I just bought me a cordless Atlas mower from Harbor Freight...oh my goodness..quite, no gas, no oil , no pulling to start (and not starting)..I love it.now this is written on 6/22/2022. I can now do what even a monkey can do and take my blade off and sharpen it. thank you.
My daughter is a RN but after watching me in the shop all her life she is a great mechanic and she fixes all there stuff 😊 my wife has her own tool box also 😊😊
Great job. Couple of suggestions get yourself a proper vise on a workbench and secure it so that you’re using the drill horizontally instead of vertically. This allows you to use your body to support the drill much better and make passes more consistently as you move across the blade. Always remember like you did to use safety glasses. You don’t want that stone breaking with flying pieces everywhere! Lastly don’t leave your mower turn sideways for longer than it needs to get the blade off - the oil can go in parts of the mower that you would rather it not be in. Great video!
Put some Never-Seez on the bolt when you reinstall the blade. I use that stuff on any bolt or nut I reassemble. You'll never have trouble getting them off again. You can get it in a can with a brush attached to the lid, or my favorite is a little "Lipstick" like tube. I little goes a long way. A retired Millwright talking here.
A wonderful presentation miss! I nominate you for the 'Nicest Lady' award! I will share this video with a few friends in need of such realistic, priority driven, examples of honesty, integrity, and beneficial information. You're going to reassure many people and boost their selfrespect! KUDOS!
Just a heads up, next time you do this task, flip the mower back so the spark plug is pointing straight up rather than flipping sideways. It takes a bit of doing to "secure" it in the flipped back position, but your mower, not to mention any concrete/asphalt surfaces will thank you. Less chance of oil/gas leaking out of the machine. Oil getting up inside the cylinder whilst flipped on its side kinda sucks to. Btw, nice vids. Keep up the good work! Cheers!
Hey MonkeysKnow~Yo gave some good advice, particularly disconnecting the spark plug. What some folks don't know is that if you were to slip just wrong you could start the engine if you spun the blade hard enough to generate a spark and that would be bad news. Here comes the constructive criticism: you don't need to drain the fuel if you just lean the mower backwards with the handle bar on the ground~~just put a concrete block or bucket of water over it to hold it down. That will give you enough room to get your wrench on the blade. Also, if the bolt is very stubborn you can put a block (or piece of 2x4) between the blade and the deck freeing both hands with which you can put the full force of your strength into braking the bolt/nut free. Lastly a metal file or carborundum stone works fine for sharpening a blade like this, and the very end of the blade is all that you really need to sharpen. Blade balancers are a waste of time and money until you get into thick, heavy blades that turn at 5000plus rpms. Keep doing what you are doing~I have great respect for all people taking it upon themselves to become independent. Cheers, and best wishes! P.S. EVERYBODY puts a blade on upside down once in a while. I've been in the professional lawn care business for 20 years and did it myself (once again) two years ago. Anyone that claims they've never made that mistake is either a liar or they have not changed many blades!
I love that you take initiative and do something. As you learn you will work smarter but that comes with doing and time. Keep up the good work. In this case it is a mower blade. Doesn’t need to look pretty or strait. Sharpen it on the mower works. Put on your work bench and tip backwards. Use a piece of wood to keep blade from moving while U loosen it. You can hang the blade from a nail on the wall to test for balance if it is a concern. Kudos. Any dad would be proud of you. God bless.
Hello. I wanted to compliment you on your lawn mower blade sharpening video. The blade looked pretty much like the blade on my sisters Weed Eaten mower. My tool of choice for sharpening lawn mower blades would be my DeWalt angle grinder. I sometimes then true the blade angle with a good double cut file. Of Course it depends on how dull the blade was before sharpening - If that makes sense. Looks like you have this subject pretty much covered - So I’ll Wish You A Very Good Evening.
I just bought a new blade. Mine was as dull as the back end of a butter knife, (but somehow it was still cutting) And I didn't even know there was such a thing as a grinding stone I could put on my drill. I thought I needed an actual bench mounted grinder, lol. Thought about using my dremel but figured the grinder on it wouldn't be strong enough. So I'll have to go look for that drill grinder now. Thanks for the vid.
Good video. FYI: The blade you used is a mulching blade. You can tell because it has the hump next to the cutting part. The curved portion is designed to chop the blades of grass smaller as they are suspended between the underside of the deck and the top of the blade.
When you wrestle off the bolt that holds the blade on, try applying regular grease on the threads of the bolt, on the blade seat, and on the flange that goes under the head of the bolt. this helps the screw to go back on, and next year when you take off the blade, it won't be rusted on the shaft
Fantastic video demo ! Thank you very much for this. I started visiting your channel just last week when I came across one for cleaning deck and am so happy to find so many helpful things ! Thank you very much indeed !
Props for creating videos and posting in this world of harsh critics. You are an inspiration for those that feel uncomfortable doing projects for the first time. Keep t up and be safe!
2 things to hopefully help: 1. when removing the blade, shove a 2x4 into the grass chute and all the way to the other side of the mower deck. this way you can both loosen and tighten without having to hold the blade as the blade will jam up against the 2x4. this also adds a little extra safety in case the mower starts by some freak accident, as the blade will not be able to spin over 1/2 a revolution before hitting the board and stopping. 2. you can actually sharpen the blade while its attached to the mower which takes away the need for fiddling with the clamp...as the shaft bolt does the 'clamping' for you. you may need to flip the blade on the shaft and bolt it back in temporarily to do it, then flip it back to normal position for operation of the mower. hope this helps. 3. on a different note...you look like a cross between a young sigourney weaver and a young elizabeth montgomery....more montgomery than weaver tho :)
+X4 Service These are fantastic suggestions, thanks! I'm always glad for suggestions to make things a little easier and safer. And thank you for #3, also. :-)
You can also clamp the Cordless Drill to the table and then wearing Leather Gloves you can sharpen the Blades by holding in your hands. You are smart and I really liked your interest in machines and getting job done with household items. Keep it up.
