Check the edges of your blades for sharpness. Test the sharpness of your cutter blades as you would the sharpness of an ice skate.  Drag the edge of the cutter across your thumbnail. If you can scratch your nail the blade is sharp.

Check the blade height. Cutters should be 5/16” below the shroud. The entire cutter should be below the notch in the left side of the shroud. If not, the hub bolt may have loosened over time. 

Remedy – Install a hub spacer and tighten hub bolt to 95 ft./lbs. Check the bolt tightness regularly.

Check the blade orientation angle. The cutter assembly should by tilted forward slightly for a positive cutting angle. With the cutters rotated to the front of the edger, lower the edger until the tip of the cutter contacts a smooth flat surface. Measure the distance from the cutter facing the rear, to the smooth surface. There should be a 5/16” gap. If not adjust the turnbuckle assembly until this is accomplished.

Check for broken or cracked blades.