You know, Lawn mowers are one of the most essential pieces of equipment that a homeowner can own. Not only do they save you time and energy, but they also ensure your lawn looks its best. But like all tools and machinery, lawn mowers require regular maintenance to function properly and last as long as possible.
Why maintaining your lawn mower is important?
Here are four reasons why maintaining your lawn mower is important:
Basic Importance of lawn mower maintenance:
- Keeps Your Lawn Mower Running Smoothly
Routine maintenance on your lawn mower will keep it running smoothly and extend its life. This includes sharpening the blades, changing the oil, and cleaning the air filter regularly. Keeping up with these simple tasks will save you money in the long run by preventing costly repairs down the road.
- Helps Your Lawn Look Its Best
When you take good care of your lawn mower, it shows in your yard’s appearance. Well-manicured turf looks much better than patchy, overgrown grass. Furthermore, a neat and tidy landscape reflects well on you as a homeowner and can even add curb appeal and value to your property!
- Makes Lawn Mowing More Enjoyable
Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly cut grass? When your lawn mower is properly maintained, mowing the lawn can be a therapeutic and enjoyable experience. But when your mower isn’t running well, it can be a frustrating chore. Be sure to take care of your lawn mower so you can enjoy this simple pleasure each time you use it.
- Reduces Your Risk of Injury
A malfunctioning lawn mower can pose a serious safety hazard. Sharp blades that are not properly cared for can cause severe cuts or even amputations if they come into contact with skin. It’s important to regularly inspect and sharpen your blades to reduce the risk of injury while using your lawn mower.
Advanced Importance:
- Prevent rusting and corrosion
Rust and corrosion are two of the biggest enemies of any metal object – including lawn mowers. Lawn mower blades, in particular, are susceptible to rusting since they’re constantly exposed to moisture from grass clippings.
Over time, rust can cause the blades to become dull and less effective at cutting grass. It can also lead to other problems such as blade imbalance or breakage. To prevent rusting, make sure to clean off your lawn mower blades after each use with soap and water (or a solution specifically designed for cleaning metal).
You should also regularly apply a coat of lubricant or oil to keep the metal parts protected against moisture. If you live in an area with particularly humid weather conditions, consider storing your lawnmower indoors when it’s not in use – this will help extend its lifespan significantly!
- Avoid fuel issues
Regularly using fresh fuel is one of the simplest yet most important things you can do to maintain your lawnmower (and any other gasoline-powered tool). Old gasoline tends to deteriorate quickly, leaving behind deposits that can clog up vital engine parts over time.
This decreased performance, ultimately leading, requires more frequent tune-ups or even complete engine replacement.
So whenever possible, try filling up your gas tank with fresh gas immediately before using your Lawnmower starting each season, buying gas that has been recently mixed with oil. This will help prevent any fuel-related issues from cropping up down the line.
As you can see, there are many reasons why maintaining your lawn mower is important. By taking care of this valuable piece of equipment, you’ll enjoy a healthier lawn, a more attractive landscape, and peace of mind knowing that you’re doing your part to protect the environment.
Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips (Infographic)
Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist Template
Is it time for annual lawn mower maintenance? The grass is starting to grow and you know what that means – it’s time to break out the lawn mower! But before you can start enjoying your freshly cut lawn, there are a few things you need to do first. Here is a quick checklist of maintenance items to help get your lawn mower ready for action:
- Check the oil level and quality
You should check your oil level before each use, and change it at least once per season or every 50 hours of use, whichever comes first. Be sure to use the correct type of oil recommended by your manufacturer – typically this will be 10W-30w motor oil.
- Sharpen or replace the blade
A dull blade will tear rather than cut grass, resulting in an uneven finish and yellowing patches over time. Depending on how often you use your lawn mower, you may need to sharpen the blades several times per season or replace them entirely every few years. If sharpening them yourself, be very careful as blades are extremely sharp – always wear gloves!
- Clean under the deck
Grass clippings can build up over time underneath the deck of your lawn mower, causing rusting and other damage if not removed regularly. Use a putty knife or similar tool to scrape off any built-up debris, then rinse with water.
