Which Way Do John Deere Mower Blades Go On?

If you own a John Deere mower, you will need to replace the blades after a few years or you may need to open them for cleaning or sharpening. Many users often get confused about the correct orientation of the blades after opening them.

You will need to mount the blades on a John Deere mower with the curved side facing up. This helps to properly cut the grass the grass will lift up making it easier to have precise cuts.

So, if you own a John Deere mower, you must know about the correct blade orientation. Keep on reading to know more.

How Do You Know If John Deere Mower Blade Is Upside Down?

Before you learn about the proper blade orientation in your John Deere Mower, you must understand whether the blade is upside down. Not positioning the blades correctly can cause issues when cutting the grass below.

Weird noises when cutting

If you hear any odd noises, the blade may be turned around and striking somewhere it shouldn’t be.

Check the user Manual

The user manual should come with pictures about to position the blade. So, if the blade position doesn’t match that, then it can be upside down.

Shape of the blade

Most blades have certain positioning requirements in order to effectively cut grass. The lawnmower might not cut as effectively or could suffer damage if the blade is positioned down.

Read Also: How to Know if Mower Blade Is Upside Down? [5 Easy Hacks]

Which Way do John Deere Mower Blades Go On? [Find Accurate Position]

For a secure as well as efficient cutting performance, the blade installation must be done correctly. The blade rotation used by John Deere mowers is typically counterclockwise (CCW). This suggests that the blades will rotate counterclockwise when seen from overhead.

All the blades have a sharp side and a blunt side and the sharpest side should be closer to the grass when you are positioning the blades. 

You will notice that the blunt side of the blade has a curved face so the dull side should be positioned with the curved side facing upwards beneath your mower deck.

For more accuracy, you will notice the correct orientation of the blade is stamped on the blade itself. So, when you mount the blade on your John Deere Mower, the arrow will help you understand the current rotation direction of the blades.

Related: How to Know if Mower Blade Is Upside Down? [5 Easy Hacks]

2 Blade Mower Orientation On John Deere

With 2 blade mower orientation in John Deere mowers, you will need to place the first blade on center of the deck and the next one should be placed behind it. 

Positioning the blades in this way will help you to have even cuts from both of the blades.

3 Blade Mower Orientation On John Deere

When it comes to 3 Blade Mower Blade orientation, things get tricky and it isn’t as simple as the one with 2 blades. 

There are normally two types of orientation you can follow depending on the type of mower you are using; Side discharge and rear discharge.

If you want to make sure that the cutting force is distributed evenly throughout the deck, mount all three blades at the top and bottom 12 and 6 o’clock positions. Additionally, set the middle blade to face at 3/9 o’clock.

Read Also: What Is High Lift Mower Blade | Pros and Cons of It

How to Install Blades Correctly on John Deere Mower?

Installing new blades on your John Deere mower is not that difficult and you can do it by yourself. However, to make sure the mower cuts evenly you must follow the steps properly.

Step 1: Position the blades

First, turn off your John Deere mower and pull the brakes so the mower doesn’t move when you are working with the blades. Pull up on the mower’s adjustment slider to access the blades by raising the mowing deck to its highest point.

Step 2: Open the blades

Use a socket and ratchets to loose all the bolts and the screws, depending on the mower model there can be hex lock washers. Loosen all these, you might need to lose them using some strength. 

When everything becomes loose, the blades can be opened up easily. Remember the blade orientation while opening them.

Step 3: Install New blades

Get a set of replacement blades or resharpen the old ones if they can be reused. In the same orientation you opened the blades, install them back again. 

If you forget about the orientation, refer to the user manual or for more easier understanding all John Deere blades come with positioning stamping for easier installation.

Read Also: What Is the Correct Lawn Mower Blade Position? (2 & 3 Blade)

Does It Matter How I Install Mower Blades?

If you do not install your mower blades properly, you will end up having a messy lawn as the cuts will all be uneven and there are many other reasons for it.

  • You will have more optimized cuts with correct orientation of blades.
  • Unaligned blades have a higher chance of breaking off during operation, which might result in flying parts or blade pieces.
  • Aligned blades help with easier grass clips discharge which makes it less messy. 
  • The blades will last for a longer time and need to resharpen att less intervals.

Read Also: How to Fix Common John Deere 185 Hydro Problems?

FAQs

You can fix the blades on your John Deere mower in many different ways but not following the proper orientation can make your lawns look messy. So, keep on reading the faqs below to understand about the correct blade orientation on your mower.

Can I reuse my old John Deere mower blades?

If the blades are not broken or not in a too much tattered condition, you can reuse them in your mowers by resharpening them. You can resharpen them yourself but getting the help of a professional is advised as you need specialized tools for the task. 

Are the lawn mower blades for John Deere reverse threaded?

The John Deere lawn mower bolt that secures the blade does not have a reverse thread. All you have to do is turn it clockwise to tighten the blade. And for removing, just turn this same bolt in the anticlockwise direction.

Are John Deere mower blades any good?

John Deere blades can handle sand, rocks, or other hard items with little splitting or scratching, In contrast to the lower-carbon blades these blades have a Longer life and provide better cutting efficiency. 

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