Mower Blade Balancer-Testing Results Are Unbelievable

I did balance the 3 unbalanced blades and it took very little removal of the surface material to achieve a perfect balance. This balancer is super accurate and a great addition to the shop . Cheers !!!
The videos on my channel are for entertainment purposes only. I do not assume any responsibility for anything shown or mentioned on this channel. I recommend you always consult a professional.

[@wtbm123]

Good tool. The closer they are the longer the spindle bearings last. Shows how clean one needs to make the blades before trying to balance , a little stuck on grass can throw it way off

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Terry It's a lot different than balancing with an old nail :)

[@karlschwab6437]

I have purchased three of balancers and they are absolutely great! Be sure; like others have said, start your balancing with a clean blade.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Great advice for all . Cheers Karl 👍

[@600tnbobp9]

I used to balance turbine wheels at a factory to unbelievable low tolerances. If you were getting your blades balanced your old way within a tiny sheet of paper of weight off, you were doing great. It would take quite a bit of weight before you would feel any noticeable vibration on a lawnmower deck.The belt makes more vibration. A greatly bent blade would definitely be more noticeable. That was a great video and demonstration of the Oregon blade, balancer and straightener.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks, much appreciated 👍

[@scottgraham1239]

Checking for bent at the cutting edge is more important than at the lift to me.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Absolutely checking for bent or damaged blade is a must before going forward.

[@fitch8363]

I have a MAG-1000 which is a similar balancer. I mount the blade so the lift is out, opposite to what was done here, then check the straightness on the cutting edge which is where it matters.

[@markpinther9296]

What we really needed to see is you using what I would call “traditional” balancing with a needle and stepped cone blade balancer…..get it perfectly balanced and then slap on your Oregon wall balancer to see how close it is.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Mark this is my alternative way. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHq6n3-IaKhqftE

[@stevekopcial129]

I just purchased the Oregan balancer, I purchased 3 new blades which right out of the box shows unbalanced I tried another box, same thing, JD rep tried his cone and the blades dont sit correctly on the cone and also show unbalanced. These blades come from ANI/Sunbelt Outdoor products who supplies all JD blades. I called ANI, no one can tell me if they balance their blades or not.

[@dave5176]

You convinced me. I ordered one from Amazon, $37.99. Can't go wrong!

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

I always figured you were a little off🤣 Thats a great tool to have👍 Thanks for showing✌

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Marc A little of eh LOL even the video was off from a milk crate to a engine stand , that's next week 😂🤣

[@georgedavall9449]

WoW! 😯 😂

[@RustyGlovebox]

Geez Steve, that is incredible. I never would have thought the old blades would have been that far out . Looks like a good tool to get the blade running true. Cheers Steve

[@SteveRobReviews]

Lloyd I felt like a caveman after seeing the difference between this and what I thought was a good ballance 😂

[@throngcleaver]

I was an aircraft mechanic and balanced propellers occasionally. Anything that is perfectly balanced won't rotate to a certain position after being placed on a balancer. It will stay still at any angle you put it. You need to consider two different sets of halves of the blade. The set that is divided by a line drawn through the centerline of the hole, from one long side to the other, (side to side) and the set of halves divided by a line drawn through centerline of the hole, from one blade tip to the other. (end to end) In this video, the two short, wide halves are in balance on the new blades. The long, narrower halves are not in balance, since the same long side goes to the bottom each time. If you want true balance, grind the blade in a manner to remove material from the heavy side edge in a manner that won't affect the balance of the other axis. If it moves once you place it back on the balancer, it's not balanced.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Interesting suggestions 👍

[@throngcleaver]

@@SteveRobReviews 😉👍

[@EvilleSV]

100% correct. I balance my motorcycle tires myself and that's how you test them. You intentionally move the wheel to a 45deg angle and it should stay put. Move it to another angle on the opposite side of the wheel, it should stay put. All he's showing with this blade is that the longitudinal top side of the blade is lighter than the bottom side, but equal from left to right horizontally. Since it is spinning around the center whole, I guess it really shouldn't matter though. He's got the most important part balanced. Just a guess.

