Lawn Mower Blade Sharpening Tips

Just like any other cutting equipment, a lawn mower blade will get dull over time. When this happens, your lawn will look uneven, sloppy, and unsightly each time you cut it. It’ll also increase the amount of time you must spend mowing your lawn. That’s why it’s so important to keep your lawn mower blade sharp. We created the following beginner’s guide to sharpening a mower blade below.

Remove the Blade

Before you take off the blade, make sure that the machine is off and there is no chance of it turning on while you’re touching the blade. An extra safety step is to pull out the spark plug first (since the engine can’t start without it). You’ll also want to make sure to mark the bottom of the blade before you take it off, such as a touch of paint or a piece of tape. That way, you’ll know which side is which when you reinstall it.

Inspect the Blade’s Condition

Inspecting the blade involves checking for a few things. The cutting edge should be straight and the trailing edge should be thick. If either shows signs of wear or distortion, it’s time to replace. Sharpening won’t fix the problem. Another thing to check is whether the cutting edge is dented or badly chipped. If everything looks good, you are ready to move on to the next step.

Sharpen the Blade

You’ll need a file that is ten inches or longer. Start your strokes at the cutting edge’s top side and push firmly downwards. It will take about twenty or thirty strokes for the edge to be sharp again. Be careful not to go overboard and do too many strokes. Too much sharpening can throw off a blade’s balance, which would render it worthless. You can use your replacement blade as a comparison so you know how much to sharpen it.

We hope you found our guide helpful! For all your lawn mower needs, visit Central Arkansas Mahindra in Little Rock. We proudly serve all those in Sherwood, Conway, and Hot Springs.