Perform Maintenance Safely
Mower Blade Maintenance (continued)
—How are mower blades made?
Mower blades are made of high strength alloy spring steel. They are
—What happens when a mower blade bends? It takes a great amount of impact force to bend the blade. This impact force often results in the blades being gouged or chipped. After a blade is damaged by a gouge or chip a blade failure is much more likely to occur. When a blade is severely bent, a microscopic crack may be created in the blade. Straightening the blade does not remove or repair this crack, but may cause additional cracks. Additional stresses during mowing operations can result in an unexpected blade failure.
—Avoid bending blades. Help prevent mower blades from bending or cracking by avoiding contact with solid objects. Mower blades are intended to cut grass, shrubs, woody vegetation, and small trees and limbs. They are not intended to contact solid objects such as rocks, concrete, or steel posts. Inspect the area prior to mowing. Remove or clearly mark any solid objects and mow around them.
—Replace damaged blades! Inspect the mower blade(s) daily or after hitting any solid object. If a mower blade becomes damaged (bent, gouged, cracked) or worn more than 25 percent of the original size, it should
be removed and replaced with a new blade. Always use the original manufacturer’s blades. Aftermarket brand blades may not meet the mower manufacturer’s strength, hardness and ductility requirements.
—Do not take chances mowing with damaged or bent blades. Using a damaged or straightened mower blade can result in the blade breaking and being thrown into the operator or a bystander causing death or serious injury. The price of a new blade is small compared to the potential for the serious injury that could result from a bent or broken blade being thrown from the mower.
Final Word To The User
You have just finished reading the AEM Industrial and Agricultural Mower Manual. It is impossible for this manual to cover every safety situation that you may encounter on a daily basis. Your knowledge of these safety precautions and your application to the
basic rules of safety will help to build good judgment in all situations. Our objective is to help you develop, establish and maintain good safety habits to make operating an Industrial and Agricultural Mower easier and safer for you.
This manual is another in a series on the safe operation of machinery published by AEM.
Many pictorials in this safety manual can be found and downloaded at http://pictorials.aem.org.
For additional publications visit our website at www.safetymaterials.org.
ASSOCIATION OF
EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
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