OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Questions On Ride On Mowers Frames MTD(don't laugh) Ride on mower problem

I recently changed from bar blades to swing backs on my MTD ride on mower(don't laugh,I they're not the greatest,but my wife bought it for me).I don't know if it's coincidence,but when I lower the blades (to get closer to the ground)the mower feels like it's struggling and I can hear the revs dropping.Is my mower in need of help?Grass isn't long,flattish ground,not wet.I never noticed this before with the old bar blades.
I've been pretty slack with maintenance and I've only had it serviced a couple of times in 8 years.
Any ideas?

Is there any sign on the ground that the blades are not cutting properly or something is hitting the ground? Are you sure you didn't mount the blades or the mounting bolts upside down?

Sounds like you might have the blade on top of the carriers rather than under them.

Tip of the blade should be the lowest part of the swinging assembly. Id suggest checking that youve got it together right.

I will check on the weekend.It wouldn't surprise me if I put them on upside down,I make a habit of it.
Thanks everyone.

Aside from the details of how you assemble the bolt hardware Andy, there are three things to remember. First, the blade attaches to the underside of the mounting disk ("blade plate"), not the upper side. Second, the blade has its straight (cutting) edge toward the forward direction, and its tilted (air/grass deflecting) edge trailing. This means the bend of the deflector is always upward, never downward. If the deflector is downward, it will cut and push the grass down way below the cutting height, and that will make it drag on the ground. It also probably won't cut grass well because the deflector edge is blunt. Third, the flat or slightly rounded head of the attaching bolt is always downward, with the nut at the top, above the blade plate.

Much more important than any of that, is assembling the hardware properly so the blade doesn't come off. That could have extremely nasty consequences, including fatality.

Grumpy, the 18" MTD mowers had a star drive centre on the bar blade and are no longer made, instead they sell a blade carrier with swinging blades on the end. Its made out of 3 or 4mm steel plate.

Something like this one thats in the store



Id say this conversion is the same thing but for the ride on. When i was looking into a blade for the push mower i did look at some ride on blades, but decided not to chance buying a pair of blades that wouldnt fit.

Bob, I hope that bar is made from spring steel. If it isn't, it needs its edges folded up to make vertical flanges, or severe water-pipe-mowing incidents will bend it. People often don't notice damage like that, and keep trying to use it, with very poor results.

Dont know what its made of. Must be the right gear or they wouldnt sell it. Liability being what it is.

I wish I could agree with you Bob. The general rule is "caveat emptor". If you can prove the item was not as described, or if sold for a specific purpose was not reasonably suited to that purpose, you may have a claim for the actual expenses you can prove you incurred. Providing proof and pursuing the legal case will be at your expense unless the vendor's conduct was sub-standard to an extent that the judge finds unacceptable.