Tuesday, March 27, 2012

 Never A Dull Blade!

Previously, we talked about mower maintenance. Today we will discuss blade sharpening. Having a sharp blade is one of the single most important things you can do to promote a healthy lawn. If you are mowing with a dull blade, it is hard on the mower, and reduces your gas mileage. With gas prices what they are, we don't want that. Additionally, a dull blade rips the grass blades instead of cutting them. This ripping will promote an assortment of problems. When all is said and done, we "cut" or grass, not "rip" our grass.


First, you will need a pair of heavy gloves to wear while doing ANYTHING with your mower blade. You'll also need a wrench, a block of wood, a file or hand grinder, and a vise to hold the blade during sharpening.

Remove your spark plug wire to prevent your mower from starting. Now, flip your mower on it's side (carburetor up--this is very important because if you do not have the carburetor up, it will fill with motor oil and cause problems!) and place the block of wood between the blade edge and the chute of the mower. Using a wrench, remove the blade bolt by turning the wrench counter-clockwise. Some mowers may have left hand threads. In this case you will turn the bolt clockwise. After you have the blade off, place it on a flat surface to be sure it is not bent. Check for any stress cracks or other damage. If the blade is bent or damaged in anyway, I recommend replacement.

If the blade is in good shape, place it in the vise. Using your file or grinder, run it along the blade edge. Make sure you keep the same edge established by the manufacturer. When the blade is sharp, place it back on the mower by reversing the removal steps. Remember, it is now SHARP and I would like everyone to still have all their fingers when finished. No need for a trip to the emergency room!

Flip your mower back on its wheels and replace your spark plug wire. Your mower is now ready for use.

If all of this seems a bit much, give us a call (614-866-0088). We would be happy to have one of our highly trained and efficient crews take care of it for you.