Design flaw puts blade two inches into housing

[Alex Ethridge]

I bought a 22" walk-behind, push mower at WalMart a few years ago and it has a very annoying design flaw that makes using it so difficult that I parked it a year later. I would like to get some use out of it as it runs fine.

Here's the problem: I discovered it was difficult to use because the cutting edge of the blade is recessed nearly two inches above the bottom edge of the housing. I ran my own lawn mower repair shop for three years (many years back) so my experience tells me this is a design flaw. I need a blade adapter that will lower that blade about one and three-quarter inches.

I found a Murray blade adapter that gives me one and one-eighth inches; but, I need at least one and three quarters. Look here to see a diagram of what I'm writing about.

http://www.psep.biz/store/murray_blade_adapters.htm

It's the MURRAY 442735/400272/20051/442346, the second one down on the page.

Anyone know where I might find such a thing?

[Basementgeek]

Hi and welcome to TSF

I really don't think it is a design flaw, but a safety feature. If you run in over your foot, it probable won't cut your toes off.

From what I have seen grass should be keep cut about 3 inches, to help prevent weed growth.

I guess you could put a couple of washers between the shaft and the bottom of the adapter.

BG

[pat mcgroin]

I had the same trouble with an old Snapper that I changed the engine on.
Different engines come with different ouput shaft lengths depending on the application.
Basementgeek is right about the safety feature but I would still get the 1 1/8 adapter as it will at least help.
It seems cheap enough.
Another option could be to talk to a machinist and see if he could do something better for you, possibly even lengthen the new adapter another half inch.

[Basementgeek]

Please understand that any thing you do to modify the setting of the blade, you do so at your own risk. The blade is higher up for a reason.

BG

[SABL]

Before making any changes make sure you have enough wheel adjustment to avoid "scalping" your lawn. Like BG said, I also think the recessed blade is a safety measure that not only saves toes but pushes objects out of the way to help protect the blade.

I haven't used a mower for a long time (Toro Z and a string trimmer) but will be using a push-mower soon. Don't have one to look at but will peek at the neighbor's when I see him out and about. I personally think you may be asking for trouble if you lower the blade. Exactly what makes your mower difficult?? Deck clogging??

[SABL]

Checked the neighbor's mower...it is a Murray but an older model. The blade is pretty close to the bottom of the housing and about 2 1/2" below the top of the deck. Maybe during assembly a spacer was missed if you don't have sufficient area for the clippings to circulate before being discharged.

[Alex Ethridge]

Thanks for the replies and I did order the referenced blade adapter. I'll see how it works out. I found two more adapters. It doesn't show a cut-away drawing; but, if I figure the math correctly, they come closer to the length I first wanted. If the one I ordered doesn't do the trick, I'll order one of these. They're the 672503 and 1101824 Murray Blade Adapters on this page.

This IS a design flaw. Go to any department store that sells walk-behind, push mowers and lift every one of them there and you cannot find a new mower with a blade recessed more than one-half inch or less than one quarter. This one of mine is a full one and seven-eights inches. Cutting grass with it is a strain.

I serviced a few thousand mowers in the three years I ran that shop and I never saw such a deep recess.

Concerning the 3-inch cutting height being recommended, I cut my centipede two inches to maintain a tight, close-to-the-ground weave of this kind of running grass. It is the recommended height.

Exactly what makes your mower difficult??

It is a continuous and tiring strain to push a mower with a one and seven-eights recessed blade across even slightly uneven ground and maintain a two-inch cutting height. The mowers' housing is continually jamming against the ground and the tightly woven centipede grass.

Concerning wheel adjustment, I do have adjustment capability that places the bottom edge of the housing three inches off the ground.

Thanks again.

[SABL]

Good luck Alex.

Does sound like an error on the part of the engineering department. If you are cutting at 2" I can see the problem.

[Basementgeek]

I just checked my 10 year Lawnboy, and the blade is close to being flush with bottom of the deck. So much for my comment about a safety feature.

BG