Eight Steps To Sharper Blades
1. Disconnect the ignition wire from the spark plug. Thatll eliminate any chance of the engine accidentally starting up while youre working on the mower. Also, drain the gas tank so it wont spill any fuel while you remove the blades.
2. Tip the mower onto its side to expose the retaining nut or bolt that secures the blade to the underside of the mower. To keep the blade from turning, wedge a short wood block between the end of the blade and inside surface of the mowing deck. Next, use a large ratcheting wrench and socket to loosen the nut or bolt. If the fastener is rusted on, apply some penetrating oil, such as Liquid Wrench, wait 10 minutes or so and try again. And to increase leverage when loosening a particular stubborn fastener, slip a metal pipe over the wrench handle.
3. After removing the retaining nut or bolt pull off the mower blade, making note of which side of the blade faces downward. Its important that the blade gets bolted back on in the same orientation.
4. With the blade removed, take a minute and scrape clean the underside of the mowing deck with a narrow-blade putty knife. Remove all caked-on grass, mud, leaves and other debris. Also, clean both sides of the lawnmower blade by first spraying with penetrating oil, and then scrubbing with a stiff-bristle brush.
While the nail-in-the-wall technique does work, for more precise results, use a lawnmower blade balancer, a multi-tiered, cone-shaped metal fixture.
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Installing The Blade The Right Way
As silly as it sounds, its too easy to install a mower blade upside down. Blades are designed to lift the grass and allow the blade to cut at a uniform length. After all your effort sharpening your blade, it would be a shame to put it on backward, not that you would be the first. So remember the cutting edge is up, and dont forget any metal washer spacer that goes with the blade.
Did You Know What Angle Should Lawn Mower Blades Be Sharpened At
If you have a yard and you know the use of a lawn mower. However, while using it, you may have concerns about what angle should lawn mower blades be sharpened at.30 o 45-degree angle is the standard parameter to consider. But you should also know the right way.
When you use a lawn mower, youre using a machine with rotating blades to cut the grass to the same height all the way across. To move the blades forward a manual push requires.
Youll learn in this article at what angle to sharpen your lawn mower blade. Maybe you cant do it alone. However, we are confident that you will try figuring it out and appreciate it if you read it.
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Are Lawn Mower Blades Supposed To Be Sharp
Mower blades should be aggressively sharp, but not as sharp as a razor’s edge. You should be able to touch the blade with your hand without getting cut. … Additionally, lawn mower blades that are too sharp get duller, faster resulting in the need to sharpen more frequently and a shorter blade life.
Prevent The Mower From Starting
Theres more than one way that a mower can be started, so you need to make sure whichever of these are applicable in your case are deactivated before you go near the blade. Ill run through the different systems that can start the lawn mower below.
Pull-Start
If your mower has a string pull-start, you must locate the spark plug and disconnect it, then tuck the hood out of the way. You shouldnt leave it swinging about because it may jump a charge and fire up the engine.
Electric Start
With an electric start, its a good idea to disconnect the battery and the spark plug this will stop the starter motor from turning over and the plug jumping a spark.
Inertia Starter
If your lawn mower has an inertia starter, make sure you release the mechanical starter so that the coil/spring is released and the mechanism is fully discharged, then disconnect the spark plug.
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Where To Sharpen Lawnmower Blade
You have two options when it comes to mower blade sharpening. You can do it yourself, or you can take it into a business, generally some mechanic’s shop or repairman. While there aren’t any big, name-brand businesses that generally sharpen the blades on lawnmowers, we can help you know how to find one for yourself locally.
Listening To The Spindle
Having blades installed obstructs access to the blade spindle and it may be covering up hidden issues. Take a look and check that everything is in good shape. It would be a good idea to give the mechanism a spin if possible so you can listen for any unusual sounds. If you find anything, then this is the time to fix it. If all looks good, then give it a spray with a lubricant and tick it off the list.
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How Often Should Lawn Mower Blades Be Sharpened
There are a few obvious factors that will determine how often you need to sharpen your mower blades.
First off, it depends on how often you cut your grass. In general, after cutting your grass for about twenty hours, your mower blade will need to be sharpened. Therefore, a more extensive lawn that might take an hour to cut will need the blades sharpened after about twenty uses. A smaller property that only takes a half-hour to cut will require the blades sharpened after forty uses. You can work out the math for the rest. The more often you mow your grass, the more often youll need to sharpen the blades.
