Reasons why you should complete your lawn mower service
Maintaining lawn mowers, especially push mowers, is very easy. The average home DIY type person can easily handle their own lawn mower service. With a few simple tools and a little effort, you can handle your lawn mower maintenance. The first place to look would be the owner’s manual. If you don’t have one, you should contact the manufacturer of your lawn mower. This will list all the service intervals for various items on your lawn mower.
There are many reasons to maintain your lawn mower.
Longevity – You wouldn’t drive your car without changing the oil, would you? So why would you neglect your lawn mower? When you keep up with your lawn mower maintenance, you lower your total cost of ownership. Your lawn mower will last you for many years if it is cared for properly.
Quality – When your lawn mower is fully repaired, it will perform at its best. This means that the engine is running at its best, and also that your blade (s) are sharp and balanced. The end result is a lawn mower that will start reliably, cut cleanly, and will always be ready when you are.
Common tasks during a lawn mower service
Basic maintenance is very useful and easy. Most jobs can be completed at the end of the mowing season before winter storage, or can be completed just before the season begins. These common elements include the following.
Air filter
Petroleum
Spark plug
Sharpen and / or replace blades
Cleaning under cover
Air filter
Typical air filter of a lawn mower.
As cheap as they are, air filters only need to be made once a year. Most lawnmowers have easy access to the air filter housing. Unlock a couple of tabs or loosen a couple of screws. Lawnmower air filters are typically the soft foam or paper type. If you allow your mower’s air filter to become clogged, you will lose power and will not completely burn fuel. Consult your owner’s manual for the correct filter.
Petroleum
Oil collection tray
At least once a year, you should change the engine oil in your lawn mower. This will usually require you to tilt the mower on its side and drain through the fill port, as most do not have drain plugs. Many lawn mowers run on SAE 30, but there should be a chart that compares your weather temperature to recommended oil usage. Simply unscrew the fill cap, tip the mower on its side, and drain all the oil into an approved container. When your container is full, you can take it to a local garage or recycling center for disposal.
Oil table
Oil chart for recommended oil weight for climate. Consult the owner’s manual for your specific engine.
The type of oil you use will change a bit, depending on your local climate. Most manufacturers have a table in the owner’s manual that shows the temperature ranges.
Spark plug
All small push lawn mowers have a single spark plug. The spark plug’s job is to ignite the gasoline to supply power to turn the blade. Over time, this spark plug can get dirty or dirty. When this occurs, your mower will not start or will jerk and run poorly. To change a spark plug, you will need a spark plug socket. Spark plug sockets have a special rubber insert inside to protect the ceramic of the spark plug and also hold and hold it in place.
Once the spark plug is removed, you will see what model number it is by looking at the side of the ceramic. You should be able to see a number, usually written in blue. This will tell you which spark plug to replace. Install new plug and tighten.
Lawn mower blade
When the mower blade is sharp, it will obviously make a cleaner cut. But this also helps the grass grow better by cutting it and not tearing it. When you look at a blade of grass at the tip, you should see a nice clean cut. If it is ripped and ripped, it means you need to sharpen your blade.
Having a sharp blade also requires less work on the engine. This in the long run will result in longer engine life as it does not load all the time.
Sharpening blades at home is something a DIYer can do. At the very least, it requires a file and would make it that much easier in order to hold it securely while you work.
Another option is also a grinder, which is much faster, but not everyone has a grinder at home.
Newer styles of sharpening use a blade sharpener. These work much like a knife sharpener found in your kitchen, but on a larger scale for lawn mower blades.
Sharpening is pretty straightforward. But first we must remove the sheet.
Removing the blade from a lawn mower
Raise the mower securely so that you can access the bottom where the blade is located. If you tilt it to one side, drain as much gasoline as possible and also position the engine muffler pointing up. This will prevent oil from getting into the muffler and causing a big smoke show at start-up.
Remove the spark plug wire only as a precaution in case of accidental starting.
Using the blade holder, secure the blade so that it does not rotate. This tool is a lifesaver compared to using a block of wood.
Using the correct size bushing and breaker bar, loosen the center retaining bolt.
Remove the blade.
This is also a good time to remove any grass buildup under the deck.
Sharp and Balanced
Now that the blade has been removed, it’s time to sharpen it. Now, considering you haven’t hit rocks or other solid objects, you shouldn’t have any big chips on the blade. If it does, just buy a new set of blades and install it.
Hold your sword securely on a target, or you can hold it by hand. It is important to wear gloves! This will keep your fingers intact. Using a knife sharpener, work from the center to the tip until a nice sharp edge is formed. Repeat on the other side.
Now we need to make sure your blade is balanced. Using a blade balancer, place the blade on it and make sure it is level. If one side seems to sink more than the other, remove more material.
The purpose of balance is to reduce vibration. It is the same concept as balancing the tires on your car.
When done, install the blade back into your mower. Installation is the reverse of removal.
Final thoughts on lawn mower service
Doing your own lawn mower service is something almost anyone can do. This is a job that you have to complete once a year and it comes at a fairly low cost. Once you buy all the tools you need, maintaining your mower will cost next to nothing.
Completing your own lawn mower service is rewarding, as you know the job will get done right. It will also allow you to save money over and over again.
Enjoy your Lawn Mower and Happy Cutting service!