A Guide to Lawn Mower Maintenance

Everyone wants that perfectly manicured lawn. But you can’t achieve that if you don’t keep your lawn mower running smoothly! Proper lawn mower maintenance plays a crucial role in extending its life and reducing the money you have to spend on repairs. There are some easy maintenance tasks you can do yourself, so we’ve compiled a list of them below. If you want more information or you want to buy a new mower, contact Burrows Tractor. We have locations in Yakima, Wenatchee, and Sunnyside, Washington, as well as North Plains, Oregon!

Check the Owner’s Manual

It’s always a good idea to start any maintenance tasks by looking over your owner’s manual. This will give you specific information related to your model. You’ll find out how often you should do certain tasks, as well as what products you should or shouldn’t use.

Keep Your Mower Lubricated

Keeping your equipment well-lubricated is an important part of lawn mower maintenance. The engines have an oil reservoir which helps keep the crankshaft and pistons lubricated. You should check this oil occasionally to make sure it’s good quality. If the oil is discolored or sludgy, you should replace it. If you notice water or metal shavings floating in the oil, it’s time to schedule a service appointment.

Clean the Undercarriage

The undercarriage of your equipment can quickly fill with debris. This leads to clogs, overheating, and lower efficiency. If you own a push mower, tip it over and clean it out. Riding mowers can be driven onto a ramp or blocks so that you can access the underside of the cutting deck. Use a hose with a high-pressure nozzle to spray away any debris.

Change Spark Plugs

Sometimes, your lawn mower will face extended periods of downtime followed by periods of intense uptime. This can be tough on the spark plugs, so you’ll want to replace them once a year. This can be an important part of maintenance depending on how you use your mower.

Keep the Cutting Blade Sharpened

Over time, your equipment’s blade will become dull and less effective at its job. You should use a file, burr, or grinder to get your blade back to top performance. Keep a new blade on hand that you can use for comparison. This will help you avoid over-sharpening or under-sharpening your blade.

We hope this guide will help you keep your lawn mower in good condition! If you want any more maintenance tips, reach out to our team at Burrows Tractor. We have locations in Yakima, Wenatchee, and Sunnyside, Washington, and North Plains, Oregon too. When you need new equipment to make your work easier and faster, we are here to help!