need to sharpen mower on Deere 212

For anyone- what is my most effective method to sharpen the blades for my Deere model 212's mower. The mower deck is off the tractor at the moment. My thoughts are to turn the deck upside down on the grass, and either remove both blades to sharpen on bench grinder, or to use my 6 inch side grinder while the blades are still on the deck. Suggestions please. By the way, I do not have an impact tool for the blade removal step.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
You would be ahead to rent the impact wrench, or go to Harbor Freight and buy one.
You can sharpen those blades with an angle grinder but you can't balance them
while they are on the deck. Taking the blades off gives you a lot better chance
at sharpening them at the correct angle as well.
 
There really is no way to sharpen the blades while on the deck (spindles).
Unless you took them off and put them on the spindles upside down in order to use the hand held grinder on them.
Then flip them over after sharpening them.

Have never balanced a lawnmower blade in 50 years. But then I do not grind away half of the blade.

With deck upside down use a hunk of 2x4 to stop blade while using a socket on a breaker bar to remove/install spindle nut.
No impact needed.
 
Go visit Ha4bor Freight. They have a little smaller version of this gun that
goes on special for around $30.oo. now and then. Have one and it works quite
well. Only thing is it is pretty heavy. Will twist lugs off so wantch out.
Plenty of power. Just grab an extension cord.
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Thanks for the good information. I have several tools that may help me, and I may do the work tomorrow or later in the week.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
I hate to see a guy burn blue spots on blades using a bench grinder. I slide a floor jack under my front axle, jack tractor up, take a 3/8th impact and drop the blades, put an edge on with my little air grinder and reverse process. Takes twenty minutes, used to take fifteen but I'm 70 years old now.
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If no impact wrench, put on some heavy leather gloves for cut protection, and grab a 1/2" breaker bar with a 5/8" socket and a short piece of wood 4" X 4".

Place the 4" X 4" block between the backside/side opposite the cutting edge of the blade and the deck housing to block the blade and spindle from rotating so you can loosen the bolt with the breaker bar and socket.
 
Even if you have to drive a while, get an impact wrench, 1/2" if you have one large jam nut like my Cub
Cadet decks have. If the blades bolt on with two capscrews a 3/8" butterfly impact may work. Remove the
blades to sharpen, clean the accumulated grass out from under the deck, and balance the blades after
sharpening. Your spindle bearings will thank you with many more years of service before needing bearing
or spindle replacement. There should be a hole right in the middle of the blade, same distance from each
end. Set the blade over a small screwdriver centered on that hole and see if the blade sets on the
screwdriver level. Make sure the accumulated gunk from the grass is sanded or ground, or wire brushed off
the blades before balancing.

Been mowing with garden tractors for over 55 years. It sure helps keeping underside of decks clean if
the grass is dry when you mow. Walk around your yard a bit before you mow. If the toes of your work boots
get drops of water on them wait another hour to start mowing. And walk around the second time too,
yeah, I've mowed in the rain, and really hated it. Mowed in snow too. My new Cub Cadet Tank zero turn
doesn't need NEAR the maintenance of blade sharpening and deck cleaning as the 50 year old decks needed,
and it mows WAY nicer too.
 
Hi, Bob:
I used a method like yours, blades came off easily using socket and normal handle. Put back on and tested ok on my lawn.

And replying to GAB, I did not burn blue spots in edges of blades, I don't know why someone would be that careless with his bench grinder!

PROJECT COMPLETE, THANKS for all the posts.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
(quoted from post at 16:41:59 04/22/19) Hi, Bob:
I used a method like yours, blades came off easily using socket and normal handle. Put back on and tested ok on my lawn.

And replying to GAB, I did not burn blue spots in edges of blades, I don't know why someone would be that careless with his bench grinder!

PROJECT COMPLETE, THANKS for all the posts.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.

THANKS for telling us how it worked out!

There's SO many good ideas on here, what may seem obvious to one person, cause that's the way their Dad did it and it's the way they always did it, but someone else has never tried that and does it in a way that works for them!
 

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