How to sharpen a lawn mower blade

• 1). Make sure that the lawn mower is turned off and that the spark plug is disconnected to prevent any injury while fixing the mower.
  
  
• 2). Remove the blade from the lawn mower. Use a wrench and unscrew the nut holding the blade to the mower deck.
  
  
• 3). Clean off the blade. Use a steel wool pad to scrub off any excess rust and debris that has built up.
  
  
• 4). Using a grinding wheel or a file, sharpen the blade along the edges following the pre-existing angle. Run the blade back and forth using the grinding wheel or file to sharpen out all the nicks and dents. You can also take the blade to the local hardware shop to have it sharpened if unable to sharpen at home.
  
  
• 5). Test the blade's balance by supporting it in the center. An unbalanced blade will cause problems mowing and even damage the mower. If the blade is tilting to one side, grind any excess metal from the other side to balance it out. It can also be balanced using a plastic balancer that can be purchased at any hardware or lawn mower store.
  
  
• 6). Clean the mower. Before screwing the blade back onto the mower deck, remove any excess dirt or grass that may be stuck to the mower.