Every autumn, when you put away the lawn mower for storage, you promise yourself that it will be ready to easily start the next season. No matter how long the winter lasts, the new season always takes you by surprise. And it happens to all of us. You may finally have a vague and distant recollection of cleaning the lawn mower, but this is not the only thing you should have done. There are a few steps worth your while to get your lawn mower ready for a new busy season and extend the service life of the trusty machine.
Step 1. Remove all grass leftovers … Of course, you did clean your lawn mower, but there will always be some debris. Do not forget to remove all the dirt and dust from the machine. Use an ordinary brush to do it. Do not use any water to avoid flooding the engine.
Step 2. Ensure all bolts and nuts are tight. No one seems to know who twists them off in the winter, but they annoyingly keep coming loose. Lubricate wheel bearings and other moving parts.
Step 3. Check the filter. Engine manufacturers recommend replacing air filters at the end of each season. Spare the filter, damage the engine… An air filter filled up with dust and debris cannot pass sufficient air volumes and hinders the engine’s performance reducing its useful life. Remember to regularly clean the filter during the season. Mind the weather with particular attention at the time of drought when an increased amount of dust leads to clogging.
Step 4. Oil… never neglect engine oil. Oil is essential. So follow the guidance of lawn mower manufacturers and check the level of the engine oil before every use of the mower. Running the engine without engine oil causes irreparable damage. Engine oil should be changed after the end of each season. Remember that oil gets thinner when the engine is hot, which certainly makes oil changing easier. The upper marker indicates the correct oil level. A rather long instruction for a simple drill. Last, but not least, use the oil and fuel extraction kit.
Step 5. Check the spark plugs regularly. Clean a dirty spark plug with a wire brush. Next, measure the electrode gap with a feeler gauge (ensure it is 0.5mm). A damaged or burned spark must be replaced. Black deposit, known as carbon fouling, indicates a wrong composition of fuel and air mixture. If you are not a qualified mechanic, contact a professional service for assistance.
Step 6. Refill the tank with fresh fuel. You may have done it before the end of the last season, but fuel attracts water if allowed to sit stagnant over the winter and this may lead to the blockage of the fuel system. Fresh fuel guarantees a smooth and easy start of your lawn mower. Give the machine time to warm up before a busy season. If you are not certain how to do it, use the special fuel extraction kit. A simple and easy solution of the problem.
Step 7. Remove the blade to assess the wear and tear or the damage to the edge. Clean the blade with a wire brush. A good blade is a sharp blade. Perfect grass cut is not possible unless you properly sharpen the lawn mower blades. A dull blade increases the load on the engine, the whole engine structure, bearings and causes vibrations. Ripped, torn or unevenly cut grass does not make your lawn look attractive, especially with grass blade tips getting dry fast. Remember to professionally sharpen and balance the lawn mower blade. Don’t do it yourself! Use a professional service. Trust the experts. This is all you need to do before you start the next mowing season. Don’t take short cuts. They won’t pay. The engine is the heart of the machine and needs backing from all the sub-assemblies and components to work smoothly.
Take good care of you lawn mower and you will enjoy every moment of gardening with your grass looking like a premier league pitch.