[@throngcleaver]

@@EvilleSV Yes, mostly balanced, but will still vibrate and stress the spindle bearings, just not as badly. With a balancer like that, you could get a really nice balance, with just a little more effort.

[@ES-iz4wf]

Bought identical balancer and all American blade sharpening jig knockoff from amazon last fall. Tired of trying to eyeball to sharpen & balance my zero turn and push mower blades. Also, picked up a couple 60 grit flap discs from Harbor Freight for my Ridgid cordless grinder. Amazing how off I was both sharpening and balancing blades before using the jig, balancer and flap disc. Great video Steve. R, Eric in Wisconsin

[@georgedavall9449]

Hey Eric, Way to go with the 60 grit flap disc and angle grinder, the only way to go, IMO! I use the Arnold brand ‘little christmas tree’ looking thing, that pivots on a base, and it works fairly well, but my twin cut Honda blades are a PITA to balance, so I have been thinking of getting this for some time now. Good comment!

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Eric I'm thinkingvwerecwere both surprised after using one :)

[@californiaballer]

That is one super sensitive balancer. I’m not a huge believer in the whole balancing routine. We are talking about regular mowers that constantly go over the ground that is never perfectly flat, so the blades never actually spin perfectly level anyway. As long as the blade is not way too heavy on one side over the other it’s good enough for me. Otherwise you would really have to rebalance blade after every mowing session as blades would lose the edge and get some new nicks and scratches here and there. Grass and dirt gets stuck on a blade and throws it off balance. Do people wash the underdeck after each session? No, and they do not rebalance the blades until they are dull dull.

[@SteveRobReviews]

I agree , used a nail to ballance for 50 years and can't tell the difference operating a mower but it's definitely accurate:)

[@thangknowa3288]

It's not balanced until it is clean and balanced. I have one of those coming tomorrow, looking forward to it.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@Dstromb232]

A balance blade saves your spindles. At high speed is when you can tell is the blades are out of balance.

[@georgedavall9449]

Hey Steve !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on this purchase. Like I just commented on Eric’s post, I have been thinking of getting this for awhile. I have seen a few videos on it, but NONE like yours. Putting the pieces of paper on there was wild! That is a very well built and sensitive unit. Like You, I would hate to see what mine look like. I have the twin blade cutting system on my Honda mower, and I use the ‘Arnold’ brand of sharpener cone, and they are a PITA to balance, and probably similar to what You mentioned at 21:46? And one of the blades is a convoluted looking affair, with several angles to the blade. I am thinking I will have to get this. Hey Oregon, you need to pick up the tab for this Man! 😯 😆 Funny, I got excited when I saw this pop up in the Notifications. Hit the like button before I hit play! Hope you're doing well and stay safe, eh Cheers! 👍🤝 🇨🇦 🇺🇸😊

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks George 👍. I was pleasently pleased by the results as a piece of paper could change everything.

[@bwselectronic]

A good balancer can get you right on. I would actually check that first at times when I did them at work. One thing I always did was make the same number of passes on each side to sharpen them.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes good point as one extra swipe and its off :)

[@bmck-ss3zb]

I bought a MagnaMatic balancer several years ago,pricey but made a big difference. Seems after they are balanced it's easy to keep them that way.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Huge difference than the old nail balancing that's for sure.

[@stevekopcial129]

Tecomec manufacturers the balancer for Oregon. $75 and comes from Italy. Oregon just puts their name on it...

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@dave5176]

Got the same one on Amazon for $37.99.

[@philliphall5198]

I love the one I bought and it’s great 👍 Very happy with it and it’s worth the hundred bucks in shop

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@VengeFulHemi]

Excellent video my friend, thank you.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@beanolatte2682]

This is a great tool!! I sharpen quite a few blades a year for other people. Glad I purchased one.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@gatorsworld]

Now we’re talking, being balanced. I never though one could be so off by doing it the old way but then like you said. It’s not going to the moon. So, I guess I’m going to look for that balancing tool....CHEERS

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Gator It's incredible all those years there was a better way that shows big time :)

[@georgedavall9449]

…” We’re not designing something to go into Space”. 😂

[@SteveRobReviews]

😂

[@EverydayProjects]

How did I miss this? Another informative video...The "Old fashioned way" works and is often just as good but this gadget is really cool.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Craig I did well for 50 years without it but yes it's super accurate as even new blades are definitely not balanced very well most times, either .

