Sharpen dull cutting blades on your lawnmower properly

Are you sure that you sharpen blades on your lawnmower properly? Well, let us see! We have prepared several tips and tricks that will help you to extend the life of your lawnmower.

There are many gardening activities waiting for you in the fall and not only cleanups and planting tulips. You need to care for all gardening equipment and your lawnmower is no exception. To make sure that blades work as they should you need to sharpen them correctly and regularly. This will make cutting grass easier and when you look at the nice lawn you just mowed you will be a happy camper.

Photo: se svolením společnosti Jarabák

Photo: se svolením společnosti Jarabák

Blade sharpening

Properly sharpened blades will make you life easier:

• Your mower will work much better making you proud of your beautiful lawn.
• Dull blades will not make the perfect cut you need.
• You save energy.
• Blades will put grass into the collection basket efficiently.
• You will reduce fuel consumption.

Do not worry. Follow a few simple rules and focus. First, clean the machine thoroughly and place it on a flat surface (do not tilt it on its side). You will need the following tools. A file, a screwdriver, a sandpaper, and maybe an electric grinderelectric grinder.

Photo: Envato

How to sharpen a petrol lawn mower?

If you have a petrol lawnmower, you need to remove the firing cable first. Tilt the mower backwards towards the grass bag. Now, you should have a lawnmower with the spark plug facing upwards. (You may tilt the mower on side but only if you drained at least half of the petrol tank. Otherwise petrol may get into the carburettor and you may not be able to start the lawnmower for a while)

If you have an electric lawnmower you do not have to worry about tilting.

Proceed in the same way for both types of mower:

• Lock blades against rotation (for example with a wooden stick),
• Loosen screws that secure the blades in place.

Knife sharpening

Take a good look at the blades mower blade. (If you find defective, cracked, bent or badly worn blades do not use them. You do not want to risk injuries or damage to your equipment. Buy new blades if you need to.)

Place the blade that still looks good in a vice (you may hold them in your hands too). You many have two blades and a bar that ejects the cut grass.

Photo: Envato

Sharpening angle

You need to observe the proper sharpening angle. It is usually specified by the manufacturer. Do not change the angle, because it may negatively impact grass ejection or cause other problems. Use a file or grinder to sharpen blades and maintain the proper angle. When done, clean the sharpened edges with sandpaper and attach blades back to the shaft. The final step is to balance the blade.

Blade balancing

You can balance blades using a screwdriver or a thick pencil. Push a screwdriver (pencil) through the centre hole of the blade and observe which way the blade turns. If it turns, one side is heavier. The heavier blade needs more sharpening.

Sharpen the blade and repeat the balancing process until blades stop turning or wobbling. Reassemble blades and tighten all screws thoroughly. Now you are ready to make the perfect cut.

Source: poradce.cz, naseinfo.cz, jarabak.cz

Preview photo: Envato