The blade on your lawnmower may appear robust, but it is susceptible to damage, especially if it comes into contact with more than the grass you’re cutting. In fact, your lawnmower’s manual is likely to state that if you hit a foreign object with your lawnmower, such as a stone, you should immediately check the blade.

However, few of us do this despite a damaged lawnmower blade having a detrimental effect on the cut of your lawn. But, replacing the blade on a lawnmower isn’t a difficult task and by following the advice below you should be able to replace your lawnmower blade in little more than 5 minutes.

Replace a Blade on Your Petrol Lawnmower:

1. Remove the spark plug cover from the spark plug your lawnmower before carrying out any work to ensure the mower cannot accidently start.
2. Turn the lawnmower onto its side making sure the air filter side of the engine is facing upwards. We recommend if you’re replacing your blade mid cut, you allow the engine to cool. A hot engine has the potential to lead to accidents.
3. To remove the blade, you will need to undo the bolt in the centre using a wrench. But before you can do this the blade will need to be jammed to prevent it from moving. There are 2 ways you can secure your blade…I) Hold it with your free hand, making sure you are wearing protective gloves to avoid any cuts.

   II) Place a plank of wood under the blade to jam it.

4. With your blade removed, give the underside of your lawnmower a thorough clean. The best way to do this is with a bucket of warm, soapy water and a hard bristled brush. Simply dip the brush into the water and scrub the underside of the mower to remove any grass residue and dirt.
5. Fit the new blade into place, taking care to make sure it is the right way up. Once your blade is in place, tighten the nut using the wrench and return the lawnmower to an upright position.
6. Refit the spark plug and test the mower, making sure it cuts the grass and the blade is securely fastened.

Replacing a Blade on Your Electric Lawnmower:

To replace the blade on your electric lawnmower you will need to follow steps 3 to 5 above, remembering to ensure the plug on your lawnmower is not connected whilst carrying out the work on your mower.

Once you have fitted the new blade to your lawnmower, tightened the nut and returned the lawnmower into an upright position, we recommend you plug it in and test it – making sure the grass cuts correctly and the blade is secure.

You can see how easy it is to replace the blade on an electric lawnmower, by watching our video below where you’ll see Josh replace the blade on a Bosch lawnmower in just over 2 minutes.

Replacing Your Plastic Lawnmower Blades:

Plastic blades are common on basic lawnmower models, such as a Flymo hover lawnmower. However, unlike their metal counterparts they are quicker at wearing down and are therefore likely to need replacing on a more regular basis.

Thankfully, replacing plastic blades on a lawnmower isn’t a difficult task, even for a DIY novice, and it is possible to replace such blades in a matter of minutes by following the guidance outlined below.

1. Make sure the lawnmower is unplugged to prevent any accidents from occurring.
2. Place the lawnmower onto its side, giving you access to the cutting disc where the blades are housed.
3. Lever the blades out via the holes on the cutting disc, taking care not to snap any area or cause any damage.
4. With the old blades removed, use a bucket of warm soapy water and a hard bristled brush to clean off any dirt or grime which may have built up.
5. Fit the replacement plastic lawnmower blades by pushing them through the holes in the cutting disc, until they click into place, then simply return the appliance to its upright position, plug it in and test it.

Please not the information provided above is a guide only, and how you remove and replace your lawnmower blade will depend on the model you have. We therefore recommend before carrying out any maintenance on your lawnmower, you consult your lawnmower’s manual.

Tags: Gardening Tips, Lawnmower Blade, Lawnmower Maintenance