Nice video Tamara, Thanks. Except I think on some mower its wiser to tip the mower back towards the handle, otherwise the engine oil will run into some parts of the engine where it shouldnt be. Next thing you know, your engine might not start.
Some people avoid working on dirty or oily equipment because it stains their nails and cuticles. To solve this problem, I generously apply clear cooking oil (or lotion) before I start. I work it under, and around the nails; then, I use a couple of paper towels to wipe off the excess. It works. The dirt and dark engine oil washes off my hands and nails, easily.
The blade bolt should always be torqued with a torque wrench to 35 ft. lbs. Never trust just a ratchet or a wrench. Torquing the bolt will prevent the blade from loosening, which could possibly shear the flywheel key, or coming loose & cause serious injury!
Thanks for the video. I've watched a handful of blade sharpening videos already, but this was the first to introduce the stone tool, which makes this a budget-friendly repair. Sorry to hear you won't be producing any more content.
You don’t have to pour your gas out if there’s gas in the mower just take the cap off and use a zip lock bag just lay the zip lock bag right over where that gas cap was screw that cap back on start to remove that spark plug cap turn your mower on the side that you need to have it on.I believe u know the rest! I learned to do this from a Sears UA-cam video!
Safety tip sweet lady...Put your hair back better. I wear my long hair in a braid and tuck the braid inside my shirt collar so it doesn't hang down to get caught up in the drill. I learned my lesson the hard way twice. Wrapped my braid up in the drill once and another time I was laying kitchen glue down vinyl and lost about 6 inches off my hair when my long ponytail fell into the glue when I was leaning over trying install the edges under the toe- kick space of a cabinet. Your hair is beautiful so don't make my mistakes. Hope you'll be careful so it stays pretty :-).
Please be cautious when viewing these videos. This particular one shows the blade being installed upside down. The sharp egde will not contact the grass.
Nice job from a sweet girl! Just some suggestions. Make a rubber seal the same diameter as your vented filler cap, put into cap and screw on to fuel tank to prevent gas leaks. Two ways to keep the blade from turning while removing and installing the mower blade. #1) Remove spark plug and stuff as much of an old hanky into the spark plug hole as you can and still have some outside. Now you can put the wrench on the nut and loosen it without turning the blade . or #2) Jam the blade with a 2" x 4" or other suitable means. Love your video!
I worked in a machine shop for a few years and learned a helpful hint when dealing with a rotating assembly. If you can't lock it down to apply torque then you will need a backing wrench. In this case the blade itself works as your backing wrench. However I see a lot of people fumble with two wrenches. The best way to do it is to position the wrenches in a V with the backing wrench a few degrees CCW of the other wrench so that you can get your hands around both of them. Then just squeeze them together. Be careful not to get a finger in between the two wrenches. Your fingers will thank you.
While those tools are handy for amateurs, if you have a pedestal grinder (Bench grinder) you can knock off a blade in 10 seconds and save a few more bucks, as long as you can eyeball and angle and do a straight grind. Also, don't worry too much about balancing. Besides those cone balancers and shit. Just drive a nail into a stud or something and hang the blade to check balance. Also verify the direction your engine rotates, a lot of people are saying your blade is upside-down. An upside-down blade is a common rookie mistake. Also, you're not hand-tightening with a ratchet, you're snugging it down. Hand-tightening is synonymous with finger tight (i.e., your hand is the tightening tool). Other than a few mistakes, this is a great video teaching people to sharpen their mower blades.
Great job. From personal experience, i am careful about the gas tipping all over the small engine and starting tje mower on fire. i stay outdoors away from the house. i try to remember where the fire extinguisher is. lol
Arnold makes a device to safely hold your mower blade when removing. The board thing can slip and you can injure yourself. That small angled grinding wheel is a bad idea. For starters it is too small for the job and because it is small it loads up fast with metal from the blade. Once that happens you are trying to grind metal against metal. There are much wiser choices to sharpen your mower blades. I have a lawn service and I sharpen my blades many times per week. Sharp blades equal a beautiful healthy looking lawn.
1 flip your mower back instead of on its side. There will be no need to empty gas and no chance of oil going where you don’t want it to. 2 that bit you used is designed specially so that the plastic white part goes on the back side of the blade and the actual sharpening stone goes on the sharp side. It fits like a glove on the blade.
Good video. I noticed that the mower blade was moving around alot when you were trying to use the grinding stone. That single clamp wasn't holding very well so I'd recommend using a bench vise instead. I also agree with Love2boat92 you are a very pretty lady : )
+KB3PHL Thank you! :-) And thank you for the recommendation of the bench vise. I often have need of one for other projects and don't know why I've put off getting one until now!
+MonkeysKnow Your very welcome! Yes a bench vise will definitely make alot of projects easier to do. Also you might want to try putting the grinding stone in a drill press (if you have one) instead of a hand or cordless drill. Use a pair of gloves to hold the mower blade and pass it through the grinding stone. I tried this and it worked pretty well.
