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Homes & Gardens
Care And Maintenance Of Your Lawn Mower If you have a lawn mower and want to make your investment last it needs to be regularly maintained, this will keep it running more efficiently which in turn will save you money. Does your mower not start as well as it did? Does it run poorly? And is the quality of the lawn cut not as good as it was? Here are a few simple tips to help you keep your mower in tip top condition. Always try to use fresh fuel, fuel older than 30 days starts to deteriorate it loses octane and gains moisture which can lead to gum deposits in the carburettor causing poor engine performance. If you plan to leave your mower for any length of time you should use a fuel additive which will prolong the life of the fuel and prevents build-up in the carburettor. Replace the engine oil and oil filter as per manufacturer’s instructions but usually about every 50 Hrs. Check the engine oil level every 5 hours and top up if needed.
24 Dispatch April 2011
Replace the spark plug every 100 Hrs, plug type and gap can usually be found in the operator’s manual. Service the air filter every 25 hrs or every season, whichever comes first, if the filter is dirty then the mower may run badly and could also cause damage. Remove the filter and gently tap it on a flat surface if the filter is very dirty, replace it with a new one. Service your deck and blades, it’s a good idea and safer to remove the plug lead from the sparkplug before commencing any service work on the deck or blades. Keep your deck clean and free from debris especially if your mower mulches, as a clogged deck will not mulch efficiently. Clean your deck with soapy water and a garden hose, it’s easier to clean if done regularly and will keep your deck from
corroding prematurely. Keep your blades sharp, this will make your mower more efficient and also give a better finish to your cut grass. Never attempt to sharpen the blades while still attached to the mower. Blades should be sharpened evenly taking special care to keep them balanced. An unbalanced blade will leave an uneven cut on the lawn and could eventually lead to mower or engine damage. Self propelled mowers or ride on mowers need a little more attention, they have drive belts which need to be check for wear or damage and also pulleys and belt idlers which have bearings that can become seized or worn. They often have gearboxes which have oils that need checking or changing. Ride on mowers
often have grease points on the steering axle and also Pneumatic tyres which should be checked for correct pressures. By caring and maintaining your lawn mower you will make cutting the lawn a more pleasurable and hassle free experience and the quality of your lawn will reflect this. If you haven’t the time or feel that your mower needs that extra special attention give us a call at Cranworth Farm Services and we will make sure your mower is ready for the season a head.