When it comes to lawn mower care, the first thing people think about is sharpening the blade. However, did you know that balancing the blade is equally important?
A sharp and balanced blade goes hand in hand – without one, you won’t be provided with an effective lawn mower.
An unbalanced blade typically happens during the sharpening process, where one side of the blade becomes unbalanced due to more metal being shaved off.
That said, balancing your blade couldn’t be easier. Plus, with the help of this guide, you’ll be back to mowing your lawn in no time.
With this in mind, this article will look at everything you need to know about balancing your lawn mower blade.
Let’s get straight into it!
Why Should You Balance Your Lawn Mower Blade?
Most people are unaware of the dangers that come with having an unbalanced lawn mower blade. Not only can this impact the health of your lawn mower but it won’t work as effectively, either.
The truth is, this is an important issue that needs resolving as soon as possible with the utmost care. The process involves ensuring that your lawn mower blade’s weight is equally distributed on each side.
As previously mentioned, an unbalanced blade typically takes place during the sharpening process where you can sometimes grind too much metal on one side of the blade compared to the other – causing the blade to be heavier on one side than the other.
Typically, a lawn mower blade is inclined in the middle – meaning that both sides contain the same size and weight. Typically, a blade will spin between 3500 and 4000 rpm, this is approximately 60 revolutions per second.
When you start using an unbalanced blade, an unnecessary amount of stress is placed on the blade shaft and the engine of your lawn mower.
This can cause long-term damage, with the potential to break the shaft – a danger to you and those around you.
Even if it doesn’t break, your lawn mower engine can still sustain considerable damage – meaning you would have to purchase a replacement.
When mowing your lawn, if you feel any awkward vibrations then it could be an indication that your lawn mower blade is unbalanced.
In addition to this, you may also notice that your lawn isn’t being trimmed evenly which means that your blade is unbalanced, too.
Therefore, an unbalanced blade doesn’t only cause a serious problem to your machine but for you, those around you, and to your lawn too – creating more problems than anticipated.
If you’re looking to make the most of your lawn mower and ensure it performs the most efficiently, then you’re going to need to make sure your lawn mower blades are balanced.
Don’t worry, we’ll explain how to do this exactly in the next section!
How To Balance Your Lawn Mower Blades?
Below, we have outlined 6 simple steps to help you balance your lawn mower blades. These include:
- Detach the blades.
- Remove any debris or built-up gunk inside.
- Using the center hole, place the blade on a balance.
- Identify where the imbalance is coming from.
- Grind or sharpen the blade so it’s balanced.
- Wipe down the blade and reinstall it.
Step-By-Step Instructions To Balance Your Lawn Mower Blades
Now that you know how to balance your lawn mower blades, below, we have provided you with detailed instructions on how to achieve this.
However, first, you’re going to need the right equipment. This includes:
- Safety goggles.
- A blade sharpening tool (E.g. a sharpening stone, grinder, or file).
- Wrench.
- Steel wire brush.
- Gloves.
- Blade holder.
- Balancer.
Instructions:
1. Detach the Blade
Before we get started with balancing the blade, you’ll want to remove it. Here, disconnect the spark plug – to prevent your lawn mower from starting – and then place it on its side.
When tilting it, make sure the carburetor and the air filter are facing upwards. This ensures that the oil and gas don’t contaminate the filter.
Then, using a wrench, remove the blade from the bolt – holding the machine in place while doing so.
2. Remove Any Debris From the Blade
Using your steel brush, remove as much gunk and debris as possible, as well as any build-up of rust which may be present.
This is an important step since any excess gunk has the ability to affect the balance and weight of the blade.
Moreover, if you notice your blade to be extremely rusted, rusted, or pitted, then it may be time to replace the whole part.
3. Hanging the Blade
This is where you place your blade on the balancer. Typically, these can be found on workbenches.
Using the hole in the center, place your blade on it.
4. Assess the Blade
For this step, you’ll need your balancer to help determine which side is heavier. Here, you should notice which side of the blade is the heaviest. If one side dips, it is a clear indication of which side needs to be altered.
Likewise, if it sits perfectly balanced, then you don’t have to worry about altering it.
5. Balance the Blade
Using your sharpening tools, remove some metal from the heavier side. Continue this in small increments to ensure you’re achieving a perfect balance.
If your blade features a major imbalance, you can even grind a notch in the back of the blade to achieve balance more easily.
6. Reinstall the Blade
For this step, all you have to do is reverse steps 1 and 2.
Final Thoughts
Many people are unaware of the importance of ensuring that your lawn mower blade is balanced. However, it is just as important as keeping it sharp.
Not only will this impact your lawn design but can be a potential danger to you and those around you, too.
Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you’ll learn how to balance your lawn mower blade in no time.
