How to Change & Sharpen Your Honda Lawn Mower Blades
Your lawnmower’s blade should be sharpened at least once per year. There may be some homeowners, however, who don’t see the point in that. In the end, the blades will still cut grass even if they are a little dull, right? It’s true, but that’s not what’s important.
Instead of being precisely cut, the beaten-up grass tips turned brown. If you grab a handful of grass and look at the tips of the grass, you will notice that they have tears in them. This can easily be verified.
Whenever you experience this, it is time to sharpen your blades and ensure they are as sharp as possible. The following is a list of tips that will help you inspect and sharpen your mower blades and replace them when they wear out.
The majority of homeowners usually only have to sharpen their blades twice each season, depending on the weather. During the mowing season, you should sharpen the mower once at the beginning and once in the middle. It is possible, however, that your blades need to be sharpened more than once if you mow over debris such as sticks or rocks. Sharpening your mower blades can be determined by watching for a few signs.
We’ll address common lawnmower blade questions in this article. The lawnmower blade must not be changed in the following manner.
The spark plug boot needs to be disconnected. Working with sharp blades requires wearing a pair of work gloves.
Change & Sharpen Your Honda Lawn Mower Blades
If you have a Honda lawn mower, how often should you sharpen the blades?
After 25 hours of use, you should sharpen your Honda mower blades. Typically, homeowners sharpen their mower blades twice a year.
The blades will need to be sharpened more frequently in sand and gravel conditions.
Do the blades on my lawn mower need to be sharpened?
Regular sharpening of lawnmower blades is essential. A dull blade will cause your grass blades to tear and tear, resulting in jagged tips. Grass tips that are damaged by a dull blade turn yellow as a result of stress..s. It is much healthier for the lawn to have a sharp blade than it is to have a dull one, which is easier on you and on your mower.
How often should I replace the blades on my mower?
Ideally, it would be a good idea to replace your mower blade after three to four seasons. A mower blade that cuts a small mature yard is likely to last longer than one that cuts a large yard, but it really depends on its condition. The blades of the lawn mower usually become dull and wear out more quickly when they are used in new yards which is caused by rocks, stones, and debris that impact the blade.
The sharpening process
In order to sharpen a blade, you can either clamp it into a vise or use a wheel or file to sharpen it using a bench grinder or a vise. If you use a motorized sharpening tool, check the blade after each pass by letting it cool. Blades are made of mild steel and can be ruined by overheating.
Make sure the cutting edge is sharp on both sides. It is not necessary to have a very sharp mower blade in order to be effective.
Make sure all power sources are disconnected from the lawn mower
Protect yourself from accidentally starting and turning off the lawn mower by disconnecting the power source from all possible sources. In order to do this, make sure that either the spark plug cable or the power cord has been disconnected from the spark plug, or that the plug has been unplugged.
There needs to be a spark plug removed from the engine
It may seem complicated because you have to deal with equipment, but actually, it is a very simple process that isn’t difficult at all. You should always be careful when removing a blade. The best way to prevent your lawn mower from accidentally kicking off is to remove the spark plug, as discussed in our previous blog. In the image below, you can see how to remove the spark plug using a spark plug socket. Once the spark plug is taken out,, be sure to clean the debris around it to prevent it from falling into the hole.
Damage and Excessive Wear on Honda Mower Blades
The cut quality provided by a Honda mower blade that has become dull or has been severely damaged or worn can be compromised if the blade has excessive wear. It’s a good idea to check your mower blades if you’re experiencing bad or uneven cuts with your lawn mower.
Maintaining a balance
In addition, you need to make sure that the blade has been sharpened, but you also need to make sure that it is balanced: an imbalanced blade will cause harsh vibrations, which will be hard on your mower’s engine and hard on whoever is operating it. You can get blade balancers, or you can hang the blade on a nail and watch to see if it tilts to one side or the other. The heavier (lower) side can be rebalanced by filing a little more metal off of the side that is heavier (lower). The blade can be reinstalled once the balancer or nail has been seated evenly.
The lawn mower blade must be removed
Having removed the lawn mower blade, the next step is to replace it with a new one. To begin with, it is important to mark your blade with spray paint before you remove it, so that when you are ready to reinstall it after you have sharpened it you will remember which way to install it again. The blade should not be installed backward after it has been sharpened because you will not be able to cut with it. For the lawn mower blade to be removed, you will first have to loosen the single bolt or nut that holds it on. Lawn mower blades are usually secured in place by bolts that are very tight. A socket-matching wrench or breaker bar might be needed to remove the bolt. As you bear down on the nut or bolt, your knuckles are simultaneously kept further away from the blades. WD-40 or penetrating oil will work if this doesn’t work.
Mower blades with chips and gouges
The quality of the cut is compromised when the mower blade has nicks on the edge of the blade. Sharpening the blade edge is likely to be able to smooth out any small chips in the blade edge that are found on the edge of the blade. Where there are large nicks and gouges on the mower blade, it is recommended that you replace it.
Keep the blades of your lawn mower clean
It is recommended that you take a wire brush and use it to clean off all the debris that has accumulated over the course of time after you have removed the blade. The blade will not be damaged by scrubbing debris off. Use gloves to keep from potentially cutting yourself or getting your hands too dirty.
The blade of a Honda lawn mower is bent
Honda mowers with bent blades will have a negative impact on how they cut. If you hit a tree root or rock with your blade, it may bend.
To confirm whether you have a bent mower blade, compare your old blade to a new one. Bring your blade to your local dealer for inspection if you don’t have a new blade to compare.
Straightening and reusing a bent blade is never a good idea. A crack can develop as a result of this compromise of the blade’s structure.
An installation or reinstallation
Make sure the bolt is hand-tightened after reinstalling the blade on your lawn mower. Ensure you install the blade in the correct direction by using the mark you made in step four. The bolt cannot be over-tightened, which is helpful to know. There is a risk of a loose blade being promoted by under-tightening the bolt. This could result in an engine starting problem because a loose blade can throw off the timing of the engine.
You may want to take a look at Family Handyman’s blog: How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades if you would like to learn how to sharpen a lawn mower blade by yourself. See more information about how to winterize your lawn mower for more preventative maintenance tips. You can read our blog about lawn mowing heights for specific grass types for a complete guide to mowing your lawn. To discover which type of lawn mower is best for your needs if you’re in the market for a new one, be sure to check out our reel mowers vs. rotary mowers blog.
Conclusion
The steps in this article will help you sharpen your lawn mower blades without removing them, so you can get the most out of your lawn mower. This method can be used to repair a mower properly and ensure that your lawn remains healthy and tidy. Additionally, your lawn’s overall health is protected by sharpening the mower blades with this method, which is easy and straightforward. Consequently, please follow these step-by-step instructions as carefully as possible in order for the blades to be sharpened in the most efficient manner possible.