Putting blade on with cutting edge down, as it should be, will greatly improve mowing. Upside down blade is cutting on the backside (blunt) side of blade. Hand holding blade and tightening while holding ratchet handle close to socket is nowhere near the manufacturer’s 40 to 60 # requirement. It is not about the blade falling off, it’s about the blade flying off and possibly cutting off a foot or leg.
When removing the blade from a walk behind push the handle all the way to the floor and put something heavy on it (the neighbor's kid works great!) Turning your mower on it's side can allow the oil to run into the carburetor, makes it VERY hard to start! If you put the blade on upside down it'll burn your grass, you WILL notice a difference!
+dondale68 I like your suggestion of using the neighbor's kid as a weight, ha! I got lucky no oil ran into my caruretor! Thanks for your observation about the grass burning if the blade is on upside down. No burn here! Thank you for your tips! :-)
As long as the carburetor and the exhaust are up when tipping the mower on its side there should not be a problem. If the gas drips out of the fuel tank place a plastic bag under the fuel cap.
When clamping things down it's a good idea to have the clamp the other way round so the adjusting length is under the work area not above it in it and possibly in the way. Seen guy's do this and try all sorts of angles to get around it to get done what there trying to do. Accident waiting to happen.If theres a slip a jump anything??? there is a metal pole in your work area that can become a problem real fast. Also you can balance a blade with a nail.I would even say a nail gives a higher degree of accuracy than any gimmic tool i have seen. Love the channel name BTW
The reason that she put the blade back on upside down is because she put it back on the same way she took it off. Check the close up at 4:25 and you will see that the sharp edge is trailing the typical clockwise blade direction and appears to have a reasonably good edge on it. Thus it was already on upside down to begin with. Probably wasn't cutting any better before anyway, and sharpening it really didn't help at all until she turned it over. Notice the impression of the shape of the "guard plate," really a spring washer to apply pressure to the blade, that looks like she is putting it on correctly, but it was wrong to begin with. Sometimes the blade is stamped "grass side" to help get it put on correctly. The sharpest edge should be down and not up. Another clue is that when she was holding the blade to remove it, she was holding the "back" of the blade and not the sharp edge.
You might want to tighten the blade more than hand tight. I would hate to see the blade come off while you are mowing. You can check the manual that came with the mower to see how much to torque the nut that holds the blade on
Note to those watching this video. The sharpening is just as easy as the video portrays it. There are some comments here that mention the blade being upside down and I"m guessing there are some wondering what they mean or how they can tell. Here is the clue.... A lawnmower blade is like a ceiling fan only backward. The blade sucks air up toward the mower from the ground. That pulls the grass blades up for the blade to wack them off. IF you put the blade on upside down the blade will blow the grass down and the grass won't get cut properly. Hope that makes sense. IF your still trying to figure out top from bottom, look at the blade. It will have a curved side opposite the cutting edge. That curve should go up, NOT down. IF the curve curls down it will blow air down. Not what you want. Just so you know, if you live where soil is sandy your going to wear that curved part out before you wear out the cutting side. Once the curved part is gone the blade needs to be replaced so it will pull up the grass to be cut. As your lawn more supplier about "High lift" blades and "mulching blades" They are different in that they have more or less curve. It takes a lot of lift to push the clippings into a grass catcher if you have one. If you get a mulching blade and try to use it with a grass catcher you won't get good result and will scratching your head about why your leaving piles of clippings on the lawn rather than in the bag.
Now that's a helpful contribution and makes perfect sense. I always wondered why the grass blades just outside the perimeter of the deck get sucked under rather than blown away. Helpful video also Ms. MonkeySknow... thanks. After disconnecting spark plug, I wedge a 2x4 between blade and deck to prevent blade from rotating during removal (see X4 Service comment above). Regarding her footwear: notice the mirrored instep on the sandals. These are used initially to determine the need for sharpening. Simply slide foot partially under mower and shine flashlight on mirror to illuminate underside of mower and inspect blade condition. No need for bending or lifting.
I have always used a bench grinder to sharpen my lawnmower blades but never get the angle right. I’m going to find one of those drill attachments for next year. One other safety suggestion for you and your viewers is to wear a dust mask while you grind to keep the metal dust out of your lungs.
I would suggest that the clamp be used with the long portion going down rather that up, as in the video. Hate to lean over and bump into that portion of the clamp.
Instead of fighting with clamps, buy a vise, they aren't very expensive ($35 at harbor freight) and would make your job 10x easier and safer. (no slipping). Good video.
Hi and thanks for recording all of your work - I was just preparing to tackle my lawnmower so good timing. I learned a thing or two... I also like your video editing skills - what software do you use for that... be well...
+frank mead Thanks very much for your kind words! I use a rather old version of Adobe After Effects. It has enough functionality to do what I need while not being overwhelming. ;-)
If she had a legit grinder or 120 VAC drill, I'd be worried, but not so much with a battery driver/drill. They have no real momentum and they have, for lack of a better term, an electric "brake" which stops them as soon as you let off the trigger.
HA !!... Hi Tamara... after commenting on your FB page.. I just had to check out your Legacy of Monkey Videos.. :)... I miss those !!.. So proud of your abilities!!... thanks for all those videos... and for sharing your Rare Talents of Art.. :) .. Peace always...
