Episode #14 - Getting that Mower Going!
The Handyguys April 24th, 2008
The Handyguys discuss annual spring maintenance for your lawn mower
For many of us in the northern parts of the
We start off by talking about mower safety and some crazy mower stories before we get into the basics of spring mower tune-up.
Basic Spring mower tune up consists of checking and maybe replacing the spark plug, cleaning or replacing the air filter, sharpening your blade, cleaning the deck and changing the oil.
Changing the spark plug – The spark plug only needs to be changed if its black, burnt, or damaged. If it looks clean when you remove it only replace it if you are having trouble with the mower running smooth or not starting. This picture is an example of a badly fouled plug that needs replaced.
Replacing an air filter – make sure you get the correct air filter. There are many sizes and styles. The filter can be cleaned with compressed air or a brush. If its really bad just go ahead and replace it. Some filters are foam and can be washed in warm soapy water. Do not re-install a washed filter until its completely dry.
Sharpening a blade – You can use a file or a grinder to sharpen your blade. Make sure you use the same angle as the previous sharpening. Handyguy Brian got this heavy duty grinder for only $25, including the stand, at an auction. An inexpensive grinder will be fine for this task. A Dremel tool or even just a plain old file will do the trick as well. A sharp blade makes a better cut and helps keep your grass healthy.
Cleaning the mower deck – Sorry I don’t have an after picture. Use a scraper and a wire brush to clean up the mower deck. This is especially important for mulching mowers. If you have rust, sand that and hit it with some primer and paint.
Changing the oil – Do this every year. Make sure you use the proper oil and the correct amount. Most mowers will use SAE 30 oil. Do not use 10W-30, its different and will likely void any warranty you may have. Regardless – Check your owners manual first for the correct oil.
Learn more by listening to this installment of the Handyguys Podcast!
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- Comments(1)
We received this related question via the contact form an thought we would post it here…
“Inspired by your latest podcast, can you give me some pointers on sharpening the blades of my reel mower on my own, or is this something I will definitely lose a finger doing? This is something I’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t even had the time to think about how yet.
~Kit S.
(DiyDiva)”
Kit - Sharpening a reel mower will depend on its vintage. reel mowers cut like scissors do. An antique reel mower will need to be sharpened like any other blade. They are hard to do though because an equal amount of grinding needs to be done across the entire length of the blade and then the mower needs to be properly adjusted to mate up the fixed part of the ’scissors’. A more modern reel mower is best sharpened with a kit from the manufacturer. American Mower makes most of the modern reel mowers. Here is one example of a kit.
http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/the-handy-guys-store?B00004R9UM
The way this works is by cranking the reels backwards after applying a grinding paste. This action sharpens the blades.
If your reel mower does not have a kit or a simple way to do it I would recommend finding a sharpening service to do it for you.