Grass and other wreckage can barely seem like a dangerous repair difficulty for your small engine. Once it builds up between engine parts, it can cause major problems such as overheating, difficulty controlling engine speed, and even temporary loss of power or permanent engine damage.
You should examine the blower accommodation and muffler area for fragments every time you use your lawnmower, snow blower, or outdoor electrical equipment, as well as at the start of the season. When stored, rodents build nests in and around the engine. Perform a more thorough cleaning at the end of each season or after every 25 hours of use. Do this more often if you are working on tall or wet grass.
When you buy a lawnmower after careful planning and spend a considerable amount of money, all you want is for the lawnmower to perform well and last for many years. The key to keeping your machine running smoothly and sustainably is proper maintenance. And cleaning is an important part of machine maintenance. Therefore, it is only beneficial for you to learn the basics of how to keep your lawnmower clean.
Safety first
When performing maintenance work on your riding mower, your primary concern should always be safety. If a lawnmower turns on unexpectedly, it can cause serious injury, so you should do everything you can to make sure this does not happen.
First, make sure you are familiar with the safety documentation that comes with it, and always work in a well-ventilated area with a hard, level surface.
Make sure the parking brake is on – A lawnmower is a piece of heavy machinery that can cause injury just by rolling forward unexpectedly. Remove the ignition key and disconnect the battery or disconnect the spark plug. Also, make sure that the blades are completely stopped before starting any cleaning or maintenance. Once you have checked all of these points, you can start working on your lawnmower.
Why you should never pressure wash your lawnmower
Pressure washing is a fantastic and ideal tool for washing your car, patio, driveway, but not your lawnmower. The problem is, the pressure is so great that it forces water into the bearings, cables, lower seals, and the water rusts, which will eventually cause breakdowns and money.
High-pressure water also removes vital mounting grease from the axles, causing premature wear of dry components. It is important to remove the grass from the deck after each mowing. Rotting grass produces acid that will happily eat away at your lawnmower in a few years. The top of the mower deck can be washed, but a brush or leaf blower will also work fine.
Effects of clogging and debris on a lawnmower deck
A jumper deck heavily cluttered with grass clippings and other dry matter is a nuisance!
Not only will it refuse to mow effectively, it can also cause a number of problems in the garden, including helping to quickly spread lawn diseases around your property. Indeed, the pile-up could deflect the blades (explains the strange mowing) or even block their rotation.
When it comes to lawn diseases, it is quite obvious that microorganisms that carry infections, such as fungi, have a favorable habitat in the dirt lurking at the bottom of the mower. And so, they will get an entry point to healthy grass once they are freshly cut when using their mowing equipment on wet grass.
Plus, debris reduces rust protection, even for homeowners who apply heavy gauge rust protectants and rust can start to eat away at the metal that houses the mower deck. In the worst case, the platform can become too weak and not be able to support the motor, rendering the equipment inoperable.
General maintenance program:
Washing your riding mower is an important part of machine maintenance, but not the only one. Regularly washing your lawnmower will keep it looking great, but there are also a few other things you need to do to make sure your lawn mower runs smoothly and lasts a long time.
Some of these tasks should be done regularly before and after mowing, others only two or three times per season, and others only at the start and end of the mowing season.
After each cut:
Be sure to perform these cleaning tasks each time you use the mower. It is important to know that these cleaning routines can also be performed for other types of mowers. Be sure to follow the safety procedures listed above before performing any routine maintenance.
Dirt and Debris:
Dirt and debris can build up in different parts of the machine and cause all kinds of problems, from the mower looking dirty, to blocking fuel lines, fuel fill, and oil fill areas. . After each cut, be sure to clean off dirt and debris, especially around the fuel and oil fill areas, with a brush.
Tires:
Check that the tires are fully inflated and clean. Clean and add air if necessary.
Engine and hood:
Too much debris and cuts on the deck and in or around the engine can cause the engine to run less efficiently. Use a brush to clean debris from the deck and engine. Take special care to remove any debris stuck in these areas.
Shields and deflectors:
Check guards and deflectors for damage after each cut. Make sure guards and baffles are undamaged and in place.
Fuel and Oil Levels:
Check the fuel level after each cut and add if necessary. Get in the habit of checking your oil every time you refuel. Once you have developed this habit, you are always aware of the oil level in your lawnmower and will fill it up quickly when needed.
Jobs twice per season:
The tasks mentioned in this section should be performed at least twice per season to keep your mower functioning properly.
Lubrication:
Lubricating the shaft and pivot points will ensure that your mower continues to run smoothly and stays in top condition.
Washing tips:
Washing a lawnmower is not difficult, but keeping a few things in mind will ensure that washing does not damage your lawnmower.
Avoid electrical components:
Make sure you do not bump into the electrical components of your mower during the washing process. Water on electrical components can destroy components and cause you great distress. Any water remaining around the electrical components of the mower can lead to a risk of electric shock later.
Avoid bearings:
Make sure to prevent water from entering the bearings. If water is sprayed on the bearings, the bearings could seize up and render the attached rotating components unusable.
Early wash on a sunny day:
Water left on the metal parts of your riding mower could rust these parts, which is very undesirable. Therefore, try to wash your lawn mower early on a sunny day, and after washing, allow it to dry in the sun before storing or using it.
Final words
If you take care of your lawnmower, it should last a long time, giving it many seasons of use. You need to wash it, as described above, but be sure not to neglect other necessary maintenance work as well. This will extend the life of your mower, saving you a lot of money on repairs or replacements.