Do You Balance Your Mower Blades

[Richard001]

I use the same balancer as the OP and the holes in my blades don't fit on the balancer either, so I try to center it by eyeball the best I can and balance it from there. When I lived in a sandy soil area I ended up putting hardfacing on the blades which requires a balance afterward. I got reasonably close but not perfect. The spindles lasted 30 years. I don't sharpen my bushhog cutter and don't balance them, suppose I should. Weighing them is the only way I can think of balancing them, but that's not completely correct. Mass and distance from the axis affects the balance, don't know how to do that with separate blades.

I'm with3Ts on this, if you sharpen you blades and you have to remove a significant amount of metal to get a shape edge, then you need to balance. Typically the hole in the blade is rather large, so just putting a screwdriver in the hole will not give you a good balance. Use the balancer that the OP showed. If I have a blade that shows an imbalance, I use my welder to add just a little material to the light end.


Richard

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I always balance my lawn mower blades, using the nail method.

SR

 

[Thomas]

Also use the cone device plus I keep spare.

 

[JerryK]

I have two also, been trying to find the one I modified to fit a blade that was a little too big for one of the steps. I chucked it in my drill press and filed it down a little so a blade I had at that time would fit. Anywhilst, someday I will find it and post a picture..... someday

 

[ray66v]

I contemplated purchasing a "real" blade balancer, for over $100. Then, I realized how easy it was to make one.

All you need, if you have a round hole in your blade, is a bearing assembly that fits as tightly as possible in that hole. Then, you find a way of attaching that to your bench or whatever, using a bolt or other device that also fits as tightly as possible in the inner hole. (Use of a measuring caliper, and the internet required).

I attached the bearing to a large magnet, so I can stick it on the side of my loader bucket, or what ever is handy when using it.

You may need some washers or bushings to move the bearing away from the mounting surface to give you the clearance you need, for your blade to turn freely.

It is amazing how much different the blades act on this type of balancer, vs the $1.99 "cone type" balancer.

I bought a new set of blades last year, and only 2 of the three were properly balanced. They were good blades, so I never expected that.

Here is a video, where the guy demonstrates this concept in the second half. DIY Mower Blade Balancer - YouTube

 

[Sonny580]

I just grind um and use um on mine---never had any problems doing that. ---around here they are lucky to get ground!

 

[ericm979]

I have used the nail method after grinding and filing mine. I stopped bothering balancing a few years ago and have not noticed a difference.

I finally bought new blades after 22 years. Haven't put them on yet. I had to sharpen them as they came dull with paint on the edges. I should check the balance before installing them.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Every time I sharpen my mower blades I balance them. Clean all the grass off. Sharpen and then balance on the round shaft of a screw driver. If the screw driver shaft is centered in the hole the blade is balanced. And yes the mower runs smoother after balancing.

 

[ericm979]

I checked my new blades yesterday. The screwdriver through the hole method is not nearly as good as I thought it was. Even with a small screwdriver, if you hold the blade down on one side it will stay down. Seems like there is too much friction pivoting on the screwdriver. For a good balance it should be free to move.

I tried an alternate of using a long screwdriver on blocks on my workbench as a pivot but laying the blade on it. The trick there is to get the blade centered. I double checked by swapping the blade 180 degrees in case I was biasing the blade to one side of the screwdriver. This method seems to be more accurate and found one blade that seemed ok from the screwdriver through the hole method to actually be out of balance.

The new blades do run smoother than the old ones that I hadn't been balancing (and were quite worn down from 22 years of use).

 

[Maxify55]

I don't get on my mower without sharpened blaades.
I use the same plastic $5 cone balancer the rest of the guys use.
I do, however, use the XHT hardened blades.
To hold the edge longer for cutting at speed.
With the tough as leather Bahaia grasses down here,
it takes all we can do to cut it.