Equipment Focus: Feb. 1998, Getting Your Mower Out of Hibernation

The busy spring season ahead demands mowers be inspected and ready for their grueling landscape maintenance schedule. As part of this inspection, mowers need to be cleaned and a routine review needs to be conducted. This routine can help save money, reduce downtime and improve the quality of the work the equipment performs.

If proper storage measures were not taken when the mower was put away for winter storage, steps must be taken now to get the equipment ready for spring. Using a checklist is a good idea and often one is included in the manufacturer’s equipment manual.

Fred Hemmer, Toro customer service manager, Bloomington, Minn., recommended contractors begin a mower’s examination by changing all fluids. Long storage can cause build-up inside the gas tank, leaving impurities in the carburetor that can plug up orifices, he said. This can make the mower more difficult to start and can gum up the throttle and choke shafts, making the machine more difficult to operate.

At worst, the impurities can cause the engine not to run at all, Hemmer warned.

Mower blades can also cause problems if they’re not in proper working order, so contractors should be sure to inspect each blade for necessary sharpening or replacement. Hemmer noted that checking the blades during the winter season instead of one week before the spring season begins could save a company time by not being placed at the end of a long waiting list for blade sharpening or a needed part.

Don’t forget, to inspect spark plugs, filters and equipment belts for signs of wear and cracked or frayed edges, Hemmer reminded. A tip for inspecting a belt is to bend it backward to see if there are any missing pieces, frayed edges or signs of being stretched out, he suggested. Also, make sure the recommended air pressure is in the mower tires, he added.

The maintenance routine of a mower is not as intense as a car and can be accomplished within 30 minutes, said Billy Harms, service manager at Encore Mfg., Beatrice, Neb.

Harms said the most important item to inspect is the mower’s safety system to ensure it is in prime working condition and would automatically shut down should an operator slip or lose control of the mower. Typically, the system is electrical-based and, as part of its routine maintenance, requires adjustments and lubrications, he suggested.

Harms also recommended, like Hemmer, that the oil and filter be changed before taking the mower out of storage and using it.

It is basically a good idea to change the oil in the spring if a lot of warming and cooling has taken place during the winter, Harms said, adding that such conditions can lead to condensation build-up.

This water can break oil down, causing it to lose its lubricating properties. This produces friction, resulting in more wear and tear on engine parts and hydraulic drive parts, particularly the pump and wheel motor, Harms remarked. Water can also cause oil to foam, he added, plugging up a filter and leading to a blown filter gasket.

Harms also echoed Hemmer’s advice that bearings, belts and blades should all be checked. When inspecting belts look for damages, but also make sure that belt slippage does not occur, reducing the mower’s pulley and belt life. he noted.

Blades should be set at the proper height and blade spindles should be a high priority in an inspection to check for any side play excessive side to side movement. If there is, there is no guarantee of a nice even cut, he said.

The side play can be a detriment to the quality of a cut, causing scalping problems that leave a recognizable uneven cut and discoloration of the grass, Harms pointed out.

Also, check bearings in the wheels and check for side play. If there is excessive motion, it can make the machine harder to control, Harms commented.

Lastly, contractors should be sure to inspect all pivot points for necessary lubrication and adjustments. Harms suggested that before putting the mower away for the next winter storage a fuel additive, or stabilizer, be mixed in the gas tank. He explained that the stabilizer keeps the fuel system in top condition and prevents the fuel filter from future clogging.

The author is Associate Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine.