Lawn Mower Blade Maintenance and You

Cutting edge technology, razor-sharp, sharp witted, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp blade…there are many expressions in today’s vocabulary that reference “cutting”. And, when it comes to lawn care, regardless of your chosen method of cutting grass, it is vital that your lawn mower blades are well maintained. Tips for Lawn Mower Blade Maintenance and Use:

1. Use a lawn mower blade that is designed for the specific job you plan to do. Most mowers come with multi-purpose blades, but if you are only going to use the mower for bagging or mulching, your lawn mower dealer can recommend the ideal lawn mower blade for your chosen mower.
2. Clean the lawn mower blade and the mower’s undercarriage after each use to prevent layers of grass from packing in around the lawn mower blade.
3. Move any rocks, sticks, etc... that could nick the lawn mower blade as you cut your yard.
4. Use a lawn mower blade sharpener after every 8-12 hours of usage. These can be bought at your local home improvement store or at the store where you purchased your lawn mower.

By properly maintaining your lawn mower blade’s cutting edge, you can ensure that your lawn will look its best. Another reason for using a lawn mower blade sharpener is that a dull blade will rip and pull the blades of grass which will damage the grass causing it to turn brown and have a jagged edge. Regardless of your preferred lawn mower, it is a good idea to know how to use lawn mower blade sharpener tools. For a rotary motor, these tools include:

• A clamp
• A 2x4
• A Socket wrench
• Penetrating oil
• A bench vise
• A 10 inch “bastard” mill file
• A balancing tool or a nail hammered into a post or wall

Sharpening a Lawn Mower Blade:

1. Remove the spark plug; clamp a 2x4 or piece of wood inside the mower deck to keep the lawn mower blade from moving
2. Use the wrench to turn the blade bolt counter-clockwise (in case of resistance, apply some of the penetrating oil and let sit for 15 minutes). Be sure to mark the bottom of the blade. If the lawn mower blade is damaged, discard it and buy a new one.
3. Clamp the lawn mower blade in the bench vise and sharpen with the mill file using long strokes working from the center outward. Be sure to use the same number of strokes on each side with consistent angles.
4. Balance the lawn mower blade—hang the “finished” blade on the nail or put on the balance tool; if the blade is not level, grind away the excess metal from the end of the lawn mower blade.
5. Once the blade has been sharpened and balanced, it is ready to be re-installed into your mower to “cut another day”.

A well maintained lawn mower blade is the key to having an impressive lawn. Frequent sharpening of your lawn mower blade makes the difference between a beautiful lawn and  “just a yard”. Average looking yards can be found everywhere; make yours the one everybody is talking about.