Maintaining your lawn mower is an important part of ensuring that it functions properly and serves you well for years to come.
But how often should you replace your lawn mower? It’s a question that a lot of homeowners ask, and the answer can depend on a number of factors.
In this post, we will explore the topic in-depth and provide some guidance on when it might be time to buy a new one.
So, how often should you change lawn mower blades? read on to find out!
How Often Should You Change Lawn Mower Blades
You should change your lawn mower blades at least once per year and more often if you use your mower frequently. It’s also a good idea to inspect the blades regularly and sharpen them as needed.
Related: What are the best blades for a zero turn mower?
How Do You Know If You Need a New Lawn Mower?
You can easily tell you need a new lawn mower when the existing one starts misbehaving, especially after prolonged use.
Don’t be tempted to repair major damages as it might cost you more. For instance, if your lawn mower hits a rock or a tree stump, it will stop and fail to restart.
The shaft that attaches the blades to the mower’s engine might bend, which can be a very expensive repair.
Other signs that might prompt purchasing a new lawn mower include technical problems and normal wear and tear.
You may also want a new lawn mower if your mobility needs to change or if the shape or size of your lawn changes.
I say this because not all lawn mowers excel well on all types of lawns. As such, it’s important to settle on the right option that corroborates your needs.
What’s more? If your lawnmower suffers minor damage, consider repairing it. However, if that isn’t a viable option or if the repair cost is not less cost-effective, purchase a new one.
Also, if you see any of the below issues, don’t hesitate to acquire a new lawn mower:
Transmission Issues
Often, transmission is an exorbitant repair. Usually, it costs about $500 to replace.
So if you want to keep your lawn’s aesthetic appeal, don’t pay over the odds by opting for the expensive route like costly repairs.
Engine Problems
Engine failure costs more to repair than replacing it. So it’s important to know that a blown engine is a death sentence for a lawn mower.
Not Under Warranty
Without a lifetime warranty, lawn mowers are very pricey to repair. Ideally, a good lawn mower will serve you for 7 to 10 years; however, repairs come up.
Things like broken cables or belt pull cords are cheap to replace. However, mechanical issues are more costly.
Therefore, if your lawn mower malfunctions, examine its warranty to discover if it’s covered.
Read: Why is my pull start hard to pull?
Upgrade
You’ll inevitably need to upgrade your lawn mower to enjoy easier mowing. New models will grace you with lasting benefits, including fuel efficiency, saving you money over time.
Blades not disengaging
Another problem might be that the mower blades are not disengaging when the mower is running.
This can cause the blades to overheat, leading to poor performance and possible damage to the engine. If this is the case, it could be due to a broken or worn belt that needs to be replaced.
How Often Should You Change Lawn Mower Blades?
After visually inspecting your mower blades, you will easily tell if mower blades have any dents and nicks. Blade erosion occurs with time due to yard debris.
Therefore, ensure you inspect your blade’s thickness and sharpen them regularly to extend the lifespan if replacing isn’t your priority.
However, be careful when sharpening the blades to avoid common injuries. It’s even better to wear protective gloves and disconnect the spark plugs before sharpening the mower blades.
Can you sharpen mower blades without removing them?
Besides, people also ask how long do lawn mower blades last? A typical lawn mower blade can survive up to 100 to 200 hours of use under normal conditions.
This number of hours can extend to 400 if you opt for high-quality blades.
Tip
Maintaining your lawn mower blades guarantees a healthy and neat yard. Therefore, examining your mower blades after use is integral to ensure it’s damage-free and sharper (See our post on how sharp mower blades need to be).
Regular inspection of these blades also guarantees the proper growth of grass. So the moment you notice your blades are chipped or dull, sharpen them immediately.
If the damage is beyond repair, replace them, as sharpening will inflict more harm than good. Replacing the blades prevents them from breaking during use.
Uneven Length of Grass
You can easily tell that your mower blade is blunt when the final cut doesn’t appear great as usual. You will notice uneven patches or mow your lawn several times before it cuts right.
That’s because dull blades require more effort to trim your grass, plus you will have to compensate for the missed patches to yield desirable outcomes.
So suppose you realize that your mower takes more time to trim grass than usual; it implies that the blades require sharpening or a total replacement.
How to Replace Lawn Mower Blade
Lawnmower blades often degrade with time due to extended hours of use and other barriers. For instance, the high speed of the blades can hit an obstacle and possibly break or bend.
Luckily, you can evade these constraints by replacing your ravaged mower blades with new ones and proceeding with your mowing as usual.
