Safest way to lift a riding mower to change blades?

[Ricky78]

Hey everyone. I run a small bean farm and do all the mowing around the outbuildings myself. My grass has been looking pretty torn up lately, and I realized the blades are completely dull and pitted from hitting stray branches. I was looking online to find out more about the correct replacement blades for my specific deck size, but now I'm wondering about the safest way to actually swap them out. Do you guys drive the front wheels up on car ramps, or is there a better way to get underneath without removing the whole deck from the tractor? I just want to make sure I don't get hurt trying to loosen those heavy bolts. Any tips would be great.

 

[lawn_addict]

Hey everyone. I run a small bean farm and do all the mowing around the outbuildings myself. My grass has been looking pretty torn up lately, and I realized the blades are completely dull and pitted from hitting stray branches. I was looking online to find out more about the correct replacement blades for my specific deck size, but now I'm wondering about the safest way to actually swap them out. Do you guys drive the front wheels up on car ramps, or is there a better way to get underneath without removing the whole deck from the tractor? I just want to make sure I don't get hurt trying to loosen those heavy bolts. Any tips would be great.

I’d skip the car ramps if possible. Check the mower manual first and use the recommended way to raise or tilt the deck. Shut the engine off, remove the key, and make sure the blades have stopped completely.

If you need to get underneath, park on a solid, level surface and use supports rated for the tractor’s weight. Don’t rely on a jack by itself. Wear gloves, and use a block of wood or the method listed in the manual to keep the blade from turning while you loosen the bolt.

When installing the new blade, make sure it’s facing the right way and tighten the bolt to the specified torque. It’s better to take a few extra minutes to set everything up safely than to wrestle with a heavy blade under the tractor.