Having a lawn mower that breaks down too often or comes up with one issue or the other every other time can be discouraging and worrisome. Here’s what I’ve found out in my years use and study of lawnmowers and their users: that my lawn mower cannot function well might be due more to negligence on my part, rather than some random engine failure, and this is why lawn mower maintenance is very important. In this post, we will be looking at some basics when it comes to maintaining the lawnmower. Remember the idea is a DIY approach, so you do not necessarily need to call a technician. In fact, the more the maintenance steps are applied, the less the need to call a professional.
The basic steps on maintaining a lawn mower are checking the oil level, fuel level and the air filter. These are the basics, as they will determine the efficiency and longevity of your lawnmower engine. Why these three are highlighted is also because these are the working fluids that deplete the most. So you will need to check, gauge and refill them often. As for the air filter, you just need to clean it.
Apart from the three basic maintenance procedures stated above, we will take you further into checking important parts like the pressure of your tire, the fuel filter, the carburetor, spark plug and battery charge.
Maintaining your lawn mower will help give you confidence even as you cut grass. It will also make the lawn mower last longer whilst making the engine work most effectively.
Most of the approach we use here are preventive, and if you get it right, it will really help to forestall the amount you will spend if you want to carry out a corrective maintenance.
STEPS INVOLVED IN LAWN MOWER MAINTENANCE
Below are some of the steps to take to make sure that your lawn mower is up and running anytime you need it, and never leaves you stranded.
Do not use stale fuel
Fuel that has stayed so long in the tank of the lawn mower might not be so good to use again. This is because it can clog the carburetor and cause damage to it.
The period where you have to use a lawn mower often, having stale fuel will not be an issue because your engine will keep burning it.
However, if your lawnmower is not in use, say during the winter period, a fuel stabilizer will need to be used. In fact, once your lawn mower sits for as much as 30 days without usage, you should drain the fuel tank before adding new fuel, or you use a stabilizer.
Failure to do so, it begins to have a negative impact on the carburetor and you will spend more fixing it.
Check engine oil level
It is very harmful to your engine to work without engine oil. This causes friction, wear and tear to mechanical parts and overheating. The ultimate end will be a noisy breakdown of the machinery.
To avoid this, always make sure that you gauge the oil level of your lawn mower, using the dipstick. Always remember to wipe the dipstick with a rag before reinserting it back.
It is also important to use the oil recommended by the manufacturer as not all engine oil have the same properties. Finally, make sure you do not pour excess oil into the oil tank. This will lead to another type of issue entirely.
Keep your battery healthy
This advice is for the electric, robotic and other battery powered lawnmowers. Oh well, some gas powered lawn mowers also use battery for the start functions.
Make sure your battery is fully charged before every use, to ensure maximum efficiency of your lawn mower, as the more efficient the mower is, the better it cuts your grass.
Also, the voltage of the battery needs to be top-notch for it to power accessories like sensors, light, starter and so on. If you notice you cannot charge your battery again, kindly get a new one, as there’s nothing to repair in a battery.
Clean the mower deck
Freshly cut grass contain moisture. This moisture can lead to rust and corrosion when cut grass has been left for a long time in the lawn mower deck. So do not forget to keep the deck area clean.
If you decide to use water to rinse the deck, make sure you use a dry rag to wipe it dry. You can use a blower to remove the clippings from the areas in the deck that are hard to reach.
A silicon spray can be used to prevent moisture from the building up in the deck even when fresh clippings have been cut.
Clean/replace the spark plug
The role of the spark plug is very important in the ignition of system of the lawn mower. The spark plug creates the spark necessary to cause ignition when it comes in contact with the air/fuel mixture of the carburetor.
Sometimes, it can get dirty and will need to be cleaned with a brush. Other times, it might need changing especially if it has worked a full 100 hours.
As a safety precaution, always remember to disconnect the spark plug wire before working on the spark plug.
Keep the blades sharp
What’s a lawn mower going to cut without sharp blades? In fact, a blunt blade will make the lawn look haphazardly/unevenly cut, unprofessional and unappealing to the eye.
A blunt blade will also make the motor do extra work as it needs mare power to turn the blades. So you will need the blade to be sharp at all times, and more importantly is to make sure the blades are balanced.
The nature of grass you have will determine how frequent you will have to be sharpening your blades. So if your turf grows really fast, it is advisable to have a spare set of blades you can always use as replacement, pending when you sharpen the other one.
It is also advisable to use blades that are recommended by your manufacturer, as not all blades are the same. They have different impacts on your lawn and pose different safety risks.
Clean the air filter
The air filter is really important, as it clears the air of dust, dirt and debris before it passes into the carburetor where it can mix with the fuel at a certain ratio for combustion to take place.
Dirt and debris can get into the air filter as you mow your lawn. This dirt and debris can clog the filter and hinder it from carrying out its functions. First check the type of air filter you have, as this will determine how you clean it.
But generally speaking, you can use a mild detergent to clean it and allow it to dry before using the mower again.
Check the fuel filter
Apart from the air that needs filtration, fuel also needs it. This is why the lawn mower has a fuel filter attached to it. And like the air filter, the fuel filter removes dirt from the fuel before it passes into the carburetor to mix with the air.
The fuel filter should be cleaned periodically as the trapped dirt can sometimes clog the filter and hinder its operations. For smaller lawn mowers, a primer is often used rather than a filter.
So which ever one you use, make sure you clean it frequently and change it if it is damaged completely.
Gauge the pressure of the tire
Flat or uneven tire pressure will affect the way the grass is cut. This is why you should gauge it from time to time to make sure that all the tires are evenly pumped.
If the pressure on one or more of the tires is low, it will affect the balance of the lawnmower, which will also affect the blades and make the grass unevenly cut.
Apart from the impact it has on the grass, it also has a negative impact on the lawnmower in that, the flat tires will cause the engine and transmission systems do extra work by trying to pull the mower along.
This will cause excessive wear and tear, as well as overheating in engine parts. Do well to avoid this at all costs.
Check belt and pulley
If your lawn is such that you always have to climb hilly and bump terrains, then you need to check your belts, gears and pulleys regularly.
The best way to spot these differences is by looking out for cracks and worn out lines along the surface of the pulley. A worn out or faulty pulley will affect the efficiency of the lawn mower.
The blades of the mower are attached to a belt. So if the belt is weak or faulty, it will affect the cutting efficiency of the blades. Try to replace these parts if they are worn out. There’s absolutely nothing to change.
Conclusion
Maintaining your lawn mower can be done by yourself. However, if you feel like you need to invite a professional, please do so. Also remember to observe all safety precautions as you carry out lawn mower maintenance.
