When the cold winter has gone, every living thing starts to reemerge, especially grass. It is so good to see the green lawn sprouts strong. But for the grass in your small gardens, it will look neater and nicer if you mow it regularly. For sure, you will need the help of a lawn mower that was dormant during winter. Spring is the time to wake it up and get it ready for the upcoming mission: taking care of your lawn. Personally, there should be several basic steps you can do yourself to tune up the lawn mower. It does not require mechanical expertise to carry out the fundamental maintenance, just follow some guides below and you can get your lawn mower, either a riding or a push one, in shape no matter what type of mower you have.
6 step to prepare your lawn mower for spring
Before you start to tune up the mower, the very first thing you should do is unplug the spark plug wire so that it will not accidentally power on while you are doing maintenance work.
1. Cleaning
It is a good idea to wash off the mower overall when you first pull it out from storage. There must be lots of dust, not to mention grass clippings or debris attaching under the deck or elsewhere near the blade if you forgot to clean it before storing the mower in the warehouse. Therefore, use a towel to clean up the outside of the mower so that when you touch the handles, adjust the belts or sit on the chair for a ride, you will not feel disgusted by the dirt. It is better to clean up the machine after every use because soil or debris sticking to the metal parts may cause corrosion overtime. This is very basic but especially important if you want the mower to function well and last longer.
2. Changing oil
Do not think that oil related tasks are hard to deal with, when you are an amateur mechanic. Since the oil storage part of lawn mower or any other machines is visible, easy to notice and manipulate. It is said that the oil should be changed annually to make sure the machine can operate well. After some time of being used, the oil gets dark and should be removed.
Before you start to remove the old oil, it is advisable to warm up the mower so that all the debris in the engine could be stirred up and carried out with the oil. So warm up the mower for 2-3 minutes, then unplug the spark plug, and now you can start to change the oil. Some mowers have the drain oil plug underneath while others may have it upright. Where ever it is, you need to empty the disposal oil and pour in the new one. There is an instruction from the manufacturer about the oil for the mower, which type of oil is suitable with your mower, so make sure you pick up the right oil for your machine.
For the drained oil, make sure you dispose of it properly. You can bring it to a recycling center or gas station to recycle. Don’t dump it directly into nature because oil may find its way to th water sources, which may adversely affect the environment.
3. Replace air filter
Step 3: Change lawn mower air filter. Via: todayshomeowner.com
You may go back to the store where you bought a self propelled lawn mower to look for the same air filter. If it is a hassle or you, check it out in nearby dealers, or e-commerce websites. The suitable air filter may be also available there. You may need a screwdriver to open the cover. Once you remove the old one, pay attention to which way it comes out to put in the new one.
4. Renew the spark plug
You may need a spark plug wrench or any car mechanical wrench that fits with your lawn mower spark plug socket to take it out. If the spark plug still looks good, which means there is no sign of corrosion, then a regular cleanup is necessary to make sure it works well. If the spark plug has a sign of corrosion, you should consider removing it and plug in a new one. Make sure the spark plug cylinder is clean when you install the new spark plug. Do not use the wrench to put in the new one initially. Instead, use fingers to tighten it first. After that, use a wrench to tighten it more, but don’t over tighten it. Once you are done with the replacement, the very important thing is to put the spark plug wire back again.
5. Sharpen the blade
Step 5: Sharpen the blade. Via: doityourself.com
After a long period of time in the warehouse, the blade of your lawn mower may get corroded due to grass clippings or dirt attaching to it if you don’t clean it well from the last time of use. Now, when you need the mower for the upcoming spring, it may be a good idea to have the blade sharpened. It’s great if you can do it on your own, but be sure to wear protective gloves and glasses accordingly. If not, you should take your lawn mower to the mechanics or professionals for a safe and effective result. A sharp blade will generate nice cuts and it helps to save your time and effort also.
6. Lubricating
Step 6: Lubricating. Via: bunnings.com.au
While changing the oil help the inner parts of the lawn mower run smoother, greasing helps the outer parts such as wheels or other fittings. As you check the wheels for lubrication, double check the tires also if they get any punctures. Look for the manual of the producer to have the right lubricants and find the moving parts of the mower. It is not too difficult to lubricate the machine with a grease gun, but in case you cannot do it yourself, you just have to resort to the service of a mechanic store.
Conclusion
A good preparation for your push reel lawn mower will ensure that your lawn would be well-taken care of with less effort. The above maintenance tips are quite fundamental and most of you can perform it yourself. If you want a longer lasting and efficient mower to serve your lawn, don’t forget those basic tune-up guides and practice to see how it works. Care for the mower, and it will care for your lawn.
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