Ready! Get Set! Mow!!

Well, fellows, it’s that time of year again. The time of year you either relish or dread: It’s mowing season! Like it or not, ready or not, your mower must be ready to go.  The fescue is growing and cool weather weeds are growing, too. Before you crank the old lawn mower it pays to take the time to perform a little seasonal maintenance to make your mowing season as hassle-free as possible.

First, remove the spark plug wire for safety. It’s really awkward to have a mower spontaneously crank while you have your hands under there.  If you don’t believe me, just ask my friend Stumpy what happened to him. (…but that’s a post for another day.)

Remove the blade.  If you haven’t done this lately (or ever) you may be surprised at the beat-up condition of the blade.  Most blades are good for a season, not much more. Since blades aren’t that expensive, plan on replacing them every Spring. If you mow in sandy conditions or dusty conditions you may have to replace the blade more often because the ‘sail’ will wear away.  The sail is the edge opposite the cutting edge that is turned up like a spoiler on a sports car.  A ‘high-lift’ or mulching blade will have a more pronounced sail than a standard lift blade, and dusty conditions will eat away at the sail until it is just a sliver, or perhaps even totally gone. You want the sail there because that aids in the mulching of grass blades, as well as helping you move mowed leaves where you want them. If you decide you can put a fresh edge on your old blade, proceed cautiously.  The blade must be sharpened to factory specs, and it must be balanced or it will cause premature failure of the spindle.  Wear safety glasses while using you grinder. Those that are careless with these precautions should ask my buddy Patch why it’s important.

Change the fuel.  If you left gasoline in the tank all winter it has probably become stale. That is, it has lost most of its volatility and will not burn properly in the motor. Drain it and dispose of it properly (whatever that means.)

Remove the spark plug. Spark plugs are a lot more durable that you think. If it looks like the business end is black and chalky it needs to be cleaned. I use WD-40 and a rag, sometimes accompanied by a little bitty screwdriver to scrape and dig inside the groove if necessary. Always make sure you remove all the loose stuff that could potentially get in the motor if you aren’t careful.  Then replace the spark plug, and make sure you thread it in the cylinder carefully.  It’s common to cross-thread a spark plug and ruin an otherwise good mower. Tighten it back firmly, but not excessively. I’ve broken a couple off and it’s no fun to dig the remains out.  If you decide you will replace the spark plug, get the part number off of the old one, or just take it with you to the mower shop to get an exact replacement. If the store doesn’t have your brand but a comparable one, match the old with the new and make sure the diameter and depth of threads are the same.

Replace the air filter.  Unless your mower has a radiator, (and yes, some of them do) you need to replace the air filter right  along with the blade every Spring.  It’s also a good idea to check this periodically during the mowing season to make sure it isn’t caked with dust or weed particles.  Mowers need to breathe, too, you know.

Change the oil.  Just like your car needs an occasional oil change, so does your mower.  Drain the old, and replace it with what your owners manual says. What? You say! No owners manual? Simply get the name of the mower, the model name or number, and a serial number from a little silver rectangle stuck to the mower somewhere, and look up the owner’s manual on the internet….after you get through reading my blog.

Check the battery, if you have one.  If the battery has gone dead over the winter, replace it with an exact replacement, or put it on a charger. Also make sure the tires are inflated to the factory spec.  Check the printing on the side of the tire, if you can read letters that small, to get the optimum ‘psi’. And make sure all tires are inflated about the same.  Uneven inflation means an uneven cut.

Clean the underside of the deck thoroughly, make sure the wheels or deck adjust to the proper height, replace the spark plug wire, and crank her up!

Why do all of this yourself? Most respectable mower shops are swamped with mower repairs by now.  If you take yours in, you may not see it again until May. Doing these simple steps yourself will allow you get out there and start mowing.