Weekend Project: Basic mower maintenance keeps your lawn looking its best

If the engine on your mower goes kablooey, there's not much you can do on your own—beyond shelling out $50 to $75 per hour to a repair shop to fix the problem or spending hundreds on a new grass cutter. See our buying guide to mowers and tractors and our May 2009 ratings-based report (available to subscribers).

But a little basic maintenance will keep your mower running smoothly and your yard green. Here's what you need to do to keep your mower—and your yard—in tip-top shape:

• Check the dipstick to be sure the oil level is at or near the full mark. Too little oil can damage or destroy the engine by leaving parts unlubricated in a hot environment. It is the fastest way to permanently damage your mower. Too much oil can cause poor running, produce excess exhaust emissions, and damage the spark plug.
• Hose or scrape off old clippings from beneath the deck. Do this work at the end of each mowing while the clippings are still moist and easy to remove. Built-up clippings will significantly reduce mulching performance by blocking the recutting action necessary for good mulching. To easily clean the deck, turn the mower on its side with the carburetor and air filter facing upward to eliminate lubrication oil from getting into the fuel system, and use a hose and a scraper. Tip: After cleaning, spray silicone lubricant on the inside of the deck to reduce clipping build-up and for easier cleaning.
• Get the blade sharpened. A dull blade can make your lawn look less than its best. A dull blade will damage the blades of grass, stressing the plants. You might even notice that the tips of the grass turn brown. Need another reason? A dull blade will cause your mower to burn more fuel and you to work harder and longer. Tip: Buy a second blade. This way, you'll always have a sharp blade on hand. Plan on changing to a sharp blade once a month or more frequently for heavy cutting conditions.
• Remove grass and debris from the cooling fins, engine covers, and air intake after each use to help prevent engine overheating.
• If your mower has a manual engine throttle control (most mowers don't), be sure it's properly adjusted. Regularly check the wheel-drive belt on a self-propelled mower for wear and tightness. Replace as needed.
• Always use gasoline stabilizer. This way, gasoline that ends up sitting for some time is always fresh. The recent environmental additives to gasoline can cause it to break down and form a "varnish" when sitting for even a short time, which can result in hard starting and an expensive carburetor cleaning.

End-of-season storage
Keep this checklist handy so that you properly "hibernate" your mower at the end of the mowing season:

• Fill the tank with stabilized fuel. Let the engine run for a few minutes so that the fuel gets into the carburetor. Then stop the engine and top off the fuel tank with stabilized fuel to eliminate the possibility of condensation. (Stabilized fuel will last for over a year, so you will be good to mow come spring.)
• On a gas engine, remove the spark plug and pour an ounce of oil into the cylinder. Slowly pull the starter cord to distribute the oil on moving parts and help prevent rust. Then reinstall the plug. (Replace the spark plug every 100 hours of operation—roughly every four years.)
• Hose or scrape off old clippings from beneath the deck. To easily clean the deck, turn the mower on its side with the carburetor and air filter facing upward to eliminate lubrication oil from getting into the fuel system, and use a hose and a scraper. Tip: After cleaning, spray silicone lubricant on the inside of the deck to reduce clipping build-up and for easier cleaning.
• Get the blade sharpened so that you're ready to roll next spring.
• On a gas engine, replace the carburetor air filter if it's paper. Wash a foam filter in soap and water, rinse, and squeeze dry, then lubricate with engine oil and squeeze dry again before reinstalling.
• For a four-stroke engine, drain the oil and properly dispose of it at a collection center. Refill the oil reservoir.
• Fold the handlebar to save space, and store the mower in a dry, ventilated area. If you're storing the mower on a concrete floor, put plastic beneath the mower to help prevent moisture from corroding the deck.

Essential information: Use our exclusive interactive tool to identify—and control—the weeds, pests, and diseases that can damage your lawn.

Comments

[alba]

Wow, I didn't know I needed to sharpen my mower blade every month. It's been about 5 years for me.

[YardWorkerz]

Thank you for the post!

[rikersco7]

Any advice on lawn edgers? I don't see any reviews in Consumer Reports.
Thanks for any help.