The overall condition and age of your mower can also affect how often your blades need to be sharpened, as well as if the blades are balanced. Cleaning your lawn from garden debris, kids toys, rocks and twigs can extend the lifespan of your mower blades.
Doing a sweep of your lawn before cutting isnt only so that you dont fling dog poop everywhere but to make sure your mower blades dont get needlessly dull from hitting rocks or tearing a kids plastic toy to shreds.
We do recommend that you sharpen your mower blades at the beginning of every season, and then youll likely need to do it at least one more time during the summer.
How Much Does It Cost To Have Lawn Mower Blades Sharpened
Depending on the type of mower you own, you can expect to pay between 20 and 60 dollars. If its a reel lawn mower, you dont need to take the blades off the mower and sharpen them, but if youre looking for something that can handle more power, youll probably want to invest in something that can handle more power.
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Remove The Retaining Nuts Or Bolts:
To loosen the nut or bolt, use a big ratcheting wrench and socket. Apply some penetrating oil, such as Liquid Wrench, for the rusted fasteners. Let the oil sit on the surface for at least 10 minutes. Use a metal pipe over the wrench handle to enhance leverage when loosening a tough bolt.
Additionally, pull the mower blade off after removing the retaining nut or bolt, noting which side of the blade faces downward. Undoubtedly, its not as easy as one thinks to reinstall the blades in the same position.
Why Is My Lawn Mower Vibrating Really Bad
A bad vibration in your lawnmower might be the result of a damaged or out-of-balance blade. … A broken or cracked blade should be replaced immediately. The blade can also become out of balance due to improper sharpening…. A bad vibration in your lawnmower might be the result of a damaged or out-of-balance blade.
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How Often Should I Replace Blades
Another question people often wonder is how often they should change mower blades. The answer really depends on how much use and how hard that use is. If you have a large stony lawn, youll need to replace the blades much more often than if you have a small, completely obstacle free lawn.
But in general terms, you should probably look to replace the blades once every 3-5 seasons. If the edge has completely gone or there are lots of dents and damage, then you will have to replace it. Inspect it once or twice a season to check. New blades are reasonably cheap, so there is no point skimping.
How Frequently Should You Sharpen The Mower Blades
The ideal thing to do is sharpening it at the beginning of summer. If, in the meantime, it gets dull somehow, then youll have to sharpen it a bit more often.
With a garden, comes enormous responsibilities. You have to protect it from bugs, protect yourself from getting stung, maintain the hygiene, take proper care of the mowing machine, look after the blades sharpness.
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Why Its Important To Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades
A dull lawn mower blade rips and pulls the grass blades, leaving ragged tears that both weaken the plant and promote fungal growth and other grass diseases. A sharp blade, on the other hand, cuts cleanly, allowing the plant to heal and recover quickly. A lawn mower blade sharpening also lets you complete your lawn-cutting chore faster and with less stress on the mower.
These steps will work for just about any walk-behind mower. Riding mowers require different blade removal techniques, which we dont show here. If youre having trouble with your lawnmower find out why your lawnmower wont start.
S To Sharpen A Lawn Mower Blade With A Drill Accessory:
- Place the lawn mower blade in a vice
- Insert the bit into the drill
- Set the drill to High Speed
- Run the accessory along the sharpened portions of the blade to refresh the edge
One advantage of these types of sharpeners is that you can leave the blade on the mower. Depending on the type of blade and mower, you may get better results by removing the blade first. Still, it does provide a truly quick way to maintain your blade sharpness.
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Five Start Sharpening The Blades Slowly
Using the grinder or sharpener youve prepared, start grinding. Keep your handheld or electric grinder at an angle as you work. Take your time working from one side of the blade and then to another. Move the grinder in only one direction and make sure to only sharpen the blades top face. You dont want to go back-and-forth like a sawing motion, just smooth strokes across the surface.
Knowing When It Is Time To Sharpen Your Mower Blades
Look at the cut your lawn mower blade makes and the blade edge. These two very simple methods will tell you if its time to sharpen your blade.
If the grass is not being cut cleanly, its likely the blade is not sharp. And if the mower blade feels dull or has dents, its not sharp either. It wont take you long to make this diagnosis.
So now that you have identified that your blade is dull, lets dig a little deeper into how to sharpen a mower blade and what the process is. There are a few ways you can do it.
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Properly Balancing Your Blades
Having properly balanced blades is every bit as important as blade sharpness. An unbalanced blade causes stress on the engine and cutting deck due to vibration.
