Spring is here! If you have fescue turf, the mowing season has started. In order to get the best results from your mower this season, it's important to make sure your equipment is in top working order. Here are a few regular maintenance items you should take care of now that won't break the bank, but will protect the investment you made in your mower…
Mower Maintenance:
- Change the oil. You probably know how important changing the oil is in your car. Well, the same is true of your mower. Changing the oil before the season starts ensures the motor runs smoothly. Usually ¾ - 1 quart of oil will do. Your mower's owner's manual will have the specifics of how, how much and what type and weight of oil you need.
- Change the spark plug – Nothing is worse than putting on your work clothes and shoes, checking the gas, getting all set to mow your lawn…. And then discovering your mower won't start. Although changing the spark plug every year is not always necessary, it is good preventative maintenance to save you from any unexpected surprises just before you mow. Sort of like changing the batteries in your smoke detector. Better to do it early than late!
- Clean the air filter – Air filters keep the air that goes into the motor clean. It's essential to the good working of your mower. Since grass is soft, many people don't realize how much dirty air your mower sucks in during a single mowing. When cut grass builds up in your mower deck and starts to decompose it becomes abrasive and dusty. Your air filter is solely responsible for keeping that dirty air out of the engine's system. As with the oil, check your manual for specifics on how to maintain your air filter. There are different types but most can be cleaned multiple times before needing to be replaced. Use your best judgment… If it is really dirty or has damage, replace it. They are fairly insignificant in price, especially compared to the cost of a new lawn mower.
Sharpen the blades – Sharpening your mower blades is important not only to your mower's well-being, but for the health of your grass. Dull blades chop the grass instead of cutting it. This is like an open wound and leaves the grass more susceptible to disease and fungus. While most of these tips are easy for the do-it-yourselfer to take care of in the comfort of their own garage, we recommend leaving the sharpening of blades to a professional. They can make sure the mower blades are balanced after sharpening. Unbalanced mower blades will cause your mower to vibrate which can do internal damage to your lawn mower over time. There are many lawn mower or small engine repair services in the Charlotte or Matthews area that can sharpen blades. Just google it or look in the yellow pages to find an applicable service. You can either remove the blade and take it to them or deliver the whole mower. But remember SAFETY FIRST!! ALWAYS undo the spark plug wire before you remove the blades!
Turning the blades is the same as pulling the pull cord. It can crank the motor. You DO NOT want the motor to unexpectedly start when you have your hands near the blades. It's worth the time to pull the spark plug wire any time you look under the deck of the mower.- Lubricate any moving parts. On push mowers, spray the wheels with a spray lubricant to keep them turning smoothly. The leftover grass and dust from last season can really cause the wheels to "gum up". On riding mowers, it's best to take them to a professional for service as there can be hidden grease fittings on pivot points that can go unnoticed by the casual user.
- Give it a bath! It is recommended that you wash underneath the deck of the mower after every mowing especially if you are mowing damp or wet grass. You want to remove any clingy grass blades from the deck. While most of us don't follow this rule after every mowing, at least start the season off right with a good pressure washing or cleaning. JUST REMEMBER TO DETACH THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FIRST BEFORE WASHING UNDER THE DECK.
- Set your mower height. We recommend mowing fescue turf at a height of about 3 ½ to 3 3/4 inches. If your mower has markings for blade height those are usually accurate. To manually check your blade height, just measure the distance of the blades from a hard surface.
- Always use fresh gas. If gas is more than 90 days old, put that gas in your car to top off a near full tank and get fresh gas for the mower.
At AA Tex Lawn, we are lucky. We have a certified mechanic on staff to manage our equipment and make sure everything is in tip-top working order. At home, preventative maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. It's worth it. Or if you are in the Charlotte area of North Carolina, call us at 704-821-0708. We're happy to give you a quote on maintenance.
Thanks,
The AA Tex Lawn Team
