Basic lawn mower maintenance

Basic engine maintenance of your lawn mower is essential to keeping your garden in good shape. Use the fuel and oil recommended by the lawn mower manufacturer. When working on the lawn mower always follow some basic safety guidelines, be sure the blade has stopped. When accessing the underside of the mower for inspection or cleaning, always turn it so that the air-filter side of the mower is up. This will avoid oil draining out into the air filter and the engine not starting. It's also a good idea to detach the spark-plug wire so the engine won't start accidentally. Keep spark plugs clean, check air filters regularly, and clean or replace them when dirty. Your lawn mower will appreciate it!

It will help enormously to keep lawn mower blades sharp. It's advisable to have an extra blade on hand so a replacement is available when you detect poor cutting. Shredded or brown tips of grass blades are an indication of a dull or damaged mower blade. You can sharpen rotary lawn mower blades with a grinding wheel and file, but be careful not to destroy the balance. To determine which end of the mower blade is out of balance, put a nail in the wall and hang the blade from the hole in the centre of the blade. File more off the blade on the heavy end.

Excess vibration is an indication of a damaged blade, mounting, or crankshaft. Frequently tighten the blade and engine mounting bolts, as well as any other nuts, bolts and screws. Check lawn mower wheels, bearings and axles for wear and lubrication. If there are grease fittings, check them every couple of months. Replace loose, wobbly wheels. Be sure to keep the drive mechanism on self-propelled mowers in good working order. Check belts and gears for wear and fit.

After each outing in the garden, clean the underside of the lawn mower. Check the grass-catcher bag for wear or deterioration, and replace when necessary. At the end of the mowing season, be sure to drain the fuel and follow the winterising instructions in your owner's manual.

To keep your lawn mower in tip-top running condition, have a competent service person thoroughly inspect your mower at least once a year.