Great, you’ve bought your lawn mower. Now, the next step is to make this great convenience to last for the maximum of its life span. To be honest, it’s quite simple. The main thing is to clean it regularly in order to prevent potentially future pricey repairs.
1) Check the Manual
- Do not assume that all lawn mowers can be maintained the same way.
- Always check the owner’s manual (it has technical and maintenance information) in case there are specific maintenance procedures.
- The manual guides you as to where each part is located.
- Failure to follow the specific instructions can shorten the life or your mower or cause you most costly damage.
2) Sharpen the Blades
- Remove and sharpen your lawn mower blades at the very least once a year
- If you are new at it or lack the time to sharpen it properly, a mower repair shop will do the job. Note that reel mowers should be sharpened at a lawn mower repair shop.
- If you need hints on when to sharpen your blades, look at the grass. If the grass is ragged, has torn edges and is a slightly brownish straw cast, it is time to sharpen the blades.
- Remember, before working on the blades, remove the spark plug!
- A hint: If you do not use your mower to cut branch, twigs and avoid hitting rocks, your blade will last longer
3) Change Oil, Oil Filter, Air Filter and Spark Plug
- If you read the manufacturer’s instructions, it will tell you how to change the oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plug properly yearly
- A clean air filter will allow your mower to burn less gas.
- Drain the oil and gasoline before storing it if you are keeping it for a long time. It will ensure that your lawn mower remains in good riding condition year after year
4) Lubricate Moving Parts
- Lubricating is essential to keep your mower in good shape
5) Tighten bolts and connections
- You do not need to do them all the time, just when it is necessary
6) Keep Mower Clean
- Always remove any built-up grass, dirt, grime, leaves, etc below the blade deck
- Wipe water off any part of the lawn motor if it gets wet to prevent rusting.
It doesn’t sound that difficult to maintain, does it? Bear in mind that an ideal maintenance plan would be to maintain a maintenance log book. This way, you will not miss the regular servicing and it will be well worth it in the long run.
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