Grading What is an easy method to check blade balance?

[larryw]

I took my 54"MMM deck off of the used BX2200 I just got and can tell the blades need to be straightened back out and sharpened. They still look to have some life left. The lifting edge is not worn down hardly any.

I am curious to hear anybodys method used to check a blades balance after sharpening.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[Junkman]

I have a small aluminum cone that I place the blade on and it self balances if the blade is in balance. If it is out of balance, one side will be lower than the other. If I have sharpened the blades, I will remove some weight from the heavy side by additional filing of the blade edge till it is perfectly balance. If it is a factory new blade then I will just file the back edge till it is in balance. Usually it doesn't take much to get them balanced properly. Just remember to put a paint mark on the side of the blade that faces down. This is a common error where the blades are installed up side down.

 

[larryw]

The little cone you describe is what I am interested in. What is it and where could I get one?

Thanks Junkman.

 

[Junkman]

Look in the lawn mower department of HD or Lowe's. I have seen them, but most now days are made of plastic. Will probably work just as well...

 

[JWE]

Last year summer I saw the Aluminum cone balancers at my local TSC.

I bought mine more than 20 years ago at a local hardware store that has since gone out of business. I sure do miss the local hardware stores. There is one left in my area but I understand that it will close before the end of the year. They just can't compete with the large home improvement stores.

 

[jpr62902]

I just hang 'em on a pencil through the mounting hole.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I just hang 'em on a pencil through the mounting hole )</font>

And I just use a small metal rod, usually a round shaft screwdriver, smaller than a pencil.

 

[JJT]

I have a #16 finishing nail driven into the wall near my bench grinder. I hang the blade off the nail and if it doesn't hang parallel to the floor I grind a little more off the end that hangs down. Repeat until the blade balances on the nail.