# Specific mower question (but related)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 17, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260 "2012-05-17T22:58:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260/1 "2012-05-17T22:58:02Z")
Have the new pulley. Now I want to put it on. MTD 42 inch mower. The spindle it is attached to has a large nut on top. I have used WD-40, and a breaker bar. This worked on the damn blade, which is on the other side of the spindle. No luck. Any chance this unscrews clockwise? Any tricks no utilizing explosives that anyone can think of?
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260/2 "2012-05-18T00:11:23Z")
IME, nuts at either end of a small engine crankshaft will be opposite threads, so if the blade nut is normal right-hand thread, the nut at the other end will be left-hand thread.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260/3 "2012-05-18T04:33:42Z")
See above. Check for notchs on the “corners” of the nut. Giveaway for opposite thread.
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### Author:  [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-mower-question-but-related/622260/4 "2012-05-18T16:39:57Z")
I always wondered how you could tell if a nut was opposite of standard. It was not hard to get off, once I found out the correct direction in which to turn it. Thanks.