Are lawn mower blades reverse threaded?

Are you interested to know: are lawnmower blades reverse threaded?

If you are a homeowner that cares about everything there is about your household, then you always look for ways to make home life better.

One of the features in a typical home that needs constant care and maintenance is the lawn. And the lawnmower is the chief equipment that maintains it.

The lawnmower is an excellent piece of machinery that assists homeowners like you in cutting your grass neatly.

But like any machine, lawnmowers also need proper care and maintenance so they can do their cutting tasks correctly.

On occasion, the mower blades have to be removed to be either sharpened, fixed, or replaced, which you should know about.

And learning crucial information like: are lawn mower blades reverse threaded is required knowledge for homeowners like you.

This way, if something bad happens that necessities you to remove the mower blades, you will know how to do it without making mistakes.

Are lawn mower blades reverse threaded?

The answer to the question is yes and also no, which will be further expounded. The lawnmower blades are not threaded, but the nuts that hold them in position are reversely threaded.

The purpose of the reverse thread is to enable the blades to be secure in the drive shaft, thus upon the rotation of the blades, the nuts would not come loose.

When the time comes when you may need to remove the blades to either sharpen or replace them, you have to know the direction of the shaft rotation. It will make sure the nut would not come loose as the blades rotate.

For instance, many walk-behind mowers have blades that rotate going to the right (clockwise). When removing their blades, their retaining bolts have to be unscrewed to the left (counter-clockwise).

Before unfastening the blades, be sure the mower is tipped on its side, with the air cleaner of the engine facing up. Then put something to block the blades, like a piece of wood, so it would not rotate as you begin working on it.

Once unfastened, keep the bolt in a safe spot so that you can find it easily when you have to fasten the blades back to the mower deck.

The mower blades run opposite the direction on the nuts and are reversely threaded. Upon unscrewing the nut, you have to block the blades, and you will need a socket wrench for it.

All lawnmowers come with user manuals, so make sure to go through them and follow the safety instructions.

And lastly, make sure to wear thick work gloves to protect your hand from possible injuries.

FYI: Not all lawnmowers employ nuts with reverse threading. Check its user’s manual if yours have them.

There are still lots of information you need to know about lawnmowers besides reverse threading. One other essential detail is knowing about:

How do you safely remove mower blades?

1. Unfasten the ignition wireBefore even beginning to unfasten the blades, you have to make sure that the ignition wire from the spark plug is disconnected. If you are using an electric mower, take out the battery pack.
   It is a precaution in preventing the engine from switching on accidentally while you are working on the mower.Another precaution is draining the fuel tank of gasoline. This way, it would not spill and cause further problems.Look for the spark plug boot usually found on the front portion of the engine and pull out the boot to disconnect it from the spark plug. You do not need to use any tools since you can pull them out using your hands.
2. Tip the mower on the sideThen slowly lean the lawnmower on its side, exposing its underbelly.The air cleaner and the fuel tank should be facing up to avoid gasoline spilling over. And to also enable the nut and bolt that secures the blades in place to be accessible.
3. Hinder the blades for movingGet a small piece of wood and wedge it within the mowing deck and the blade edges. Its purpose is to prevent the blades from accidentally rotating and causing injury.Use the socket and wrench to unscrew the nut and bolt. You can slip a longer bar on the wrench handle to enhance the leverage, as you are loosening the fastener.
4. Take note of the placement of the bladesTake a mental picture of which side the blades are facing downward. It is crucial the screw back the blades in the same placement when it was previously removed.When you attempt to break the bolt loose, it might be held too tightly in place, so you have to apply more power. But be cautious in doing it because you might accidentally slip and cut your hand.Use a breaker bar to enable an additional boost while loosening the bolt with ease.
5. Removing the mower bladesAt this stage, do not forget to wear thick protective gloves to avoid any possible injury to what you are about to do.Proceed to set the bolt loose using a sixteen-millimeter socket, clamp it in and turn left of counter-clockwise. But the head of the bolt can be one-half or five-eighth inches due to the type of mower you have.While using a breaker bar can help you gain stronger leverage, you can also use a larger socket wrench instead.

   As you rotate the socket, the bolt of the blades will also turn, so you may need to hold it in place while enabling it to be loose.

   Some lawnmower models come equipped with a blade lock tool to enable the mower in one position. It will also keep the blade from accidentally turning when you will remove the bolt.
   As time passes and due to corrosive elements, you will notice the nut will become smaller, so it is crucial to use the right tool.

   A sixteen-millimeter socket will make a suitable fit for an eighteen to twenty-millimeter bolt if the size is reduced.

   Then use the breaker bar for extra leverage, and if you detect that the tension becomes softer, the bolt may have stripped the threads.

