Sharpen & Ballance Mower Blades - Total Waste Of Time ?

[@julianamartinvlog]

Hi Steve...play on here dear😊

[@binnsbrian]

I used to get my blade balanced and sharpened every year. I was expensive so I stopped about 5 years ago. I decided it would be better to balance my back account in stead. Haven't noticed a difference, on the lawn mower that is. I still change the oil.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Interesting how that works , I'm thinking your grass can't tell the difference either:)

[@PinetreeLine]

Cool stuff Steve. I sharpen my blade every year but I have never balanced it and I feel I still get good performance. Thanks Buddy! 🍻

[@SteveRobReviews]

Right on Doug !!!

[@BruceLyeg]

I can't argue with that, Steve. I used to sharpen and balance my blade every year but I've had this Ryobi mower for four or five years now and I never even look under the deck. It mows perfectly. If it stops mowing good, I'll check it out. Don't fix what ain't broke

[@SteveRobReviews]

Mow on buddy 👍

[@edward-x3s6f]

Steve do you have an email, I have inverter charging probs Ty

[@SteveRobReviews]

@lilo2469 I don't have a public email but your welcome to ask here in the comment section.

[@PAPATexas]

I rarely sharpen a blade. I'm paying an illegal 20 bucks to mow my front yard for the last few months. Only thing I have done to my mower over the last 20 years is replace the blade once and add gas. I guess I am one of them people. Good stuff Steve!

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@PAPATexas Many people do quite fine doing the same.

[@wtbm123]

Should balance blades every 30 minutes of mowing . lol . But for real , i do sharpen my blades every year or after hitting things. I check to make sure not drastically out of balance . I use regular high lift blades , partly because everything under the deck stays much cleaner than with mulching blades. As far as turning grass tips brown , Yes dull blades turn some grass tips brown for a day. But unless one is out there on hands and knees inspecting , one usually would not notice. People around here always ask why yards look better when i mow them . I tell them because they do not make mowers anymore like my 50 year old mower . I think the height one cuts the grass at makes more of a visual difference than a dull blade would . And to me a dull blade and a worn out blade are different .

[@SteveRobReviews]

Well said Terry 👍

[@RustyGlovebox]

I think I can really tell the difference in the cut at the start of the season with a good sharp blade . But like you say a dull blade still gets it done. Good example about the balance after the grass collects on it. I think do what makes you feel good. Cheers Steve

[@SteveRobReviews]

Yes Lloyd, it's a feel good thing of doing what one thinks should be done.

[@547Rick]

I'm with you. I change my oil, filter, air filter, and sharpen or change blades every year. Does it make a difference? Hell, if I know, because I've never not done it once a year. The best way to eliminate grass buildup on my mower deck and blades is to cut grass before a rain storm or shower. I never cut a wet lawn.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Rick Yep most fo the same just because :)

[@davecaselli1957]

This incident is from probably 60-65 years ago when I was a kid. Our mower wouldn't start. My dad eventually took it the shop of an old guy, Charlie, who did his work. Charlie knew I messed with some of this stuff, the mower and the cars. He found the only problem was that the blade was way out of balance. Charlie told my dad, "I'd chew out your son for messing this up trying to sharpen it." My dad though admitted to Charlie that HE had been the one sharpening it. I think he had used one of those sharpen stone gizmos that you chucked into your drill. Since then I've periodically sharpened and balanced. I only have one of those static balance cones that rests on its point, nothing commercial like yours. Now, last year and this, I have hired a teen to get mine done, and my mower has been parked. I may need to try to get it going to mulch leaves.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@davecaselli1957 I'm usually over maintaining everything but I do see others that never maintain a thing and many do quite well so I'll just carry on I guess . Cheers Dave

[@EverydayProjects]

This will put you in conflict with Canada's new Lawn Care Law that came into effect on August 1st. All grass in Canada (all lawns, parks, meadows in the forests, etc.) must be a maximum of 1" long and have a straight, crispy-sharp edge on the top!

[@SteveRobReviews]

I'm a lawn care rebel for sure 🤣😅

[@EverydayProjects]

@@SteveRobReviews The Shed Door Knockers (COMPLIANCE INSPECTORS) will be attending to your property!!! (now where did I put the "Rat Line" phone number?).

[@SteveRobReviews]

😂🤣

[@ronberry5316]

Tell you what, Steve. I bought my Troy bilt 21" self propelled mower in the spring of 2013. Cuts grass as good today as when new. Non ethonal gas since new. Never have removed the blade or changed the oil. Check the oil a couple of times a year, it's still light brown. I was a mechanic for 18 years, but if it ain't broke, I'm not going to "fix" it. 😂

[@SteveRobReviews]

Mow on bud mow on 👌

[@ChevyCitation]

Hello Steve Cheers 👍

[@SteveRobReviews]

Cheers bud👍

[@curly__3]

Lol...i live in the rockies...i hit at least one rock each time i mow... when that happens i flip the mower over and take the dremel to it, i sharpen the inside of the nick which is usually a good 1/4'' deep by 1/4'' wide. My mower blade started looking pretty funny. Now i use a scythe...much more fun imo... no noise or gas fumes either...lol...

[@SteveRobReviews]

HAHAHA 👍

[@gatorsworld]

For me when you can’t feel a vibration it’s all good and I sharpen the blades about as much as I clean under the deck. Not that often. My Husky run and cuts good and I keep it at year filter and oil change and it’s never said nothing to me and the grass looks good. If it runs….don’t fix it…..CHEERS

[@SteveRobReviews]

Right on Gator 👌

[@TinManKustoms]

Steve I've often pondered this myself is it really worth the time to sharpen the blades on a mower and do the routine oil/filter changes. For the average joe that only runs the mower once a week it's probably fine. But if you're a landscape company then definitely it's worth doing the maintenance and sharpen the blades. I definitely think keeping the deck clean after and air filter clean and only cutting dry grass is more important to prolong the life of the mower.

