What sort of maintenance does a string-line trimmer require? What about a lawn mower, or other power equipment used to maintain outdoor spaces?
The answer to that question depends on what type of power source the equipment has. There’s some overlap in maintenance needs, but there are also some major differences between how you maintain gasoline-powered equipment compared to battery-powered equipment.
For example, a battery-powered and a gasoline-powered stringline trimmer do the same job, but they have different maintenance needs. Some things are the same. You’ll still need to replace the cutting line when it runs out and keep the tool clean. But with a gasoline-powered tool, you also need to maintain the engine and with a battery-powered tool, you’ll want to take good care of the battery. Whether you’re brand-new to using power equipment or you’ve been working with yard tools for years, it’s important to know about the different needs of different types of equipment you might be using.
Key Maintenance Differences
If you’ve worked with gasoline-powered tools for a while, you’re already familiar with their maintenance needs. But battery-powered equipment is becoming much more common, both for homeowner and professional use. When you start using battery-powered equipment, you can’t assume that it’ll need the same type of maintenance.
It used to be that you could look up a topic like “lawn mower maintenance” and get advice that would apply to just about any mower. But now that gasoline and battery-powered mowers are widely available, you’ll need to check which type the advice you find applies to. A guide to troubleshooting a mower, for example, might focus on repairing the engine but that’s only helpful for gasoline-powered mowers, not battery-powered mowers.
The big difference between the two power sources is that with battery-powered equipment, you don’t have an engine to maintain. This makes maintenance for battery-powered equipment much easier than maintenance for gasoline-powered equipment. There are some special maintenance considerations for batteries, though, that you don’t have to worry about with gasoline-powered equipment.
Maintenance Overlaps
Some basic maintenance is the same for all types of lawn equipment. No matter the power source, you’ll still need to replace the cutting line in string trimmers, sharpen mower blades, and lubricate chainsaw chains.
It’s also important to keep equipment clean. All lawn equipment gets dirty. Taking the time to clean off this dirt helps prevent rust on metal parts and extends the life of lawn equipment. You don’t have to keep it as clean as when it was new, but you do need to make sure you clear off air intakes, brush off loose dirt, and use a wire brush or putty knife to remove caked-on debris. Pay special attention to cleaning mower decks, trimmer and edger heads, and other places where organic matter can build up over time.
Maintenance Specific to Gasoline Equipment
For the engines that power gasoline equipment, you’ll need to do some extra maintenance to help keep them running smoothly.
Clean or replace the air filters regularly. Plenty of clean air coming into the engine helps prevent overheating and keeps the engine from having to work extra hard. You can clean most foam filters with soap and water. For paper filters, you can tap them to remove loose dirt. Once either type of filter is damaged or too clogged to clean, replace it.
For 2-cycle engines, make sure you’re using the right type of oil. For 4-cycle engines, change the oil regularly. The owner’s manual that came with your equipment will specify what type of oil to use and how often to replace it.
Once a year, remove the spark plug and inspect it for damage. If it’s not damaged, you can clean the plug with a stiff brush and then replace it. If it’s damaged, replace it with the manufacturer’s recommended spark plug. You could also skip cleaning the plug and just replace it with a new one since spark plugs are inexpensive.
Before putting gasoline-powered equipment into storage for winter, drain the fuel or add a fuel stabilizer. Fuel that contains ethanol shouldn’t sit in your equipment for more than 30 days or it will go stale. Adding a fuel stabilizer or draining the equipment helps protect the engine.
Maintenance Specific to Battery Equipment
Battery-powered equipment is low maintenance compared to the engine care required for gasoline-powered equipment. Most of the maintenance you’ll need to do for battery-powered equipment involves the batteries themselves.
Lithium-ion batteries will last longer if you don’t drain them completely before charging. Consider keeping multiple batteries on hand so you can use one until it’s almost empty, then use another while that one is charging. Always use the charger recommended by the manufacturer to work with your specific battery. Remove the battery from the charger or unplug the charger once charging is complete.
When you’re not using the equipment, store the tool and the battery separately. Batteries can be sensitive to temperature extremes, so store them in a dry place that’s not too hot or too cold. Try to avoid big temperature fluctuations or storing batteries in direct sunlight.
Choose Richardson Saw for Your Equipment Needs
Here at Richardson Saw, we carry a wide range of quality battery-powered and gasoline-powered lawn equipment for homeowner and professional use. There are pros and cons to each type of equipment, and our equipment experts will be happy to help you decide which would be best for your home or business.
If you ever need replacement parts or help with maintenance and repairs, we service everything that we sell. We keep a variety of replacement parts in stock, and we can order other parts you need for any of the brands we carry. You can also schedule an appointment with our service center for maintenance and repairs.