- Inspect belts & pulleys
Moving parts such as belts and pulleys can become loose or worn over time, so it’s important to inspect them periodically for any signs of damage. If anything looks damaged, cracked, or excessively worn, have to replaced immediately as continuing to operate the lawn mower.
- Test & clean spark plugs
Spark plugs play an important role in getting your engine started and running smoothly. However, they can become fouled over time by deposits of carbon or other materials, which can prevent proper ignition. To test if they need to be cleaned or severely fouled and in need of replacement.
- Check air filter
The air filter helps to prevent foreign particles from entering and damaging your engine. Over time, it can become clogged with dirt and debris, so be sure to inspect it regularly – typically every 30 hours of use or once per season at a minimum. If the filter looks excessively dirty, replace it with a new one.
- Drain & refill fuel tank (if necessary)
If your lawn mower has been sitting for an extended period of time (more than 30 days), you’ll need to drain the old gas out before using it again. As, gas can go bad over time and cause damage to your engine. Simply run the mower until it runs out of gas, then refuel with fresh gasoline before starting it up again.
By following this simple checklist, you can help to ensure that your lawn mower is in good working condition and will last for many years to come.
Lawn Mower Maintenance Schedule
It is important to have a lawn mower maintenance schedule to keep your lawn mower running smoothly and avoid costly repairs. A well-maintained lawn mower will also last longer and save you money in the long run. Below is a suggested schedule for maintenance of your lawn mower to keep it in top condition.
Monthly Maintenance
Check engine oil level and add if needed – SAE 30 oil is typically used for most 4-cycle engines. However, refer to your owner’s manual for the specific type of oil required for your model. Be sure to check the oil level with the engine cold before starting.
Inspect air filter and clean or replace as needed – A dirty air filter can decrease fuel efficiency and cause engine damage. Most foam filters can be cleaned with soap and water; paper filters will need to be replaced when they become damaged or excessively dirty. Again, consult your owner’s manual for specifics on your model.
Seasonal Maintenance (Spring & Fall)
Each season, it’s important to inspect more of your lawn mower than just the basics listed above. Springtime is especially critical since it marks the beginning of regular cutting again after winter storage. Taking care of these items now can prevent big problems later on down the road.
Drain old gas and add fresh fuel if required – Ethanol blended fuels can start to break down after just 30 days, so it’s essential to drain any gas that has been sitting in your lawn mower over winter. Add fresh, unleaded gasoline mixed with a quality engine oil stabilizer. This will help keep the fuel from breaking down further and gumming up your engine. Never store your mower with gasoline in the tank – always empty it out first!
Yearly Maintenance
In addition to all of the items listed above, you should also take care of these yearly maintenance tasks:
Clean under deck and sharpen/replace blades – build up of grass clippings & debris can prevent air flow, which leads to rusting. A blade with insufficient sharpness will tend to tear the grass rather than cutting it cleanly. This will damage the turfgrass and increase the chances of disease outbreaks.
Change spark plug – A fouled or damaged spark plug can cause hard starting, poor engine performance, and decreased fuel efficiency. Replacing it regularly will keep your engine running smoothly.
Clean carburetor (if equipped) – Over time, the carburetor can become clogged with dirt and debris, causing the engine to run poorly or not at all. Cleaning it out regularly will help keep your mower’s engine running smoothly.
Now that you know what needs to be done on a monthly, seasonal, and annual basis, put together a schedule that works for you so nothing gets forgotten!
Lawn Mower Maintenance Log Template
Troubleshooting tips for common lawn mower problems
Lawn mowers are a staple in many households during the spring and summer months. They help to keep our lawns looking manicured and tidy. But, like any machinery, they are prone to breaking down or having issues from time to time. Below is a list of some common problems people have with their lawn mowers, as well as some tips on how to fix them:
- Engine Won’t Start
This is probably the most common problem people have with their lawn mower. There can be a number of reasons why your engine won’t start, so it’s important to troubleshoot and figure out the root cause. Is there gas in the tank? Has the oil been changed recently? Is the spark plug dirty or old? Once you’ve determined what is causing your engine not to start, you can take steps to fix it accordingly.
