We love how our lawn looks after a mow, but most of us rarely do much to keep our lawn mower in good condition.
Sometimes after a few months of neglect, we hope that when we pull on the cord it will kick over and it hasn’t succumbed to the neglect, myself included!
Here’s a friendly reminder now that the grass has slowed down to give your mower some love, so that your mower can love your lawn!
Check the oil (four stroke)
Checking your oil is a very important step to ensure you’re looking after the motor, a fundamental part of the lawn mower. If it hasn’t been changed in over a year or your mower has been used for more than 30-40hours, it’s best to drain it and fill with new oil. If the oil has been changed recently make sure it is topped up to the optimum level.
Check the air filter
Air filters can get very grubby and full of all sorts of dirt and debris if not changed or cleaned every so often. A dirty filter will cause your lawn mower to run sluggishly and inconsistently. This isn’t ideal for ensuring a nice even cut.
To check the air filter, make sure the mower is turned off and the spark plug is disconnected. Then you will need to remove the protective cap either by undoing the clips or screws.
If your mower has a paper air filter you should simply be able to tap the filter on a bench and give it a clean with a brush. If the filter appears to be torn or broken, it may be time to replace your filter.
If your mower has a foam filter, clean the foam either dishwashing liquid or kerosene. This will help clean out dirt and debris which has built up over time. After this give the filter a rinse with some water and thoroughly dry the foam. Once the foam is then dry, apply some engine oil to the sponge. Then massage the sponge so oil is throughout. Then give the sponge a tight squeeze to remove any excess oil.
After cleaning the filter, you can then put it back in place and either clip or screw the cover back on.
Check the spark plug
A faulty or blown spark plug is one of the most common reasons for a lawn mower not starting. To check if the spark plug is bad, remove it using a spark plug socket. Check the spark plug for any signs of failure, things such as cracking, burning or deposits. If any of these signs are present, it’s best to replace it with a new one.
Observe the gap between the centre electrode (post) and side electrode (tongue) and adjust if necessary. You can measure the gap with a feeler gauge or spark plug gauge. If you are unfamiliar with the required gap, it’s best you don’t adjust this yourself. There is a way to test the plug for spark but there are some safety concerns with doing this. A helper is also required so unless you know exactly what you are doing, it is best to get an expert to look or simply replace the plug with a new one.
Clean the mowing deck
It’s not the most important part of lawn mower maintenance, but it is still very important. Making sure your blades are unobstructed, with a clean deck that won’t lead to a build-up of potential weed contamination or reducing the life of your mower through the body deteriorating unnecessarily.
*Make sure you disconnect the spark plug, and the throttle is off before cleaning the deck. Make sure you read your lawn mower maintenance guide before undertaking any maintenance, particularly when using a 4-stroke lawn mower to ensure you don’t cause any damage.
Check the blades
This one is more of an obvious one, you want to cut your grass not tear it! A nice sharp set of blades will be the most beneficial way to love your lawn by looking after your lawn mower. If you are handy on the tools and know what you are doing, then you may be able to sharpen the blades. Otherwise in most cases it’s best to put on a new set. This is a lot simpler, and they are relatively inexpensive to replace.
*Again, make sure you disconnect the sparkplug, and the throttle before checking the blades. Make sure you read your mowers maintenance guide before undertaking any maintenance work.
Lubricate
If your mower is clean, it’s a good time to lubricate any important moving parts. These include things like the wheels, the height adjuster for the mowing deck and throttle cable assembly.
Better yet, drop it off at your local lawn mower shop and have them give it a once over. That way when the growing season begins again, all you should need to do is make sure you have fresh fuel in the tank and away you go.
For more helpful tips and advice for mowing, check out our other mowing blogs here.
