FROM THE FIELD: 10 Ounces of Prevention

We all know the old saying about the value of an ounce of prevention, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in pre-season mower care. Here are 10 simple maintenance  tips.

1. Changing the mower’s oil and oil filter (if your mower engine is equipped with an oil filter, which is true for most new mowers) and changing the engine fuel filter are simple and straightforward items that are part of any basic tune up. For a mower that has been sitting in the garage for the last few months, you want to protect against any build ups in the engine or fuel line that would slow the flow of fuel to the carburetor or fuel injection system. Plus, fuel and oil filters are designed to keep unwanted particles out of key areas to keep your engine running smoothly and for as long as possible. But these filters deteriorate over time, which is why spring calls for their replacement.

2. Check the air filter and replace it, if necessary. While checking the filter, be sure to check the pre-cleaner around the filter to make sure it still appears to be in working order.

3. Install new spark plugs. You cannot afford to have your mowers not start for something this simple in the spring, so be sure new plugs are in your mowers. 

4. Check for debris in the engine’s cooling fins, which serve an often unappreciated yet important purpose for ensuring smooth engine operation. When rotating, these fins pull air into the engine for cooling, but they often suck in dirt, dust, grass clippings, etc., which clog the screen and fins. 

5. Be sure to consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions on when and how often to grease your equipment throughout the year. But when getting mowers ready to go each spring we recommend greasing all wear points.

6. Any equipment dealer should be able to sharpen blades for you (if you don’t have your own tool) and sell you a blade balancing tool. We know that many maintenance companies ignore this advice, and their turf suffers as a result. Sharper blades result in healthier turf. Balancing is important because sharpening removes material from the blades, which can negatively impact their balance and the resulting air flow beneath the mowing deck.

7. Clean the underside of the cutting deck. Turf or other debris building up under there will ultimately create an unwanted baffle system, which dictates air flow and clippings discharge. If your goal is a quality appearance on your lawns, you do not want this problem. Such clogging can also reduce cut quality by creating a situation where the air flow beneath the deck pushes grass blades down before they get cut, instead of lifting them up for the best, most even cut.

8. Check belts for wear, and replace as necessary. Also check belt tension – too much slack indicates excessive wear.

9. Lube and adjust all cables and check the mower body for cracks, broken welds, etc. Such problems are rare, but they are also safety hazards so you want to find them before the mowers are out in the field.

10. Start the mower and test its safety systems. For a riding mower, simply turn on the mower, sit in the seat, leave the brake on and pull lap bars in. If the engine doesn’t cut off, then the lap bars switch is bad and needs to be repaired. For walk-behind units, turn on the mowers and engage the engine blades. Then take your hands off the steering levers – if the mower doesn’t cut off, then you have found a safety switch that needs to be repaired.

These steps are all important if you care about the quality of your work, your customers’ satisfaction, your employees’ safety and your bottom line.