A removal and installation tool (50) for a quick release blade (12) of a mower conditioner (10). The tool (50) has a handle (52) and forked extensions (56, 58) for straddling the blade (12) to release it from its mounting (30, 40). The tool (50) has a notch (62) in its handle (52) with the edge of the notch (62) furthest from a reference edge (54) on the handle (52) being indicative of the wear limit for a blade (12) in the mower conditioner (10).