How to Remove John Deere Lawn Mower Blades

Removing your John Deere lawn mower blades is a task that you don’t have to worry about, as the removal process is easy, and you can carry it out yourself. The entire process takes about 20-30 minutes. However, this might not be the case if you fail to follow the proper blade removal procedure. Fortunately, the following guide explains how to remove John Deere lawn mower blades. This process should work for most John Deere models including the Z345, D100, E130, and others.

Occasionally a John Deere riding mower has two blades. If your lawnmower has two blades, use the same procedure to remove the other blade from the mower. When handling the blades, always wear your gloves. You should avoid touching the sharp side of the blade with bare hands. Before commencing, you may need to assemble the following tools to make the work easier.

How to Remove John Deere Lawn Mower Blades

Total Time: 1 hour

Contents

Prepare the Mower for Blades Removal

Ensure the lawn mower is on a level surface. Depress the PTO engagement button to the right side of the steering column to disengage the blades or mower. You can activate the parking brakes by engaging the parking brake lever situated on the steering column right side. Pull the freewheel lever at the back of the mower under the seat and between the wheels. 

Turn off the ignition switch and remove the key from the ignition button. Besides, you can remove the spark plug or detach the negative battery terminal before working on the tractor. Using a siphon pump, remove gas from the tank and add it to the gas storage tank. With the air filter and the gas tank facing up, turn the mower on its side.

Lift the Lawn Mower Using a Hydraulic Jack

Raise the mower deck to its highest position. Typically, it is advisable to use a hydraulic jack to lift the lawn mower. As you have to disassemble the entire cover to remove and replace the blades, removing and reinstalling the platform is challenging.

The use of a hydraulic jack makes the work convenient and easy. Put the jack below the side edge of the deck and adjust it to the correct height by pressing the jack handle. Typically, this helps you get into the mower blade easily.

Place a Block of Wood Diagonally

To work on the blades with ease, you will need to raise the mower deck. If necessary, remove the mower deck. Place a block of wood under the blade at an angle to prevent it from turning. Rotate the blade until it snugly touches the wooden beam.

Remove the Blade’s Central Nut

Place the socket wrench at the center of the blade. Remove the center nut by turning the wrench counterclockwise. Remove the nut and the washer and put them in a safe place as you will use them when reinstalling.

Remove the Old Blade

Remove the old mower blade from the spindle shaft. To avoid any accidental injury, keep the blade in a safe place. Check the blade for dullness, bends, or excessive wear and cracks. If the blade is dull, you can solve the problem by simply sharpening it with a proper tool.  However, if it’s excessively worn, cracked, bent, or otherwise damaged, you will need to replace it.

Install the New Blade

Take the replacement mower’s blade and put it on the spindle shaft. Return the center nut and the washer to their previous positions. Lock the blade with a piece of wood, and with the help of a socket wrench, firmly tighten the nut by turning it clockwise. Align the center hole with a spindle shaft. 
With the cutting edge of the sharpened or new blade facing the ground, put the blade on the shaft. Install the washer facing the recessed side of the blade, then install the nut. To prevent the blade from turning while tightening the nut, you can lock it with a piece of wood. You can use a 15/16″ inch socket to tighten a 5/8 inch blade nut to 65 pounds. Be sure the blades don’t overlap.

Or try it without a jack in this video…

Conclusion

If you follow this guide, you can remove John Deere lawn mower blades at home without difficulty. Remember to follow all the precautionary measures to prevent accidents and injuries. In case of any problem, you can refer to the user instructional manual or seek professional help.