Lawn mower blade sharpening

[DIYspanner]

I've been given two electric rotary lawn mowers to repair/service.

I noticed on both that the cutting blades are sharpened on the lower side. If sharpened on the upper side of the blade, to my way of thinking, would provide a better cut and help lift the cut stems of grass up to the blower and into the collector.

I'm being pedantic I suppose.

 

[Burnerman]

On the lower edge.....are you sure?
All machines I work on are sharpened on the upper edge. I can't comment on yours, but the blade may be on upside down?
Regards
John

 

[endecotp]

Photo please!

 

[johnny2007]

Mine is sharpened on the lower edge and the way it rotates allows cut grass to be sucked into the basket.
If the upper edge was sharpened, firstly the cut grass would be pushed on the ground and then the shortest cut would be 3 inches.

 

[Munroast]

On the lower edge.....are you sure?
All machines I work on are sharpened on the upper edge. I can't comment on yours, but the blade may be on upside down?
Regards
John

if its upside down its also back to front and probably won't cut too well

 

[DIYspanner]

This fella's video shows exactly what I mean.

As I say, in my opinion, it should sharpen on the blade upper side.

 

[Burnerman]

Oh well.......every day is a school day but it's the first time I've seen that!
It's the wings that scoop the cuttings into the grass box, flat blades for mulching.
Anyhoo, if it cuts well afterwards, why worry!
Ensure the air scoops and any foam filters are clean, and the motor brushes have life in them (if applicable) and job done!
John

 

[johnny2007]

This fella's video shows exactly what I mean.

As I say, in my opinion, it should sharpen on the blade upper side.

Yes, he sharpened the lower side.
I don't think it makes any difference though

 

[Munroast]

my blade is so badly damaged it is difficult to work what side i have been sharpening from - I think it was originally sharpened from the top, but i can't be bothered to take it off so for the last few years it now just gets a tickle from the angle grinder from underneath

it cuts OK

i don't treat my cabinet making tools with such disdain -

 

[DIYspanner]

I've sharpened both blades on the upper side which to me seems logical. I'll test drive them and see how they perform.

One mower also needs new starlock clips for three of the wheels that are dropping off.

 

[ericmark]

I have never sharpened the blades, I suppose if I sharpen blades on the bush cutter, it may go through ½ as well as ¼ thick branches, but do I really need to cut ½ branches? I did sharpen blades in the days of using an Allan Scythe,

the blades rub on the base, and move rather slowly, so yes I would sit there with a file sharpening the blades, but my lawn mower today the blades spin that fast, never bother trying to sharpen them, main thing is wear safety shoes.

 

[stevie888]

I have never sharpened the blades, I suppose if I sharpen blades on the bush cutter, it may go through ½ as well as ¼ thick branches, but do I really need to cut ½ branches? I did sharpen blades in the days of using an Allan Scythe, View attachment 424192 the blades rub on the base, and move rather slowly, so yes I would sit there with a file sharpening the blades, but my lawn mower today the blades spin that fast, never bother trying to sharpen them, main thing is wear safety shoes.

Wouldn't H&S have fun with one of those old girls. I walked many a mile behind one as a lad.

 

[Burnerman]

Brilliant machines - gearbox made from phosphor bronze and would last a lifetime.
Mine both had the Villiers two stroke engine, but I believe there was a four stroke model too.
John

 

[johnny2007]

Brilliant machines - gearbox made from phosphor bronze and would last a lifetime.
Mine both had the Villiers two stroke engine, but I believe there was a four stroke model too.
John

I used one of those motors to make a generator.
I gave it away a few years ago still perfectly functional.

 

[stevie888]

The one I used was a Villiers, knotted rope to start.

I seem to recall having to rotate a short slotted cylinder on the air intake which acted as the choke and jiggling a button on the float chamber to prime it before trying to start.

We had a sprayer and a saw bench as well as the cutter bar. With the latter we had to tie up the clutch control as otherwise it had a quaint habit of vibrating itself into go mode. This was a bundle of laughs when mowing