While trying to be neighborly...

[Wacky]

I just mounted my brand new MMM Sunday mowed my yard and the neighbor was out of town, so it was going to rain most of the week. I took it upon myself to help them out and mow their yard. I was almost done when BANG a 4" rock came shooting out the side of the mower:confused3:! I thought "why me"? I stopped looked under the deck and saw the middle blade corners were tweaked up slightly maybe 1/4" in from the edge, and put a small outty dent in front of the deck. I don't hear any odd howling or vibration. Should I replace the new blade with another or don't bother? Could it hurt the balance enough to damage a spindle? The whole blade is there just bent the leading edge up a little and the rest of it still turns tru. I can't understand how the outer blade escaped unharmed, not even a nick! Thanks for all your help.

 

[Bird]

You can probably just leave it alone. But if there's any doubt about its balance, take it off and check it by laying the very center of it across a round screwdriver blade, or by inserting a small round screwdriver blade or even a nail through the center hole. Either way you'll be able to tell whether it's out of balance.

 

[Thomas]

Long as no chunks missing from cutting blade I'd use it.

 

[Kovats]

I know the feeling and the sound as you think that your wallet is about to take another hit. I have taken the blade off and spun it on a tapered punch shaft to check the balance. While I have the blade off, I take my hand grinder and do my best to dress the blade so it cuts the grass. Good luck.:thumbsup:

 

[irvingj]

I don't think those blades are temepered...(?)

You could, if necessary, heat it up and pound it out flat again on an anvil, then use grinder to clean up the cutting edge.

I also don't think mower blades are generally super-critical to balance, but the closer you can get it the smoother it'll run. I always check mine after grinding or repairing.

I caught a good-sized rock last week, too... next time the deck's off I'll get after that blade- has a small nick on it. Par for the course, on my lawn at least!:confused3:

 

[Rob2310]

I've done the smae thing. I would just put it in a vice and "tweak" it back, then take your angle grinder and sharpen it. Just try your best to remove equal amounts of material. If I do it worng, I can feel a vibration.

 

[FDuce]

replace the blade and leave the bill on the neighbors door :thumbsup::laughing:

 

[Wacky]

replace the blade and leave the bill on the neighbors door :thumbsup::laughing:

:drink:

 

[henrysMFGC2310TBL]

I would try and get the blade as straight as you can, I would think that if the blade is higher on the ends you will not cut the grass at the same height on that sector?

 

[Texas Blues]

I was being neighborly one evening, and started mowing the neighbors front yard because thier rider was down. Like a big dummy, I didnt walk the yard first, and accidently shredded one of thier septic vent caps. The grass was pretty tall and completely hid the thing. Didnt hurt my blades but completely destroyed the 3 inch pvc cap assembly. I was all embarassed and bought them a new cap. Oh well, stuff happens

 

[Stargazer]

Just remember "No good deed goes unpunished" !!!

 

[Fug1000]

I have a 72 inch mmm (3 blades) and the center blade got bent a little..... the deck still ran good, no vibrations however I started getting 'stripping' on my grass.

That's where you can visibly see small strips that didn't get cut as low as the grass around it.... where two blades come closest together...if one blade is bent..you can get these stripes on your lawn.

 

[FDuce]

in this case I think being neighbotly means playing on your new tractor longer then your yard would allow.

As for the blades, normally all your cutting is done within the first .5" or so from the tip of the blade. You probably wont notice any viberation just from bending the edge since you didn't loose any material from the blade...you just relocated it. If you had chipped the blade or caused significant bending which would have altered the blade length then you would get the vibration. If the bent edge is not too bad then just resharpen. Since you will remove material to sharpen the one side I would also excessively sharpen the other blade tip to compensate.

 

[Wacky]

in this case I think being neighbotly means playing on your new tractor longer then your yard would allow.
:thumbsup: You got that right

 

[Willl]

Let me get this straight,,,,, you want to bill your bent blade on your neighbor that DIDN'T invite you in ?

I would politely tell you to go pound sand.

 

[Wacky]

Let me get this straight,,,,, you want to bill your bent blade on your neighbor that DIDN'T invite you in ?

I would politely tell you to go pound sand


Did you READ the whole post?? It was meant to be a joke OBVIOUSLY .

 

[Willl]

Did you READ the whole post?? It was meant to be a joke OBVIOUSLY .

Sure did and I "OBVIOUSLY" didn't take it as a joke or I wouldn't of replied as I did.

 

[brin]

Let me get this straight,,,,, you want to bill your bent blade on your neighbor that DIDN'T invite you in ?

I would politely tell you to go pound sand.

I agree with you Willl - Pound sand or worse would be my response as well...

 

[Wacky]

:shocked:I guess you guys that feel that way, have in no way a sense of humor, and if you can't tell that I was responding to that post WITH a sense of humor, your loss.:dance1::drink: Oh and by the way I showed the neighbor this and he and I are enjoying a drink with him right now!!

 

[Wacky]

I have used the blade "as is", no issues as of yet. Tonight, I removed the deck and greased all the bearings and have noticed no abnormalities, everything is still tight. I will, at the end of the season, probably straighten and sharpen it. I will be using the damaged blade for now, probably hit another one in my neighbors lawn if I change it:laughingOh, and this statement IS a joke, just in case there is some confusion) I am also impressed with the quality of cut:thumbsup:. I have about 10 hrs on the deck after the damage. This whole machine so far is very impressive!! Thank you for all the info.