[@robertginther9248]

Mounted mine on a piece of 1 inch plywood with spacers to clamp in my 6 inch vise so it's plumb & level. Easy- peasy. My Oregon was not balanced when I got it. I bought another one from Italy, very similar but with a ring magnet rather than 6 individual ones. It was balanced. (checked both with a $1400 Anderson balancer in my machine shop). My blades are now so balanced that the mower doesn't shake at all when engaged & will deflect when you put a bent business card when on the balancer.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@norbertnagy5514]

Hey, can you provide a name for the italy one? Did you bought it from amaton or similar?

[@cat637d]

I always enjoy the Red Green Show

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks 👍

[@rmino609]

So many Hondas have two blades on the same spindle but stacked for better mulching. which it seems should be balanced together. Or at least if you can’t exactly balance both blades then don’t put the heavy side of both blades on the same side. By the same thought, the bolts, blade washers, or any bracket that holds the blades on to the spindle if not perfectly matched could effect the balance. The balancer shown works on the principle of a moment arm so any additional filing you do towards the end of the blade makes considerably more difference than sharpening towards the center. And if you really want it perfect they should be balanced vertically as shown in video but also check them with the blade flat across the cheap or more expensive horizontal blade balancer with a centering bubble vs just eyeballing an old cone blade balance with essentially a nail type pin that serves as the balance point. There may be a difference in result.

[@robertcheslock9636]

I did not permanently mount mine, I have 2 spare sets of 3 blades for our two Snappers (18) 4 for my JD and two push mowers. I usually sharpen all of the used blades over the winter. Noticed a difference from the old balancing method. IMO, Well worth the time to use this balancer.

[@SteveRobReviews]

I agree , it's much more accurate but many do well with the nail method as well.

[@heterogeneityrocks1]

Great review of this tool bud

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks Jason 👍

[@waynestefinashen239]

Great unit there Steve we have exactly the same one here at Eliminator Performance and would not be without it. Very finnicky but accurate as all get out as Gramps would say eh. We find about 50% of the new mower blades we purchase out of balance and that includes both aftermarket oem manufacturers and oem blades, does not matter. Many times it is just the amount of powder coating that causes the issue, but still requires material removal.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Wayne Yes even the paint throws it off. 50 years I've been balancing and it seems not so good :)

[@silverfox-59]

Steve where can you purchase this and what's the brand name. The one I have just sets on my workbench and it's never even close. Thanks for sharing.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@silverfox-59 I bought mine on a Amazon prime day sale . The brand and model is shown on the video thumbnail. Cheers 👍

[@PinetreeLine]

I outta get one of these balancers Steve cause it sure looks really cool hanging on the wall 😂 Thanks Buddy 🍻

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hey Doug it's a great conversation starter 😊

[@oldchevy4x4]

That style sharpener is much better than the little cone shaped balancers you can pick up for 5 or 10 bucks. 👍👍

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Dan Yes off the hook accurate and of course I've been doing it the opposite for 50 years it seems 😂

[@CuriousKL]

I have this exact same tool. Well worth the investment

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@kevinbowler9642]

That's awesome 👌🏾

[@OpenAirAdventure]

That pretty cool. The paper surprised me, I wouldn't think it would make a difference. I would saw that bearing is very sensitive. I'd say my blades are off because I hit them with the grinder like a mad man😅

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Kenny Totally amazing results I never expected 😂

[@Gooditalian]

Steve I have one of these balancers they sell a plastic insert a piece that centers your blade on the spindle that matches the star in the center of the blade which centers the blade. Go on there site and take a look.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks , I'll check it out. 👍

[@williamhanna5224]

Excellent !

