We see lots of articles telling us how to take care of maintenance on our lawn mowers, but what about things we shouldn’t do? Here are five tips for what NOT to do with a lawn mower that will help it run smoothly for many years.
1. Don’t mow things that aren’t grass
It’s pretty obvious lawn mowers are designed for cutting lawn grass. They can also cut weeds growing in the lawn, but don’t do well mowing over fallen tree branches and twigs or going over tree stumps. Trying to mow over twigs can dull the mower blades, or even damage them if the branches are large. Hitting a stump with a push mower will most likely damage the blade and crankshaft, and hitting a stump on a riding mower can damage blades, mower deck, and spindles.
You also don’t want to try to use your mower for non-cutting tasks, like re-spooling rope or barbed wire. That will damage the mower’s undercarriage and blades, most likely resulting in an expensive repair. Just keep using the lawn mower only for lawn mowing, and you won’t have a problem.
2. Don’t forget to check the oil
If you have a mower with a 4-cycle engine, you’ll want to make sure to check the oil regularly. Don’t let it get low, and remember to do oil changes on schedule (check your owner’s manual for model-specific oil change tips and what type of oil to use). It’s a good idea to change the oil at least once a year before storing your mower.
3. Don’t let the mower get clogged
If air can’t get into the engine, it will overheat and may even catch on fire. Reduced airflow also makes the mower less fuel-efficient. Keep the air intakes clear of dirt and cut grass, clean filters regularly, and check to make sure engine cooling fins aren’t clogged. A mat of cut grass or a thick layer of dust can build up pretty quick when you’re using your mower a lot.
Clean the undercarriage to keep belts and blades in good working order and prevent clogging the discharge shoot. Some mower models have a wash-out port on the deck so all you have to do is hook up a garden hose after each use to wash-off built-up grass. For other mowers, you’ll have to scrape the grass off with a wire brush or hard plastic scraper. Remember to disconnect the spark plug before working under the mower to prevent accidental starts.
4. Don’t leave old fuel in the tank
Fuel that contains ethanol can damage lawn equipment if left in the gas tank longer than 2 weeks. If you use your mower infrequently, add fuel stabilizer when you buy gasoline. If you’ll be storing the mower for longer than 90 days, drain the fuel or run the mower dry before storage. Small amounts of fuel can remain in the carburetor fuel bowl even after you run the tank dry, so make sure you drain gas out of the fuel bowl as well so it won’t gum up your carburetor.
5. Don’t leave the battery connected
When storing the mower for a long period of time, such as over winter, you’ll want to disconnect the battery. Even when it’s turned off, a lawn mower can slowly siphon power from the battery, which decreases the overall battery life. Store the disconnected battery in a cool, dry place away from flammable things like gas cans and sources of heat like a water heater.
