks are in the center of the mower right in front of the seat i let what use to be a friend use it and he messed it up he ran over a log chain and sent one blade up through the deck and broke both hubs I have not found any hubs like the ones that were on it in about 11 years I bought the mower back in 2001 I would like to find a set of hugs so I could get the mower back up and going he cuts the wiring ripped most of it out and I cannot find the serial number on the mower at all nowhere to be found maybe you could help me find a set of hubs that I can put on it they are by the short as the ones that you put the blade on where the six points were flattened out the axle that goes in the hub has got a grease fitting on top of the axle and it's got a 7/8 nut on the bottom of the axle where you put the blade up to thanks and have a good day

Great job

Dony, I am having trouble finding the normal compression measurement for a Kohler xt6.75 for a push mower. Some people are telling me 120psi but this engine does have a compression release mechanism on the cam I believe is limiting compression. After about 7 pulls I am getting 60psi. What is a normal compression measurement for a push mower? Particularly one with an auto compression release mechanism.

@donyboy73

5 жыл бұрын

I think 60 psi is good

@spierotti14

5 жыл бұрын

@@donyboy73 thanks for the response and your videos

I get that alot...the owner tries to put the blades on and make that mistake..a costly one.. Cheers friend 🍻🍻🍻🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Good job Don

What about s pattern cub blades the threads are very fine and get boogered up so easy

Thank you. Thank you.

Hi donyboy73. Love your videos. Thanks for all the effort making them. Where do you get the training for small engine mechanics?

I would carefully pound on the blade onto the semi-damged spindle. { thin washer & lock washer. What say you to that ??

How's she goin'? It seems pretty straight forward to install the blade correctly, but bad things can happen to good people. Take care!!!

I have a question about greasing arbors on riding mowers.I watched another video and the man told us that greasing them is a waste of time. The bearings are sealed and the grease will never get into the bearings.What say you? I enjoy watching, thanks, Ken

@lencranston8183

5 жыл бұрын

If the bearings were sealed, there wouldn't be a grease fitting to start with. They could also only have a seal on one side to keep dirt and water out.

@kenskip1

5 жыл бұрын

How can you argue with this?

LOL Dude you had the blade upside down if I am not mistaken. Sorry, everyone is a critic. Good video though.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

He slap it on there to make a quick Video! LOL

@rooster3019

4 жыл бұрын

The blade is upside right, but the spindle is upside down. But, irrelivant to the subject of the video.

I purchased a bad boy 21 inch commercial, can I purchase a blade from store as long as it fits the same?

yankee next door just went thru this. On new brg. house. he was gonna chew company new one for no bolt threads in houseing holes...😂 (comes w/self tap blts.)

And... don’t put the blade on upside down like it is shown in the video. The bent wings should be aiming up away from the grass, to create suction pulling clippings back up into the deck for further mulching. I’m sure it was just inadvertently shown that way because Don was demonstrating how to avoid damaging your spindle star pattern, not how to face the blade in the right direction.

@sandrarichardson2713

Жыл бұрын

Exactly why I am looking at bent blades on youtube. Brand new blades and hit a stump. Bent one of the blades. Will put old set back on until another new one comes in. Unless there is a way to straighten a bent blade? Thanks for the comment. Jesus bless.

I bought new John Deere blades for my machine and they were the right blades and had a star cutout yet my spindles had no star pattern. I even looked up new spindles thinking mine had worn-out yet brand new spindles had no star on them. So must just be how they are designed I guess.

I get machines in all the time with a complaint that it doesn't cut properly. Most of the time, it has a brand new blade, but it has been installed upside down.

I see this so much as a small engine guy myself, I just wonder how these people make it this far....

How can anyone screw that up!

what about the upside down issue?

Good Video! If anyone installing those Blades and does not see those Star Shapes..... May as well go inside and eat some pies! No point being outside doing anything! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Not to mention the blade being up side down!

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

LOL

You didn’t mention putting on upside down.

Speaking of stars, I give my John Deere tractor 5 out of 5 stars because they don't use the star pattern on spindles.

@smokestack9795

4 жыл бұрын

...Don’t know which on you have but the 100 series JD have the star pattern spindles.

What I've had when fitting these type of blades is the poor quality of the centre star not been manufactured 100% and you have to file them or you'll never get it on, but then mtd is a very poor quality product anyway.

You demonstrated the REAL most common mistake; you put the blades on up-side down.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

LOL

Good thing this was just an example because had you tightened the blade down it would have been upside down.

The blade is upside down but we won't mention that.

@benrobles752

5 жыл бұрын

This was for demonstrative purposes only. Donyboy73 knows that the wings on the blade always face up.

Turn tractor over and it goes right on:-0) Thank You Don! Great tips.

This video reminds me of a pre school lesson, Round peg in the square hole. Doesn’t work.

@kentonquint2407

5 жыл бұрын

Depends on the size of the objects.

