should a mulch/ bag blade look like this?

[eljefino]

Off a 21 inch briggs rear bagger. This blade is out of balance! I held it by its center bolt and it favors one side dramatically. I plan to grind this down so it at least balances on it center hole.

But, also, one side is bent upwards rather flamboyantly. I figure it might be by design, to sweep grass into the rear bag. But shouldn't the other side have an opposite bend? Half of me says no, because that wouldn't mow the grass level.

Eh?

 

[spasm3]

Looks like a high lift blade that tried to mulch a stump!!

 

[Warstud]

Looks like you found the source of the vibrations.

 

[eljefino]

It boggles my mind how it got bent like that. One would think a sudden impact would make a more casual twist. There isn't an obvious gash.

I've hit some rebar corner survey pins in my day, know what that carnage is like.

Figure it's that most wonderful time of the year when WM and Lowes are trying to clearance for Xmas stuff, should be able to get a brand new blade for cheap money. This one is some sort of spring steel that would probably rather shatter than bend again... bad idea there.

 

[mk378]

Actually the damaged end on the left is bent DOWNwards. Sharp side down, remember. This blade needs to be replaced.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Off a 21 inch briggs rear bagger. This blade is out of balance! I held it by its center bolt and it favors one side dramatically. I plan to grind this down so it at least balances on it center hole.

But, also, one side is bent upwards rather flamboyantly. I figure it might be by design, to sweep grass into the rear bag. But shouldn't the other side have an opposite bend? Half of me says no, because that wouldn't mow the grass level.

Eh?




Yikes!!

I've thrown away better blades then that. I tried to straighten a blade, 20 minutes with a 8 pound sledge and a piece of raildroad iron and it was usable, just. If you are into knife making, old blades like that make good blanks.

 

[SuperDave456]

Buy a new one.
Don't waste your time trying to straighten it, it's low carbon steel designed to take deformations and not crack or chip.
All of them are designed to be tough. Some are better made and are tougher than others.

That being said, tough does not mean it is good for anything else. Low carbon steel won't get hard enough to hold an edge very well for a knife. Sure, some of them have high enough carbon to harden, but figuring out the chemistry of the lawnmower blade so that the correct heat treatment can be accomplished is almost impossible.
You typically spend more time and money forging it flat and figuring out the heat treatment than it would be to go buy a known steel that is good for knifemaking and making a knife from that.

If you are looking for a place to order steel from for a knife go to New Jersey Steel Baron dot com.
If you are looking for a new lawnmower blade then order one or shop around for one.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. (I have first hand experience in these things.)

 

[CT8]

Not one that you would want to use.

 

[oilboy123]

Instead of the mower and blade mulching the lawn. It looks like the blade got mulched......

Does the mower even run anymore?

 

[Turk]

Just get a new one.

 

[eljefino]

Got a new one. Had $5 off $25 coupon for lowes.

I have a co-worker who cuts old leaf springs into wedges and bangs them into rock faces for amateur mining. He'd probably find good use for the old part.

I've never in my umpteen years on this earth had a rear bagger, so am not up on bagging blades.

 

[sleddriver]

Yikes! That looks awful...and dangerous.

 

[ecotourist]

I have a 21" rear bagger as well. The blade does not look like that! It's almost 15 years old; I sharpen it regularly. Cuts really well and picks up leaves like there was no tomorrow. Much easier than raking. Will have to "mow the lawn" again this week. We've had some high winds and the lawn is covered with leaves - again.

By the way, I hope everyone knows about disconnecting the spark plug when they mess with the blade. Many years ago a friend managed to somehow start a mower when he had his hands in there. Didn't lose any fingers but that was more good luck than good management.

 

[OneEyeJack]

I don't think a mulching blade works very well on tree stumps and large rocks.

 

[JTK]

Yep. I too have tossed/replaced better looking blades than that. Some do have crazy bends/curves to them right out of the box.

The crazy "ninja" mulching blade on my Snapper boggles my mind. Looks way more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[SHOZ]

I use the gator brand blades.

 

[Lubener]

I hope your not serious about balancing. Deep six that blade and I would bet your flywheel key is partially sheared too.