Choosing a new lawnmower is an important decision. Once you’ve decided on the most appropriate model, aim at keeping it for as long as possible. For your lawnmower to serve you for years, ensure you service it regularly. Regular servicing ensures that your lawnmower is in its best possible condition. Adopting a regular maintenance schedule for your lawnmower ensures improved efficiency when mowing. Some maintenance tips need to be done a few times during the season, while others need to be carried out once a year. Here are the top maintenance tips for your lawnmower in autumn. 

1. Check the Blades

The blades play an essential role when mowing. For the mower to run efficiently, the blades need to be regularly sharpened. Mowing the grass with blunt blades tears the grass. Sharp blades, on the other hand, evenly cuts the grass, preventing any further damage. Thus, after the mowing, the grass will grow stronger. You can sharpen the lawnmower blades with a hand file, angle grinder, or a bench grinder. At times, the blades might hit stones and bend or crack. In such cases, you need to replace the blades. Damaged blades do not respond to sharpening. 

2. Adjust Blade Height

Walk-behind lawn mowers have cutting adjustments where you can either raise or lower the blade height. The length of the grass influences the blade height in your lawn. The grass in your lawn can have uneven height. You should adjust the blade height as you mow the lawn frequently. A measuring tape will help you adjust the blade height accordingly. 

3. Replace Spark Plug(s)

A spark plug is an essential feature for lawnmowers. Spark plugs do not last forever, and they wear out over time. A worn-out spark plug affects the engine of your lawnmower. The spark plug is an affordable piece of equipment that is easy to replace. It should be replaced after every season or after 100 hours of use. You can tell the spark plug of your lawnmower is worn out if the fuel efficiency decreases, the engine stops running or if you have a hard time starting the engine. Spark plugs are not universal. You need to purchase the one that perfectly fits your lawnmower.

4. Add Fuel Stabilizer

A fuel stabilizer is essential when you want to store your lawnmower over the summer or for more than 30 days. Ensure you mix the correct amount of stabilizer with gasoline to protect the fuel system of your lawnmower from gumming up and pitting. Adding the fuel stabilizer ensures your lawnmower starts faster. The ratio of fuel stabilizer to gasoline varies with the manufacturer. 

5. Change the Oil

You need to monitor the oil level in your lawnmower, and check for any debris. You should also check the oil color. If the oil is dark black or contaminated, consider changing it. To drain the oil, unclip the drain plug under the mower. If your lawnmower lacks a drain plug, tilt the mower to drain the oil from the fill hole. You can also consult the manufacturer for the best method to drain the oil. 

Carve out time to carry out these maintenance tips during autumn, and your lawnmower will last for years.

A lawnmower is an essential tool for maintaining curb appeal. Many homeowners never realize how vital their mowers are until something goes wrong. A faulty mower can cause various injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and severe cuts. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 84,000 Americans are injured by lawn mowers every year. The good news is that most of these injuries can be avoided. This article looks at the top five safety tips for lawn mower maintenance.

Keep Hair Back

Repairing anything with an engine can get messy. Oil, gasoline, and other fluids spill. The undercarriage of the mowers is also usually very dirty from the accumulated grass. Get your hair out the way by tying it back or wearing a hat. The hair could potentially get caught on the parts of the mower.

Wear the Right Clothing

Lawnmowers have a small engine that powers a horizontal blade. This sharp blade rotates fast enough to cut the grass as it moves. A lot can go wrong where a sharp blade is involved. Your toes and thumbs should never be exposed when operating or starting the mower after a repair. You can avoid these injuries by wearing: 

• Closed shoes - In addition to protecting your toes from the sharp blade, closed shoes are also more stable. There is less chance of tripping or slipping. Lastly, closed shoes ensure your toes don’t come in contact with the hot parts of the mower.

• Tightly fitting clothing - Loose clothing can easily be trapped by the rotating blades and cause serious injuries. Tight-fitting clothes remain close to the body at all times.

Keep Kids and Pets Away

A lawnmower is powerful machinery and not a toy. Ensure there are no kids around when you're operating or maintaining it. There have been cases where kids are run over by a mower and shredded. The same can happen to playful pets. Projectiles struck by the rotating blade can also cause serious injuries.

Work in a Ventilated Area

The engine of a lawnmower is not that different from that of a car or a motorbike. One of the by-products of combustion is carbon monoxide. The gas is colorless, odorless, and hard to detect. Although the shed or garage seems like a great place to repair your mower, take it outside. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause nausea, headaches, tissue damage, and even death.

Use the Right Tools for Repair

Changing the oil, filters, and spark plugs are some of the standard maintenance procedures of upkeeping a lawnmower. These components are usually hidden behind manifolds and safety guards. You need the right tool to access them. A spark plug wrench, blade balancer, valve cutters, and screwdrivers are some of the things you'll need. You will also need safety accessories like goggles and ear protection.

Final Thoughts

Like most machines, lawnmowers need regular maintenance to keep working correctly. Hopefully, these tips will help keep you safe the next time you're tuning up the mower. If you're not sure of what to do, you can always hire a professional.