   After you have finished sharpening the blades, or if you are replacing a new one, you have to attach it back into the blade adapter.

   Remember the mental picture earlier of which side of the blade is facing downward and faster it back. Tighten the bolt by turning it to the right or clockwise, and be sure to follow the torque value mentioned in the manual.

6. Clean the mower underbellyBefore setting down the mower on a level surface, you have the option of cleaning its underside of any dirt, mud, and grass struck there.For hard to remove dirt, use a putty knife to scrape the nasty bits away.

How do mower blades function?

The blades of a typical lawnmower are the most interesting attributes and are responsible for neatly trimming the grass on a lawn. They are what many potential buyers look at first when they are browsing around home improvement centers to buy one.

If you are planning to get one for your home, give particular attention to the blades and how they are attached and connected to the internal combustion engine.

Knowing all of these will play a crucial role in selecting the most suitable one for your lawn. This way, when the time comes when you may need to unfasten them, you will know what to do.

You will soon find out that threading is an essential facet of the mower blades that enables them to move and rotate.

Other instruments that also feature a rotating aspect use the same threading procedure. Wherein their rotation tightens their nuts, ensuring that the blades stay firm and attached within the frame.

It functions by enabling the central portion of the blades to turn opposite the rotation, with the nut securing them into place. Loosening them necessitates turning the nut in a clockwise direction while tightening is done counter-clockwise.

How would you know if you have the mower blades on properly?

It is a common occurrence to install the lawnmower blades on the wrong side up. If this happens, the mower will not cut the grass the right way and eventually be damaged.

There are a few ways to ensure that the blades are installed properly:

• Before attaching the blades, look for an etched phrase that says, This Side Down or Toward Grass. This way, you will know which side should be up or down.Many newer blades have this wording to help the buyers in installation purposes.
• Check on the cutting edge of the blades. The opposite and dull trailing edge should be pointing towards the mower deck.
• Upon attaching the blades, hold one side and gently pull it. If it rocks and seems loose, you may have incorrectly installed it.Make sure they are securely installed in the shaft and not loose.
• Once you are certain you have attached the blades properly, tilt the mower right side up.

What are the different kinds of mower blades?

Lawnmower blades are an essential component of a lawnmower, and they might be the most important. Without it, you cannot cut the grass, which is what mowers are supposed to do.

Here are the various kinds of lawnmower blades:

Mulching blades

As the name suggests, mulching blades mulch grass cuttings to enable them to return to the soil as fertilizing nutrients.

Also, you can do the task of mulching without the mulching blades by disseminating the grass trimmings from the mower deck into the yard. You can do this as long you are frequently mowing your lawn.
Mulching blades are utilized if:

• You are not disseminating the bagging or the grass trimmings
• You are not adhering to the one-third rule, wherein you are cutting one one-third of the grass whenever you are mowing

However, gator blades are not utilized for:

• Cutting overgrown grass
• Disseminating or bagging the grass trimmings

Gator blades

Gator blades are also known as three-in-one blades that are utilized by mowing companies. They use it when the autumn season comes, wherein they can shred the fallen leaves as they cut grass.
Gator blades are utilized for:

• Cutting overgrown grass
• Cutting grass during autumn

However, gator blades are not used in:

• Sandy soil

High lift lawn mower blades

High lift blades have an exaggerated fin at the non-mowing edge side, which enables them to create a higher-than-usual lift.

High lift blades are utilized for:

• In cutting tall grass over three inches tall
• In cutting thin grass like the tall fescue

However, do not use high lift blades for:

• In areas with lots of sand

Low lift lawn mower blades

Low lift blades have an exaggerated fin at the non-mowing edge side that enables them to create a lower than usual lift compared to high lift blades.

Low lift blades are utilized for:

• In cutting short grass below three inches tall
• In cutting inflexible grass like Bermuda grass
• In sandy soil

However, do not use low lift blades for:

• In cutting grass more than three and-a-half feet tall

Flat lawn mower blades

As the name implies, the blades are flat, thus creating no lift.
Flat blades are utilized for:

• In cutting rigid grass
• In sandy soil

However, flat blades are not utilized for:

• In normal lawn conditions except both instances above

Self-sharpening lawn mower blades

These are new types of blades, which will make themselves sharp as you mow. These are also expensive, which you should think about before selecting appropriate mower blades for your yard.

Conclusion

After learning all there is to know about reverse threading and lawnmower blades, you have all the necessary information handy, whenever disaster strikes and renders the blades useless.

With this useful arsenal at your disposal, you are confident enough to know what to do and how to fix it. This way, you can continue in beautifying your lawn and make it the envy of your neighborhood.