No doubt, a lawnmower is essential to keep your lawn in good shape. Sharp lawn mower blades are essential for a nice-looking lawn and the key to achieving a uniform cut.
Lawnmowers are vital gardening tools, but the blades should be sharpened at least once a year to be effective. It may not look essential to sharpen the mower blades; it is not because it dramatically simplifies your gardening routine.
Sharpening lawn mower blades allow you to cut grass neatly and swiftly. In this way, you can get a healthier and properly trimmed lawn. Your garden will be less vulnerable to pests and illnesses due to proper maintenance just because of a high-end mower.
Do you know how to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them? For sure, you don’t know about it. That’s why you are here. Don’t worry; we are here to provide you with complete instructions on sharpening the blades without removing them from the lawnmower in this article. So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
The Needed Tools To Sharp The Blades Without Removing
Before you begin sharpening your mower blades, make sure you have the following tools on hand and within easy reach:
- Safety kit
- Googles/ gloves
- A wire
- A Wood block
- Steel wire brush
- A flat file
- Putty knife
- Penetrating oil
Once you have collected all the mentioned tools, you are all set to clean the mower blades without removing them effortlessly and efficiently!
Steps To Clean The Mower Blades
1) Unplug The Power Source
To protect yourself from any accidental starting or turning while working, make sure you disconnect the lawnmower from all possible power sources. Moreover, double-check that the spark plug cable is unplugged from the spark plug or unplug the power cord.
Place your lawnmower on its side, with the carburetor facing up on a gas mower. Additionally, place a wood block underneath the engine or motor to improve stability while working on the mower. When sharpening your lawnmower without removing the blades, plugging off all the switches and power supplies is the primary step to consider.
2) Remove The Retaining Nuts Or Bolts
To loosen the nut or bolt, use a big ratcheting wrench and socket. Apply some penetrating oil, such as Liquid Wrench, for the rusted fasteners. Let the oil sit on the surface for at least 10 minutes. Use a metal pipe over the wrench handle to enhance leverage when loosening a tough bolt.
Additionally, pull the mower blade off after removing the retaining nut or bolt, noting which side of the blade faces downward. Undoubtedly, it’s not as easy as one thinks to reinstall the blades in the same position.
3) Clean The Underside Of The Blades
Take a minute to scrape the underside of the mowing deck clean with a putty knife after removing the blade. Grass, mud, leaves, and other debris should all be removed. Moreover, clean both sides of the lawnmower blade by scrubbing with a metal
-bristle brush after spraying with penetrating oil. A cutting edge on each end of a lawnmower blade is usually positioned on different sides of the blade. Each cutting edge is only a few inches long and does not extend the blade’s length. Clamp the blade at an angle in a vice, with one of the cutting edges facing up.
4) Sharp The Blades
Now, it’s time to sharpen the blades after appropriate cleaning with the metal wire brush or penetrating oil. For sharpening the blades, take a flat file and place it over the blade’s cutting edge. Make sure to begin sharpening from the blade’s middle and maintain a suitable angle.
After sharpening one side of the blade appropriately, turn to the other side to complete the sharpening procedure. Repeat the process if needed.
A Few Tips To Clean The Blades Without Removing
- Make sure to close or empty the fuel tank before sharpening the blades without removing them.
- Accurate time monitoring and inspection of the blades will help get a long-lasting and high-end mower without investing a lot in maintenance or repairing.
- Keep in mind; nothing would be a better option than replacing the wholly damaged blade. If you don’t do it, ready yourself on the working quality of this grass cutting tool.
- Balance the deck immediately if you hear any unusual sound out of the machine.
- Use a bench grinder to sharpen the nicked blades. Ideally, you don’t need to replace the nicked blades because they don’t affect the mower’s performance.
Benefits Of Sharpening The Mower’s Blades
- Sharp lawn mower blades cut through grass swiftly and efficiently, leaving your lawn with a smooth, level surface. However, the dull blades will scrap your grass.
- On the other hand, the rough edge will look frayed and become yellow or brown, allowing disease and bugs to take hold in the grass.
- Compared to weeks or months of getting your lawn back into shape if it has become spotty and brown, the comparatively simple technique of keeping your mower blades sharp is well worth the effort.
- You may also save much money on lawn care supplies if you do it this way.
- You’ll need the equipment to remove the blades from your mower and clean them appropriately, especially if you haven’t done it for a long time.
Final Verdict
Following the techniques mentioned in this article, you should be able to sharpen your lawnmower blades without having to remove them. No doubt, it’s essential to know the complete parameters to remove and sharpen the blades of the mowers to keep the machine active for a long span.
Moreover, it is essential to keep the lawn and grass in it healthy efficiently or effortlessly. Indeed, this blade’s sharpening method discussed above is easy to consider, even for non-experienced persons. Now, it’s your turn to get the tools and start sharpening the blades yourself!
