Essential Spring Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips

Spring has arrived here in PA, and despite the late snowfall it will soon be time to dig out those handy lawn mowers and start your mowing routine.

Before you jump right in and discover your lawn mower isn’t quite as ready to start the season as you are, check out these spring maintenance tasks that can help your mower engine to run strong and keep your lawn properly trimmed.

Here are four simple lawn mower maintenance tips for gasoline-powered mowers.

1. Sharpen the blade – We’ll let you in on a little secret. One of the best tips for a healthy, green lawn that most homeowners neglect is sharpening the mower blade regularly. For most residential mowers, we recommend sharpening the blade twice a year (at the beginning and again halfway through the season). If your blade has nicks or chips, then you’ll probably have to replace it. The good news is that both services are inexpensive.

For professional mowers, sharpening is much more frequent. If you’ve hired a mowing service, ask them how often they sharpen their blades. The team here at Hively sharpens our blades every 16 operating hours!

2. Inspect the spark plug & air filter – Remove the spark plug and inspect it for dirt or corrosion. Clean the spark plug with brake cleaner and a wire brush, or replace it with a new one. If you need to clean the mower, keep the spark plug disconnected until you complete your cleaning– which is not only safer, but can make it easier to rotate the blade if you have to. If you have a foam filter you can clean it according to the owner’s manual, or if it’s a paper filter, replace it.

3. Clean the mower – Do you have grass caked on the underside of the deck? Are there leaves, grass, and dirt elsewhere on the mower? OK, it’s time to give your mower a good cleaning. Grab a hose, a brush, and soapy water to remove dirt and debris that may be clinging to your mower.

Once you completely clean the mower deck, a helpful tip is to apply wax or a thin layer of vegetable oil to help prevent grass and dirt from sticking to it again.

4. Give it some grease – Lubricate the wheel bearings, cables, and any other moving parts as instructed in your owner’s manual.

With these lawn mower maintenance tips, you’ll be back up and running full speed in no time. Not only will your mower be happy, but your lawn will be too. Dirty, unkempt mowers can spread disease and damage your lawn, so it’s vital to take these few extra precautions if you want your lawn looking its best this season.