Lawn Mowers

One of the most important parts of your lawn mower, next to the engine is the blade. A sharp well maintained blade will ensure a clean cut on your grass. A clean cut will not only provide a nicer look to your lawn after it is cut, your lawn will be healthier as well. Dull blades tend to tear the blades of grass rather than cut them. Torn blades do not look as nice as sharp ends that have been cut off. They are more susceptible to disease and insects as well which can lead to long term problems with your lawn. Lawn Mower Blade Care is important.

Also blades with nicks out of them may become unbalanced and place unnecessary stress on the engine. If your blade as nicks out of the cutting service, you should really replace the blade with a brand new blade specifically designed for your lawn mower.

Blade Care

Periodically inspect the blade  for cracks, especially if you strike a foreign object. Replace when  necessary. Follow the steps below for blade inspection and service:

• Disconnect spark plug wire from spark plug.
• Tip lawn mower on its side  making sure that the air filter and the carburetor are up
• Remove the bolt and the blade bell  support which hold the blade and blade adapter to the engine crankshaft
• Remove blade and adapter from the crankshaft

The blade may be re-sharpened by removing it and either grinding or filing the cutting edge keeping as close to the original bevel as possible. Do not attempt to sharpen the blade while it is still on the lawn mower.

It is extremely important that each cutting edge receive an equal amount of grinding to prevent an unbalanced state.

Note: improper blade balance will result in excessive vibration causing eventual damage to the engine and lawn mower. Be sure to carefully balance blade after sharpening. Possible damage resulting from blade unbalance condition is not the responsibility of the manufacture and most will not honor warranties on blades or engines when they are not balanced properly.

Note: always removed blade from the adapter for testing balance.

Reassembling the Blade with the Lawn Mower

The blade can be tested for balance by balancing it on a round shaft screwdriver. Remove metal from the heavy site until it balances evenly.

• Before reassembling the blade and the blade adapter to the unit, lubricate the engine crankshaft and inner surface of the blade adapter with light oil
• Installing the adapter on the crankshaft with the star  away from the engine.
• Place the blade with the side marked bottom facing away from the adapter.
• Align the blade bell support over the blade with the tabs in the holes of the blade insert the hex bolt.
• Tighten the hex bolt to the torque listed in your manual.

Above all review your manual that came with your lawn mower. The above guidelines are just that and not specific to any particular lawn mower. If you are uncomfortable or unsure about checking your lawn mowers blade or sharpening the blade, take the lawn mower into your local small engine repair shop for maintenance. You can have the oil changed at the same time and the spark plug checked also.

They will charge a nominal fee and ensure that your lawn mower will last another year and run well for you. Some people believe in just using them until they stop, then going to purchase another one, which is a really poor use of a piece of equipment.

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