After you sharpen the blade, test its balance with a blade-balancing tool. You can hammer a nail partway into a wall in your garage and hang the blade from it if you dont have access to this specialized tool. A blade that hangs horizontally is in balance. If one side drops, remove excess material from the side it leans to using a grinder. Material should only be removed from the end of the blade, in the sail area.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Mower Blade Sharpener
Speed: The sharpening speed should be compatible with the blade that you are sharpening. The pace is on such a rate that it is suitable for both the blade and the sharpening machine.
Safety measures: The mower sharpener must be 100% safe and danger free. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind because even a little ignorance can severely hurt the person whos sharpening the mower.
Permanence: The sharpeners must have enough durability. And also have the quality to prolong the blades lives.
Comfortably usable: The sharpener should match the needs of the person who does the mowing work. There are specialized for both left and right-handed people. So it should be bought according to the users preferences.
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How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades In 9 Simple Steps
Heres how to sharpen lawn mower blades quickly and effectively
Learning how to sharpen lawn mower blades is essential if you want your mower to last longer. With each use, your mower blade will gradually dull, which means it wont cut as cleanly. The result: torn grass blades which give a raggedy appearance. In the worst case scenario, a dull blade can even tear out sections of grass or damage the root system, making your lawn appear more yellow than green.
But before you race out to buy a new lawn mower, you should check on the quality of the blade and sharpen it if necessary. Not sure what to do? Here, we will take you through the best methods to sharpen lawn mower blades with step-by-step guidance. By the end of this, your lawn mower will be working as good as new, leaving a clean cut behind.
Why Sharpen Your Own Mower Blades
The biggest advantage of doing your own lawn mower blade sharpening is that it saves you money. All you need are a few pieces of equipment:
- A flat metal file
- A vice or another tool to hold the blade in place
If you already have those in your garage, all that the DIY approach will cost you is time.
That being said, sharpening your own blades can be a timesaver. By doing it yourself, you save the time you would have spent driving to a store or searching online for replacement blades. If youre a homeowner, you could enjoy some free time instead. If youre a landscaping pro, you can keep to your work schedule.
So, how do you sharpen your own mower blades?
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Proper Angle To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades To
If there is one subject that people love to discuss when it comes to mowers, its the best angle to sharpen a lawn mower blade. Rather than joining the debate, Ive pulled out the good stuff from the manufacturers, saving you from the minefield of information. This article will explain the proper angle to sharpen your lawn mower blade to, as well as explain why the angle of your blade edge really matters.
How To Sharpen A Lawn Mower Blade With An Angle Grinder
Here I will describe the steps required to sharpen a lawn mower blade using an angle grinder. The only difference is that you will use a grinder and not a metal file this time. You can use the same clamping and balancing methods as before.
This is my preferred method as it takes a little less sweat, it can produce a better finish depending on your skill, and it can also file off the metal very quickly. Lets look at how to sharpen a lawn mower blade with an angle grinder and the steps required.
Clamping Down the Blade
Without sounding like a broken record, use the same clamping methods as before, secure your blade and ensure that you have the lawn mower blade in the correct orientation.
Sharpening with an Angle Grinder
Using the angle grinder, take long continuous passes, starting from the blades center. Every pass of the angle grinder should extend the blades entire length, ensuring an even reduction of the metal. Keep the grinder in contact with the blade during each pass, applying light pressure so that minimal metal is removed.
You also need to ensure the grinder is in contact with the entire width of the blade edge during passes to avoid concave/convex sharpened edges. Check the angle being made with your protractor and adjust the passes accordingly.
Grind Off the Burr
Using the grinder on the backside of the blade, make a very light pass square to the surface to remove burrs. Repeat if necessary, being cautious not to create a second sharpened edge.
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Should I Sharpen Or Buy A Lawn Mower Blade
You can consider sharpening your lawnmower blades when the Tips of your grass start getting ragged and brown. Most lawn mower manuals recommend sharpening blades after every 25 hours of use. Others suggest sharpening it once in a year before the mowing season. You can consider replacing the blade if you find any problems like bending, cracking, or wearing.
Should You Sharpen Mulching Blades
Yes! Mulching blades do a lot of work, chopping those clipping down into smaller and smaller pieces, so you need to keep them nice and sharp if you want to get the best performance and work life out of your blades. This will require the same sharpening schedule as standard blades, meaning that you should sharpen them every 20 to 25 hours of use.
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