The good thing is that this task is relatively straightforward, so even those who lack prior experience can do it. Follow these steps to replace your blades successfully:
Step 1
Safety is always a center of concern with any DIY job. So begin by wearing safety gear before touching anything.
If your lawnmower is cordless, disconnect the battery pack. You then disengage the ignition wire from the spark plug to prevent accidental Start-up while working.
You will also want to drain the gas tank and return the lid. Doing so prevents spills when you tilt the lawnmower.
Tip
If using an electric lawnmower, ensure it’s not plugged in.
Step 2
Next, position your lawn mower on a flat area with engaged parking brake. Then tilt the mower to expose the nut that secures the blade to the mower.
While tilting, you will need to be careful by ensuring the carburetor and the fuel tank face the top side to prevent leakage. Not sure where it is? Here’s where to find the carburetor on a lawn ower.
After that, use a wrench and socket to unfasten the nut.
Tip
When dealing with a troublesome fastener, you can increase its leverage when unfastening by placing a metal pipe over the wrench handle.
You may also want to position a wooden block transversely at the lawn mower’s far side to enhance stability in the tilted position.
Step 3
Next, uninstall the nuts using a socket wrench of an appropriate size exactly when holding the blade with your other hand to keep it from turning.
Then you tilt the wrench counterclockwise to unfasten and remove the but. You have to do this precisely and be watchful not to lose the mounting hardware that holds the blade in position.
Step 4
You can now install the new blade. Ensure you are equipped with your heavy-duty gloves before holding new blades.
The essence of the gloves is to avoid unexpected cuts from the sharp sides of the blade. After that, take the new blades and line them up in position carefully.
Next, reinstall the nuts and washers. If you have the user’s manual, you should discover the torque specs for fastening the nuts.
But if you don’t have, be sure not to over-tighten the nut considering that it might introduce vibrations in your mower.
Also, ensure the length of the new blade is synonymous with the previous one before installing it.
In any case you want to install a blade with a different dimension from the mower, read our article on 20 Inch Blade On a 21 Inch Lawn Mower.
Step 5
After successfully installing the new blades, remove the props used to hold the lawn mower in place, then lower it carefully.
Give the mower time to settle for about 30 to 60 minutes. This way, the oil will return to the motor, preventing unexpected motor damage.
Step 6
Refill the gas tank and re-engage the spark plug wire for gas mowers. Then conduct a quick inspection before mowing.
Confirm that the air filter is not saturated with oil. After inspection, you’ll have finished your replacement procedure.
Your mower should now cut grass more efficiently, leaving a well-manicured appearance.
Here’s How to Replace Lawn Mower Blade:
Precautions and Safety
- Before installing the blades, ensure they don’t nullify your lawn mower’s warranty.
- Ensure the carburetor faces up when tilting the mower.
- Wear heavy-duty gloves. Even though this step is often disregarded, it’s integral to wear gloves to avoid unwanted injuries.
How Often Should You Maintain Your Lawn Mower?
Keeping your lawn mower in good working condition helps maintain a beautiful and healthy lawn. It’s also handy in guaranteeing an extended lifespan.
You can maintain your lawn mower or hire a service expert to handle it professionally. Either way, how often should you maintain your lawn mower?
Maintaining a lawn mower should be done yearly, and it only takes a few hours to complete.
The best time to maintain your lawn mower is at the beginning of the season before the first mow and the end of the season when you’re storing your lawn mower until the next season.
Here is a checklist of annual lawn mower maintenance. Use it to ensure your lawn mower keeps running at its best.
- Change oil.
- Fog the engine to prevent the lubricants from draining away over time, causing damage and corrosion. However, never pour water directly into the engine, and avoid using a pressure washer to clean your mower.
- Adjust the mower blades.
- Clean the lawn mower to prevent the decaying grass from eating all the metal components.
- Replace and clean the air filter so your lawn mower works at peak efficiency.
- Replace the spark plug to ensure the lawn mower starts up easily. Also, uninstalling the spark plug before beginning maintenance is wise as it prevents accidental start-up.
- Sharpen the mower blades for smoother and even cuts.
- If you’re discontinuing your mower for more than 30 days, drain out all fuel from the mower.
How Long Do Lawn Mowers Last?
A lawn mower can endure 7 to 10 years of use with proper care and maintenance. However, if you disregard maintenance practices, expect your mower to last less than five years.
Here are the most emphasized practices that can increase your lawn mower’s lifespan.
Quality
You should purchase high-quality and durable mowers for your machine to survive years of maximum ill use.
