Lawnmowers

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Maintenance

   Lawnmowers are just like any other piece of power equipment - they need to be maintained on a regular basis. The more routine the maintenance, the longer the lifespan of the mower. Regular maintenance can also reduce the possibility of an equipment-malfunction injury.
   Lawnmowers need to be stored properly at the end of the summer/fall mowing season as well as having pre-season maintenance before hitting the lawns. Bob's Power Center offers complete and affordable maintenance for your lawnmower - all year 'round!
   Owners can easily perform light maintenance duties themselves with fairly common household tools. If you're the type that would rather leave the dirty work to someone else, just give us a call. If you're more adventurous and don't mind getting your hands a little dirty, here are some tips that you can use to keep your lawnmower cutting safely and reliably:

1. Change the oil. This is a relatively easy procedure that can be accomplished with common household tools. Benefits to your lawnmower's engine are many - less wear, longer life, easier starting, and more. Be sure to use the correct weight of motor oil and follow the Owner's Manual for details that apply to your particular model.
   
   
2. Check for loose bolts or nuts and tighten them. This is especially important on all safety equipment such as the discharge chute and the rubber flap on the rear of the mower and the blade itself. Periodically, check your mower for loose wheels, guards, covers, belts, etc. Take care to use the correct size and type wrench for the job so you don't strip the threads or the nut.
   
   
3. Pull your spark plug. Checking your spark plug can provide early warning signs of possible engine problems. Spark plugs in healthy engines should be relatively dry and have a light tan/gray coloring around the tip and the end of the insulator. If your plug has an extremely different coloring or is wet or broken, please contact us for proper servicing. Here's a chart that can help you "read" your plug - it will open in a new window and you can save the chart to your computer or print it for reference. View Chart
   
   
4. Use fresh, clean unleaded fuel. Just like we pointed out in the article on snowthrower maintenance - when it comes time to pull out the mower, do everyone a favor and don't use the gasoline you have left in the can from last summer! Would you like a 6-month old glass of water? Well, your lawnmower doesn't like a tank of 6-month old gas. It'll run better with fresh gasoline.
   
   
5. Look sharp. Cutting with a sharp blade is both safer and more efficient. Have your blade sharpened regularly and inspect both the sharpness and security of the blade periodically. To do so, with the gas tank empty and the mower not running, turn the mower over on its side. Check the bolt that holds the blade onto the motor shaft and tighten if necessary. Also, check the cutting edges of the blade - if they look dull and/or beat up, your mower will benefit from a blade sharpening. Sometimes blades can be damaged to the point of needing replacement. We can help you determine what's the best choice for your mower.

   Following these simple tips will help make your lawnmower more dependable and safe which makes your job easier.

Choose from the lawnmower topics below or click the "Next" button to continue.

Maintenance Dress For Safety Built-in Safety Features Pay Attention and Use Common Sense All Clear! Sorry, Kids - Lawnmowers Are For Adults! Where There's Gas, There Could Be Fire

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Snowthrowers

Lawnmowers

Chainsaws