How To Install Mulching Blades On Craftsman Riding Mower

Which way does mulching blade go on?

If it has the word “Bottom,” or a model number printed on it, that side of the blade faces the ground when the mower is upright If there are no markings, check the blade’s bevel The beveled portion must face away from the ground when installed The bend in mulching blades also must point away from the ground

How do you put a mulching blade on a riding lawn mower?

How Do I Install A Mulch Kit On My Riding Mower? Step 1: Remove the cutting deck Step 2: Flip the deck over Step 3: Secure the old blades Step 4: Remove the old blades Step 5: Attach new blades Step 6: Flip the deck back over Step 7: Install the mulch plug Step 8: Reattach the deck to your mower

Do mulching blades face up or down?

Look at both sides of the mulching blade Most blades have the word “bottom” stamped on them, or they have a model number imprinted onto the underside Whether a word or a number, that side of the mulching blade must face the ground after it is installed and the mower is standing upright

Which side of mower blade faces down?

To determine which side of your lawn mower blade is up, first figure out which side is the sharp cutting edge, and which side is the blunt edge Look for a sticker indicating which side goes up and which side faces downward The cutting edge should face the grass while the dull edge should face the deck of the mower

Which side of a lawn mower blade goes up?

The wings of the lawn mower blade will be oriented up toward the mower deck and any writing on the blade will likely be facing away from the deck If the blade bolt comes with a washer, its concave side will be facing the blade

Can you use mulching blades with side discharge?

Mulching mowers aren’t different from other mowers in most ways Mulching blades are sometimes called “all purpose” or “3-in-1” blades because you can use them to mulch, bag, or side discharge Standard blades are called 2-in-1 blades because you can use them to either bag or side discharge the grass

Do mulching blades cut grass?

Mulching blades, also known as 3-in-1 blades, can be used to bag, discharge, or mulch grass clippings The curved surface and increased cutting edge allows the blade to cut the grass and bring it into the deck where it is cut several more times before falling back onto the lawn in much smaller pieces

Do mulching blades need to be sharpened?

Lawnmower blades need to be sharpened regularly A dull blade will pull and tear on your grass blades causing jagged tips The dull blade stresses the grass and the damaged grass tips turn yellow A sharp blade will cut cleanly which is healthier for the lawn, easier on you and your mower engine

What happens if mower blades are upside down?

Mower blades have a cutting edge at each end It is common to install a blade upside down When this happens, the lawn mower will not cut correctly, or it could damage the mower

What angle do you sharpen lawn mower blades?

Sharpen the edge of the blade using a 10-inch file or grindstone, keeping the file at roughly a 45-degree angle Sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge Push the file in one direction along the blade

Why does my mower leave a strip of grass in the middle?

A strip of uncut grass left in the middle of mowing rows could signal that your lawnmower’s blades are unbalanced or that one or both of them was installed the wrong way Ensure that your mower’s blades are on correctly, that both are secured tightly to the mower deck and that both are balanced

Do you sharpen both sides of a lawn mower blade?

Always sharpen from the top side of the cutting edge; this will give you the longest-lasting edge on the blade Note: The file cuts in one direction only, on the push stroke; you’ll feel it bite into the steel on the blade

Should mower blades be parallel?

Both the real time scenarios make clear that the blades installed in a mower should be parallel Otherwise, they start causing problems

Should you mulch every time you mow?

Most of the time, mulching your clippings is the best option You should bag your clippings if the grass is tall, leaves are covering the lawn, or you need to prevent disease and weeds from spreading Whether you’re mulching or bagging, Hutson has the right tools for the job

Can you use mulching blades with a bagging system?

Depending on whether you’re using a walk-behind mower or a lawn tractor, using a mulching blade for bagging is not the best idea A bagging blade has a bend or wing at the back to create more airflow to send the grass to the bag Using mulching blades for bagging will result in reduced bag filling

Can you use high lift blades for mulching?

Lifting blades come in three types: High-Lift, Medium-Lift, and Low-Lift Essentially, the greater the lift, the more horsepower that’s required You would use High-Lift blades when tackling taller, more dense grass (High-lift = higher-lifting airflow) You should not use Lifting blades for mulching

How can you tell a mulching blade from a regular blade?

The primary difference between a mulching blade and a regular blade is shape A mulching blade typically has a more curved profile than a regular blade, and it is also likely to have cutting edges along more of its surface than a regular blade does