Changing worn lawn mower blades is important for keeping a yard properly maintained. As an owner you will need to know how often to change blades and what to buy for a replacement.
Riding lawn mower blades are not universal. The blades can be different in length due to the cut range of the mower. Another way blades can be different is the connector hole of the blade can be different sizes. Those advertised as universal, require extra adaptor parts to make them fit properly.
Riding lawn mowers across the world, keep yards manicured. For those with large yards, these mowers are a must, as push mowers are less efficient and physically demanding. To keep a riding mower cutting adequately, blades cannot become worn and dull. Here, we will discuss how to maintain blades for a riding lawnmower properly.
How Do You Keep A Riding Lawn Mower Blade in Good Condition?
A riding lawnmower blade is designed to cut grass with ease. Anyone who has mowed with a dull or damaged blade and switched to one in good condition will tell you that it makes all of the world’s difference.
There are a couple of ways to keep a riding lawn mower blade working as efficiently as possible to prolong changing them.
- Do not damage the blade: Before mowing, always walk through your yard and pick up anything that could damage your blade. Sticks, golf balls, toys, and other objects hidden in the grass greatly reduce your blade’s life.
- Set a schedule: Every fifteen mows have your riding lawn mower blade sharpened. By keeping the blade from becoming dull, your mower will slice through the grass with little effort.
Signs a Riding Mower Blade Needs Sharpening
There are a few ways to know if your mower blade needs sharpening. Without knowing the tell-tale signs, you may not remember how well a fresh blade cuts due to the length of time they last.
A properly sharpened blade will give you a clean and even cut each time. If there are long blades of grass left after a pass with the mower, the blade probably has a small chip on the edge. The grass itself should have a smooth cut. If it ever appears the grass is being torn instead of sliced, the blade may need service.
A proper inspection of the blade will let you know if it is time for sharpening or changing. If the blade is dented and chipped or has a dull edge, it’s time to stop using it in this condition.
Make Sure the Blade is the Problem
If you notice the grass is not cutting evenly but cannot find any issues with your riding lawn mowers blade, it could be another common problem. Grass sticking to the inside of your cutting deck and building up can cause cutting issues. The accumulation of the grass will build until it is so thick it will interfere with the blade’s performance. The result will look much like a blade in poor condition. There are a few ways to prevent this from happening.
- Mow your grass when it is completely dry. Wet grass, even with a light dew, will stick to the cutting deck like a magnet.
- Use a lubricant spray to repel the grass from sticking. Most brick and mortar hardware type stores and those online, sell this type of lubricant for your mower. If these store-bought sprays are not available, a good non-stick cooking spray can do the trick.
- Do not mow tall grass. Sometimes, this is not possible, but the more often you mow and keep the blades of grass from becoming too tall, the better the result you will have from grass sticking to your deck.
- After your mower cools down from mowing, wash the grass off from underneath the deck. By doing this, you keep an accumulation of grass and dirt from building up after each mowing. Some decks have an attachment with a water hose fitting for cleaning.
How to Sharpen a Blade
There are two ways to sharpen a riding lawn mower blade. One is to take the mower to a repair shop to have the blade sharpened. Although they will probably give you back a good blade, the hassle of taking your mower in and paying someone else to do it can be a bit much since it is a do-it-yourself worthy project.
With that in mind, let’s look at the steps to sharpen your own riding lawn mower blade.
- Disconnect the positive cable from the battery
- Disconnect the spark plug wire
- Either run all gas out of the mower or drain the gas out (this prevents gas from running out from the mower)
- Lift the mower to one side and allow it to lean on something to gain access to the blade underneath easily
- With a wrench, remove the retaining nut or bolt holding the blade in place and take the blade off (mark the top side of the blade to make sure you do not re-install the wrong direction)
- Clean the blade thoroughly and secure it into a vice
- Wearing cut resistant gloves, sharpen the blade using a metal file at about a 45-degree angle. Do not over sharpen. You should not be able to cut yourself on the blade. If too sharp, it will chip easily).
Note: It is a good idea to have two blades ready to swap out quickly. This allows you to finish mowing and sharpen the second blade when you have time.
A helpful video that explains how to sharpen a blade in great detail, is the one below from Gardening Products Review.
How to Purchase a New Blade
A riding mower always comes with an owner’s manual with list of parts and part numbers. If you purchased your riding mower second hand and without a manual, don’t worry. A quick search online can help you find the manual that matches your mower.
Most large home improvement stores and online stores will have the type of blade you need for your mower, or you may be able to order straight from some manufacturers. Again, be leery of any stores claiming a blade is universal, even though it may be installed with an adapter kit, it is always better to go back with the blade designed for your mower. Anything that allows the blade to be out of balance can cause issues.
What is The Difference Between a Standard and a Mulching Blade?
Not only are blades different sizes and have different size connections, but there are also actually different types of blades. Below are a description between two different blade designs and what they accomplish.
- Standard Blade: A standard blade is also called a 2 in 1 blade and is used for cutting and blowing the grass out of the side, or to fill a bag with the grass clippings.
- Mulching Blade: The mulching blade, also known as a 3 in 1 blade, has a larger cutting edge and is curved in such a way it can mulch, or finely chop the grass before discharging. The benefit of a mulching blade is that the finely chopped grass settles to the ground and acts as a fertilizer as it decomposes.
Overall, riding lawn mower blades are the most critical tool in the mowing process. With a good sharp blade, your grass will cut smooth and even. With a dull or chipped blade, you will see trouble right away. Keep your blades in shape by sharpening or changing out for new ones. Just remember that not all blades are universal. Make sure you have the right one for your mower.