Yes, boots would be a good and practical idea. Good protection. Good video. Perhaps Santa will bring you a work bench vise. Another very helpful idea. :-)
Using your hands crossed armed like that is bad anyway, always take the spark plug out and use a block of wood. With the plug in it might kick over but not start, same as kick starting an old Harley Davidson. As a ASE Cert. mechanic never push up on a ratchet or a wrench if possible. Otherwise an E for effort she has the right ideal and got it done. She did put the blade back how she took it off. All those comments about flipping the mower on the side and oil running out of the exhaust or into the fuel system that shouldn't happen unless your piston rings are shot to hell. Otherwise it would spit oil out the exhaust every time you started it.
Oil rings are designed like a check valve to keep oil in the crankcase. Not run out the valves besides valves are gasoline (or compression side) and exhaust. If oil runs out you have bad piston rings. I've built every kind of motor possible for 40 from a RC car to car, bus, truck and Tank. Gasoline, alcohol, diesel and propane. ASE Cert,. Master Mechanic Gas, Diesel and Alternative fuels.
Oil rings are designed like a check valve to keep oil in the crankcase. Not run out the valves besides valves are gasoline (or compression side) and exhaust. If oil runs out you have bad piston rings. I've built every kind of motor possible for 40 from a RC car to car, bus, truck and Tank. Gasoline, alcohol, diesel and propane. ASE Cert,. Master Mechanic Gas, Diesel and Alternative fuels.
the blade is on the wrong direction. see the chute, the way you got it on the dull edge is the side thats suppose to cut. Counter clockwise from that view on the ground. you're sharpened edge looks to be turning clockwise.
I am going to advertise you that when you put the mower plade back on after you sharpened it you must torque the bolt to 40ft.pounds or it may come louse. 😎
The leading sharp edge is down when it's on correctly .. You can sharpen a blade many times before you have to buy a new one.. I would like to find one of those balancers.. I have just been hanging them from a nail , a round shanked screwdriver would be better..
I tried one of those balances and it didn't work for me. I usually take a machete, clamp it in a vise sharp side up. Place the mower blade on it such that the bolt hole is centered over the knife edge and see if one side dips lower than the other.
My neighbor put his blade on backwards after sharpening. It was so dull before that he found it was cutting better with the back of the blade. Oh my.... But he only sharpens every few years.
My wife likes to come out to my garage and get estrogen on my tools. I don't have a problem with that, however I can't seem to convince her that working with tools no matter how big or small should not be done in flip flops or sandles. Drop a drill or even a wrench on those pretty painted toes is gonna hurt. I've even come home from work to catch her mowing the lawn in flip flops. Drives me crazy!
The next time your at your neighborhood auto parts store, stop in and ask for a small package of Anti-seize. You can put this on the bolt threads so it will be easy to remove again. 5/23/2017
I just bought me a cordless Atlas mower from Harbor Freight...oh my goodness..quite, no gas, no oil , no pulling to start (and not starting)..I love it.now this is written on 6/22/2022. I can now do what even a monkey can do and take my blade off and sharpen it. thank you.
Yay! 😊
I never thought of clamping the blade to a work bench. I didn't try this because I didn't have a bench vise. Excellent video.
Great tips for those of us who are deficient in all things needing fixing/repair. BTW… great production and visual enhancements.
Thank you! 😊 Glad this is helpful!
Thanks Tamara! Believe it or not, I've never done this and now I feel confident in trying it myself instead of just replacing the blade.
You can do it! It's amazing how big of a difference a sharp blade makes!
I'VE FOUND OUT THE BEST WAY TO SHARPEN YOUR BLADE AT HOME IS WITH A SIDE GRINDER,A WHOLE LOT QUICKER!!!!! PLUS,,YOU'RE A GORGEOUS INSTRUCTOR!!!!!
😊👏👏
My daughter is a RN but after watching me in the shop all her life she is a great mechanic and she fixes all there stuff
😊 my wife has her own tool box also 😊😊
Great job. Couple of suggestions get yourself a proper vise on a workbench and secure it so that you’re using the drill horizontally instead of vertically. This allows you to use your body to support the drill much better and make passes more consistently as you move across the blade. Always remember like you did to use safety glasses. You don’t want that stone breaking with flying pieces everywhere! Lastly don’t leave your mower turn sideways for longer than it needs to get the blade off - the oil can go in parts of the mower that you would rather it not be in. Great video!
I would also suggest that Tamara tie her hair back whilst using any drill unless she doesn't mind losing a chunk of it
Put some Never-Seez on the bolt when you reinstall the blade. I use that stuff on any bolt or nut I reassemble. You'll never have trouble getting them off again. You can get it in a can with a brush attached to the lid, or my favorite is a little "Lipstick" like tube. I little goes a long way. A retired Millwright talking here.
A wonderful presentation miss! I nominate you for the 'Nicest Lady' award! I will share this video with a few friends in need of such realistic, priority driven, examples of honesty, integrity, and beneficial information. You're going to reassure many people and boost their selfrespect! KUDOS!
Just a heads up, next time you do this task, flip the mower back so the spark plug is pointing straight up rather than flipping sideways. It takes a bit of doing to "secure" it in the flipped back position, but your mower, not to mention any concrete/asphalt surfaces will thank you. Less chance of oil/gas leaking out of the machine. Oil getting up inside the cylinder whilst flipped on its side kinda sucks to. Btw, nice vids. Keep up the good work! Cheers!
