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Knowing which way your lawnmower’s blades turn will help you use the correct discharge bags, sharpen the blades properly, and mow the grass in the correct pattern. However, it’s a bit difficult to know how they move if you have a deck on your mower, and nobody wants to turn the machine on while it’s upside down.
To know which way your lawnmower blade turns:
- Find out which way the mower discharges
- Look for the sharp blade edges
- Check the grass’s direction
- Unscrew the deck bolt
- Decide if it’s reel or rotary
- Remove a riding mower’s deck
Throughout this article, we’ll show you the whole step-by-step process to know which way your lawnmower blades turn and why it affects the way you cut the grass. We’ll also provide a handful of safety tips since you’re dealing with sharp, fast-moving edges.
Check the Discharge Side
According to eHow, the vast majority of lawnmowers have blades that turn clockwise (to the left). However, that doesn’t guarantee that your mower is the same. Knowing which way the blades turn will dictate the best direction to mow and which way the grass should discharge.
If your lawnmower has a mulch or discharge bag on one of the sides, it’s more than likely the direction the blades are turning. For example, if you have a mulch discharge bag on the right backside, your mower blades likely turn to the left.
Some lawnmowers don’t have mulch bags or discharge sides. If yours doesn’t, there are still several methods you can try. For instance, you can check similar upgraded models of your lawnmower to view which way the discharge bag is on. If the improved version has a bag on the back-left of the deck, you know the blade goes to the right.
Turn the Mower Over and Inspect the Blades
Follow this method to check which way your mower blades go:
- Turn off the mower and remove the spark plugs. Although you’re unlikely to get shocked, it’s important to take all of the necessary safety precautions. While you’re at it, you can check what condition the spark plugs are in. Once the spark plugs are out, yo ucan head to the next step.
- Set the mower on the opposite side of the grass disposal or mulcher. The mower’s weight can crush the outlet, so it’s essential that you lay it on the other side. The blades should be facing outward, letting you clear the debris and figure out how and where they turn,
- Find the sharp side of each blade. The sharp side indicates which direction the blade goes when you’re cutting the grass. There might also be a slight tilt in the blade. This angle helps the blade glide through the grass, making it look much smoother and more even.
Look Which Way the Grass Lays After Mowing
Mowing the lawn while it’s wet usually isn’t advised, but it could be a quick way to know where the blades face. When you mow a wet lawn, the grass lays flat for a few hours. Doing this repeatedly can damage the grass and clog the lawnmower’s blades.
That being said, you can do a quick mowing session on a small portion of the grass to know more about the mower’s blades. Mow a straight line for at least five feet, then turn off the mower. Turn around and look at the grass to see which direction it’s facing to know where the blades move.
If the grass is too short, you might not be able to apply this test. The results rely on the grass being a little bit taller than usual since low-cut grass is often stiff and durable.
Unscrew the Blade’s Bolt
If you want to know which way a lawnmower blade turns, SFGate suggests checking the deck bolt. This bolt holds the blade, stopping it from flying off the machine when you turn it on. In most cases, the bolt unscrews in the opposite direction that the blades turn.
A lawnmower bolt that unscrews to the left often has a blade that turns to the right. Since most lawnmower blades turn clockwise, the bolt often goes counter-clockwise.
To check the mower’s bolt, you have to turn it off, remove the spark plugs, and lay the lawnmower on its side. The bolt sits in the middle of the blades.
Note: Most lawnmower blade bolts use a hex bolt that needs the correct tool to remove it.
Find Out if It’s a Rotary or Reel Mower
Reel mowers and rotary mowers have blades that turn vertically and horizontally. To learn more about reel mowers and how they differ from the common rotary mower, check out our reel push mower guide.
In short, reel mowers cut grass by using blades that spin away from the person pushing it. They’re usually manual, but you can find powered reel mowers on the market, too.
On the other hand, rotary mowers use blades that cut counter-clockwise or clockwise. Contrary to reel mowers, they’re usually powered by gas or electricity. You won’t find very many rotary mowers that aren’t powered.
If you know the style of lawnmower you have, you already can cut the possible directions in half. Reel mowers can’t spin clockwise or counter-clockwise, whereas rotary mowers can’t spin up or down.
Remove Your Mower’s Deck
Removing your lawnmower’s deck will reveal the blades, letting you know which direction they turn. We don’t recommend driving a mower without a deck, but you can inspect the blades to find the sharper side. You can perform this study whether you have a push lawnmower or riding mower.
Before you remove your mower’s deck, make sure it’s not too rusty or brittle. If you pull it off and it’s damaged, you might break the deck and have to get a replacement. Furthermore, you should consider getting a replacement bolt since wear and tear can take a toll on the bolt, stripping it when you remove it.
Pulling off the mower’s deck should be a last resort option. The previous suggestions work for almost every lawnmower, so there’s almost never a reason to remove the deck for this purpose.
Steve’s Small Engine Saloon presents this helpful video to help you pull the deck off of your riding mower:
