Zero Turn Maintenance?

I’ve sharpened my blades before, but found it’s more efficient to just replace them. They’re not that expensive. At minimum, I’d suggest having two sets of blades, one to swap and then sharpen later.

I generally replace my blades once at the beginning of the season and then again mid/late-season. I have 4 acres and in the past it’s generally including some heavier brush or hearty weeds. As I’ve converted to all Bermuda, it should be a little more friendly to the blades but cut quality becomes more important.

You can lift it multiple ways. I have a “mower Jack” that’s specifically made for this. You can also use a winch, tractor bucket, or even a car Jack. Just make sure to secure the mower and use Jack stands under the machine. I take the opportunity to scrape the mower deck when I change blades as well.

I mow 1.5 acres and rotate 2 sets of blades sharpened annually. I sharpen the blades with an 60 grit flap disc attached to an angle grinder. It takes a couple minutes to sharpen all 3 blades on my mower.

To change the blades, I use a pair of aluminum ramps similar to these that I use to load a 4 wheeler in the back of my truck. I setup the ramps on my tailgate and drive the mower just onto the ramps just far enough to lift the front end so I can easily access the blades.

quote:

---

I always wanted to mount a pulley on my garage ceiling

---

I put a chain and shackle over a joist in my shed, then use a come along to raise the mower. Wrap a strap around the mower frame.

electric hoist mounted to shop rafters
air impact wrench
bench vise
side grinder

new ExMark came with a trailer tongue style crank that bolts onto the front of the frame and will lift it up enough to get underneath. block the rear wheels, use jack stands for safety

Probably not a big deal for someone who has good grass with no bare spots. I have good grass established around my house that cuts great even with dull blades. The rest of my yard is a work in progress since it was mulched 3 years ago. I still have lots of bare spots and crappy grass/weeds

New blades every spring and sharpen them about 3 times. Lift the front on a high lift Jack and air impact tool to remove and replace the nuts on the spindles.

I have a Hustler Fastrax with a 48” deck and can easily get the blades off with the deck in the highest position.