[@SteveRobReviews]

I have a neighbor that has his own lawn cutting business. Buys a new mower , runs it for two years and services nothing . That's all he gets out of a mower maybe 3 years at most before they break when they run 8 hours a day. Never sharpen them or oil change He tried doing both in the past and the mowers still broke by the 3rd season. Interesting outcome .

[@TinManKustoms]

@SteveRobReviews That's interesting how he's only getting 2-3 years out his mowers. I know a couple of companies where I live and the guys are still running the same comercial grade mowers after 10 years. I guess it really comes down to the quality of the equipment and how a person uses/abuses it

[@SteveRobReviews]

@TinManKustoms He buys cheap non commercial big box stuff and runs it into the ground .

[@TinManKustoms]

@SteveRobReviews Oh wow I wonder if there's any cost savings between buying comercial grade and getting 10+ years versus buying non comercial grade and replacing every few years

[@SteveRobReviews]

@TinManKustoms Yes in my opinion, commercial is the way to go if you can service it yourself . The neighbor buying cheap mowers can't fix anything so mowers are disposable for him , a costly endeavor forsure.

[@mitchellyoung4238]

I own and operate a sharpening business and never bother balancing lawnmower blades. I considered it once but got to thinking about it and decided not to waste my time for a 10 dollar job. The blades are always coated in a thick uneven layer of green grass cement and nobody ever complains of a vibration. Sometimes people overthink things. It's not a turbocharger running at 100,000 RPM.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@mitchellyoung4238 Well said.

[@garybannack1823]

I balance and sharpen every year but I only use a nail in the side of my workbench for the balance

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@garybannack1823 I did it like that for decades and never experienced any problems .

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

I've only ever had push mowers and I sharpen the blade every other year. Balancing is a waste of time! Besides, what vibrates more than a single cylinder engine! Right? Good one Steve✌

[@SteveRobReviews]

Thanks Marc 👍

[@georgedavall9449]

Steve Rob !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? Cleaning and balancing allows the mower and bearings and the blade to all work better. It will work if not balanced or sharpened, but it helps the mower work less hard to have things balanced and sharpened. Take 'er easy!!

[@OpenAirAdventure]

I agree

[@SteveRobReviews]

Maintenance is not a universal concept :) Cheers Mike

[@windzer]

ive never balanced a blade like u said the grass build up after one cutting is enough to throw it off. the only way i can see it mattering is if you have sandy soil and the sand is eroding the blade away alot but by then u might as well replace the blade. i do sharpen my blades though once a year thats a good idea all around cuts the grass better. but its not rocket surgery the blades dont have to by super sharp that brand new or even slightly used blade is going to cut just as good as a razor sharp blade. i think the guys that get theres razor sharp they just wear out faster. those blades are spinning so fast they can be dull and itll beat the grass instead of cutting it. you ever seen the blades on a batwing mower guys will run them till they are rounded over and it still cuts just fine

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@paintnamer6403]

How much area is mowed will dictate how often a blade needs sharpened. I sharpen my push mower twice a season and put it on the cone ballancer once every year or two just for giggles. I never had any vibration issue ever.

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@snocrushr]

I even balance my lawnmower wheels🤣

[@SteveRobReviews]

HAHAHA 👍

[@DeborahHicks-c3d]

I sharpen about twice a year especially after mowing the rock garden.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@DeborahHicks-c3d The rock gardens can be challenging:)

[@MikeV607]

I sharpen and balance at least once a season. I sharp blade is important for a clean cut and especially when mulching.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@MikeV607 I do the same Mike , it an easy job to do but for many it's not something even thought of.

[@edward-x3s6f]

Steve sir , is there a way I could contact you about my inverter in my Sprinter , I know with Your expertise we could solve this and I learn at the same time Ty Edward

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Edward I'm not an electronic tech and inverter repair is best left to the pro's .

[@tonymonaco9200]

Balance it with all of the grass on. Then it should stay balanced for a lot longer

[@SteveRobReviews]

Well that sounds logical 🤔

[@OpenAirAdventure]

I just put my two mowers away for the winter. I put them in the barn.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Next year the grass can't tell the difference eh :)

[@OpenAirAdventure]

@SteveRobReviews I slack in yard machine maintenance unfortunately.

[@SteveRobReviews]

@OpenAirAdventure On my new toro mower it says right in the manual it never requires an oil change for the life of the engine , just add. I thought that was odd so I change it anyway , just because I guess :)

[@petedymond]

😆 I sharpen and balance every month in growing season....

[@SteveRobReviews]

👍

[@georgedavall9449]

Remove blade(s) Put 60-80 grit flap disc on a angle grinder Sharpen then put on an abrasive wire type disc, and remove built up grass off blade Balance Mow Not rocket science people There ya go

[@SteveRobReviews]

@@georgedavall9449 👍

[@DIYVariety]

Something to think about, i balance them i figure its off anyhow so no biggie, but there been times where she shake like a hot date and after balance it ok.

[@SteveRobReviews]

Hi Jason Yes absolutely, shakey mowers need a ballance.

[@growleym504]

Balance, my ass. As you found, a clean blade is pretty much always in balance unless you are a complete idiot and using a bench grinder to sharpen, and using it badly. Proper use of a bench vise and file will gitter done and done right. I keep spare blades and keep them sharp. I change out the used blade every time I mow. It pays off in a clean and easy cut, less strain on the motor, and I can go a little faster. Sharp blade = good. I have never checked a blade for balace and found it to not be perfect.