When you buy top-quality lawn equipment, you expect it to last a long time. Equipment from respected brands like STIHL, Scag, Echo, and Honda are designed for long life and quality performance. But even with the best quality equipment, you’ll still need to make sure you’re taking care of maintenance and avoiding mistakes if you want to extend the life of your lawn equipment. Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial green industry company, avoiding these common mistakes and keeping up with recommended maintenance will help you get the most out of your lawn equipment investment.
Mistakes with Batteries
Leaving them on the charger
Be careful not to overcharge batteries. Once they’re fully charged, take them off the charger. If you’re planning to store them, take them off before they’re fully charged.
Draining them completely
While modern batteries like those from STIHL will keep equipment running at full power right up until they die, it’s best not to run batteries down completely. Take them off the tool and recharge them before they’re completely drained.
Storing them at empty or full charge
Batteries will last longer if you store them when they’re partly charged. Storing empty batteries or fully charged batteries will shorten their lifespan.
Storing in the wrong place
Batteries should be stored in locations where they won’t get too hot or too cold. Your equipment’s owner’s manual will have guidelines for temperature ranges that are safe for storing batteries. You’ll also need to protect them from moisture. In addition, make sure they’re secured rather than rattling around in a toolbox.
Mistakes with Small Engines
Letting fuel go stale
Fuel that contains ethanol (which most gasoline does now) goes stale after about 30 days unless you add a fuel stabilizer when you purchase the fuel. Stale fuel can gum up the carburetor and lead to other engine issues as well. If you’re not going to be able to use all the fuel up within 30 days, add a fuel stabilizer. When storing tools, make sure the gas tank is either drained or filled with stabilized fuel.
Forgetting to clean air filters
Air filters help keep debris from getting into the engine. If they get too dirty and clogged, though, they can stop air from getting in as well. Be sure to check and clean air filters regularly. Tap paper filters to remove loose dust and debris and replace them when they become too dirty. You can also tap dirt out of foam filters, and then wash them when they become dirtier. Be sure to replace them when the foam starts to break down or won’t come clean anymore.
Neglecting Spark Plugs
Remember to check your sparkplugs and clean or replace them regularly. You can clean a spark plug with a wire brush and wipe off oil residue with a rag and solvent. Check the spark plug about every 25 hours of use, but you’ll probably only need to replace it once a year.
Mower Mistakes
Mowing wet grass
The mowing mistake of cutting when the grass is wet dulls mower blades faster. It also makes grass clippings clump up, leaving clumps on the lawn and getting stuck in the mower deck. Plus, the extra power required to cut wet grass takes a toll on your engine. If you possibly can, wait until the grass is dry before cutting.
Not clearing the yard
If you mow over a fallen twig every once in a while, that won’t be too terrible. But if you forget to pick up children’s toys, extension cords, fallen branches, yard tools, and such things up off the lawn before mowing, they can do a lot of damage to a lawn mower. A quick walk-through of the lawn before mowing to check for debris helps avoid these problems.
Forgetting maintenance checks before cutting
You can stay on top of recommended maintenance tasks and help prevent future problems with a few quick checks before cutting. Check to see if the mower deck needs to be cleaned. Check tire pressure and reinflate if necessary. Clean the air filter as needed.
Neglecting annual and semiannual maintenance
You should sharpen lawn mower blades and (for four-cycle engines) replace the oil at least once or twice a year. This will need to happen more regularly if you’re using the mower a lot; for example, if you have a large property or you’re cutting lawns commercially. Check your owner’s manual for a recommended oil change schedule.
General Equipment Maintenance Mistakes
Never cleaning it
For all lawn equipment, make sure you regularly clean the equipment after use. Brush off any dirt, dust, or plant clippings each time you’re finished using it. Every once in a while, do a more thorough cleaning and wipe down metal parts with a little oil to help prevent rust.
Not storing in the right place
Lawn equipment should be stored in a place where it’s protected from the elements, especially from rain and wet. This helps protect the equipment from weather damage.
Forgetting safety tips
Whenever you’re working on or with lawn equipment, make sure you are doing so safely. Disconnect the spark plug for gasoline-powered equipment or remove the battery for battery-powered equipment before working on it to prevent accidental starts. Be careful when working with cutting parts, and wear eye protection when sharpening blades.
Conclusion
Keeping up with recommended maintenance and taking good care of your lawn equipment will help it keep running like new for many years. And if you’d like someone else to take care of maintenance for you or your equipment needs repairs, you can come see us at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower. Our service department is staffed with highly trained technicians. We always service what we sell, and we’ll be happy to answer your questions, work on your equipment, or order in parts for you.