Hey MonkeysKnow~Yo gave some good advice, particularly disconnecting the spark plug. What some folks don't know is that if you were to slip just wrong you could start the engine if you spun the blade hard enough to generate a spark and that would be bad news. Here comes the constructive criticism: you don't need to drain the fuel if you just lean the mower backwards with the handle bar on the ground~~just put a concrete block or bucket of water over it to hold it down. That will give you enough room to get your wrench on the blade. Also, if the bolt is very stubborn you can put a block (or piece of 2x4) between the blade and the deck freeing both hands with which you can put the full force of your strength into braking the bolt/nut free. Lastly a metal file or carborundum stone works fine for sharpening a blade like this, and the very end of the blade is all that you really need to sharpen. Blade balancers are a waste of time and money until you get into thick, heavy blades that turn at 5000plus rpms. Keep doing what you are doing~I have great respect for all people taking it upon themselves to become independent. Cheers, and best wishes!
P.S. EVERYBODY puts a blade on upside down once in a while. I've been in the professional lawn care business for 20 years and did it myself (once again) two years ago. Anyone that claims they've never made that mistake is either a liar or they have not changed many blades!
I love that you take initiative and do something. As you learn you will work smarter but that comes with doing and time. Keep up the good work. In this case it is a mower blade. Doesn’t need to look pretty or strait. Sharpen it on the mower works. Put on your work bench and tip backwards. Use a piece of wood to keep blade from moving while U loosen it. You can hang the blade from a nail on the wall to test for balance if it is a concern. Kudos. Any dad would be proud of you. God bless.
Thank you. Got my sharpening drill stone, headed out to the garage now, to try it out for the first time. (Ohio) Subscribed!
Hello. I wanted to compliment you on your lawn mower blade sharpening video. The blade looked pretty much like the blade on my sisters Weed Eaten mower. My tool of choice for sharpening lawn mower blades would be my DeWalt angle grinder. I sometimes then true the blade angle with a good double cut file. Of Course it depends on how dull the blade was before sharpening - If that makes sense. Looks like you have this subject pretty much covered - So I’ll Wish You A Very Good Evening.
I just bought a new blade. Mine was as dull as the back end of a butter knife, (but somehow it was still cutting) And I didn't even know there was such a thing as a grinding stone I could put on my drill. I thought I needed an actual bench mounted grinder, lol. Thought about using my dremel but figured the grinder on it wouldn't be strong enough. So I'll have to go look for that drill grinder now. Thanks for the vid.
Good video. FYI: The blade you used is a mulching blade. You can tell because it has the hump next to the cutting part. The curved portion is designed to chop the blades of grass smaller as they are suspended between the underside of the deck and the top of the blade.
Well, your vids keep popping up in my recommendations. I hope people know that you are a wonderful artiste as well...
When you wrestle off the bolt that holds the blade on, try applying regular grease on the threads of the bolt, on the blade seat, and on the flange that goes under the head of the bolt. this helps the screw to go back on, and next year when you take off the blade, it won't be rusted on the shaft
Oh, but if I had done this last year! I am currently in the throes of a battle with my rusted on bolt. I will win...eventually. Thank you for the tip!
I love the split screen dual views! More youtubers should follow your lead.
Thank you!
+MonkeysKnow wanna go out sometime? ;)
I'll have to ask permission from my wonderdog, Jack. ;-)
+MonkeysKnow well Jack Russells love me, please tell me Jack is one!
LOL Jack is a boxer.
Fantastic video demo ! Thank you very much for this. I started visiting your channel just last week when I came across one for cleaning deck and am so happy to find so many helpful things !
Thank you very much indeed !
Props for creating videos and posting in this world of harsh critics. You are an inspiration for those that feel uncomfortable doing projects for the first time. Keep t up and be safe!
2 things to hopefully help:
1. when removing the blade, shove a 2x4 into the grass chute and all the way to the other side of the mower deck. this way you can both loosen and tighten without having to hold the blade as the blade will jam up against the 2x4. this also adds a little extra safety in case the mower starts by some freak accident, as the blade will not be able to spin over 1/2 a revolution before hitting the board and stopping.
2. you can actually sharpen the blade while its attached to the mower which takes away the need for fiddling with the clamp...as the shaft bolt does the 'clamping' for you. you may need to flip the blade on the shaft and bolt it back in temporarily to do it, then flip it back to normal position for operation of the mower. hope this helps.
3. on a different note...you look like a cross between a young sigourney weaver and a young elizabeth montgomery....more montgomery than weaver tho :)
+X4 Service These are fantastic suggestions, thanks! I'm always glad for suggestions to make things a little easier and safer. And thank you for #3, also. :-)
MonkeysKnow youre certainly welcome :)
Don't forget to use the ratcheting part of the ratchet...makes things a little easier
Hi Tamara!! I love Monkeys and your videos..Keep up the great work :)
You can also clamp the Cordless Drill to the table and then wearing Leather Gloves you can sharpen the Blades by holding in your hands.
You are smart and I really liked your interest in machines and getting job done with household items.
Keep it up.
Mukesh Kumar Thanks very much! And thank you for the suggestion. I'll give that a try next time around!
I’m new, very nice, thank u. I don’t even pretend to be a mechanic so again, thanks for the video.
Nice video Tamara, Thanks. Except I think on some mower its wiser to tip the mower back towards the handle, otherwise the engine oil will run into some parts of the engine where it shouldnt be. Next thing you know, your engine might not start.
Some people avoid working on dirty or oily equipment because it stains their nails and cuticles. To solve this problem, I generously apply clear cooking oil (or lotion) before I start. I work it under, and around the nails; then, I use a couple of paper towels to wipe off the excess. It works. The dirt and dark engine oil washes off my hands and nails, easily.
