Most homeowners wonder how to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them from the mower. Some of them don’t even know how to disassemble the machine. Others might question whether it is necessary to fiddle with your lawnmower blades.
Like all home improvement tools, you must give your lawnmower proper care and attention. Regular maintenance keeps your mower at the top of its game. As a result, you’ll find it easy to keep your lawn grass short and tidy. Moreover, as you maintain your lawnmower blades, you increase their shelf-life.
How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades Without Removing Them
The lawnmower’s blades are like knives. There’s a prominent edge that tears apart grass blades to keep your lawn even. But, with sustained use, the blade gets blunt, and your mower’s efficiency takes a hit.
Ideally, you’re supposed to file the mower blades at least once every year. As a general rule, you’ll need to access the edges before sharpening.
You can disassemble the mower and remove the blades to sharpen them. But this method takes a lot of time, and if you aren’t proficient at lawnmower assembly, you risk dropping and losing smaller parts.
Step By Step Instructions:
1. Assemble The Tools
Get everything you need in one place. This way, you’ll get everything done quickly, further reducing the risk of misplacing any parts.
So you’re going to need a couple of tools:
- File or electric grinder (Our Top Recommendation)
- Heavy-duty working gloves
- Safety goggles
- Steel wool
- Wire brush
- Block of wood at least 20 inches
2. Switch Off The Mower And Disconnect From The Power Source
Before getting the mower ready, you need to disengage the power source. For an electric machine, disconnect the mains cable after switching it off.
You can switch off the gas-powered lawnmower. Additionally, take out the key and spark plug cable. You certainly don’t want the mower to start up while you are working on the blades.
3. Tilt The Lawnmower
The blades are usually on the floor section of your lawnmower. So you’ll need to adjust your mower. Gently tip the machine over such that the bottom faces upward. It doesn’t have to be upside down because the fuel will leak. The carburetor should face up.
Ensure that the gas tank is sealed shut. You can use a plastic wrapper over the opening before screwing in the lid. Or you can remove the gas from the lawn mower.
Remember to keep the machine steady before working on it. Filing involves repetitive motions, and your mower should be rigid enough for you to work on it. You can use wooden blocks to secure the machine.
4. Secure The Blades
Place a wooden wedge behind the mowing implements to secure them. You must keep the blades from unnecessary movement, especially if you are using a grinder. Any unintentional wobbling while you are working is dangerous.
5. Clear Debris
Before you get started on the mower blades, make sure the surrounding region is clean. Use a wire brush to remove dirt and caked mud around the cutting elements. Because the under-section sees a lot of action, you should take your time clearing all the debris.
6. File Lawn Mower Blades
You should have unobstructed access to the mower blades after cleaning. It still isn’t easy to sharpen mower blades without removing them, given the awkward angle. However, you can also adjust the file angle and your filing technique.
First of all, you won’t be filing with back and forth strokes. There isn’t enough space for that. So draw the file outward over the blades. Once done with one side, do the next side with similar motions.
Since you won’t be taking them off, you cannot ascertain the balance. So you must maintain a uniform motion and a 45° angle.
Why You Should Keep Your Lawnmower Edges Sharpened
Lawnmower sharpening is a routine maintenance procedure that every machine requires to function correctly.
A blunt blade will not cut grass properly. The edges won’t slice grass blades but instead hammer away at the stems and can cause a riding lawn mower to cut uneven.
This action leaves rough edges on the cut grass. The untidy lawn grass is susceptible to pests and diseases. They’ll eventually turn brownish, and you’ll have an ugly lawn.
Moreover, blunt blades increase the mower’s inefficiency. It takes a lot more energy to smash grass as opposed to clean cuts. You’ll use more fuel and lubricant to mow your lawn.
How Often Should You Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades?
Just like all tools, a lawnmower that is under frequent use will have a diminished cutting edge. However, the blades will remain sharp if you rarely mow your lawn. Generally, most homeowners will sharpen after twenty hours’ worth of mowing.
Consider some factors that will affect how much time you’ll spend mowing your lawn:
- Size Of The Property
If you have an extensive lawn, you’ll often spend a lot of time clearing the entire field. In addition, repeated mowing wears down your lawnmower blades, and you’ll have to sharpen them more often. On the other hand, a smaller lawn only needs about half an hour to cut.
- Age And Condition Of Your Lawn
Young grass is soft and quickly breaks apart. Your lawn mower will breeze through a field of recently planted grass. As the lawn ages, the grass grows thicker, and the stems fill up with cellulose. While they aren’t unbreakable, your mower blades will use more energy to cut older grass.
You are supposed to inspect your lawn as often as possible. The field shouldn’t have dog droppings, stray rocks, or plastic toys lying around.
Animal droppings are somewhat harmless. However, other solid objects, like rocks, tend to chip your mower’s cutting edge. The toys might get smashed, but you’ll have to sharpen the blades sooner to continue cutting grass.
Safety Tips While Sharpening Lawn Mower Blades
A lawnmower is a motorized machine. It is handy if you want to cut relatively large swathes of grass. However, it is also a dangerous machine if you’re not careful.
There is a pair of knives that spin under the machine. There’s also a gas tank attached. So it’s a pretty dangerous machine if you aren’t careful.
- While tilting your lawn mower, make sure the spark plug is disengaged.
- Seal the fuel tank tightly and, where possible, only work after emptying all the gasoline.
- Test out the lawnmower after fixing it to find out the balance of your mower blades
- Wear safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves if you are planning on using an electric grinder
A lawnmower is an essential tool for any serious homeowner. If you’ve got a lawn, you must ensure that mowing it is not a hectic affair. A well-maintained lawn mower works efficiently and quickly.
Moreover, keeping your mower in good working order reduces the chances of visiting a repair shop to replace broken blades.
