Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips: The Ones Often Overlooked

Proper lawn mower maintenance goes beyond just changing the oil and sharpening the blade. It requires regular practices that, when consistently followed, will extend the lifespan of your equipment. This article will detail some lawn mower maintenance tips that you can adopt to ensure your machine is truly well-maintained.

Avoid leaving your lawn mower exposed to the elements for extended periods. Most gas caps feature a vent hole, and if water enters the gas tank, it can lead to tank corrosion and contaminate your fuel supply. This contamination can cause 'phase separation,' where the ethanol in the fuel absorbs water, resulting in layers of gas and water. Such water contamination can lead to hard starts, failure to start, running issues, and even potential engine damage. By keeping your lawn mower protected from heavy rain, you can prevent water contamination.

Leaving lawn mowers outside can lead to corrosion and seizing of the cables used for the blade engagement bail. These cables consist of metal encased in rubber. If they seize, they often need to be replaced, as they are frequently beyond repair.

Avoid mowing wet grass. Wet grass can lead to grass clippings and dirt sticking to the underside of your mower. If this buildup is left for too long, it can result in through-rot. If your lawn mower deck has any holes, you must replace the deck before using it. Rocks, stones, and other debris can be ejected through these holes! Deck replacement is often not cost-effective, and a new replacement unit is typically recommended. Prevent this issue by using a wire brush or putty knife to carefully remove grass clippings and dirt after mowing dry grass. Ensure you tip the lawn mower correctly as described here: How to Properly Tilt Your Lawn Mower On Its Side: You're Probably Doing It Wrong!

Before doing this, disconnect the spark plug wire and be cautious of any spilled gas from a full gas tank.

An example of an undercarriage free of grass clippings

Location of some of the fasteners holding this engine cover on. Underneath is where the flywheel is located

This is an example of a flywheel with the engine cover removed; note the cooling fins that circulate air as it spins continuously as engine runs; inspect here for grass and dirt buildup

It's also crucial to clean beneath your engine cover, where you'll find a flywheel functioning as a cooling fan. Small engines are known as "air-cooled" engines for this reason. Unlike your vehicle, which uses coolant for water-cooling, small engines like your lawn mower depend on the free flow of air over essential engine parts, such as the cylinder head cooling fins, to disperse heat. Neglecting to keep these areas clean can lead to an overheated engine, causing it to wear out quickly and significantly reducing its lifespan.

Location of cylinder head cooling fins

Engine maintenance involves both the regular replacement of preventive maintenance parts and strategic cleanliness. By keeping your mower clean in important areas, you enhance its efficiency and extend its lifespan significantly!

Never the Norm!