How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades

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At the start of grow season , part of the necessary prep every householder with hopes of a greener yard weather sheet ( or should assemble ) onto the to - do list imply the cleansing and sharpening of lawn lawn mower blade . If the blades are left slow , each afternoon spentmowingonly rent and masticate the green goddess . Coarsely cut grass does n’t just look bad ; it ’s also more vulnerable to pests , disease , and drouth . Read on for our step - by - step guide on how to wish for your largest landscaping cock , and you ’ll harvest the welfare of a clean excision all season long .

Types of Mower Blades You Can Sharpen

If you own a paseo - behind or drive - onmower , then you’re able to absent and heighten the sword yourself . Both types have a mowing deck that ’s equip with either one or two blades that spin horizontally around a erect spindle . Remove each blade by loosening a single nut on the spindle . If you happen to own an old - fashionedreel lawn mower , which use multiple blades mounted to a piston chamber , then you ’ll need to take it to a lawn mowerrepair shopto have the blades sharpen .

Project Overview

Working Time : 1 hourTotal Time : 1 hourSkill Level : BeginnerEstimated Cost : $ 0 to $ 12

Before You Begin

Since this job demand working with a tumid blade and filing or grind alloy , take the correct safe precautions to protect your hands and center is key . You ’ll be either file or travail the lawn - mower steel to point it , so be sure to outwear safety glasses to protect your eyes from sparks and flyspeck shard of metal that might become airborne as you ’re work the blade . Since you ’ll be using your hand to guard the blade as you sharpen it , you ’ll want to wear down heavywork glovesto protect your hands .

Tools & Materials

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How To Tell If Your Lawn Mower Blade Needs To Be Sharpened

How often to sharpen lawn lawn mower brand can vary establish on habit and other cistron , but your lawn will recite you if your mower steel is in pauperization of a good sharpening . All you need to do is look for a few telling signs of a poor cut .

How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades in Less Than an Hour

The eccentric of lawn mower blade sharpener you have in your shed or garage will dictate the best style to sharpen a lawn mower steel . register on to teach about how to address thislawn - lawn mower maintenancejob using a Indian file , might practice , or bench grinder .

Step 1: Disconnect the spark plug (on a gas mower) or battery (on an electric mower).

This is the most important step in the intact process . Gas mowersstart by using centrifugal force out , which the exploiter creates by draw out the starter corduroy . Though very unlikely , it is possible to produce that same force by deform the blade . Eliminate any chance of the locomotive starting by unplug the spark plug , which is found on the front of the engine . Those with an electric mower should verify to either unplug it from its king author or remove the battery if it ’s cordless .

Step 2: Remove the blade.

Flip the lawn mower over , so you could get at the vane . Holding one side of the blade to keep it from move , loosen the blade ’s mounting nut using your socket wrench . If the nut is on sloshed or you do n’t feel comfortable holding the blade , use a piece of scrap lumber to harbor the blade in spot so you could tease apart the nut .

Step 3: Clean the blade with a metal scraper.

Clean the blade with ascraperand assess its stipulation . If rocks , branch , and other dust have inflicted deep ding , you ’ll want to supplant it . Otherwise , gather the tools you need to sharpen it manually or mechanically .

Step 4: Sharpen the lawn mower blade.

At this point , you have a few options for how to proceed with heighten , count on the tools you have at hand .

Step 5: Check the blade’s balance.

check out the leaf blade ’s balance before remounting it , because a lopsided blade will wobble and overtax the mower ’s locomotive . laid ablade balanceron a savourless surface and reside the blade on the balancer using the gist golf hole . If the blade cutpurse , apply the single file , sharpening stone , or grinder to withdraw metallic element from the back edge — not the cut edge — of the gruelling side toward the final stage of the blade .

you may also check the counterbalance by hanging the leaf blade on a bulwark from a nail through its center field fix . If the steel tilts to one side , remove cloth from that side .

Step 6: Reinstall the blade in the lawn mower.

Reinstall the leaf blade to the spike under the mower using the put on nut . Tighten the screwball with a socket wrench while holding the steel with one hand . flick the mower over and reconnect the twinkle - plug wire or index source , and then get to work !

Final Thoughts

If your lawn lawn mower is n’t cutting it , then it ’s probably time to give that blade a good sharpening . This mental process is n’t difficult if you have the correct peter for the job and follow the above instructions . That said , if mower vane sharpening is n’t something you have the tools or meter to do yourself , you’re able to have a local lawn mowerrepairshop point your blade for you for about $ 15 to $ 20 . If you try out the blade and mold that it ’s too worn out or damaged to be sharpened , then you ’ll require to buy a new one that ’s compatible with yourmower brandand model for about $ 20 to $ 25 .

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Modern garden lawn mower on green grass in park