Felco gets a new blade!

It's time to replace the blade on my favorite Felco! This is the first time i'm doing this. If any of you have replaced the blades on your Felco's, please leave a comment below!

#felco #gardening #tools

[kittytrail]

😶 it looks like you're not really mechanically inclined, do you have problems with IKEA instructions too? 😬
sorry if it sounds harsh but it's the truth... 🥴

you did mostly good up until you forgot to tighten the big central nut to set the blade properly and instead locked it into place with the small cog plate that should only be used after the blade was properly set, see drawing #7 on the back of the blade packaging. once the blade is properly tightened, check by wiggling the handles so as to not have any play and by letting the blade handle free fall until the blade stops at two thirds of the length from the steel wire notch(that part is not being shown on the packaging though 🙄) then and only then add the cog plate to lock the big central nut in place and tighten that plate screw(drawing #9). voilà, it's done! 😏

felco has a few videos showing how to do it but the best is still this one:


also, don't fret too much about the grease, i use either a silicon one for plumbing or some Q8 or Mobil 1 bearing grease, depending on where i am when i do the maintenance, the important part is to use it liberally when reassembling your secateurs and wiping excess grease off after.
the old spring is probably still fit for use, douse it with fine oil and put it in a small zip-loc bag with said oil. it'll be here when you need a replacement spring in a pinch.
the blade could probably have been salvaged too, a couple hours in white vinegar, then a minute or so under running hot water to remove the acid, Scotchbrite pad scrubbing 'til it shines again and then a cleaning & degreasing and it only needs sharpening to be usable for years. get a felco 903 and use it in circular motions. works a charm. also try to get the right 8mm wrench ( a 5/16" works too) for the small cog plate bolt, a quality one preferably as they tend to be less bulky or a small socket and ratchet or even a nutdriver. a 7mm wrench for the pruners locking lever isn't really needed unless the lever is damaged, beware of the small ring washer under it, it tends to fly away into an other dimension on its own if you're not careful.

anyway, even if you didn't get it right on the first try, you'll master the art of the felco secateurs maintenance in no time if you practice it a few times a year. nice channel too! 😉