If you’re in need of a quick repair for your lawn mower, here are some tips on how to sharpen lawn mower blades without having to remove them. When you sharpen the blade, you should always make sure that the edges are sharp on both sides, otherwise you’ll cause the lawn mower to spin unbalanced and end up cutting down plants and other objects in the process. It may seem like an easy fix, but it actually requires a few extra tools and a little bit of time.
Before you begin, make sure that the mower is off and the spark plug wire is disconnected, to avoid accidentally starting the machine. Once disconnected, place the mower in a sandbox or driveway and use a hammer and screwdriver to carefully remove the blade. If the blade is not sharp enough, you may need to repeat the process, using a different blade. If this method doesn’t work, you can use a power drill. Make sure to use the right angle, using smooth strokes on the blade.
To make sure that the mower is not running when you sharpen the blades, you should tilt it over before you begin sharpening it. Once you have done this, make sure that the blades are not too worn, or else they won’t balance. It may even cause your lawn mower to stop working completely. To make sure the blades are balanced, insert a nail or screwdriver tip into the mower and test them out. If they balance evenly, you can reinstall them. If they don’t, you’ll have to adjust them a little more.
Depending on the size of the grass on your lawn, it’s important to keep in mind the frequency of sharpening your lawn mower blades. If you cut grass on a daily basis, the blade will need to be sharpened about every twenty hours. Similarly, larger lawns require more frequent sharpening. For this reason, it’s vital to know how often you’ll need to sharpen the blades.
You should also be aware that lawn mower blades are not razor sharp. Consequently, they won’t hold their sharpness for very long. You should also replace lawn mower blades when they become dull and show signs of splitting or tearing on the tips. This is why it’s important to sharpen the blades on a regular basis, preferably once a month. However, if you’ve sharpened your lawn mower blade more than once, it’s best to replace it if the blades are too blunt to be effective for mowing.
If you’re looking for a faster way to sharpen your lawn mower blades, you can use a grinder or Dremel. Files should be used with a coarse edge in the first few passes, while smoother files are used in the last few passes. You can purchase inexpensive sharpening kits online or at your local garden center. Most hardware boxes sell these kits, and many people swear by them.
