How To Maintain Lawn Mower Blades

Lawn mower blades, like any sharp edge used for cutting, will get dull with use. Over time, they will become less effective and your lawn's raggedy appearance will show it. Proper lawn mower blade maintenance is important and, thankfully, it's easy! Just use the following beginner's guide to maintaining lawn mower blades. If you have any questions or want to shop lawn mowers for sale, visit Bobcat of York, Frederick, Hagerstown, Lancaster, and Adams County. We offer dealerships throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Remove The Blade - Safely

Before you can handle the blade, it needs to be removed from the lawn mower. There is a safe way to do this...and an unsafe way to do this. 

Start by checking, then double checking, that the lawn mower engine is off. Next, make sure the engine cannot turn on when you touch the blade. The engine cannot start without the spark plug, so go ahead and take it off.

Next, take a second to mark the blade's bottom. This will make it easier to correctly put the blade back in later. All you need is a bit of tape or paint. 

Then, position the lawn mower on its side with the carburetor facing up. That way, the blade will resist against the board when you take the bolt off.

Finally, use a long handle wrench or breaker bar to unscrew the bolt. Once the bolt is loosened, remove the blade.

Examine The Blade

Before you spend time sharpening a blade, make sure it isn't due for a replacement. Compare the current blade with a replacement blade. Putting them next to each other will make it easy to see whether a replacement is due.

When you inspect the current blade, make sure that:

• The cutting edge is straight
• The trailing edge is thick
• The cutting edge is free of dents or bad chips

If the blade falls short in one or more of these areas, it’s time to replace it.

Sharpen The Blade

If the blade does not need to be replaced, then you can move onto sharpening. You'll need a file that is at least ten inches long.

Start the strokes at the top side of the cutting edge. Push down with firm and steady movements. It'll likely take between twenty and thirty strokes. Make sure not to over sharpen the blade. If you sharpen too much, the blade's balance will be thrown off and the blade will be made worthless. Here's where the replacement blade comes in handy again. Use it to know how sharp to make the current blade.

Balance The Blade

You are almost done! The last step is to balance the blade. Skip this step and the blade could vibrate and strain the shaft.

Balancing is a simple process. Place a nail in a board. Using the blade's bolt hole, set it onto the nail. See if the blade tilts to the side and, if it does, file that side down. Try to file a small amount at a time. Check your work, then file a bit more as needed. Once the blade is balanced and returned to the lawn mower, you are ready to cut your lawn.

We hope you found this guide helpful. For more lawn mower maintenance tips or to shop mowers for sale, visit Bobcat of York, Frederick, Hagerstown, Lancaster, and Adams County. Our expert staff can assist with whatever you need, from answering questions to giving advice. We run dealerships in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Stop by your nearest one today!