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks bud 👍

[@stevem1081]

Several things, 1, there are a lot of knock-offs of this type of balancer, and some of them are off balance to begin with. I bit the bullet and bought the standard Mag 1000, they have higher-end versions that are either more sensitive or one has a carbide shaft so that the blade doesn't wear it down, but those are very pricey. 2, those cone balancers or a nail are nowhere near as good. 3, now if you really want to have the blade balanced, you will need to do verticle balance also, I could see that your blade #3 was fine horizontally, but not vertically. While horizontal balance is close enough for regular mowers, on electric mowers, you really want them balanced the best they can be, because the blade is mounted directly to the motor, and they are not cheap like replacing a spindle on a gas unit. Once you get it balanced, the blade should stay in any position you turn it to. If the blade is balanced horizontally, but always levels out with the same side down, just remove a bit off of the top of the blade. from the center out, the same distance on either side of center. Some blades may need an adaptor, manga matic has those, or I have seen some that people are using the plastic printers to make them and sell on ebay.

[@SteveRobReviews]

There is a huge difference between never ballancing a blade and just letting it go as is. I never experienced a negative outcome in the past, just using a nail to balance, but this unit if far better as far as accuracy so everyone can decide on what works best for them. Cheers 👍

[@Gooditalian]

Steve what I do with mine when checking for bent blades I move that rod so it just touches the blade then when you spin it to the other blade you will get a better idea if it’s bent.

[@georgedavall9449]

Very good

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes exactly, that's a check most never check for.

[@Gooditalian]

I noticed when you were checking the blade for trueness you had the measuring rod like a 1/4 inch away from the blade, what Iam trying to say is if you put that rod just touching the blade and you swing the blade around to check the next one you no if that one doesn’t touch the rod then you know it is bent, no guessing .

[@ChevyCitation]

6:18 That looked like a old revolver chamber made into a door knob display

[@SteveRobReviews]

🤣😂

[@BruceLyeg]

That's really cool

[@SteveRobReviews]

Bruce It's off the hook sensitive compared to an old nail eh :)

[@joeo1352]

I have the same balancer and a s100 Bradley grinder I think the price on the balancers did come down some, But the price of the grinder maybe over the top. Call me spacey 🤪they both work great. Have a good one Steve …….good video 👍

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Joe I did not expect it to be so accurate , what I was doing in the past was ok but this of off the hook accurate. Cheers 👍

[@addamjenkins75]

This is probably necessary if you have a box store mower but not for a commercial mower.

[@SteveRobReviews]

I'm thinking all mower blades need to be balanced, box store or commercial mower, I see no difference.

[@addamjenkins75]

Commercial mowers are built to a higher standard than the non commercial throw aways.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@addamjenkins75 I agree but if it has a cutting blade on it every manufacturer recommends that a blade be balanced. No such thing as self balancing mower blades 😅

[@addamjenkins75]

We have 5 commercial mowers all with sealed bearings in the spindles. 4 of them have anywhere between 1000-4000 hrs on them. We've destroyed blades but never a spindle. It's just a recommendation.

[@dave6251]

ck for bent blabes at cutting edge

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes absolutely 👍

[@FLSTF-us4df]

I don’t have a week to balance my blades I always paint my blades. Don’t put too much paint on one side lol

[@M0NXF]

Try you blades on a magna - matic mag 1000 after you balance them on your balancer it blow my mind

[@SteveRobReviews]

This is more than accurate for me compared to using a nail for decades:)

[@thomassmearcheck2819]

how much did it cost ! and can use it with any hole , i have bowtie hole .

[@SteveRobReviews]

I bought on Amazon prime day $100. I have tried it on 6 star blade and round hole so your bowtie style will work as it still has a round hole for the attachment bolt. Cheers 👍

[@user-cs4yt5pi5q]

This is for a guy that has turf that is mowed down to 2 inch...not someone mowing a field. At 2 inch you will see every imperfection from a less then perfect blade.

[@SteveRobReviews]

On my hay field the bushhog blades are 6 inches wide and 3/4 inches thick , they never get balanced but I do sharpen them with my angle grinder every year.

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? That looks like a decent piece of gear but I think it would drive a crazy trying to get your blades balanced with this. And the blades being bent, yeah, blame your daughter!! LOL But I bet your mower will run smoother with the blades balanced. Thanks for doing this. It was interesting. Take 'er easy!!

