Mower deck blade positioning ???'s

[360magnumstocker 0]

Ok........I'm told there are no stupid questions,just stupid people...I might be a little of both right now. I just replaced the mower blades on the deck of my Wheel Horse (1980 DECK 05-36MR01). The blades are not pinned or slotted so they can be put on in any position. Should all three blades just be parallel to each other when installed or doesn't it matter.

BTW...first post on here..LOVE this sight!!! What a great source of info.

[MikesRJ 558]

B)

The position of the blades really doesn't matter, though I've always installed them 90 degrees off (center to outside blades), just make sure to tighten the nuts to 60-70 Ft-Lbs.

Here's the manual for the deck.

http://www.mywheelhorse.com/graphics/file/...er_810345R1.pdf

[markslawnmowerworld 4]

I work in a lawn mower shop six days a week, and work on alot of wheel horse tractors and garden tractors........and agree with mike one hundred percent....

and :party:

[Roger from southern Iowa 1]

B) Glad to have you.

[rickv1957 76]

Hello and Rick

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

Indexing the blades on these decks is futile since the belt will creep on the pulleys during use.

It is very important to install the blades right-side-up though.

B)

[Duff 206]

It is very important to install the blades right-side-up though.

We laugh - a good buddy of mine who is not particularly mechanically inclined went half a season with a set of blades upside down on the 48" deck on his green tractor. He kept bringing them to me for sharpening complaining that they just weren't cutting right (oh, duh!). After the second or third request to sharpen blades which were dirty but not dull I figured something had be to way out of whack so I went with him to put the blades back on. Sure 'nuf - he tried putting them on flipped over. I almost peed myself trying not to laugh, and now when I sharpen them for him I always mark the blades "tractor side" and "grass side".

True story!

Duff B)

[360magnumstocker 0]

B)

Thanks guys for all the replys and welcomes. I found a set of Oregon brand replacement blades locally for $25. They are actually marked "GRASS SIDE" , so unless you can't read it's pretty foolproof....good story Duff!!!

[mavfreak 11]

B)

[KC9KAS 4,744]

An old timer told me the best way to remember how tp put blades back on a deck....If the wrench slips off (while tightening the nut/bolt) and you cut yourself on the sharp side of the blade, then it is being installed correct!

OUCH!