The blade bolt should always be torqued with a torque wrench to 35 ft. lbs. Never trust just a ratchet or a wrench. Torquing the bolt will prevent the blade from loosening, which could possibly shear the flywheel key, or coming loose & cause serious injury!
Thanks for the video. I've watched a handful of blade sharpening videos already, but this was the first to introduce the stone tool, which makes this a budget-friendly repair. Sorry to hear you won't be producing any more content.
You don’t have to pour your gas out if there’s gas in the mower just take the cap off and use a zip lock bag just lay the zip lock bag right over where that gas cap was screw that cap back on start to remove that spark plug cap turn your mower on the side that you need to have it on.I believe u know the rest! I learned to do this from a Sears UA-cam video!
beautiful hair, would hate to see that get caught in the spinning tool. might want to tie that back.
Safety tip sweet lady...Put your hair back better. I wear my long hair in a braid and tuck the braid inside my shirt collar so it doesn't hang down to get caught up in the drill. I learned my lesson the hard way twice. Wrapped my braid up in the drill once and another time I was laying kitchen glue down vinyl and lost about 6 inches off my hair when my long ponytail fell into the glue when I was leaning over trying install the edges under the toe- kick space of a cabinet. Your hair is beautiful so don't make my mistakes. Hope you'll be careful so it stays pretty :-).
Please be cautious when viewing these videos. This particular one shows the blade being installed upside down. The sharp egde will not contact the grass.
Redirected here after watching Taryl.
There's your dinner.
Nice job from a sweet girl! Just some suggestions. Make a rubber seal the same diameter as your vented filler cap, put into cap and screw on to fuel tank to prevent gas leaks. Two ways to keep the blade from turning while removing and installing the mower blade. #1) Remove spark plug and stuff as much of an old hanky into the spark plug hole as you can and still have some outside. Now you can put the wrench on the nut and loosen it without turning the blade . or #2) Jam the blade with a 2" x 4" or other suitable means. Love your video!
I worked in a machine shop for a few years and learned a helpful hint when dealing with a rotating assembly. If you can't lock it down to apply torque then you will need a backing wrench. In this case the blade itself works as your backing wrench. However I see a lot of people fumble with two wrenches. The best way to do it is to position the wrenches in a V with the backing wrench a few degrees CCW of the other wrench so that you can get your hands around both of them. Then just squeeze them together. Be careful not to get a finger in between the two wrenches. Your fingers will thank you.
Thank you for the tip! I will give your method a try next time I work on the blade. :-)
The best way to remove the bolt is with a 1/2" Milwaukee M18 fuel impact wrench.
This world can never get enough fix it Women! Thumbs up!
Is this the right way to install the blade...it seems upside down?
I had been doing this for 15 years, I don’t know why I am watching this video
I do...lol
A vise grip clamped to the side of the mower deck also helps with the blade bolt removal/replacement.
she sharpened a mower blade? all I saw was a angel!!!
While those tools are handy for amateurs, if you have a pedestal grinder (Bench grinder) you can knock off a blade in 10 seconds and save a few more bucks, as long as you can eyeball and angle and do a straight grind. Also, don't worry too much about balancing. Besides those cone balancers and shit. Just drive a nail into a stud or something and hang the blade to check balance. Also verify the direction your engine rotates, a lot of people are saying your blade is upside-down. An upside-down blade is a common rookie mistake. Also, you're not hand-tightening with a ratchet, you're snugging it down. Hand-tightening is synonymous with finger tight (i.e., your hand is the tightening tool).
Other than a few mistakes, this is a great video teaching people to sharpen their mower blades.
A block of wood to stop the blade from turning while removing/replacing. Hang it on a nail to balance. The blade is stamped bottom.
tip on when looseing or tighting blades a small 2x4 block between the blade and exit shoot would help big time
Great job. From personal experience, i am careful about the gas tipping all over the small engine and starting tje mower on fire. i stay outdoors away from the house. i try to remember where the fire extinguisher is. lol
Arnold makes a device to safely hold your mower blade when removing. The board thing can slip and you can injure yourself. That small angled grinding wheel is a bad idea. For starters it is too small for the job and because it is small it loads up fast with metal from the blade. Once that happens you are trying to grind metal against metal. There are much wiser choices to sharpen your mower blades. I have a lawn service and I sharpen my blades many times per week. Sharp blades equal a beautiful healthy looking lawn.
1 flip your mower back instead of on its side. There will be no need to empty gas and no chance of oil going where you don’t want it to.
2 that bit you used is designed specially so that the plastic white part goes on the back side of the blade and the actual sharpening stone goes on the sharp side. It fits like a glove on the blade.
Good video. I noticed that the mower blade was moving around alot when you were trying to use the grinding stone. That single clamp wasn't holding very well so I'd recommend using a bench vise instead. I also agree with Love2boat92 you are a very pretty lady : )
+KB3PHL Thank you! :-) And thank you for the recommendation of the bench vise. I often have need of one for other projects and don't know why I've put off getting one until now!
+MonkeysKnow Your very welcome! Yes a bench vise will definitely make alot of projects easier to do. Also you might want to try putting the grinding stone in a drill press (if you have one) instead of a hand or cordless drill. Use a pair of gloves to hold the mower blade and pass it through the grinding stone. I tried this and it worked pretty well.
+KB3PHL Thank you! Will do!
@@MonkeysKnow Why didn't you use your angle grinder to sharpen the blade like you did in the axe sharpening video?
