CAUTION: Before performing maintenance on any unit, always disconnect and ground the spark plug wire.

IMPORTANT : These instructions are prepared for use by trained technicians who are experienced in the service and repair of equipment of the kind described in this publication, and are not intended for use by untrained or inexperienced individuals. Such individuals should seek the assistance of an authorized service center.

Sharpening a blade is necessary maintenance which will allow your mower to continue cutting efficiently.

To sharpen and balance a blade, it must first be removed from the mower. Walk behind mower blades are installed between 38 and 50 foot pounds, and riding mowers are between 70 and 100 foot pounds of torque using a standard thread which is often called a right handed thread (To loosen rotate counter-clockwise). Riding mowers may need the deck to be removed from the unit in order to do this.
NOTE: When removing the blade from the mower, the blade and shaft may spin as you turn the nut or bolt. To prevent this, place a block of wood inside the deck. This will prevent the blade from turning the blade is loosened or tightened.

Once the blade is removed, use a proper metal sharpening tool on the leading edges of the blade.
NOTE: it is not necessary to sharpen the blade so that it is as sharp as a knife blade, a simple clean edge, with the metal sharpened at about a 45 degree angle is sufficient. The tips of blades do most of the cutting, most wear will be visible in this area which will need the most attention during sharpening.

Before re-installing a sharpened blade, it is necessary to check for balance. A blade out of balance can cause vibrations that may weaken or loosen components on a mower.

One method for the home maintenance person to check blade balance is to simply put a screw driver through the center hole of the blade.
NOTE: An alternate method is to use a nail hammered into a vertical plank or wall stud in substitution for the screwdriver. The screwdriver (or nail) and blade will then make a cross configuration when the blade is placed onto it.

If using the screwdriver method, hold the screwdriver so that it is parallel to the ground and position the blade so that it too is parallel to the ground. Hold the screwdriver level and release the blade. *If using the nail method, simply insert the nail into the center hole of the blade.

If the blade begins to rotate or one side of the blade is pulled toward the ground, then the side that rotates toward the ground is heavy. The heavy side would require some additional sharpening in order to remove some material and properly balance. Continue to test for balance until the blade no longer rotates.

After a blade is properly sharpened and balanced, re-install making sure that the blade is oriented in the proper fashion. Blades are stamped with the part number and word "Bottom" on the side that should face the ground. Most likely the blade also has a fin or bend on each trailing edge. This fin should point up towards the bottom of the mower deck and not down towards the ground.

To tighten the bolt or nut use a torque wrench and tighten it to the specifications stated above.

If further assistance is needed, please contact us by e-mail technicalsupport@smallengines.ca  and a customer service representative will be glad to help you.

Before re-installing a sharpened blade, it is necessary to check for balance. A blade out of balance can cause vibrations that may weaken or loosen components on a mower.

One method for the home maintenance person to check blade balance is to simply put a screw driver through the center hole of the blade.
NOTE: An alternate method is to use a nail hammered into a vertical plank or wall stud in substitution for the screwdriver. The screwdriver (or nail) and blade will then make a cross configuration when the blade is placed onto it.

If using the screwdriver method, hold the screwdriver so that it is parallel to the ground and position the blade so that it too is parallel to the ground. Hold the screwdriver level and release the blade. *If using the nail method, simply insert the nail into the center hole of the blade.

If the blade begins to rotate or one side of the blade is pulled toward the ground, then the side that rotates toward the ground is heavy. The heavy side would require some additional sharpening in order to remove some material and properly balance. Continue to test for balance until the blade no longer rotates.

After a blade is properly sharpened and balanced, re-install making sure that the blade is oriented in the proper fashion. Blades are stamped with the part number and word "Bottom" on the side that should face the ground. Most likely the blade also has a fin or bend on each trailing edge. This fin should point up towards the bottom of the mower deck and not down towards the ground.

To tighten the bolt or nut use a torque wrench and tighten it to the specifications stated above.

If further assistance is needed, please contact us by e-mail technicalsupport@smallengines.ca  and a customer service representative will be glad to help you.

Once the blade is removed, use a proper metal sharpening tool on the leading edges of the blade.
NOTE: it is not necessary to sharpen the blade so that it is as sharp as a knife blade, a simple clean edge, with the metal sharpened at about a 45 degree angle is sufficient. The tips of blades do most of the cutting, most wear will be visible in this area which will need the most attention during sharpening.

Before re-installing a sharpened blade, it is necessary to check for balance. A blade out of balance can cause vibrations that may weaken or loosen components on a mower.

One method for the home maintenance person to check blade balance is to simply put a screw driver through the center hole of the blade.
NOTE: An alternate method is to use a nail hammered into a vertical plank or wall stud in substitution for the screwdriver. The screwdriver (or nail) and blade will then make a cross configuration when the blade is placed onto it.

If using the screwdriver method, hold the screwdriver so that it is parallel to the ground and position the blade so that it too is parallel to the ground. Hold the screwdriver level and release the blade. *If using the nail method, simply insert the nail into the center hole of the blade.

If the blade begins to rotate or one side of the blade is pulled toward the ground, then the side that rotates toward the ground is heavy. The heavy side would require some additional sharpening in order to remove some material and properly balance. Continue to test for balance until the blade no longer rotates.

After a blade is properly sharpened and balanced, re-install making sure that the blade is oriented in the proper fashion. Blades are stamped with the part number and word "Bottom" on the side that should face the ground. Most likely the blade also has a fin or bend on each trailing edge. This fin should point up towards the bottom of the mower deck and not down towards the ground.

To tighten the bolt or nut use a torque wrench and tighten it to the specifications stated above.

If further assistance is needed, please contact us by e-mail technicalsupport@smallengines.ca  and a customer service representative will be glad to help you.

Before re-installing a sharpened blade, it is necessary to check for balance. A blade out of balance can cause vibrations that may weaken or loosen components on a mower.

One method for the home maintenance person to check blade balance is to simply put a screw driver through the center hole of the blade.
NOTE: An alternate method is to use a nail hammered into a vertical plank or wall stud in substitution for the screwdriver. The screwdriver (or nail) and blade will then make a cross configuration when the blade is placed onto it.

If using the screwdriver method, hold the screwdriver so that it is parallel to the ground and position the blade so that it too is parallel to the ground. Hold the screwdriver level and release the blade. *If using the nail method, simply insert the nail into the center hole of the blade.

If the blade begins to rotate or one side of the blade is pulled toward the ground, then the side that rotates toward the ground is heavy. The heavy side would require some additional sharpening in order to remove some material and properly balance. Continue to test for balance until the blade no longer rotates.

After a blade is properly sharpened and balanced, re-install making sure that the blade is oriented in the proper fashion. Blades are stamped with the part number and word "Bottom" on the side that should face the ground. Most likely the blade also has a fin or bend on each trailing edge. This fin should point up towards the bottom of the mower deck and not down towards the ground.

To tighten the bolt or nut use a torque wrench and tighten it to the specifications stated above.

If further assistance is needed, please contact us by e-mail technicalsupport@smallengines.ca  and a customer service representative will be glad to help you.