What LAWN MOWER maintenance in the Fall? It is a lovely day in the Spring, and you retrieve your lawn mower from storage for the season’s first cut. Your lawn mower, however, does not co-operate. You yank several times and swear, but it does not respond. To make matters worse, the service shop asks you to wait for weeks before it can be repaired.
Do not allow this frustrating situation to happen to you. Do not also assume that if the device is running well in late fall, the case will be the same in next spring. Several things can go wrong with your lawn mower, even if it is not handled through fall and winter. All your mower needs is some tuning before it is put away in fall.
After a season of summer lawn care and spring yard work, lawnmowers require a level of maintenance. Lawnmowers differ in care requirements, and you will need to consult the specifications of the operator. Before initiating the care, dress in the right gear, and pack the machine on a flat, level surface.
The mowing season typically ends in October or November. The first action before putting your mower away is to drain the gas. An effective method to achieve this is to run the machine until it is out of gas. You can mix in a gas stabilizer if you would rather keep the gas.
Lawnmower maintenance
• Check the oil and the spark plug. Replace if necessary The oil is an essential component of a well-running mower. It should be examined before use, but it is generally changed annually. Place a drain container under the mower’s oil plug and then loosen the dipstick. Drain the oil and remove the oil filter. Pour out excess oil. Change the oil plug and then clean the area. The oil filter should also be replaced. Drain in fresh oil and replace the dipstick. Run the mower’s engine for about a minute, then turn it off to allow enough cool-down time. Clean off any oil that may have spilled. The old oil should be disposed of appropriately. Some auto-service centers can dispose of the oil at a fee. Consult local regulations for other disposing options. Evaluate the oil level when the engine has cooled. Over-filling can trigger performance issues so the oil level should be appropriate. You can additionally inspect the spark plug. Look for stubborn deposits, burnt electrodes, or cracked porcelain. If you spot such issues, it is wise to replace the plug. • Change the Blade Inspecting and removing old blades is a crucial step in lawn maintenance. To expose the blade, you will need to tilt the mower deck and take care not to spill oil over the engine. Use a socket wrench of the right size to unbolt the mounting while your other hand prevents the blade from turning. You should be keen on not losing the mounting hardware or the washers as they can be reused.
Observe the blade’s position as you retrieve to make installing a new one easy. You can inspect the old blade to gauge their usability. If there are chunks and chips out of the metal, you should get a new set of blades. If they are in decent condition, you can salvage them by having them sharpened. Replacement blade kits are typically worth a few dollars at hardware stores and home improvement centers. They come pre-sharpened, so they will be very effective come spring. • Check the belt to ensure it is not deteriorating The belts should also be examined to see if they are in the correct shape. Spot any cracked, worn, or torn spots. If the belts have extensive damage, they should be replaced before the machine is stored. • Check the underside of the mower When you use your mower constantly, you may recognize a dip in performance when it comes to your machine. A thick grass clippings layer may have accumulated on the mower’s bottom, so check the underside to verify this.
To start cleaning, disconnect the mower’s wire from the spark plug to avoid engaging the engine and to also avoid injuries. Remove the blade and set it aside while wearing heavy work gloves. Place the machine on a tarp and then tilt sideways such that the air filter faces up.
Scrub the mower’s underside using a wire brush to remove debris and dried grass. Drag your hose to the machine and use a spray nozzle to direct water to the underside. The water will remove any remaining grass and dirt. If there is still debris on the mower, scrape them at all sides. You can use a wood block for this as it will not damage the mower. Turn on the hose to do a final rinse and let the device dry out completely. • Check the Air Filter An air filter is your mower’s first line of defense against the debris and grass that gets thrown up during mowing. It denies these elements access to the engine via the carburetor. Having a functioning filter, therefore, protects the integrity of your engine. Replacing or cleaning the component extends the shelf-life of your mower.
It typically lies close to the engine and is encased in a plastic or metal shroud. Before retrieving it, ensure that the mower’s moving parts are still and that the spark plug wire has been disconnected. The foam pre-cleaner can be cleaned with compressed air, cleaner, or water. Retrieve the air filter to inspect it. Hold a paper filter up to a strong light source to see it if it blocks a substantial amount of light. Check for yellow or brown staining in the foam filter. A dry cloth can be used to clean the air filter housing. • Add fuel stabilizer
Gasoline will likely become stale if it stays in the tank through winter and cause rust issues. Before draining the mower’s tank, add fuel stabilizer and siphon the fuel into a container. Provided the fuel is clean, it can be re-used in another equipment or vehicle. Run the machine until it stops to make sure the fuel lines are empty and to spot any leaks.
After maintenance, the mower is ready for storage. Scout for a dry area, preferably in a garage or shed. If you are hesitant to perform the maintenance tasks, consult a professional repair person, and schedule maintenance time. Lawn mowers, to conclude, must be maintained, not only for the best-kept lawn but for the effectiveness of the machine as well .
Use a manual edger if you are just starting out to cut the grass back to the sidewalk or flower bed that you are using as your guide. You will likely have to remove the overgrown excess grass so have a bucket or wheelbarrow handy. More advanced users should use an edger specifically made for edging. This will get you better results than just using a weed wacker.
Use a breaker bar, attach it to your wrench and turn it counterclockwise (to the left). The bolt should loosen up without too much force with the breaker bar. Make sure to secure the blade and wear gloves so you don’t cut your hand. I show you all the steps to quickly and safely remove your lawn mower blade bolt, change the blade and have a great looking lawn.
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