Putting blade on with cutting edge down, as it should be, will greatly improve mowing. Upside down blade is cutting on the backside (blunt) side of blade. Hand holding blade and tightening while holding ratchet handle close to socket is nowhere near the manufacturer’s 40 to 60 # requirement. It is not about the blade falling off, it’s about the blade flying off and possibly cutting off a foot or leg.
Indeed!
When removing the blade from a walk behind push the handle all the way to the floor and put something heavy on it (the neighbor's kid works great!) Turning your mower on it's side can allow the oil to run into the carburetor, makes it VERY hard to start! If you put the blade on upside down it'll burn your grass, you WILL notice a difference!
+dondale68 I like your suggestion of using the neighbor's kid as a weight, ha! I got lucky no oil ran into my caruretor! Thanks for your observation about the grass burning if the blade is on upside down. No burn here! Thank you for your tips! :-)
As long as the carburetor and the exhaust are up when tipping the mower on its side there should not be a problem. If the gas drips out of the fuel tank place a plastic bag under the fuel cap.
When clamping things down it's a good idea to have the clamp the other way round so the adjusting length is under the work area not above it in it and possibly in the way. Seen guy's do this and try all sorts of angles to get around it to get done what there trying to do. Accident waiting to happen.If theres a slip a jump anything??? there is a metal pole in your work area that can become a problem real fast.
Also you can balance a blade with a nail.I would even say a nail gives a higher degree of accuracy than any gimmic tool i have seen.
Love the channel name BTW
I have been using a bench grinder and a nail,but I hate using one.
It looks better with that setup ,better balance ,better angle
fredrickvoncold It was really a lot easier than I thought it would be, too. :-)
The reason that she put the blade back on upside down is because she put it back on the same way she took it off. Check the close up at 4:25 and you will see that the sharp edge is trailing the typical clockwise blade direction and appears to have a reasonably good edge on it. Thus it was already on upside down to begin with. Probably wasn't cutting any better before anyway, and sharpening it really didn't help at all until she turned it over. Notice the impression of the shape of the "guard plate," really a spring washer to apply pressure to the blade, that looks like she is putting it on correctly, but it was wrong to begin with. Sometimes the blade is stamped "grass side" to help get it put on correctly. The sharpest edge should be down and not up. Another clue is that when she was holding the blade to remove it, she was holding the "back" of the blade and not the sharp edge.
Nice, I really learned alot.... Keep it up!!!
You might want to tighten the blade more than hand tight. I would hate to see the blade come off while you are mowing. You can check the manual that came with the mower to see how much to torque the nut that holds the blade on
Note to those watching this video. The sharpening is just as easy as the video portrays it. There are some comments here that mention the blade being upside down and I"m guessing there are some wondering what they mean or how they can tell. Here is the clue.... A lawnmower blade is like a ceiling fan only backward. The blade sucks air up toward the mower from the ground. That pulls the grass blades up for the blade to wack them off. IF you put the blade on upside down the blade will blow the grass down and the grass won't get cut properly. Hope that makes sense. IF your still trying to figure out top from bottom, look at the blade. It will have a curved side opposite the cutting edge. That curve should go up, NOT down. IF the curve curls down it will blow air down. Not what you want. Just so you know, if you live where soil is sandy your going to wear that curved part out before you wear out the cutting side. Once the curved part is gone the blade needs to be replaced so it will pull up the grass to be cut. As your lawn more supplier about "High lift" blades and "mulching blades" They are different in that they have more or less curve. It takes a lot of lift to push the clippings into a grass catcher if you have one. If you get a mulching blade and try to use it with a grass catcher you won't get good result and will scratching your head about why your leaving piles of clippings on the lawn rather than in the bag.
Now that's a helpful contribution and makes perfect sense. I always wondered why the grass blades just outside the perimeter of the deck get sucked under rather than blown away. Helpful video also Ms. MonkeySknow... thanks. After disconnecting spark plug, I wedge a 2x4 between blade and deck to prevent blade from rotating during removal (see X4 Service comment above). Regarding her footwear: notice the mirrored instep on the sandals. These are used initially to determine the need for sharpening. Simply slide foot partially under mower and shine flashlight on mirror to illuminate underside of mower and inspect blade condition. No need for bending or lifting.
Good Job. You made it simpler than i think
You had me properly sized socket... I’m subscribing!
That has got to be the sexiest dress any lawnmower blade sharpener person has ever worn. Just saying.
She wasn't wearing any dress,smh creepy ass perv just come on to drool over her? Wow get a life
Thanks for your helpful video, benefits all ppl needed ✌️
nice jeans, you fill them perfectly
i balance mower blades off my nose...i used to work with bozo back in the day
I have always used a bench grinder to sharpen my lawnmower blades but never get the angle right. I’m going to find one of those drill attachments for next year. One other safety suggestion for you and your viewers is to wear a dust mask while you grind to keep the metal dust out of your lungs.
Thank you for posting this video. This was very informative!
I would suggest that the clamp be used with the long portion going down rather that up, as in the video. Hate to lean over and bump into that portion of the clamp.
That's not a guard it's an adapter lol! That little thing that attaches to the spark plug is called a boot! This is a great video!
Instead of fighting with clamps, buy a vise, they aren't very expensive ($35 at harbor freight) and would make your job 10x easier and safer. (no slipping). Good video.
Great suggestion!!
