How to Change & Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades

Taking the blades out of the mower and sharpening and balancing them at the same time is the most effective way to sharpen lawn mower blades. Some property owners, however, find that removing their blades is difficult. Possibly due to missing tools, rust, or a lack of time. This raises the question of how to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them. How exactly do we accomplish this, and if it is possible, what are the steps? 

In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about Craftsblades. This includes including when to replace and sharpen them, when to regularly buy replacement blades, how to sharpen them yourself, and why to hire a skilled professional Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades.

How to Change & Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades

Craftsman lawn mower blades require replacement at least once a year and more frequently if your lawn contains rocks, sand, or gravel. Blades made with these materials will wear and damage prematurely.

Additionally, there may be other reasons why you should change your mower blades more often. These include the size of your yard, how often you mow, and whether your blades have become damaged.

The most effective way to change your mower blades is to replace them with brand-new ones or replace them with sharpened mower blades if they are still decently shaped.

Make sure the mower deck and blade are clean

Make sure that you scrape off all the debris on the underside of your mower. Clean your mower’s deck and blade regularly, but as with flossing teeth, let’s be honest and admit that we don’t do it enough.

Remove dried dirt and grass from your deck and blade. You can use a wire brush or whatever blunt object you have lying around. If you have stubborn patches of gunk, a little bit of water can be very helpful. My first priority is to clean the deck, then I move on to the blade. With the blade fastened in place, this can be tricky, but give it your shot.

Install replacement Craftsman mower blades

You should always keep the sail (the higher side of the blade or fin) pointed upward when replacing your mower blades. There are some mower blades marked with the word “Bottom” to indicate which side should be on the bottom or facing the ground.

Make sure the blade bolt is firmly attached to the blade. Make sure the blade bolt is tightened to 75 ft. lbs. Use a torque wrench. Be careful not to over-tighten the spindle.

 Protect the blade

When you’ve finished cleaning the blade, you’ll want to secure it in place so it won’t move when you’re putting a new edge on it. A set of locking pliers or a block of wood will do if you don’t have a specialized blade-locking tool. Find a piece of scrap wood that is the right length. This piece can be wedged between the blade and one side of the mower deck. You can also attach clamps to one edge of the mower deck to stop the blade from turning.

It can be dangerous to hold a knife with one hand while sharpening it with another, especially when you are using a drill or angle grinder. When you’re trying to hone your blade with one hand, it’s much more difficult to get the right angle.

Sharpening or replacing the blade?

Sharpening your lawn mower’s blade may not be necessary if it’s time for a replacement. Lawn mower blades don’t have a specific lifespan, but they should be changed every 2 to 3 seasons. If this applies to you, check your blade. It is probably time to replace a blade if it is rusted, has large nicks/dents or is bent. The right time to replace lawn mower blades can save you time.

Cutting mower blades

Are you unable to find your manual? It is generally enough to clean the edges with a grinding wheel or file. Make sure not to overdo it with the grinder. Once the blades are sharpened, make sure they are balanced and you’re ready to use them.

Extra blades are useful for making the process even easier. Once the brand-new blades are on, you can sharpen the dull ones one rainy afternoon. You’ll also avoid being stuck without a set if the blades run out.

Empty Gas Tank: Sharpen Blades

Unless you really have no choice, do this project when you’re out of gas if you can. The mower will be tilted on its side for quite a while, so you may want to do this after your mower is fully gassed. In this way, gas won’t leak anywhere. While leaks are unlikely, try to avoid them.

Why You Should Sharpen Your Craftsman Blades Professionally?

Sharpening mower blades are usually offered in lawn mower repair shops. My mower blades are professionally honed by professionals. I refrain from sharpening my mower blades myself because I couldn’t achieve a consistent edge.

Customers bring in dozens of blades for sharpening. Mower techs can identify damaged blades, sharpen the sharp ones, and balance them in no time.

As a result of having my mower blades sharpened at the local dealership, I always keep a spare set on hand. The blades are usually left overnight and picked up the next day.

Your Craftsman blade should be balanced

When you have sharpened your blade, you should balance it to prevent vibration and damage to your mower deck. You can purchase a blade balancer online or at your local hardware store.

If you don’t have a blade balancer, you can put the blade’s center hole on a nail on the wall. To balance it on the nail, sharpen the end that hangs lower until it’s equally balanced on the nail.

When you don’t have a balancer, this method is the most effective if you need to balance your Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades.

A grind

The time has come to hone your blade after you’ve done all the prep. If you want to sharpen your lawn mower’s blade, you have several options, but I recommend using something you are familiar with and have easy access to. When sharpening your blade, there are three main steps to Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades.

What is the most effective way to sharpen lawn mower blades?

“It really depends on the individual and what kind of lawn he wants. Weekly tasks like these should be performed by field experts. It will still be beneficial for many people to have regular checkups every two to four weeks. Never blame the tools, when they are the tools you’re using! ’’You should generally sharpen your lawn mower blades after at least 20-25 hours of mowing (although doing it more often will certainly not hurt!). However, if you find yourself struggling to mow your lawn before this time frame is up, then it’s worth sharpening them a little earlier Sharpen Your Craftsman Mower Blades.