Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips

We’re approaching warmer months, which means you’ll probably be making plans to start working on your yard again. This includes giving the lawn a good mowing and starting up the old engine again. This gives you the potential for a beautiful, well-kept lawn, as well as opening up a potential can of lawn mower repair worms. One way to avoid serious breakdowns is to keep up on mower maintenance, just as you would any other piece of equipment in your yardwork arsenal. 

That’s why Prairie Partners has provided you some of the most basic lawn mower maintenance tips to help get you started. You can also ask about our experienced technicians when you need more thorough servicing and repairs from a professional. We have dealerships all across Kansas, so visit us today to see what we can do for you. 

Pull Out Your Owner’s Manual

First things first, you’ll want to pull out your owner’s manual. While we can give you lots of general tips that should apply to most mowers, the only place you’re going to find specific information is in the manual. This includes maintenance tips, cleaning guides, and more. If you don’t have your owner’s manual, check the manufacturer’s website. Many offer online copies of their manuals, or give you the opportunity to request one. 

Lubrication

With all the moving parts happening inside the mower, you’ll want to make sure everything can run smoothly without any grinding or catching. That’s why you’ll need to ensure the machine is properly lubricated. Make sure you’re changing the oil as needed, especially if you see it’s dark or sludgy. At the very least, top it off when necessary.

Keep the Undercarriage Clean

As you use your mower more and more, there’s a possibility that grass clippings and longer stalks won’t get cut properly and will start to build up on the blades. Clean out the undercarriage on a regular basis to avoid poor performance and jammed motors. Make sure the mower is turned off for this and that you’re approaching this task properly. If you have a push mower, you’ll probably just need to tip it on its side, but most riding mowers will need to be driven up on ramps so you can access the undercarriage.

Spark Plugs

You may not always think about spark plugs needing replacing, but your mower goes through long periods of use and storage, thanks to the cold winters that aren’t conducive to mowing the lawn. You’ll want to replace your spark plug once every year or two for the best performance. Keep in mind, if the spark plugs you got aren’t pre-gapped, you’ll need a tool that sets the spark gap to a width that matches what your mower needs. 

Sharpen the Blades

You might think that your blades will do just fine even if they’re dull, but dull blades won’t cut the grass as evenly and can draw out the amount of time it takes to finish the task. Sharpening your mower blades is a must, but keep in mind that if you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, you can ask a professional to do it for you. 

Your lawn mower is the key to a beautiful yard that you and your family will love spending time in. It can also help you manage your property more easily, but only if you’re properly maintaining it. Every once in awhile, you’ll probably come across a problem you can’t fix on your own. If that happens, contact Prairieland Partners to set up a time with one of our experienced technicians. We’ll help you get back up and running, no matter where in Kansas you are!