A Guide to Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades
If you’ve noticed lately that your yard isn’t as crisp as usual—your grass blades are torn instead of sliced, and the grass height is uneven after cutting, it might be due to your lawn mower’s blades becoming dull. Thankfully, you can get it back in shape without putting in too much effort.
Check out this guide, rounded up by our experts at CCR Sales and Service, to learn the DIY tips to sharpen your mower’s blades. For more questions, visit us at our dealership in Essex, VT, where we happily welcome our friends from Burlington.
Remove the Blade Safely
You'll want to turn off your mower’s engine to ensure there is no way to turn it on again while you’re working with it. To be double sure, remove the spark plug to prevent the engine from getting switched on accidentally.
Before removing the blade, mark the bottom with tape or paint. This will let you put back the part correctly after you’ve sharpened it. Next, you’ll want to tilt your lawn mower on its side with the carburetor facing up. Use a 2X4 and place it between the blade and the lawn mower deck's skirt to make the part resist against the board once you take the bolt off. Then, use a long handle wrench to unscrew the bolt. Loosen the bolt, then take the blade off.
Inspect the Condition of the Blade
Keep a backup blade on hand and compare the two to see if your current one is in good condition or needs replacing. If you think it is in good shape, consider sharpening it. Otherwise, you can consider installing your backup blade.
When inspecting your current blade, assess the cutting edge to see if it is straight and free of dents and chips and the trailing edge is thick. If you notice any scratches, you’ll want to use your replacement blade. However, if the blade is still good, move onto the next step.
Sharpen the Blade
Once you’ve examined your blade, you’ll want to start filing the part to get rid of its dullness. Get a file that’s at least ten inches long for this task and begin your strokes at the top side of the cutting edge. Move downwards while making smooth and firm movements and check to see if you have achieved the sharpness you need. Use your replacement blade as a comparison and avoid over-filing the part as it can unbalance it and make it useless.
Balance the Blade
Finally, you’ll want to balance your mower’s blade before you use your machine or return it to storage. An unbalanced blade will vibrate and strain your blade shaft and spindle and eventually affect your engine. This can damage your mower in the long run, leading to costly repairs or replacing your machine.
Put a nail on a board, then place the blade’s bolt hole on it. If the blade tips to one side, it means that the part is heavier on that side. To fix this issue, file off that side and check if the blade is now balancing itself perfectly. File a small amount at a time to avoid shaving off more than is needed. Check after you have filed a bit and repeat until the blade is balanced.
We hope this guide helps you sharpen your lawn mower’s blade like a pro. For more maintenance advice or help upgrade your machine, visit CCR Sales and Service. We are in Essex, VT, where we proudly serve those from Burlington.