Doing this means you’ll never spend money on a new lawn mower. Even if they are slightly expensive, they’ll go over patches of grass easily, unlike cheaper mowers malfunctioning prematurely.
Change oil
You must change the oil annually so your engine runs exceptionally well. You can confer with the user manual to know the regular maintenance schedule.
As you change the oil, ensure the fuel tank is empty. This prevents spilling when you alter the lawn mower’s position.
Why Do Commercial Mowers Cut Better?
Commercial mowers cut grass better than other options because they integrate quality components.
They also have higher blade speeds than residential mowers, reducing clumping significantly.
Another reason commercial mowers cut better concerns the engines. They have large and powerful engines that can overcome obstacles without issues.
How Much Does a Lawn Mower Service Cost
The cost of mending a lawn mower usually depends on the type of mower and the repair’s complexity.
Generally, repair costs range from $40 to $90 per hour. Other repair costs narrow down to the price of the supplies needed to repair the mower.
The repairs for smaller mowers are less expensive compared to large mowers like the riding mowers.
How your lawn mower is powered: electricity or gas is also a key factor in the cost.
Is It Okay to Hose Down a Lawn Mower?
Yes, it’s advisable to hose off your lawn mower, but don’t splash water directly to the engine considering the mower is not waterproof.
Spraying water on the electrics causes malfunctioning, which is relatively expensive to repair, and the warranty won’t cover it.
So it’s wise to avoid the transmission, cables, and belts. Use this trajectory to hose down your lawn mower without damaging the engine.
- Disengage the grass bag.
- Lower the deck height.
- Attach the hose to the deck.
- Turn on the water.
- Start the mower.
- Run the blade until the water runs clear.
- Remove the hose water.
- Ignite the mower and run the blade to dry the deck.
What Is the Best Time to Buy a Riding Lawn Mower?
Most seasonal products are cheapest when demand is minimal, and riding lawn mowers are no exception.
So the best time to invest in a riding lawn mower is in August or September and early fall when the busy summer mowing season is depleted.
Ideally, each season has different factors to consider when purchasing a new riding lawn mower.
Immediately after the summer months you’ll likely enjoy a good deal immediately after the summer months as sellers strive to sell their latest models.
Also, new lawn mowers are being discounted before the peak season. Therefore, to recap on the best time to acquire a lawn mower, it’s best to wait for the end of the season.
This way, you won’t spend over the odds to own a new riding lawn mower.
Is It Bad to Pull a Lawn Mower Backwards?
No, pulling a lawn mower backward is not bad, but you should not practice mowing in reverse for safety reasons.
Pulling a lawn mower backward is handy in maneuvering through tight crevices and around landscaping.
Thanks to the upgrades in lawn mower manufacturing, we now have mowers with reverse features that allow the blades to run in reverse.
The reverse feature is manual, meaning you must have prior experience using them.
But once you capture the technique, you will enjoy operating your mower in reverse exactly when keeping the blade and motor operational.
Riding Lawn Mowers
Today’s riding lawn mower models encompass a reverse implement operation function that keeps the mower engaged while backing up.
Given that it is a manual feature, you should allow your mower to stop before clutching the button.
So when your mower stops, hold down the RIO button in the reverse position, then push the shift lever into reverse.
If you’re working with an automatic drive mower, engage the reverse foot pedal.
You can release the button and run your mower while backing up and forward operation at this juncture. You don’t have to press the RIO button twice.
Disadvantages of Pulling a Lawn Mower Backward
Some of the disadvantages that come with pulling your lawn mower backward are:
Reduced Performance
Regardless of the convenience, lawn mowers don’t perform well in the reverse mode because of many factors.
For instance, your mower won’t discharge grass clippings properly when backing up because the direction is contrary to the machine’s design.
Secondly, you will achieve irregular cuts because operating backward means the blades run in reverse. As such, your grass will appear choppy and uneven in the trim areas with reverse.
Safety Issues
When trimming your lawn in reverse, your visibility is restricted. Additionally, dragging a non-riding lawn mower backward risks your feet.
Even if your mower incorporates a protective flap, your feet may stumble and get entangled in the mower blades.
So generally, the risk of pulling a lawnmower backward outweighs the conveniences.
Is It Okay to Push a Self-propelled Mower?
Yes, pushing a self-propelled lawn mower is advisable as it won’t harm the transmission.
The only downside is it’s uneasy about doing so, given that self-propelled mowers are slightly heavier than the topical push mowers.
Why Does My Mower Leave a Strip of Grass in the Middle?
