Lawn Mower Maintenance

A lawn mower that hasn't been properly maintained could be holding you back from having the best lawn in the neighborhood. Especially after spending the winter in the garage, a mower will need a little TLC to help it operate properly.

A lawn mowed with a dull mower blade uses more fuel and tears the grass instead of slicing it. This leaves the grass vulnerable to insects and disease. For a moderately sized yard, a blade should be sharpened once or twice a year. If you don't own a blade sharpener, a repair shop can do this. If the blades are a few years old or have deep gouges, it's time to replace them. 

While your blades are removed from the mower, scrape away any grass clippings from the bottom of the mower deck and brush off belt covers and pulleys. Buildup of this kind of debris will reduce effectiveness of the mower. 

This is also a great time to make sure your mower has the proper level of oil. Check your air filters to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. 

Tuning up your lawn mower after every 25 hours of use will increase its efficiency and reduce polluting emissions. Whether hiring a professional to do the work or doing it yourself, a little maintenance can extend the life of your mower and give you a more hassle free mowing season. Always follow the manufacturer's manual for instructions on how to safely carry out maintenance on your machine. The manual will also give you guidance on how often to change the spark plugs, oil, and oil filter.