As winter fades and lawns begin to show signs of new growth, spring is the perfect time to prepare your push or ride-on mower for the busy mowing season ahead. A little preventative maintenance now can improve cutting performance, extend the life of your machine and help keep your lawn looking great.
Start with a thorough clean. Remove built-up grass clippings, dirt and debris from beneath the mower deck and around the engine or motor housing. Accumulated material can restrict airflow, reduce cutting efficiency and even encourage rust. While cleaning, inspect the deck for cracks, corrosion or loose fasteners.
Next, check the blades. Sharp blades produce a clean cut that promotes healthy grass growth, while dull or damaged blades tear the grass, leaving ragged edges that are more susceptible to disease and moisture loss. Sharpen or replace the blades before the first mow of spring to ensure a crisp, even finish.
For petrol-powered mowers, inspect the engine by changing the oil if recommended, replacing the air filter if it is dirty and fitting a new spark plug if necessary. Check fuel lines for wear and refill with fresh fuel rather than using old petrol left over from last season, and finally confirm that all controls operate smoothly and tighten any loose nuts or bolts. Ride-on mower owners should also check tyre pressures, steering components, belts and safety switches.
While many maintenance tasks can be completed at home, it is important to use genuine replacement parts and components that are correctly specified for your particular make and model. Air filters, spark plugs, blades and drive belts are all designed to meet the manufacturer’s specifications, helping ensure optimum performance, reliability and safety.
Your authorised dealer can recommend the correct parts for your mower or, for complete peace of mind, have your local dealer carry out a professional pre-season service.
An experienced technician will inspect the entire machine, identify any developing issues before they become costly repairs and have your mower ready to perform at its best throughout the busy spring and summer mowing season.
Finally, Spending an hour servicing your mower before spring arrives is a worthwhile investment that improves reliability, reduces the chance of unexpected breakdowns and delivers a cleaner easier cut, promotes a healthier lawn and helps ensure years of reliable service from your investment.
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.
