How to Change Blades on a MTD Yard Machine Riding Lawnmower

Park your Yard Machine riding lawnmower on a level surface. Engage the parking brake and turn the ignition off. Wait for the engine to cool down before changing the blades. Take the key out of the ignition.

Unhook the ignition wire from the end of the spark plug. Set the wire aside so it doesn't accidentally hit the plug while you change the blade. Disconnect the red cable from the battery terminal; do not allow the wrench to touch anything metal.

Pull up on the deck height lever to increase the deck height to its highest setting. Set a wood block underneath the edge of the mower deck and lower the height lever until the deck rests on the wooden block.

Unscrew the self-tapping screw from the engine pulley's belt guide and take the belt guide out. Roll the belt off of the engine's pulley. Unhook the bowtie clip from the rear hanger rods and remove the hanger rods from the deck.

Pull the bowtie clip out of the deck stabilizer rod and slide the deck lift rod out of the housing bracket. Remove the wooden block out from underneath the deck. Take the bowtie clip out of the bracket to release the PTO cable. Take the tension spring away from the idler arm.

Pull the deck out from underneath the mower. Turn the deck upside down. Secure the blade in place with an Arnold blade removal tool. Unscrew the mounting bolt on the center of the blade with the wrench. Pull the blade and washers off of the mounting rod.

Put the new blade and washer into position on the mounting rod. Secure the blade's bolt to the torque specifications in your operator's manual. Take the Arnold blade removal tool off of the blade. Move the deck back into position and reinstall the mower deck in the reverse order of removal.