How to Maintain and Repair Lawn Mowers

Step 1
Most mowers require weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance to keep them running in optimal condition. The first thing you need to do at the beginning of your cutting season to make sure that your lawn mower is ready to go is to change the oil. In 4-stroke and larger lawnmowers, the oil is in its own reservoir, so you can use a siphon device -- which is available at most automotive stores -- to suck the old oil out. Siphon in to a small bucket or old coffee can, and take the used oil to a recycling center. Be careful, this stuff is toxic.

Step 2
Replace the spark plug. These are generally inexpensive, and if you take your old spark plug to an auto parts store, they can help you find a matching one. If you have some more time to wait, you can also get the part number off the spark plug and order one online. This is as simple as unscrewing the old plug, and screwing the new one in.

Step 3
After you replace the spark plug, you want to check and clean the air filter. When these get clogged up with trimmings and other debris, it puts a lot of undue strain on your mower's engine, cutting efficiency and shortening your mower's lifespan. If your air filter is an accordion-style paper-type filter like this one, you can blow out the debris with a high pressure hose, or with canned air if you don't have a compressor at home. Some lawn mowers have a filter that is made from foam. With those you can just remove it, wash it in a light water and detergent solution, let it dry and apply a few drops of machine-oil to it before your replace the filter.

Step 4
When those steps are done, you want to inspect the cutting blade, but first unplug the spark plug to prevent your mower from accidentally starting. The blade needs to be sharpened more often than the oil-change and filter cleaning -- about once a month -- and changed yearly. You can sharpen the blade with a metal file, sharpening stone, or metal grinder, but whichever way you go about it, make sure you follow the existing beveled edge and sharpen in the same direction every time.

Step 5
If you notice some major gashes or deformities in the blade when you inspect it, you should probably just get a new blade. Every lawnmower manufacturer differs in their procedures for safely changing the blade, so check your manual for the best and safest way to do this on your mower.

Step 6
Finally, at the end of your grass-cutting season, when either the grass goes dormant, stops growing or snow starts to fall, its important to prepare your mower for storage by removing any leftover fuel with the siphon pump. After you drain whatever fuel is in the tank, you want to run your mower dry until it stops in order to burn off the last of the fuel. With just these few simple steps, your lawnmower will keep running efficiently and cutting well for years to come!

Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret

• No items for this tip
• detergent
• old paint can with lid for oil waste
• matching spark-plug
• adjustable wrench
• lawn mower
• metal file
• siphon pump