[hindy]

My insurance company gave me a new rotovator last year following a shed fire. I have used it a few times and it certainly does the job, but takes a lot of effort to cut though unbroken ground. Will it benefit to sharpen the tines? I know they self sharpen with time.

The rotovator is a Husqvarna T500RH 33.5" Pneumatic Drive - 4 stroke, 5hp Honda engine

[Gwiz]

I've never know anyone to bother.
Rotovators do have a hard time in "virgin" ground sometimes, but a couple of passes normally see the job done.

[hindy]

The last rototator that I had the tines were fairly sharp and with this one they are really blunt. Just made me think that they might need sharpening a little.

[Larkshall]

It is a good make and I am surprised that they have not made a good job of grinding the bevel on the blades. The blades should not be sharp, it is normal to have a flat edge about 1mm wide. If you grind it sharp you are taking life off the blades. The sharp corners will soon wear off.

[hindy]

When I say 'sharp' I do not mean knife sharp. caus that would be silly and they would soon wear down.
They are more rounded at the moment.

[Larkshall]

If you already have a bevel (on the inside of the blade) then I would suggest grinding slightly at about 45 degrees on the inside of the blade. If you don't have a bevel then grind slightly more (to an edge of about 1mm).

I do find that many tools these days are sold without being sharpened properly. Particularly axes and bill hooks not being sharpened are very dangerous for the novice. Blunt tools result in more accidents than sharp tools (except in my wife's case where she often manages to cut herself on a sharp knife, bad handling, her grandson is a chef so he is used to sharp knives)

[hindy]

Thanks guys.
Well its not rained for 3 weeks so far so going to take upto the lottie at the weekend. It will be ok on my ground (has been rotovated before) but will give it a try on virgin ground whilst i'm there, and will decide from the result.

[Paul Plots]

How did you get on?

I've a very old Howard 200 .... tines haven't been sharpened once in 40+ years. I guess they've worn to a good edge with time.

[hindy]

How did you get on?

I've a very old Howard 200 .... tines haven't been sharpened once in 40+ years. I guess they've worn to a good edge with time.

Hi Learner.
Did good on my ground, but it has been done before. Also rotovated a plot thats never been touched, was hard going making the first cut, but got better. I guess I'll just have to use it more and get them sharpened in the ground