Touch Up Sharpening MMM?

[Trail]

At least once a year I take the blades off my 60" MMM for my 2360 and sharpen them.

Never fails that after I do this I hit the random hidden boulder, winter raised stump or railroad spike (why are these even laying on my property?). Then I either take them off again or just worry that the blades are dinged up and not cutting well.

Yesterday was one of those days, as I hit something pretty good while mowing.

I don't feel like taking them back off already. So I raised up the tractor a bit, and verified a blade is pretty dull. Used a puck and got a decent edge on all three blades. Of course, I was not able to balance them this way. I tried to take off the same amount but there's no way I did.

So that's my question...do any of you do these touch ups? Do you worry about the blades not being balanced from a touch up? Am I just being lazy and should just get the blades off?

I did run it and no obvious bad vibration.

 

[Trail]

I'll bump this once, and then let it fade into the abyss of that's what happens. Sincerely curious if anyone here does these minor touch ups, or if it's "all or nothing" like I had been doing.

I'm not an experienced sharpener, and was surprised, and impressed, at the job a sharpening puck did on the blades.

I don't like not balancing the blades after a sharpening, but don't really like taking them off 2-3 times a season either. Either way I'd still plan to take them off and do a full sharpening / cleaning in the beginning of the year.

 

[85Hokie]

I like my blades sharp too, however - I am not going to resharpen if I hit a small rock. I will have to really hit something "real" before I look under and see if something is amiss.

AS for balancing - if you are sharpening by hand, I would say the amount you could "unbalance" would be less than a couple of grams. (US bill weighs 1 gram)

Those spindles are massive, and the blade is some serious steel, 1/4" thick, 3" wide......I would think unless you placed on a grinding wheel, there should be no problems.

99% of initial cutting occurs on last 1/4" of the blade, that is the spot that needs need most of the attention. True nicks can happen in other areas, but that little tip gets the most attention!

 

[skeets]

Try running over an alley apple and have it roll around in the deck before you shut it off,, THAT will bugger up a blade,,,dont ask ,,
Now what do you mean by you used a "PUCK" and got an edge?

 

[jpf]

puck?
alley apple?
I'm just getting old! and must have forgotten what they are?

 

[Yooper]

The vibration will tell you what you need to know. I would keep doing what you're doing, I think you're just fine.

 

[scdeerslayer]

Get a second set of blades. When you think it's time for sharper blades, sharpen the ones that aren't installed, then crawl under there once and change them all out.

 

[Creature Meadow]

What works for me is I have 3 sets of blades, one on mower and 2 waiting ready to go.

I personally change my blades every 3 uses or about 10 to 12 hours of cutting.


I find this works well, the blades usually on require a couple minutes work on each and the outer 3 or 4 inches show signs of dulling.

This is not on a MMM but my Exmark but I thought it applied. Keeping the blades sharp allows me to cut a little faster with a clean cut and less strain on the mower as it slices through the grass more easily.

As mentioned if the cut looks good and no vibration then I would not be concerned about balancing.

For balancing, I have a line drawn on the wall and a nail I hang my blades on to ensure they are balanced simple but it works and seldom do I need to take more off one side.

 

[skeets]

Alley Apple,,, a freekin RED BRICK,,,lol
Im still waiting to find out what a puck is

 

[Yooper]

Skeets, I'm sure this is what he's using. Its an abrasive stone like you would use to sharpen a knife only its round. They make them in different grits.

 

[skeets]

Ahhhhhhh soooooooooooooo

 

[Trail]

Skeets, I'm sure this is what he's using. Its an abrasive stone like you would use to sharpen a knife only its round. They make them in different grits.

Yes, that is it. Have used it to sharpen a machete, didn't know
how it would work on the blades..it worked great. Really sharpened them well.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

 

[skeets]

I bet that was a real treat with them still on the deck