hand-pushed lawnmower: blades not turning.

I'm having a problem with my hand-pushed lawnmower.

The blades keep not turning, even though the wheels are turning.

It doesn't seem to be because they're blocked by debris.

Can anyone help?

 

Hi James.

What sort of mower is it?

A photo would help.

It could be a number of things but it sounds like something serious like the linkage between the wheels and the cylinder having been broken.

Might be time to get a "leccy" one, they are "cheap as chips" these days.

 

Most hand pushed mowers drive the blades via cogs from the wheels. My guess is that either one or more cogs had slipped on a shaft or the teeth on one have become stripped. Best bet is to strip it down which should be fairly easy and if it's a slipped cog you should be able to fix it (probably a split pin broken) though if it's stripped teeth you'll probably have to junk it.
I'd a brilliant 60 year old Ransomes push mower and a cog wore out - had to junk it :-(

 

Ooo! I had one of those too about forty years ago, it had more blades in the cylinder than cheaper versions.