MOWING AND MAINTENANCE BY SARAH WEBB
MAINTENANCE MUSTS
Mowing experts from John Deere and Husqvarna explain what landscape pros need to know when it comes to mower maintenance.
A
s landscape professionals enter peak mowing season, it’s crucial that they keep their fleet maintained properly. “If landscapers don’t perform routine maintenance, they could have breakdowns, and when the machines are down, they’re not making money,” says Brian Aldinger, product manager for John Deere. “It also keeps machines operating at peak performance.” Aldinger and Sean Dwyer, product manager at Husqvarna, lay out what landscape pros should do to keep their mower fleet running like a well-oiled machine.
the mower deck is level from side to side and has the proper deck rate. • Ensure the underside of the mower deck is free of debris. • Inspect the collection bag where relevant. A season of collecting grass clippings can slowly restrict the breathability of the bag. Users can wash the bag with high-pressure water from the outside in.
prior season, Dwyer says. “This should be done so the mower deck, for example, doesn’t sit over the winter with caked-on grass clippings that will only become more difficult to remove,” Dwyer says. “Likewise with the engine: Running the engine out of fuel and replacing the engine oil and air filter will give the best results when spring hits.” Aldinger agrees that many maintenance items can be taken care of in the offseason. “This way, machines are ready to go, and it minimizes downtime later,” he says.
The Checklist
Stock up on essentials
• S tart the season with fresh engine oil and a new oil filter. • Inspect the air filter system, spark plugs and fuel filter and replace if needed. • Check the hydraulic oil level to see if it is time to change the transmission oil filter according to the recommended service intervals. • Check the machine for leaks and lubricate all the service points. • Inspect the tires, check the air pressure and adjust properly. • Ensure that the batteries charged for electric machines. • Examine the controls and control linkages, parking brake, safety interlock system and safety guards and shields. • Look over the machine for any loose, missing or damaged parts. • Inspect the mower deck drive traction belt drives and verify that the
For those times when a mower inevitably needs a new part, it saves time and money to keep those supplies on hand. “With the current climate of supply chain headwinds, stocking up on key maintenance items like air filters, mower blades, drive belts and control cables will result in reduced downtime,” Dwyer says Aldinger suggests sourcing all those parts from one store location. “That saves the mechanic time instead of having to go from store to store,” Aldinger says.
20 GREEN INDUSTRY PROS
❙
John Deere
Refer to the operator’s manual Husqvarna
Additional Tips and Tricks Plan ahead Ideally, most of these service items should be done at the end of the
MAY/JUNE 2022
❙
www.greenindustrypros.com
The operator manual is great resource. “There are recommended service intervals according to the engine hours, and there is a list of items to check and inspect before and after each use,” Aldinger says.