Not sure if you notice the blade looks polished on the opposite side. Means the blade is upside down. Spins counter clock wise
Hi and thanks for recording all of your work - I was just preparing to tackle my lawnmower so good timing. I learned a thing or two... I also like your video editing skills - what software do you use for that... be well...
+frank mead Thanks very much for your kind words! I use a rather old version of Adobe After Effects. It has enough functionality to do what I need while not being overwhelming. ;-)
don't forget to tie back your hair. it's much too nice to be caught up in your drill.
Or your drill!
I was stunned to see her hair dangling over her shoulder.
If she had a legit grinder or 120 VAC drill, I'd be worried, but not so much with a battery driver/drill. They have no real momentum and they have, for lack of a better term, an electric "brake" which stops them as soon as you let off the trigger.
HA !!... Hi Tamara... after commenting on your FB page.. I just had to check out your Legacy of Monkey Videos.. :)... I miss those !!.. So proud of your abilities!!... thanks for all those videos... and for sharing your Rare Talents of Art.. :) .. Peace always...
beautiful video!!!!!! the sharpening was nice,too.
Noy just a girl, a pretty girl, who would not watch? Good job in presenting the process.
Wowa Weewa! The tutorial about the blades was also v good 😅
😆
@@MonkeysKnow 🥰😍
Yes, boots would be a good and practical idea. Good protection.
Good video.
Perhaps Santa will bring you a work bench vise. Another very helpful idea.
:-)
Great video my friend
Trying it soon. Thanks for video
Using your hands crossed armed like that is bad anyway, always take the spark plug out and use a block of wood. With the plug in it might kick over but not start, same as kick starting an old Harley Davidson. As a ASE Cert. mechanic never push up on a ratchet or a wrench if possible. Otherwise an E for effort she has the right ideal and got it done. She did put the blade back how she took it off.
All those comments about flipping the mower on the side and oil running out of the exhaust or into the fuel system that shouldn't happen unless your piston rings are shot to hell. Otherwise it would spit oil out the exhaust every time you started it.
You shouldn't tip the mower on either side because oil can get into the muffler. You are suppose to tip them straight back onto the handle.
Tip the mower so the spark plug is up.
you are not even to tip it back in any direction before you put the mower at "top dead center" this closes both valves so no oil can leak anywhere.
TDC doesn't matter once you move the blade that will change anyway.
Oil rings are designed like a check valve to keep oil in the crankcase. Not run out the valves besides valves are gasoline (or compression side) and exhaust. If oil runs out you have bad piston rings.
I've built every kind of motor possible for 40 from a RC car to car, bus, truck and Tank. Gasoline, alcohol, diesel and propane. ASE Cert,. Master Mechanic Gas, Diesel and Alternative fuels.
Oil rings are designed like a check valve to keep oil in the crankcase.
Not run out the valves besides valves are gasoline (or compression side)
and exhaust. If oil runs out you have bad piston rings.
I've built every kind of motor possible for 40 from a RC car to car,
bus, truck and Tank. Gasoline, alcohol, diesel and propane. ASE Cert,.
Master Mechanic Gas, Diesel and Alternative fuels.
You can pass as the late Elizabeth Montgomery from Bewitched in the 60s
i was thinking that too
In the introduction you somehow reminded me of Jamie Lee Curtis.
True Lies
the blade is on the wrong direction. see the chute, the way you got it on the dull edge is the side thats suppose to cut. Counter clockwise from that view on the ground. you're sharpened edge looks to be turning clockwise.
Nice job you look kind of nervous. There's no need to be nervous.
Any relation to Jeff?
I am going to advertise you that when you put the mower plade back on after you sharpened it you must torque the bolt to 40ft.pounds or it may come louse. 😎
Wow very well done!! Thanks for sharing!
The leading sharp edge is down when it's on correctly .. You can sharpen a blade many times before you have to buy a new one.. I would like to find one of those balancers.. I have just been hanging them from a nail , a round shanked screwdriver would be better..
I tried one of those balances and it didn't work for me. I usually take a machete, clamp it in a vise sharp side up. Place the mower blade on it such that the bolt hole is centered over the knife edge and see if one side dips lower than the other.
Great video. This lady is a badass!
Good advice but the blade is upside down 😂
My neighbor put his blade on backwards after sharpening. It was so dull before that he found it was cutting better with the back of the blade. Oh my.... But he only sharpens every few years.
My wife likes to come out to my garage and get estrogen on my tools. I don't have a problem with that, however I can't seem to convince her that working with tools no matter how big or small should not be done in flip flops or sandles. Drop a drill or even a wrench on those pretty painted toes is gonna hurt. I've even come home from work to catch her mowing the lawn in flip flops. Drives me crazy!
Workshop tips from soemone who doesnt even own a bench with a vice. lol. And the disconnection of the spark plug....LMAO!
Would be good to remind someone to put the key back in the hub if the hub comes off. The key can easily be lost if you're not careful.
jackfrost1031 Duly noted for next time around! Thank you! :-)
any one else noticed that the blade was installed upside down before she took it off. The sharpened end must be down when installed.
I'm very impressed by her.
Love your videos. Great job!!
Thank you!
just for reference u can take a plastic bag and put over the gas hole and screw cap on will stop from leaking out
The Blade will stay sharp much longer when installed in that fashion.
I sure could use you around the farm
Hitachi himself watching this tutorial. Lol jk. Great job on the sharpening! You got a new fan 👍
The next time your at your neighborhood auto parts store, stop in and ask for a small package of Anti-seize. You can put this on the bolt threads so it will be easy to remove again. 5/23/2017