Taking care of your yard properly includes regular lawn-mowing. In addition to the cosmetic benefits that come from mowing your lawn, it also provides other numerous advantages. When you mow your lawn regularly, it helps keep pests out of your grass. Regular lawn-mowing also helps ensure that debris does not accumulate on your grass. Since these machines get a lot of use, lawn mower maintenance is very important.
Like any piece of machinery, lack of proper maintenance can take a toll on its performance and shorten its lifespan. If you want to ensure your lawn mower’s longevity so that it stays in tip-top shape, be sure to take care of it properly and regularly. Here are some simple steps you can take in order to keep the maintenance of your lawn mower easy and stress-free.
Read the manual thoroughly
Your owner’s manual is the best place to find important information about the maintenance of your lawn mower in addition to helpful steps for troubleshooting in case something goes wrong. The manual contains tips for how to keep your machine in tip-top shape. Important examples include sharpening the blades, checking the oil levels, and other basic repair suggestions. Your manual is also a guide to help you avoid misuse of your mower and other common lawn mower problems. The manufacturer’s manual is there to provide you with everything you need to know about your machine. Be sure to refer to your manual and read it thoroughly before using your lawn mower.
Empty the fuel tank
Do you ever struggle with getting your mower to start up? One of the common reasons why lawn mowers are difficult to start is due to old fuel. Make it a habit to empty your machine’s fuel tank at the end of the peak mowing season. Get rid of any old fuel before storing the mower during the winter, and remember to top it off with fresh clean gas when spring starts.
Keep the oil in check
Like any other type of machine, your lawn mower needs oil in order to deliver smooth and impeccable performance. Therefore, it’s imperative to keep your oil level in check. In addition to making sure your oil is at the right level, it’s also important to ensure its cleanliness. Check if there is any debris floating in it. If so, make sure you remove these impurities before they cause potential damage in the future.
Drain the oil completely using the drain plug. Then, refer to your owner’s manual to make sure you replace your oil with the right type.
Inspect the air filter
Another important step when it comes to maintaining your lawn mower is making sure the air filter is clean. A clogged and dirty air filter can take a toll on your mower’s engine. Be sure to have your air filter checked, but also be cautious so as not to cause any damage to the engine.
When cleaning the air filter, be sure to remove any debris, but do not overclean it. Replace the old filter with a new one if necessary.
Sharpen the blades
Your mower’s blades do the majority of the work when it comes to lawn mowing. They do the cutting of the grass and therefore, need to be sharpened periodically. Remember that grass isn’t the only thing these blades cut through when you mow your lawn. Blades also come in contact with other objects that can dull them over time, such as rocks, stones, and branches. Sharpening your blades is an excellent way to ensure that the grass isn’t ripped. While this is a step you can do on your own, you can always reach out to a small engine expert to perform this maintenance step for you.
Keep the undercarriage clean
To make sure nothing in your machine gets rusty, make it a habit to clean your lawn mower after every use. One of the important areas to remember cleaning is your mower’s undercarriage. The undercarriage is where most of the cut grass accumulates. Take out the spark plug and use a wire brush to scrape off grass, dirt and other debris.
Keeping your lawn mower in the best condition and ensuring its longevity all depend on how well you care for your machine. Follow these simple lawn mower maintenance tips so you can keep your mower in good shape and avoid costly and stressful problems down the road.
If you need help with anything related to your lawn mower or other small engines, please feel free to reach out to Greg’s Small Engine.
