Your Scag mower is an essential piece of equipment, and properly maintaining it is key to keeping it running right for years to come. When it comes to maintenance on your mower, one of the most integral parts to keep in top shape is the blades. Regular inspection, sharpening and replacement of the blades will preserve your mower and keep it working at its best. Find out the steps to blade maintenance for your Scag mower to get the most out of it!

Scag Makes Maintenance Easy

Scag is the leader in heavy-duty and commercial mowers. Their full array of lawn mowers is top-of-the-line in durability, comfort, ease of use, and dependability. Whether you have a Scag for personal or professional use, you have a piece of machinery that is easy to use, service and maintain.

Scag has even made blade care easy. Since sharp blades are necessary for an effective mower, you want to inspect your mower’s blades on a regular basis. Scag mower parts are easy to access across the entire machine, making it simple to maintain the blades. Sharpening your mower blades, or replacing them if they become bent or damaged, can be completed in under an hour on a Scag. 

Necessary Prep Before Maintenance

Make sure you are properly prepared before you perform any maintenance on your Scag mower. Check to ensure that you:

• Wear the proper safety gear, including gloves, safety glasses, and boots.

• Have the mower parked on level ground in an open area.

• Engage the parking brake.

• Use jack stands to properly support the mower while accessing blades.

• Remove the key from the mower’s ignition to prevent an accidental start.
   

How to Inspect the Blades

Inspecting your mower blades is a regular maintenance task for every mower owner. You want to make sure that your blades are sharp, cutting properly, and not damaged in any way.

To inspect your mower blades:

1. Raise the mower deck to the highest position possible.

2. Insert the lanyard pin in the uppermost cutting height position to keep the cutter deck in place.

3. Examine the blades to see if they are straight. If they appear to be bent, they will have to be replaced.

4. Check the amount of wear on the blades. If you note that any portion of the blade is worn to half of its original thickness, the blade will need to be replaced.

5. Inspect the cutting edge of the blades. If there are any nicks or dull edges, the blade will need to be sharpened.
    

How to Replace the Blades

Whether you use your Scag for commercial or residential use, you should check the blades every few weeks, to make sure they are not damaged or bent. If using your mower professionally, the blades need to be replaced every few months. Mowing at home, you can replace the blades once a year. Routine replacement of blades is important because damaged blades can cause issues with the entire mower, put undue wear on the engine, and can pose a safety hazard.

To replace your mower blades:

1. Raise the mower deck to the highest position.

2. Insert the lanyard pin in the uppermost cutting height position to keep the cutter deck in place.

3. Secure the blades to ensure they do not rotate. Scag’s Blade Buddy tool can help hold the blades.

4. Remove the nut from the blade attaching bolt.

5. Take the cutter blade, bolt, and spacer off of the spindle shaft. Note that the front of the mower will need to be slightly raised to remove the blade bolt from the spindle.

6. To install the new blade, place the flat washer on the blade bolt and slide the bolt into the hole on the blade. Make sure to replace any worn spacers or washers. Make sure that the new blade has the left wing pointing toward the top of the deck.

7. Put the spacer onto the blade bolt and install the bolt into the cutter spindle shaft.

8. Install the hex nut onto the blade bolt at the top of the cutter spindle. Ensure the blades cannot rotate, then torque to 75 ft/lbs.
    

How to Sharpen the Blades

Mower blades should be sharpened whenever you notice that they are dull or chipped. Sharp blades are essential to effective and even mowing.

To sharpen your mower blades:

1. Use a file, not a grinder, to sharpen the blades. Only the top of the cutting edge needs to be sharpened.

2. Use the original bevel. Do not change it. Note that you should not sharpen the blades more than 1/3 the width of the blade.

3. Check the blades for balance. They should be balanced to 1-1/2 oz-in.
    

Get Your Scag Mower at Wisconsin's Powersports Company: Mow with Comfort, Mow with Confidence

Regularly inspecting, sharpening, and – when needed – replacing your mower blades is an integral part of keeping your Scag in top cutting shape. Scag makes it easy (and safe) to do. If you need assistance with your Scag mower, contact Power Sports Company for a service appointment at our Beaver Dam, Wisconsin location. If you’re looking for a machine to keep your lawns tamed, visit our website to view our full line of Scag power equipment!