Maintain Your Lawn Mower for optimal results

The standard walk lawnmower contains a number of moving parts; each working together to ensure optimal cutting performance. While any small engine service center can fix or maintain your mower, do not be afraid to try your hand at do-it-yourself tune-up maintenance.

First, a few notes: Allow about an hour for the total process, especially if you have not attempted a tune-up before. All the supplies can be purchased on-line or at a local small engine parts retailer, and will cost you less than $15 total. Ensure that you buy the right kit, per your owner�s manual.

Here is a simple 4-step process to ensure that everything is done properly and correctly:

1) Cleaning: Disconnect the spark plug wire to ensure that mower does not accidentally start. Wipe down all excess grass, oil, and other residue from top of deck. Tip mower on its side, ensuring the carburetor is elevated to prevent engine oil from entering the carburetor. While on its side, clean all excess grass and debris from under the deck.

2) Blade Sharpening: Loosen the bolt that holds the cutting blade with a wrench. Be sure to wear gloves while handling the blade. Sharpen the blade with a file or a bench grinder. Maintain the factory angle on the blade and remove the same amount of steel from both cutting ends to help maintain blade balance. Reattach the blade when finished, and tighten. Tilt mower back onto 4 wheels.

3)Engine oil and filter: Remove the engine oil cap, and tilt mower on side to drain oil into an approved container. When engine oil has been removed, fill with new engine oil until dipstick shows proper fill level. Tighten engine oil cap. Then, loosen the air filter cover, remove old air filter, and replace with new one. Then put air filter cover back in place.

4)Spark Plug: Using a ratchet and spark plug socket, loosen and remove the old spark plug, ensuring that loose debris does not fall into the cylinder via the threaded opening. Hand tighten the new spark plug, then tighten firmly with spark plug socket and ratchet. Re-attach the spark plug wire from step #1 above.

Apply the choke, and start! This standard mower tune-up can mastered at home, and can help you save money and keep your mower running efficiently.

Michael P King, Director of Sales & Marketing for THDRepair, one of the largest equipment repair specialists in the U.S., has held a number of positions within the company over the past 10 years, including previous positions of Director of Operations, and Director of Business Development. Mike has been certified as an OPEESA 4-stroke technician, and as a Generac standby generator installer.