Change Blades on a Husqvarna Riding Mower: Step by Step

Husqvarna is one of the more popular lawnmower manufacturing companies. Their riding mowers with dual cutting blades appeal to a lot of customers and are suitable for both small and big yards. However, even the best machines require regular maintenance, as is the case for any lawnmower brand. Like other components of a Husqvarna mower, the blades must be in good shape for an optimal mowing result. When you buy a new Husqvarna lawnmower, its blades are sharp and healthy. But after some months of use, the blades become dull, resulting in poor cut grass. This can make your lawn look ugly and can even result in grass diseases.

Furthermore, dull blades consume more engine power, thereby increasing fuel cost. To avoid these situations, you should regularly check and sharpen the blades of your Husqvarna mower. But after sharpening the blades several times or hitting a rock or other debris, the blades will be worn out. They can become twisted and crooked, and the blade surface can be cracked. In these cases, it becomes imminent that the blades need to be replaced. Further sharpening won’t help or is impossible. This blog post will go through the steps to change the blades on a Husqvarna Riding Mower.

How to change the blades of a Husqvarna riding lawnmower, step by step:

• Step 1: How to check the Blade Condition
• Step 2: Get the right tools
• Step 3: Park the Mower in a flat area
• Step 4: Disconnect the spark plugs
• Step 5: Remove excess gas from the tank
• Step 6: Tilt or lift the lawnmower
• Step 7: Remove the Bolt
• Step 8: Remove the Blade
• Step 9: Install the New Blade

Replacing the blades is relatively simple, and you can do it yourself. Knowing when to change the blades is an important step. Mostly, this will be based on your own observation and judgment. Dull blades give untidy and unclean grass cut. So, observing the grass every time you mow can keep you updated on the blade condition. Directly observing the blades is an even simpler approach. You can sharpen dull blades, but those with chips and dents need to be replaced.

The article will also provide details on the negative impacts of unhealthy blades, the criteria for blade sharpening and replacement, and the detailed replacement procedure. If you are a Husqvarna riding mower owner and face bad blades, this article will surely help you resolve the issue in the best way.

Husqvarna Riding Mower step by step Blades Replacement:

The blade replacement procedure for a Husqvarna riding mower consists of five main steps, which are quite easy.

● Step 1: How to check the Blade Condition

You can judge the condition of your Husqvarna riding mower blades by either inspecting the grass or the blades themselves. We recommend you to do both regularly.

When the blades are fine and healthy, they cut the grass cleanly and evenly. Under normal circumstances, the same length of the grass is cut with each mower’s pass, provided the mower height is not changed. But if some lawn patches have taller grass cut than others, it means that the grass isn’t being cut evenly, indicating that the blades are dull and damaged.

Every time before parking the mower in your garage, check the blades. A visual inspection would be enough to judge the blade condition. Factors you should be inspecting for are blade sharpness, cutting edge thickness, quality of blade surface, and any twist or dent. Sharp cutting edges usually have a shinier look, something dull blades lack. You can also carefully touch the blade with your index finger to check sharpness. A sharp blade is one you would fear to move your finger over. The blades shouldn’t be too thin, or there is a risk of breaking. The blade surface should be free from chips and dents. Lightly chipped blades can be smoothened with a file, but you must replace blades with cracks and twists. Thin blades with cracks can break off during operation and cause serious harm to the machine or the person operating it.

As said before, it is recommended that you inspect your Husqvarna mower blades after or before every mowing session. Regular inspections will also allow you to keep the cutting area clean of any grass buildup that could reduce cutting speed.

● Step 2: Get the right tools

Now, we’ll take you through a detailed and step by step guide on blade replacement of a Husqvarna riding mower. Before that, let’s have a look at the things you’re going to need:

• A socket wrench
• Wooden blocks or other tools to lift a riding lawnmower
• Protective gloves

● Step 3: Park the Mower in a flat area

Park your Husqvarna riding mower on an open flat area. Engage the parking brakes, but keep the mower in gear for now. Elevate the deck to the highest elevated setting. This will make the replacement process more straightforward.

