“Aaargh! What’s wrong with my Lawn Mower machine that it won’t start? The large backyard BBQ that I’ve been planning starts tomorrow!”
Do you wish to steer clear of situations like this one? When it comes to lawn mowers, like with other types of gardening equipment, doing routine maintenance may save you a lot of time and energy, as well as the stress of racing at the last minute to find a neighbor who will let you borrow their Lawn Mower machine.
However, there is some good news! DIYers should have no trouble keeping up with lawn mower maintenance. Keeping your lawn mower in good working order throughout the mowing season can be accomplished with the help of these four suggestions for Lawn Mower machine maintenance.
Before starting this marathon of lawn mower maintenance, you should be aware that the focus of this post will be on push mowers powered by gas or batteries. On the other hand, most of these pointers apply to zero-turn mowers and lawn tractors.
Take the time to read through the mower’s handbook.
Even while it might not be as interesting as the Sunday funnies, your mower’s instruction manual will get you off to a good start when cutting grass.
The product manual for your mower contains a range of information regarding your mower, including the following:
Agenda for preventative upkeep:
You do not need to speculate about when or how frequently your mower will require maintenance. It is evident to you at this point.
Warnings and advice:
Although most of this is common sense, some of it can be useful. For instance, if you’ve never used a device that runs on batteries before, you might find the advice on how to store the batteries helpful.
In which direction should you tilt your mower:
Do you occasionally forget how to tip your mower so the blade can be changed? You can avoid going to a small engine repair business by following the instructions in the manual that came with your mower; it will show you how to tilt it correctly. (Here’s a hint: the open side of the air filter is always facing up.)
Troubleshooting:
Provides answers to frequently asked questions, such as “Why won’t the mower start?” or “What could be causing the grass to not mulch properly?”
Data technical:
If you need to replace a part, some manuals give diagrams and part numbers for your convenience if you need to make the replacement.
Your handbook contains much more information than what we have brought to your attention here. You’ll discover other interesting facts like the following: On the decal that displays the model’s serial number, specific models feature a QR code. By scanning this bar code, you can obtain information about your mower’s parts, its warranty, and other specifics. If the lawnmower breaks down, all you need to do is grab your phone and perform a quick scan to access a wealth of information that will be useful.
Keep it spick and span.
Let grass build up under the mower deck hurts more aspects of your mower than just its appearance. Because the grass clippings have accumulated, there will be less ventilation underneath the deck. Mulching mowers must have adequate airflow for them to be effective in cutting the grass very finely.
In addition, moist grass has been shown to hasten the formation of rust underneath metal decks over time. A deck wash port is included on several of today’s lawnmowers. Use this port to clean off the grass after each time you run the mower. After turning off the water, you need to ensure that the deck is set to its lowest position and that the mower blade is running for a few minutes so that everything can dry off.
If your lawnmower does not have a wash port, clean it by unplugging the spark plug wire, tipping the mower so the air filter is facing upward, and then hosing it down. If this does not get it as clean as possible, use a safe scraper on metal. Spraying it with a silicone spray after it has been cleaned and allowed to dry will make the task simpler the next time it needs to be done.
If you find that you have rust or if the paint has worn off, remove the rust and then apply rust preventive paint to the exposed metal. If you find that you already have rust, remove it. Note that taking simple precautions such as these will significantly increase your mower’s life and ensure you get the most value out of your investment.
Keep it sharp
You wouldn’t pay a hairstylist to cut your hair with dull scissors, so why would you expect them to do it? Both the health of your hair and its appearance will suffer if you continue to do this. The situation is the same with your yard.
A grass blade that is cut with a sharp knife produces a clean and precise cut and helps maintain the grass’s overall health. When the grass is ripped or torn by a dull blade, it creates an environment ideal for the growth of fungal diseases, which can occur when the weather is damp. In dry conditions, grass that has been torn causes an excessive amount of transpiration (water loss via the grass blades). Your lawn’s tolerance to drought may suffer as a result, in addition to experiencing extra stress.
When you see rips or tears in the grass blades, it is time to sharpen the mower blade of your lawnmower. When cutting tough grasses like Zoysia, you should prepare to sharpen your mower blades more frequently than when cutting fine fescue. It would be best to point the edges at least once or twice throughout the season.