How Often Should You Sharpen The Blades On Riding Lawn Mowers?

When you own a riding lawn mower, it is easy to get into the habit of just hopping on it, mowing the lawn, and putting it away till you need it next time. After all, as long as it turns on and runs fine, what's there to worry about? Well, think again! If you knew what's best for riding lawn mowers, you would not stop worrying about some of its parts. Take, for instance, its blades. They can become dull over time, and if you care about your grass and your riding lawn mower's health, you should sharpen the blades of your riding lawn mower every 20 to 25 hours of use.

The exact timing, though, will depend on the conditions in which the riding lawn mower is being used and the make of its blades. For instance, Bobcat recommends sharpening its zero-turn mower blades every 20 to 25 hours. John Deere, on the other hand, recommends sharpening or replacing blades every 50 hours. Similarly, if you are mowing in less than ideal conditions where the blades might hit sticks, twigs, or stones, the blades of your riding lawn mower may need sharpening sooner.

But is the schedule different from other types of lawn mowers? Well, not really, at least when riding lawn mowers are compared to other types of rotary mowers. All rotary lawn mowers, including riding lawn mowers, use fast-spinning blades to cut grass, and their sharpening needs are similar. Reel mowers, however, are a bit different. They use several blades that cut against a stationary blade, much like scissors, and often need to be sharpened more frequently than rotary lawn mowers.

You do not always need to wait until your riding mower reaches the recommended sharpening hours. Sometimes, its blades might need sharpening sooner. For instance, if the grass looks ragged or uneven after mowing with a riding lawn mower, it is a good sign that its blades are dull, even if they have not reached the recommended number of operating hours. There are many reasons why the blades of a riding lawn mower may need sharpening sooner than expected. Sandy soil, a thick grass type, rough terrain – the list just goes on. So, make sure you keep checking the blades of your lawn mower regularly and do not wait for a set number of hours.

When removing the blade for sharpening, make sure that your riding lawn mower is completely turned off. If it is gas-powered, make sure its spark plug is out, and if you are using a battery riding lawn mower, remove the battery before you start working with its blades. Then, when sharpening, use a proper technique and try to maintain the original bevel. Also, make sure that you balance the blades of your riding lawn mower after sharpening. Not doing so is one of the biggest mistakes people make when sharpening lawn mower blades, and it can damage your machine.

It is also worth noting here that not every blade is worth sharpening. For instance, if the blade of your riding lawn mower is badly nicked, cracked, or bent, it might be better to replace it than sharpen it. The same goes for blades that have lost too much material from repeated sharpening. They may no longer have enough metal to maintain their original shape and cutting performance.