I have those two different ones on my 2 riding mower s & the Husqvarna a,w,d walk behind mower the Husqvarna walk behind mower and the a,y,p made Craftsman mower are the same star pattern the m,t,d is a 6 point star pattern

How about cleaning and inspecting the damn quill before installing a new blade ? Some people don't think about wear and tear.

that will buff out

Wow...I'm of the opinion that anyone not able to navigate this chore should not be in control of anything with an internal combustion engine or be anywhere near power tools !! 🤔

The star pattern is great for putting the blades on correctly, until your son hits the sidewalk at full RPM and shears them off :-(

at 3:12 you show the blade upside down, what's up with that lol

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

Another Video idea! LOL

1:20 demonstrates with blade upside down.

looks like the damage was from hitting something rather than using the wrong blade.

I agree 100% comment Belo if u can't figure out a star pattern well give your tools this next level thinking isn't for you lol

Most of the time the star pattern is sheared off because something hard was hit.

PA LAWN GUY> Dony you kept placing the blade on the spindle upside-down.

The use of an impact wrench to tighten the lawnmower blade bolts is not a good practice.

I'm surprised at the first issue; but I shouldn't be. Those who do that - we should go get their wrenches and forbid them from ever owning a wrench again.

The worst part is these same people drive cars!

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

OMG, LOL

Next time you do a video make sure you got the blade set on there as an example not upside down

so in other words pay attention to what your doing and don't be an idiot. common sense tells you that this should not be a common problem.

@JodBronson

5 жыл бұрын

If anyone installing those Blades and does not see those Star Shapes..... May as well go inside and eat some pies! No point being outside doing anything! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Beer and blades don't mix.......

Also don’t try to do it with the deck not properly lifted to a good working height.. guys always try to cut corners as laying upside down on the ground with no room spells dooom

Easy when your not standing on your head trying to line things up

Way i remember is Bent side to Earth, Flat side up to Deck !

The first damaged spindle you showed can probably be repaired with a Dremel tool but the second one looks to damaged. Also I know that you were just demonstrating how the blades go on but in actuality you have set those blades on the spindle upside down from the way they should actually go when on a spindle on a mower deck, and I understand that it was just for demonstration purposes but here are some pretty dumb people out there that believe me should never be working on stuff let alone a mower deck, hence the damage that you show. So I'm sure there are going to be some that forgot which way they go on and if put upside down the cutting edge will also be going backwards and they won't cut to good they will just be tearing the grass and be way more susceptible to catching something as the lifting edge is now facing down also. And believe me there are ding a kings out that are going to do it. Here is proof for you, years ago I worked in the shop of a large construction company as additional help to work on the smaller equipment and tools as well as assisting the heavy equipment and truck mechanics when either needed some additional help. We had just built a complete new shop and office complex for our company and the owner would let us come up into the office coffee room for morning break if we weren't just totally covered in dirt and grease (in which case we took break out in the shop) as he liked to take a little break and talk to us and see how things were going. This was the time when the standard for insurance was changing in the construction field and safety was starting to become mote important than it had been for about 100 years. So construction companies or ours any way was actually shutting down jobs sometimes 3 to 4 hours early and every employee was required to reportage to the shop for safety meetings that you had to attend and sign into and these seminars May last 2 to 3 hours but you were all paid for a complete days wages. And I would say over the course of about a year and a half we probably had about six different seminars and the company received large discounts on their insurance for this. So anyway we are sitting in the coffee break room one morning having coffee when in walks the insurance companies guy who has been putting on these seminars and one of his hands has three of his fingers all bandaged up, and so I asked him what's up with his hand and I can't believe he even admitted to this , but he says that he was mowing his lawn the other day (as soon as he said that I'm thinking you can't possibly be dumb enough to do what I think you are about to tell me) with his push mower, and he says I didn't think (he right on that statement) it was cutting right so I reached down and with just the tips of my fingers picked up the mower and I accidentally cut the ends off of all three of my fingers, to which all four of us almost spit our coffee all over! I immediately said with the mower still running are you kidding me and he says well I didn't think the blade came that close to the edge. To which I replied well I guess you know differently now and then I said and your the safety guy for the insurance company? He didn't have a whole lot to say after that and we are all just shaking are heads. So you see if you give someone a chance to prove there stupidity there will I guarantee be someone to step up to the plate immediately. So don't show them anything that give them the chance!

Not an issue on my machines, they are all older than that.

Things are made so poorly these days. Blades are made out of stamped sheet metal, die cast spindles etc. Not too long ago blades where made of real steel with properly machined center holes and beefy thrust washers and nuts to hold them in place. Most blades could be sharpened twice a season and would last the life of the machine. I have a Bobcat 18" trim mower purchased in 1978 with the original blade, though it is a little thin on the cutting edge! Maybe next season I'll spring for a new one. Great channel Donyboy, been following you for years,

Someone post comment about how to identify top from bottom on blade ... I just pay attention , Thanks for any help ..

@rickster7834

5 жыл бұрын

Before I remove a blade, I mark the side facing the ground with chalk. When I put it back on, I just make sure I can see the chalk. If I am replacing the blade, I mark the new blade that is sitting next to the old blade. Never made a mistake.....yet.

This video needs to be renamed. "An idiot's guide for changing a lawnmower blade." If ur unable to count the number of points ur blades have, then maybe u shouldn't even try an operate power tools and equipment.