OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Walk Behind Lawn Mower Frames Four Stroke Lawn Mower Frames Sanli Blade Carrier -Getting Blades Off.

I was recently given a Sanli mower with ok blades, only they're very loose and swing around too freely.
I obtained another identical blade carrier also with loose blades in the same condition, only a bit less so and not as scaly as the one off the mower (pictured).

I tried tightening but to no avail as the bolt just rotates. There is an Allen key hole on that blade bolts, but I can't easily get an Allen head in there due to built up scale but can't effectively clean out well enough to get it to seat properly in the bolt head.

I decided just to let them swing loosely as they are as they seem to work fine once going.

Does it increase risk of fatigue to the bolts with this excess play, resulting in possible safety issue?

Otherwise I have to just replace the blades altogether which will add cost to a mower that isn't worth a lot.

MF, they come from the factory with victa green tension washers under the bolt heads.

if you look around ebay you will find 100x Blade Washers for $16 ish - meaning it only adds $1 for each mower

All the allen key does is allow you to easily hole it true while you do up the nut (or maybe a backup if someone rounds the d shaped hole)

It does wear the bolts out in the long run - i was looking at a masport one the other day where they forgot the tension washer and it had chewed 1/3 way through the bolt

Main danger is the fright you can get when you shut it down and hear "clonk"

Finally managed to pull one off just now. Used a tiny flathead screwdriver to remove debris from the Allen hole then gingerly tapped in the correct fitting Allen bit with a hammer before using a ¼ Dr ratchet handle on it with a piece of pipe over the handle for leverage. Then used a 13mms ½ Dr socket to remove the nut.

Strangely Tyler I saw no D shape hole in the carrier or the bolt head underside. It looks like you're dependent entirely on the Allen key socket to keep it from turning whilst undoing the nut. Better not round it out using an undersized Allen key by mistake.

Makes the at times frustrating Victa set up look better.

I usually spend the time cleaning the bolt to undo / tighten it ,or replace the bolt and cut the old bolt with an angle grinder
and sometimes you can arc weld a metal rod to the bolt head to stop it spinning when removing the nut.


Cheers
Max.

a bit of heat a bit of WD40, a vice.....
I don't like to think about poor guys who don't take the base plate off.....
speedy

To clean out that type of bolt to get an Allen key in my best tool is an old brass handled dart which has a sharp hardened steel spike.

I took on board MM's advice and used a pick tool to scrape out debris from the heads, then blowing out with an air gun.

Lightly tapped the Allen bit in before removing each blade and bolt set and cleaning the washers and bolt threads on a wire wheel on the bench grinder and cleaning the mating surfaces on the blade disc and blades themselves.

I then assembled adding a fibre washer under the bolt.
This has been effective in firming them up.

Also gave the blades a sharpen. Quite pleased with the result but very time consuming and a bit messy as the blades and disc have an oily coating mixed with a dose of rust powder! Needed cloths on hand so I didn't mess up my tools! Renewed the nuts as the existing ones might rot through by the time the blades need replacing. I've seen it.