by Biloxi Von Lutz

Created on: May 11, 2010   Last Updated: May 12, 2010

If your lawnmower doesn't seem like it cuts as well as it used to, if it bogs down in thicker grass or leaves your lawn looking like it was beat down rather than cut cleanly, chances are your lawnmower blade needs sharpening. This is an easy chore for any homeowner with a few tools and some mechanical inclination. Before getting started, you'll need a wrench set, a file, and possibly someone to hold the blade while you loosen the nut holding the blade to the shaft.

In order to prevent spills, make sure your lawnmower is out of gas before turning it over. If you have a riding lawn mower, it might be wise to remove the battery as well to keep the acid from leaking out. Additionally, always remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug just be sure that the engine doesn't somehow fire while you are tightening or loosening the blade. After you've taken these precautions, flip the lawnmower on its side so the blade is accessible. 

The blade is typically held on by a single nut or bolt. Make sure you have exactly the right size wrench since you'll be exerting quite a lot of force to loosen the bolt and if the wrench slips it could cause injury. Wrap a rag or cloth around the blade and have someone hold it for you while you loosen the bolt. The bolt will loosen in a counter-clockwise fashion and your assistant will need to keep the blade from rotating as you break the bolt loose. 

Once the blade is off, mark which side of the blade is the top so you can reinstall it properly. Loosely screw the bolt back into the shaft so it doesn't get lost and flip the lawnmower back over. It's now time to sharpen the blade.

It will be fairly obvious where the cutting portion of either end of the blade is. These areas will have a beveled edge and this is where you should concentrate your efforts. Place the blade in a vice and use an all-purpose metal file to sharpen it to a nice edge. Remember that a file only works in one direction. Do not saw at the blade in both directions. This is counter productive. Typically, an all-purpose file will do the trick nicely, but you can sharpen the edge even more by using a finer file. 

Once you've got the blade sharpened to your satisfaction, it's time to reinstall it. Flip the lawnmower back on its side and make sure you put the blade back on the way you took it off, with the proper side up. Have your assistant hold the blade again and tighten the bolt. The bolt holding the blade on should be tightened very tight. You do not want it to come off during operation!

Turn the lawnmower right side up, and reinstall the spark plug wire and battery (if necessary). Put some gas in your lawnmower and fire it up. It should now cut just as good as it did when it was new!

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