How To Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades

Having a sharp lawn mower blade is almost as important as having the lawn mower itself. That’s because a dull blade will not only have problems cutting the grass – it can also damage grass, which leaves your turf susceptible to lawn diseases.

Note: if sharpening a blade yourself, please handle your blade carefully because even though it may be dull, it is still sharp enough to cause damage and pain if handled incorrectly.

How to Safely Sharpen a Mower Blade

Step 1: Remove the spark plug
Your first step is to remove the spark plug. Doing so will ensure that the motor does not accidentally start while you are trying to remove the blade. It is also advised that you wear heavy work gloves that can offer additional protection.

Step 2: Remove the blade
Now it is time to remove the blade using a wrench. You may want to insert a piece of wood between the blade and the deck of the mower so that the blade will not move while you are working with it.

Step 3: Clean the blade
Now is a good time to clean off any grass clippings and rust that may have accumulated over time. After cleaning, you can use a rag to dry it because you will want to ensure that the blade is dry before you put it back in the mower.

Step 4: Sharpen the blade
You can sharpen the blade a couple of different ways. If you happen to have a vice in your possession, you can secure the blade and use a file to sharpen the blade. You can also use machines to file the blade including a bench grinder or a belt sander. If you do not want to sharpen the blade yourself, you can always take it to a sharpener to be filed.

Step 5: Balance the blade
You will want to make sure that the blade is balanced. A balanced blade allows the lawn mower to run correctly and smoothly. You can check the balance of the blade by placing it on a tabletop and spinning it to see if it is balanced.

Keep Your Blade Sharp and Your Grass Safely Short

Habitual sharpening and balancing of the blade is essential to keeping your lawn mower in good condition and performing to the best of its abilities. Make sure you sharpen your blade often so that you do not damage your lawn, and if you do notice damage, make sure you call Green Lawn Fertilizing today.