How to Sharpen the Blade on a Toro Push Mower

Many would prefer to have another business change the blade on their mower, but that costs time and money. This process will show the steps of sharpening and changing the blade on a push mower, showing how easy and inexpensive it truly is. All it takes is a little time and a few tools. Doing this at home lets one give a little time, and in the end, save some money. Depending on the size and how many blades there are, it could cost 5 to 15 dollars per blade each time it needs sharpened or as little as 30 to 50 dollars for a grinder and just a few minutes. For the first couple times, it may take around 20 minutes total to remove the blade, sharpen it, then reinstall it. This process will explain the four easy steps to sharpen a mower blade: position the mower, take the blade off, sharpen it, then reinstall it.

First, to begin the removal of the mower blades, find a way to access the underside of the mower. It usually works best to lift the front of the mower by pushing the handle to the ground. To keep the mower in that position, find a jack to put under a front tire or a heavy object to set on the handle. Be certain the mower will stay there when working on the underside. Remove the spark plug cap so there is no chance of the mower starting.

Next, remove the bolt which holds the blade in place as this will allow the blade to come off. To remove the bolt, find a socket or wrench that will fit the bolt head. Look for a small block of wood or something of the sort along with a c-clamp to hold the blade from turning. If the blade turns, the bolt will not be able to be removed. Clamp the small block to the inside of the mower so it will stop the blade from spinning. Most bolts are threaded normal, so turn the bolt counter-clockwise. If the bolt moves but seems to get tighter, turn it clockwise to loosen it.

Then, once the blade is removed, it will need to be sharpened. The blade should not be sharpened and used again if it is bent too much or has a split end. Before grinding, put on safety glasses and gloves, if not a long-sleeve cotton shirt and pants too, as grinding metal creates sparks. Use a grinder with a proper blade for cutting metal or a sharpening tool to sharpen the blades. Make either the grinder or the blade stationary. While sharpening them, be sure to grind the metal from the middle to the edge, not from the edge to the middle as this will not have as good a sharpening as possible. Carefully move the blade or grinder, whichever is movable, from one end of the blade to the other. Only sharpen where it appears to previously been sharpened, which is the main part that cuts the grass. Flip the blade to the other side to sharpen the bottom. Turn the blade to the other end, and continue to sharpen the second half of the blade. Sharpen the edges to a point like a knife’s edge, although it does not have to be near as fine a point. Once it looks better than previously, it is ready to be reinstalled.

Lastly, replace the blade and bolt when done sharpening the blade. One side has a part of the blade that sticks up from the cutting edge, so that side should be facing toward the top of the mower. Do not put this side down as the mower will not function properly and could cause serious injuries. Turn the bolt clockwise to tighten it once the blade is in place. Be sure to tighten the bolt as much as possible so it will stay on when the mower gets used next. Remove the c-clamp and block of wood and return all tools. Replace the spark plug cap securely and set the mower to its normal position. The mower should now be ready to operate!

This process covered the steps of positioning the mower, removing the blade, sharpening the blade, then reinstalling the blade. The mower is ready to use again with little cost and time. Also, time was not wasted waiting for another business to schedule a time to do the same thing.