Ready, Steady, Mow!

Here we are at the start of the year, we can almost smell spring in the air and with these recent mild temperatures the grass is starting to grow. Now's the time to check over your lawnmower and make sure it's ready for the busy season ahead.

Servicing your lawnmower is important for various reasons, it will extend the life of your machine, keep it running at its optimum performance level and reduce the risk of mechanical breakdown, but most importantly it will keep your lawn looking at its best.

Firstly, put on some gloves and then just generally check the mower and make sure all the fixings and fasteners are tight and secure, all lawnmowers vibrate to a degree and sometimes nuts and bolts can work loose and fall off your machine.

Check the pully cord by gently pulling it all the way out and make sure there’s no fraying at either end, that is to say where it’s attached to the engine and where it’s attached to the pully cord handle. It’s so annoying to pull the cord one day and it snaps meaning you’re unable to start the machine, although this is quite an uncommon problem replacing the cord before it snaps will save time and frustration!

As we move down to the engine part of your mower it’s really important to remove the spark plug with your spark plug spanner for safety reasons, and also it gives you the chance to check the plug itself. If it’s very black, covered in soot deposits and oily looking then it’s best to replace it, especially if you’ve also been finding it difficult to start your machine, quite often an old or worn- out sparkplug can be the cause of this. When putting a new plug in only tighten to the point where you feel resistance, if you over tighten it’s possible to shear the top off of the sparkplug and trying to remove the remaining piece is a nightmare!

Something else that’s important to check is the air filter, if this becomes clogged, oily or very dusty it can affect the performance of your lawnmower. Once removed if it looks reasonably clean then give it a gentle tap a few times to remove any dust or build-up, but if it’s heavily soiled and oil stained then replace it with a new one.

Probably one of the most critical things to check when servicing your mower is the oil, too little, too much or really old oil can severely damage your machine. If the oil is black, very thick and low it’s essential to replace it with brand new oil checking that it’s specifically lawnmower oil and the correct grade for your mower, refer to the manual for the exact type of oil to use. Before replacing the oil run the machine for a few minutes, this will heat up the oil ensuring it’s more runny and easier to drain from the mower. Remove the oil cap which usually has a dipstick attached and then tilt the mower onto its side over a suitable receptacle for collecting the spent oil as it pours out. Once the old oil has been removed bring the machine back to the upright position and wipe away any spilt oil on the mower, dispose of the old oil at a registered point for doing so. When adding the fresh oil it’s very important to add the exact amount specified in the manual and you may find it easier to use a funnel and add the new oil very gradually so it doesn’t backup and spill out, once added replace the oil filler cap.

Now the engine part of the servicing has been completed it’s time to check the collection bag or box, the underside of the deck and the blade. Wet grass or fresh grass in the spring can be very sticky and build up on the inside of the collection bag or box as well as underneath the mower and when it dries out can become very difficult to remove. Wash out the inside of your collection box or bag regularly and allow to dry before using, this will maintain optimum airflow and make sure the grass clippings are properly collected and that the grass bag or box fills to the top. To remove old grass from under the mower, tilt the mower backwards by pushing the top part of the handles towards the ground, never turn the mower onto its side and before cleaning make sure the spark plug has been removed, scrape away all the old dried on grass from underneath and then at the same time check the blade. If the blade is only slightly chipped or blunted you can sharpen it up yourself with a file, but a really damaged blade should be professionally sharpened or replaced.

These are all simple procedures that will keep your mower in tiptop condition and ensure many hours of hassle free lawnmowing so you can really enjoy your gardening this year.