Sharpen the Blade on Your Lawn Mower
A sharp lawn mower blade is crucial to keeping your lawn well-groomed. To achieve a quality cut and healthy lawn, it is important to regularly replace or sharpen the blade on your lawn mower. One sharpening at the start of the mowing season and one around the middle of the season is usually sufficient until you store your mower for the winter. However, you should periodically inspect your lawn and lawn mower to help determine if it is time to sharpen or replace your lawn mower blade. If you notice unevenness in your lawn, notice the tip of each grass blade is torn and not cleanly-sliced, or the lawn mower blade has dings, nicks or rust, then it is time to sharpen or replace your lawn mower blade.
Here’s how to sharpen the blade on your walk behind lawn mower.
Before performing any maintenance on your lawn mower, refer to your owner’s manual for maintenance instructions and safety information.
To prepare your lawn mower for maintenance, disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug to prevent accidental starting. Turn the mower on its side; make sure the air filter and the carburetor are facing up.
To remove the lawn mower blade, start by placing a block of wood between the blade and the frame of the mower to support the blade as you apply force. Remove the hex bolt and the blade bell support that holds the blade and blade adapter to the engine crankshaft. Take the blade and adapter off the crankshaft (cutting blades are sharp – always wear heavy duty gloves when working with blades).
Sharpen the blade with a mower blade sharpener, file, or on a grinding wheel. Do not try to sharpen the blade while it’s still on the mower.
Secure the blade in a vice when sharpening with a file or hand-held grinder. When you sharpen the blade, follow the original angle and grind. To keep the blade balanced, grind each cutting edge equally.
To test the mower blade balance, remove the blade and balance it on a round shaft screwdriver. Shave metal from the heavy side until the blade balances evenly.
Before placing the blade back on the mower, lubricate the blade adapter and crankshaft. To do so, lubricate the crankshaft and inner surface of the blade adapter with light oil and then slide the blade adapter onto the engine crankshaft.
Replace the blade adapter. The side of the blade marked Bottom, or with the part number, should face the ground when the mower is in operating position. Make sure the lawn mower blade is aligned and seated on the blade adapter flanges. Place the blade bell support on the blade.
Align the notches on the blade bell support with the holes in the blade. Replace and tighten the hex bolt by hand. Place the block of wood between the blade and the mowing deck housing again and tighten the hex bolt to the torque recommended in your owner’s manual.
Turn the mower right side up and reconnect the spark plug. Start your lawn mower and listen for noises or vibration. Adjust the blade balance if necessary.
You May Also Enjoy These Articles:
3 Signs You Need to Sharpen or Replace Your Mower Blade
Buyer’s Guide to Walk Behind Lawn Mowers
How to Replace a Toro Walk Behind Mower Blade
8 Best Practices for Effective Mowing
5 Lawn Mower Tune-up Tips for Spring
Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.
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6585 Dixie Hwy.
Clarkston, MI 48346
(248) 620-5258
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