- Mower Keeps Stalling
If your mower keeps stalling mid-way through cutting your grass, there are again several possible causes. It could be an issue with fuel delivery, spark plugs, or even something as simple as clogged air filters. Again, troubleshooting is key here in order to determine what exactly is causing your mower to stall repeatedly.
- Uneven Cut
If you notice that your lawn isn’t being cut evenly (i.e., longer grass in one spot and shorter grass in another), blade balance could be an issue. Unbalanced blades will cause uneven cuts because they aren’t rotating properly on the axle while in use.
You’ll need to remove the blade(s) and check/adjust accordingly until they’re balanced correctly again before using your mower again. Additionally, dull blades will also lead to uneven cuts since they tear rather than slice through grass blades. So if you have an old blade that hasn’t been replaced in a while, that could also be the culprit.
- Mower Won’t Move
If your mower seems to be working fine but won’t move when you try to push it, there are a few things you can check. First, make sure that the drive belt (if your mower has one) is still intact and not broken or frayed. Secondly, check to see if any of the wheels are locked up or stuck; if so, try spraying some WD-40 on them and see if that helps loosen them up. Lastly, if your mower has a self-propel feature, make sure that it’s engaged correctly and not jammed.
- Loud Noises Coming from the Engine
If you start hearing loud noises coming from your lawn mower’s engine area, it’s definitely time to take action. In most cases, these types of noises indicate serious engine problems, and trying to continue using the mower could do further damage. So diagnose your mower and fix the problem first.
Keep in mind that these are just some of the most common issues people have with their lawn mowers. If you’re experiencing an issue that’s not on this list, or if you’ve tried the suggested fixes but they haven’t worked, your best bet is to take your mower to a professional for further diagnosis and repairs.
Community Ask Questions and Answers On Maintain A Lawn Mower
How often should I sharpen my lawn mower blades?
It’s generally recommended that you sharpen your lawn mower blades at least once per season. If you notice that your grass isn’t being cut as cleanly or evenly as usual, it’s probably time for a sharpening.
How do I sharpen my lawn mower blades?
There are a few different ways to sharpen lawnmower blades. You can use a hand file, power grinder, or rotary tool with a grinding attachment. Just be careful not to overheat the metal and damage the blade. If using a power tool, work slowly and steadily until you achieve a nice sharp edge on both sides of the blade.
Should I oil my Lawn Mover Engine? How often should this be done?
Yes, Engine oil helps lubricate engine parts and prevents them from overheating and wearing down prematurely. Most engines will have an oil change interval listed in their owner’s manual. And typically every 50 hours of use or every season.
What type of oil should I use in my Lawn Mower engine?
You should always consult your owner’s manual when choosing an oil for your lawn mower engine. Generally, most engines will require 10W-30 or SAE 30 oil.
My lawn mower is leaving clumps of grass behind – what could be the problem?
There are a few things that could cause this issue. It could be that your blades are dull and need to be sharpened, or that the bottom blade is installed upside down. It could also be that the grass catcher bag is full or needs to be emptied more frequently.
Why my lawn mower is leaving streaks of uncut grass behind?
This is usually caused by an uneven cutting deck. To fix this, simply adjust the cutting deck until it’s level.
How often to change lawn mower fuel filter?
It’s generally recommended that you change your lawn mower’s fuel filter every season or every 300 hours of use, whichever comes first.
My lawn mower is smoking – is this normal?
Lawn mower engines produce a small amount of smoke when they’re first started up, but if there’s a lot of smoke or the smoke persists even after the engine has warmed up, there could be an issue. Check our lawn mower white smoking guide to solve this issue.
Final Words
Now you know, How to maintenances a lawn mower properly. If you go through each one of the steps lined out here, you will be able to maintain a quality lawnmower, regardless of the brand. Just like any equipment, you must stay vigilant in keeping up with the functionality by doing routine checks on the main parts of the machine.
Mower maintenance is not as difficult as it seems, but if you feel overwhelmed or have a lack of confidence in your ability to work on this type of machine, then don’t hesitate to take it to a professional.