Using a lawn mower alleviates the process of manicuring a lawn. However, mowing problems still materialize from time to time.
Common problems include a row of uncut grass and irregular cutting. Usually, the problem results from mowing with dull blades, operator error, speed issues, etc.
Dull or Damaged Blades
Strips of grass in the middle of your lawn imply that your lawn mower’s blades are dull or damaged.
Usually, dull blades are caused by wear and tear from mowing, but you can sharpen them with a grinder and resume trimming your lawn.
Other Blade Issues
Apart from damaged and dull blades, a strip of uncut grass between the mowing rows signifies that your lawn mower’s blades are unbalanced or installed inappropriately.
A mower’s blades are beveled and conspired to attach in a particular fashion. If one of them is upside down, you’ll achieve shoddy mowing. Ensure your mower blades are aligned correctly and secured tightly to the deck.
Overlap Mistakes
Another reason for uncut grass between mowing rows is the failure to overlap the rows enough.
You need to overlap each row by a few inches so the blade suction pulls up the grass.
Speed Issues
Streaky or patchy uncut grass may result from mowing too fast, so slowing down while trimming prevents that from materializing.
Which Is Better, Front or Rear Wheel Drive on a Lawn Mower?
If you plan to make trimming your lawn easier, you will need to liberate yourself from your outmoded push-on mower and choose a self-propelled mower.
This type of mower utilizes a set of drive wheels: either front or rear, to propel the lawn mower forward.
Both the front and rear wheel propulsion mowers deliver unique benefits. However, the question is, which one is better? Ideally, the rear-wheel-drive mower is a better pick over front-wheel drive.
That’s because it offers better traction in complex terrains with steep inclines, hills, and valleys at the expense of maneuverability.
It also boasts strong wheels that propel the mower ahead regardless of the impediments. Even though rear-wheel drive mowers don’t offer the maneuverability of front-wheel, they are ideal for larger and wide-open spaces.
The other downside of a rear-wheel-drive mower is it’s uneasy to drag the mower backward to change direction. That’s because the wheels are usually engaged in the forward movement.
On the other hand, front-wheel drive mowers are also handy on flat terrains, and they permit you to steer the mower around lawn ornaments, trees, shrubs, etc.
Why Does My Mower Cut Better When I Pull it Backwards?
For many reasons, your lawn mower may function better in reverse than forward gear. For instance, pulling the mower backward enables the blades to cut from both sides for a pleasing appearance.
Reverse mowing also allows the blades to access the confined spots left out in the first pass, which adds to the convenience of enhancing fine cuts.
Should You Change the Direction You Mow Your Lawn?
Yes, it’s wise to change your mowing direction. Doing so helps your blades to remain straighter and healthier for an extended time.
Grass blades often grow in the direction they are mowed. So alternating the pattern returns the blade to an upright position.
This also guarantees you won’t develop ruts from the mower wheels in your yard.
What Are the Common Mowing Precautions?
Mowing your lawn seems straightforward, but you must adhere to some specs to reap your desired outcomes. Check out below:
- Avoid mowing too low.
- Avoid cutting wet grass. That’s because your blades will stick together, resulting in irregular cuts.
- Avoid rushing to mow even if you have a busy schedule. Quick mowing leaves uneven clumps of clippings on the yard, giving it an unsightly look.
- Always mulch your grass as you mow, so the soil retains its moisture.
What Is the Purpose of a Trailing Shield on a Lawn Mower?
A lawn mower’s trail shield is positioned at the back of the mower, preventing debris from flying toward the operator.
Ensure it’s working as expected before the beginning of the mowing season.
Final Thoughts
As spoken of earlier, a lawn mower is a must-have piece of equipment on your top-wish list.
It comes with contemporary features to propel peak performance plus its cleverly built body maximizes the lifespan.
However, frequent usage makes this elegant machine lessen its reliability and lifespan. As such, you’ll want to know…
How Often Should You Replace Your Lawn Mower?
On average, a lawn mower can last 8.5 years. With proper maintenance, these machines can serve you up to 10 years.
Other than maintenance, other factors that will determine how long your mower lasts include the difficulty or size of the yard it mows.
You need to replace your lawn mower depending on the frequency of use and damage. However, if the damage is not severe, consider repairing the mower to avoid adding to the cost.
I hope that until this point, you are well aware of ways to put in place to ensure that your mower works in the best conditions possible.
Additionally, I believe you have gathered enough to know when to repair and replace your mower.
In case you have any questions, opinions, or suggestions that you’d like to put across, then please feel free to do so in the comment section below.