Official Homelite gas lawn mower parts

Replacing the cutting blade on your Homelite gas walk-behind lawn mower

• Disconnect the spark wire so there's no chance that the mower could accidentally start.
• Remove the fuel tank cap. Place a plastic bag over the fuel tank opening and reinstall the fuel tank cap to prevent gasoline from leaking out through the fuel tank cap vent.
• Tilt the mower back to lift the front wheels then secure the mower handle to your worktable to hold the mower steady.
• Wedge a block of wood between the mower blade and the deck to keep the blade from turning when you loosen the blade bolt. Loosen and unthread the blade bolt while holding the cutting blade to keep the blade from falling. Pull the blade, blade support and blade bolt off the crankshaft.
• Position the new blade, blade support and blade bolt on the crankshaft and hand-tighten the blade bolt into the crankshaft. Wedge a block of wood between the mower blade and the deck to keep the blade from turning when you tighten the blade bolt. Tighten the blade bolt to 500 in.-lbs. using a torque wrench. Remove the wood block. Release the mower handle from the worktable and lower the lawn mower to the upright position. Remove the plastic bag from the fuel tank.
• Push the spark plug wire back onto the spark plug.

How to fix your Homelite gas walk-behind mower when it won't cut evenly

If the mower isn't cutting the grass evenly, first make sure that the wheels are set at the same height. If a wheel is damaged, replace it to ensure that the mower travels evenly over the lawn.

Also check that the blade is sharp and undamaged. A dull blade tatters rather than slices the ends of the grass, leaving the tips brown and dry. A damaged blade is off balance, so it cuts unevenly. Replace the blade if it's damaged.