● Step 4: Disconnect the spark plugs

For safety, disconnect the spark plugs. This way, you can be sure that the engine can not run while working on it. You do not want the blade to start rotating when you are working on it. Don’t rigorously pull the spark plug wire. Instead, grip the lead where it connects to the plug and twist it from side to side until it moves freely. Then gently pull it backward.

● Step 5: Remove excess gas from the tank

Ensure that you remove excess gas from the tank, so it will not spill when you tilt the lawnmower. You can use a siphon to do this.

● Step 6: Tilt or lift the lawnmower

To reach the blades, you have to tilt or lift the lawnmower. You can use different methods for this, like plastic ramps. Ensure that the mower is stable after it is tilted and that there is adequate support, so it does not fall back when working on it. If you want to lift your riding lawnmower, you use a lawnmower lift

● Step 7: Remove the Bolt

Use protective gloves when working with a sharp blade. Lie down on your back close to the mower. Position a block of wood under the deck to lock the blade, so it won’t turn when you loosen the nut. Another option is to hold the blade with your protective gloves if you do not manage to lock it. Rotate the blade until it makes contact with the block, hold it firmly with your hand and loosen the bolt connecting the blade to the spindle. You’ll have to rotate the wrench clockwise to remove the bolt. If there is a washer positioned at the spindle, remove it too.

● Step 8: Remove the Blade

With the bolt and washer off, the blade is free to be removed. Remove the old blade, and take the new one out of its packaging.

● Step 9: Install the New Blade

Install the new blade on the spindle. Ensure that the star pattern on the blade is lined with the spindle’s star pattern to get locked correctly. Put the washer on the spindle, and then the bolt and start tightening the bolt. This time, you’ll be turning the wrench counterclockwise. An important thing to remember is that the curved side of the new blade should be pointing up. You can consult the manufacturer’s manual or the blade’s supplier for more information about it.

Tighten, and lock the bolt properly. The blade should be rotating freely without touching the boundary of the cutting area.

If your Husqvarna riding mower has two blades, repeat this procedure for the second blade. You might want to tilt the mower in a different direction to make it easier.

Things to Consider when replacing lawnmower blades:

When it comes to Husqvarna riding mower blade replacement, remember these important things:

• Blade sides: Having the correct blade side up is crucial. Usually, blades have “this side up” written on one of the sides. With some blades, the curved sides should be up. The best approach would be to consult your mower’s manual for correct info in this regard.
• Proper locking: Blades have a start shaped hole that fits with the star-shaped pattern on the spindle. Make sure the two are perfectly locked together.
• Take care of your new blades: Brand new blades are sharp and healthy. But it is imminent that they will lose their sharpness after some time. For best mowing results, regularly inspect the blades and sharpen them with a file or grinder when they feel dull.

Sources of Blade Damage:

The blades of a Husqvarna riding mower rotate at very high RPMs. At such high rotational speeds, impact with even the tiniest things can cause major damages. Over a long period of use, dirt and debris erode the blade cutting edge, making it dull and blunt. Hitting stones or toys or other hard obstacles can cause dents and twists. Corrosion is yet another source of blade damage. Chips and cracks also emerge on the blade surface over a long period of use, usually caused by the blade metal’s thermal expansion and contraction.

Negative Impacts of Bad Blades:

When you buy a high-end Husqvarna riding mower, clearly your goal is an eye-catching and healthy lawn. Bad blades can still cut grass, but poor blade quality will ruin your goal. Faulty blades cause several problems, including:

• Ugly look: Faulty blades will give an ugly look to your lawn. This is because dull blades roughly rip grass edges instead of cutting cleanly and evenly. Roughly torn grass tips turn brown much quicker, giving a bad look to the lawn.
• Grass diseases: Uncleanly cut grass can result in the spread of grass diseases and fungal growth.
• More fuel consumption: Dull and damaged blades are less efficient. This means that mowing with faulty blades will consume more engine power, increasing the cost of mowing.

Final Remarks:

After sharpening your Husqvarna riding mower blades several times, they need to be replaced. Also, hitting a rock or other debris can damage your blades such that replacement is needed. Dull blades can cause all sorts of unwanted problems to your lawnmower and lawn. Replacement is not difficult, but ensure that you replace your old blade with the right blade, and take care of your safety during the replacement procedure.