How to Keep Your Lawn Mower Running Smoothly?

Answer 1

A lawn mower can be an expensive investment, especially if you need a large riding mower to cover more ground. Properly caring for your mower can keep it running for years before it needs to be replaced. There are some simple maintenance tasks that will keep your lawn mower in excellent condition.

Keep it Clean

Mowing the lawn is dirty business, especially for the bottom of the lawn mower. If the grass is the least bit damp, it will clump and collect all along the undercarriage. Each time you mow your lawn, turn the mower over and clean the excess grass away from the blades and bottom of the mower. If you don’t clear the grass away regularly it will begin to impede the motion of the blades, which can be extremely detrimental to the motor because it has to work harder to turn the blades for each rotation.

Don’t Forget the Oil

Everyone remembers to keep the gasoline reservoir topped off on their lawn mower, but what about the oil? Even the smallest gas powered lawn mower requires an adequate amount of oil to keep the engine running properly. Mowers don’t require much oil, but they will stop working if the oil dries out. The oil fill is usually located near the rear of the engine. The cap will have a small picture of an oil can on the top of it. Check your lawn mower’s oil at least once every year. The best time to check the oil level is before you mow the lawn for the first time in the spring.

Store it Away From the Weather

A lawn mower engine is one of the toughest engines on a domestic machine. Unfortunately, it is still prey to the ravages of temperature and weather. Mowers can develop rust very easily, especially from the bottom up. If possible, store your lawn mower in a garage or covered building. If you don’t have a storage room available, at least cover the mower with a plastic tarp to give it some protection. Covering your mower or storing it in a shed or garage will extend its life by years, saving you time and money.