23
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
17. Sharpening the Blade
WARNING
• Always remove the battery pack when servicing
or transporting the mower.
• Always protect your hands by wearing heavy
gloves or wrapping the cutting edges with
rags or other materials when performing any
maintenance on the mower blade.
• Use proper eye protection while removing,
sharpening, and installing the blade.
• A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break,
and pieces of the damaged blade can become
dangerous projectiles. Thrown objects can cause
serious injury. Inspect the blade regularly and do not
operate the mower with a worn or damaged blade.
NOTICE:
Keep the blade sharp for best mower
performance. A dull blade does not cut grass
cleanly or mulch properly.
A dull blade can be sharpened, but a blade that
is excessively worn, bent, cracked, or otherwise
damaged must be replaced. A worn or damaged
blade can break, causing blade pieces to be
thrown from the mower.
If the blade is found to be bent, replace it.
Sharping Frequency
Sharpening the blade twice during a mowing
season is usually sufficient under normal
circumstances. Sand causes the blade to dull quickly; if your lawn has sandy soil, more
frequent sharpening may be required.
When Sharpening the Blade:
• Make sure that the blade remains balanced.
• Sharpen the blade at the original cutting angle.
• Sharpen the cutting edges on both ends of the blade, removing an equal amount of material
from each end.
To Sharpen Blade in a Vise (Fig. 17a):
a. Remove the blade from the mower.
b. Secure the blade in a vise.
c. Wear proper eye protection and gloves and be careful not to cut yourself.
d. Carefully file the cutting edges of the blade with a fine-tooth file or sharpening stone,
maintaining the original cutting edge angle.
17b
17a
