Do You Need a Torque Wrench for a Lawn Mower Blade?

Torque wrenches are often known as the go-to tools for adjusting lawnmower blades. After all, they let you control the amount of pressure you apply without damaging the nut or blades. However, what are you supposed to do if you don’t have a torque wrench for your mower?

You don’t need a torque wrench for a lawnmower because you can use a socket wrench, adjustable wrench, or combination wrench. Turn the blade’s retaining bolt until it’s too tight to turn. Lawnmower blades typically don’t need more than 30 to 90 pounds of pressure.

Throughout this article, you’ll find out how to tighten and adjust lawnmower blades without a torque wrench and whether or not you need tools. You’ll also discover the best tools for the job.

How to Tighten a Lawnmower Blade Without a Torque Wrench

To tighten a lawnmower blade without a torque wrench, follow these instructions:

1. Tip the lawnmower on its back. The engine and carburetor shouldn’t be facing down for too long. Instead, tip the mower to the opposite side or lawn it backward. This orientation will allow you to access the lawnmower’s blades without damaging the engine.
2. Choose your preferred tool to loosen or tighten the mower’s blades. You can use adjustable wrenches, combination wrenches, and socket wrenches. An open wrench would also work, but it might be a bit more difficult since the wrench could slip off of the nut.
3. Turn the nut until you can’t manually move it anymore. Don’t wait for it to knock or crack; this could be a sign that it’s splitting. Many people recommend turning it until it pops, then loosen it a little. The problem with this method is that it can crack the blade assembly.
4. Place the lawnmower upright. Don’t turn on the lawnmower until it’s flat upright. You could also remove the spark plug before tipping it over in step 1 since it’ll prevent the mower from accidentally turning on. Move it around a bit to set the blade if needed.
5. Use the mower for a few minutes, then check the nut to see if it’s still tight. The nut should be completely tight after several minutes, hours, and days of mowing. If it keeps getting loose and you can’t tighten it anymore, you might need to get a torque wrench to apply more pressure.

Once you’re done testing your work, I recommend getting your hands on a torque wrench. It’s hard to find anything better for tightening mower blades. Whether you have to sharpen your lawnmower blades or put on new ones, you’ll need something that tightens the nut as much as needed.

If you’re looking for a video guide for tightening your lawnmower blades without a torque wrench, try this tutorial:

Note: You might also need to remove the blades to know which way they turn. If you remove them, make sure the nut isn’t stripped, rusted, or damaged. Replace the nut with a manufacturer-recommended part if necessary.

Can You Hand Tighten Mower Blades?

You can hand tighten a lawnmower with a combination wrench or an open wrench. These wrenches provide enough torque to secure the mower’s retaining bolt without causing damage. However, you’ll need to put quite a bit of force into it.

Mower blades are made of many materials, all of which require maintenance. Using the proper tools ensures their longevity. If you can’t tighten the lawnmower blades enough to secure the bolt by hand, you’ll need a torque wrench.

What Tool Is Best for Lawnmower Blades?

The best tool for lawnmower blades is a torque wrench. However, there are many types of wrenches that will get the job done. If you can’t tighten your lawnmower blades with a torque wrench, try an electric torque wrench. It applies pressure much quicker and with more power.

Here’s a detailed list of different tools you can use for lawnmower blades:

• Manual torque wrench: Garden Guides claims torque wrenches are the best option for most mower blades. You can adjust mower blades with a manual torque wrench, regardless of it it’s a riding mower or a push mower. They have small gauges that show you how much pressure is applied to the blade’s nut.
• Electric torque wrench: These wrenches let you squeeze a lever that puts however much pressure on the nut as you want. You need to take it slow with powered torque wrenches because they can go overboard and strip the screws if you’re not careful.
• Socket wrench: Sock wrenches fit over a lawnmower blade’s nut, much like a torque wrench. However, there’s no gauge or pressure meter that explains how much pressure you need to apply to the blades. You’ll have to base it on personal preference for when the blades are tight enough.
• Adjustable wrench: Adjustable wrenches have open ends that let you choose how closed it needs to be. They’re perfect for those who don’t know the size of the mower blade’s nut. Place the wrench over the nut, twist it until it’s secure, then tighten or loosen the nut.
• Combination wrench: Combination wrenches have closed faces on one side and open faces on the other. Choose the correct size for your lawnmower, then use the closed side to loosen or tighten it. The closed portion of the wrench offers more torque.

Mulching blades should be sharp to slice and dice the mulch below your mower or mulching kit. If you need to change or sharpen the blades, use one of the tools mentioned above for quick results.

The TEKTON Drive Torque Wrench comes in multiple sizes to fit almost any lawnmower blade retainer nut. It works up to 80 feet/pound, making it perfect for the job. You can flip the ratchet direction to loosen or tighten the bolt as necessary.

Final Thoughts

Torque wrenches are undoubtedly the best tool for changing lawnmower blades, but there are a few other options. If you don’t have one on hand, you can always use one of the many helpful tools found on this page. Furthermore, you can hire a repairperson to take a look.