Spring is a great time to take stock of your mower's maintenance needs and get them taken care of before the growing season. That way, you'll be ready to roll when the growth of your lawn hits full stride. Not only does a properly maintained mower perform better, but it will also last longer and be more reliable over the course of its life.
Always consult your owner's manual to determine what specific maintenance is necessary for your machine, but some common examples of spring mower maintenance items include:
Cleaning – The most basic maintenance you can perform is giving your mower a thorough cleaning. Starting with a clean mower will make it easier to perform other spring maintenance items, and built-up dirt and grass clippings can reduce the performance of your machine.
Blades – Your mower will cut faster and deliver a better quality of cut with sharp blades. Few parts affect cut quality and productivity as dramatically as sharp, balanced blades, and with practice, you can change a set of blades in less than ten minutes. It's well worth the time and effort. One pro tip is to get an extra set of blades for your mower to swap in when your blades lose their edge. You'll always have sharp, balanced blades ready to go, with no downtime required for sharpening. If you're not comfortable changing the blades yourself, your nearest mower dealer will be happy to do it for you.
Belts – Inspect all belts and replace any that appear visibly worn. Also check all belt tensioners to ensure proper function.
Engine oil – Start off the season with fresh oil and filters for each of your mowers. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and changing it out is much less expensive than an oil breakdown-related engine issue.
Spark plugs – Replace your mower's spark plug(s) at the start of the season to ensure easy starting and consistent running performance.
For more information on mower maintenance, follow the link to a step-by-step guide:
Although the garden feels like it’s winding down, there is an opportunity to begin something new: next season’s flowers. For an interesting article on the topic, click here .
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