How to lift riding mower to change blades

As you likely know, sharp and damage-free blades will keep your riding mower cutting right.

That means it’s so important that you change the mower blades when worn, broken, bent, dinged, etc.

But like in other types of mowers, you’ll need to elevate your riding mower to access the blades, yet most owner’s manual doesn’t show how.

Luckily, this guide will teach how to lift riding mower to change blades when they’re due for replacement.

Your grass will thank you later.

How to lift riding mower to change blades using different equipment

Of course, a riding mower is pretty heavy and you want to use something that is solid enough and safe.

We have a couple of devices you can use, starting with jacks.

Option 1: Lifting riding using jacks

Jacks are exceptionally useful tools and are very handy when it comes to lifting heavy loads.

Here are your alternatives if you would rather go for the simplicity of these accessories.

·        Use a hydraulic jack lift

One of the easiest ways of hoisting your riding mower is by using a standard hydraulic jack.

These work great because they’re able to apply extra force thanks to the pressure generated in the hydraulic cylinder.

Find the steps next.

How to jack up a riding lawn mower

1. Drive the mower to somewhere flat and park it. The driveway could be perfect for this because it’s hard (the jack can’t sink into the soil/tip sideways).
2. For your safety, engage the mower’s parking brake. Also, unhook the spark plug to avert accidental starting.
3. Raise the mower’s deck as high as it can go by pulling the deck lift lever back the farthest possible.
4. Place the jack beneath the front of your mower’s deck, right in the middle.
5. Lift the jack to raise the lawn mower until its front is standing at a good height. In most cases, having it 2 feet above the ground will be fine.
6. Slide a jack stand underneath each side of the deck as a safety measure. You can as well block the mower (in the raised position) with bricks or even normal concrete blocks.
7. Now lower the jack to have the mower rest on the stands (or the blocks).
8. Proceed to remove the blades with an impact wrench (or something similar).

·        Use a Jungle jack

A jungle jack also makes lifting the riding mower deck when cleaning a piece of cake.

This must-have lawn mower maintenance implement lifting capacity tops about 800 lbs. meaning it will raise even commercial riding mowers with ease (the weight of riding mowers ranges from 300 to approximately 600 pounds).

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And the good thing is that it not only comes with bigger tires but also a larger foot assist to reduce your work when maintaining heavier mowers (using your legs saves your back and arms).

Steps on how to jack up a riding lawn mower with a Jungle jack

1. Pack the mower as previously described.
2. Bring the jungle jack on the front of the deck and ensure the ‘grab’ tooth stands below it.
3. Take the pin securing the foot pedal out.
4. Fold the foot assist down. As mentioned, the foot aid gives you extra leverage.
5. Apply pressure on the pedal with your foot to lift your mower off the surface.
6. Remember to pull the cotter pin in order to lock the safety arm in place. This prevents the jack from moving as you are working.

Side Note: You can use stands also for more safety.

·        Use a Mojack pro lawn mower lift

A Mojack lawn mower lift can be another smarter way to lift your lawn mower.

Its 750 lbs. lifting capacity brings it pretty close to the Jungle jack in terms of the load-carrying capacity.

Subsequently, it works for dozens of lawn tractors (including zero turns) and riding mowers.

It actually lifts nearly all riding mowers up to 28 inches according to the manufacturer.

The ratcheting safety-lock system along with the self-braking winch makes it more convenient and safer than car ramps (more on this shortly) or blocks.

I must mention that it features a screw jack so it’s still a jack.

Steps how to lift a riding mower to change blades using a Mojack pro lawn mower lift

To lift the mower, you have the choice of using the hand crank (manual lifting) or lifting with the help of a power drill.

This demonstration video for MoJack EZ will give you an idea of how the easy-to-use Mojack mower lift works.

Other Jacks to consider

The Huskee lawn mower lift has a 350 lbs. capacity and works almost the same way as the Mojack. Perhaps you should consider it if you have a lighter mower.

Similarly, you may want to look at the Ballard jack, another super jack with a 450 lbs. lifting capacity and a 23-inches clearance.

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Lastly, you can try using a floor jack then put jack stands under it in place of a hydraulic lawn mower lift.

You can use a car jack too (but with a piece of 4 by 4 on it) to help lift the mower high enough.

Option 2: Lifting riding mowers using other methods

There are some fantastic alternatives if you feel that the jacks take too long or they’re too much of a hassle (some of us don’t really have the required muscle).

Let’s go through the most popular:

·        Use ramps to change lawn mower blades

For most people, nothing beats lawn mower ramps if you want to have it easy when changing lawn mower blades.

There are plenty of brilliant ramps out there including this 500 pounds rated model, Hopkins 11935MI FloTool EZ Lift Rider Ramps ,which we like because of its structural soundness and a stackable design for easier storage.

And did you know that you can always construct your own DIY mower ramps with locally available materials?

Steps:

1. Just drive your mower’s front end onto a set of mower ramps, just like you would do your car (on regular automobile ramps) and get down to work.
2. Be sure to place your pair on the driveway (and not sand/grass for an easier time) and to set the parking brake for safety.

· Use a Front End Loader attachment

Admittedly, a front end loader will cost you a pretty penny but it nevertheless makes lifting even the heaviest riding mower, walk behinds, ATVs, and such equipment a walk in the park.

You will need a chain (or any good aid) to effectively haul up the front bit of the lawn mower.

Steps:

1. Chain up the machine and raise it up.
2. Go as high as you want to allow sufficient room to change the blades (these tractor attachments can lift as far as 4 feet high)

Wrapping it up

Most of the lawn mower lift equipment we have mentioned above will remove the hard work from the vital blade changing chore. We have also done a detailed review on the best zero turn mower lifts here.

Naturally, you want to be sure that the blades are up for replacement before going ahead with the procedure.

An easy way of telling that the old blades are ripe for change is to visually check the mower blades for signs of wear.

As a good practice, most manufacturers recommend that you do this twice a year (at least) or more often for those who mow year-round.

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