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks Mike but odly enough I did well for 50 years without it so....... 😂

[@cobrasvt347]

Unfortunately my vintage Yazoo walk behind had odd ball blades which cannot be balanced with a balancer due to the oblong blade mounting hole that those mowers use. Of course buying a new set of blades for the 48 inch Yazoo is out of the question as they are not being made anymore by Yazoo or any other aftermarket manufacturer. So to solve the worn out blades that lack quite a lot of material at the cutting surface from many many years of sharpening, I welded them up back to a full blade. Since I had to build up the now long gone cutting surface material, I decided to upgrade them and dug out my 120 thousand pound tensile strength hard facing specialty rods. These things are Billy bad ass ki.d of awesome pretty much damn near bulletproof it laughs at rocks and other hard debris.Too bad mower blades don't come this good. One downside though, theres no quick shape up with a file as it will just skate across without even making a scratch. Lol 👍 ya gotta do what ya gotta do. The only other option I had was to change out the spindles to something that I can actually buy blades for. I can buy any other size blades for a Yazoo just not for a 48 inch. However i will be buying one of these balancers for my other equipment as it appears to work extremely well. Thanks for the video.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks for taking a look 👍

[@M0NXF]

Look on magna matic website they do adapters for different blade mounting shapes think they have a Yazoo one on the look under accessory's then blade hole adapters

[@jackcollins2344]

I could see that balancer taking me a week of work just to get my blades perfect on my two mowers. wonder what the leader of the grass rats would have to say about using it in his shop?

[@SteveRobReviews]

Well Jack I did well for 50 years without it so there's your dinner 🤣

[@jackcollins2344]

My thinking also

[@terrywolfert8018]

I have the same tool, if the blade is bent, very hard to balance.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Terry I bet it is , I haven't tried a bent blade yet but I'm checking along the way. Cheers

[@Longtrailside]

I like it. It's better than balancing it off a nail.

[@SteveRobReviews]

I thought the nail was OK but it seems not so much 😅

[@norbertnagy5514]

​@@SteveRobReviewshaha, the nail dont worth much, heh. Logically 1 thing its good for it will probably show if the blades are WAY out of balance, so you avoid catasthropic failure.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@norbertnagy5514 I used a nail for 50 years and never experienced anything bad but this is much more accurate overall.

[@norbertnagy5514]

@@SteveRobReviews yeah, im just saying you avoid the worst when you at least balance on a nail,but of course it will probably far from optimal.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@norbertnagy5514 I agree 👍

[@williamhanna5224]

One swipe light with a file on lower blade man thats close to balanced

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes its so sensitive.

[@pacoal]

IMO a mower blade doesn't need to be that precisely balanced. In use one side is loaded more than the other anyway. I just watch how fast the heavy side goes down and call it close enough

[@SteveRobReviews]

I agree Dave , 50 years of using a nail worked well .

[@stevem1081]

If you don't care about how long your spindles last, not being well balanced is fine.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@stevem1081 Everyone can decide for themselves and settle on the outcomes , good or bad :)

[@nicolaassnoek9902]

Noticed the British Columbia Flag on the wall, where are you located?

[@SteveRobReviews]

That was a gift , I'm in Ontario

[@markpinther9296]

I have the same level and I cant stand it. hahaha! Meh, maybe I am old school but I don’t like to balance something - not in the same direction as the blade will be cutting. Perpendicular on the wall like that seems very strange to me.

[@Corey-dy2cq]

Imon see what's goin on here. Cant get enough of these lawn mower shop guys lately mhmm. maybe some more tater fries mhmm.

[@dave5176]

You didn't level the balancer on the wall, you plumbed it. Up and down is plumb. Side to side is level.

[@SteveRobReviews]

It's mounted using a bubble level up , down , side to side .

[@georgedavall9449]

S. U. P. E. R. B.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@b-man569]

That's plumb...not level

[@SteveRobReviews]

I did both .

[@steve197232]

It’s all ball bearings these days

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes and super sensitive.

[@dougtexas9075]

Don't you dare blame daughter !!!!!! Production flaw !!!!!!!!

[@SteveRobReviews]

HAHAHA I was just joking !!!

[@45NUTS_PART_DEUX]

Shock and Awe , people are cheapskate to spend money like we did 7 years ago bought it P.S i paint mark the edge to indicate a sharpen blade

[@SteveRobReviews]

Good idea 👍