Lawn Mower Maintenance: Complete Service Guide
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If you have a garden with a lawn and prefer it neat and tidy, you'll be reaching for the lawn mower on a regular basis. Cutting the grass to your desired length not only looks great, but also makes relaxing on the lawn in your free time far more enjoyable. A petrol or electric mower is the most efficient way to get the job done. However, as with any piece of machinery, regular servicing is essential to keep it running well and lasting for years to come.
We'll show you how to check your lawn mower from the handle to the wheels and carry out any necessary maintenance.
There are plenty of good reasons to service your lawn mower
Why does a lawn mower need servicing at all? For one thing, you'll want to get as many years out of your garden equipment as possible, and for another, regular servicing ensures your mower continues to perform consistently well. A blunt blade won't cut the grass cleanly — the result is raggedly torn blades and an uneven finish.
Before that happens, it's worth checking the blades — and the rest of the mower — before each use to make sure everything is in top condition. Nothing should be stiff, unusually hard to move, or rattling. Regular mower maintenance doesn't just benefit your lawn's appearance; it's also important for your own safety and should be part of your regular garden routine.
Service your mower before the gardening season gets under way
During winter, before the gardening season begins, it's a good idea to carry out your annual lawn mower check. The ideal time to do this is either at the start of winter, before you put the mower away for storage, or towards the end of winter, before the new season kicks off.
Why? If something is broken and needs replacing or repairing, you'll still have plenty of time to sort it out. That way, as soon as the warmer weather arrives and plants start growing again, the mower will be ready to go. It would be a real shame if it let you down just when you want the garden looking its best for the first barbecue or outdoor gathering of the year. So do yourself a favour and get that full check done in advance.
How often should a lawn mower be serviced?
As a general rule, a lawn mower needs servicing once per season. However, cleaning and checking the oil should be done more frequently throughout the year.
What does a lawn mower service involve?
When servicing your lawn mower, the following steps should generally be covered:
- Clean the mower
- Change the oil
- Check the air filter
- Clean the spark plug
- Sharpen the blades
- Lubricate moving parts
A thorough deep clean of the mower should always be carried out at the end of the season. Remove any grass clippings that have stuck to the machine, especially on the blades. This prevents them from hardening over the winter months, which would make cleaning far more of a chore come spring.
Servicing made simple: here's how
Lawn mower maintenance, when done regularly, is really nothing to worry about. In just a few straightforward steps and a short amount of time, you can check, service and/or clean your cordless or petrol mower. This excludes any waiting time for ordered spare parts to arrive, or repairs that need to be carried out by a professional.
For most servicing steps, it doesn't matter which type of lawn mower (petrol or electric) you own. With a few minor differences, the process is largely the same. If you'd rather not hand the job over to a dealer, you can generally carry out the service yourself without any trouble. With a thorough check-up under its belt, the mower will be purring along nicely even after a long winter break.
One thing to bear in mind: Servicing is far easier if the mower has been stored somewhere dry over the cold months. Prolonged exposure to frost and/or damp takes its toll on individual components, which can make the pre-spring service far more time-consuming and labour-intensive. In the worst case, key parts may be damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced entirely.
Servicing a petrol lawn mower
The same rule applies to a petrol lawn mower such as the FX-RM5396eSPro: a good clean makes for easier mowing. Here's how to get your mower ready for the next gardening season:
- Clean the machine with a dry cloth or a hand brush.
- Check and change the oil – with a petrol mower, this shouldn't just be done once a year. A good rule of thumb is: change the oil after every 25 mowing sessions. Leave a small amount of oil in the mower before putting it away for winter.
- Check the air filter. A clogged filter can damage the engine. Clean or replace the filter as needed.
- Now for the spark plugs: clean them with a wire brush. Replace them if necessary — and at the very latest every 3 years.
- Sharpen the blades at least once a year — ideally as part of your annual service. If the blades are damaged, fit new ones. A damaged blade causes the engine to wear more quickly and can even lead to dangerous situations whilst mowing.
- Final step: check whether any moving parts need lubricating so they run smoothly and don't rust. Also tighten any loose screws on the mower, and you're essentially done.
Tip: Always empty the fuel tank at the end of the season. This prevents the carburettor from quietly gumming up while the mower is sitting unused in the shed or garage. Petrol also has a limited shelf life, so always fill up with fresh fuel before carrying out your first cut of spring.
You can find more tips on winterising your mower here.
Servicing a cordless lawn mower
Thanks to their relatively light weight and freedom from trailing cables, cordless lawn mowers are often the first choice for smaller gardens. A model like the Fuxtec E137C will give you years of reliable service, provided the battery, housing, blades and other components are properly maintained and kept clean.
Store the cordless mower somewhere dry and dust-free during the winter months. This is also the perfect time to take care of any maintenance at your leisure.
Important: Make sure the battery has been removed and that no power can flow through the mower. Accidentally pressing the start button during maintenance could be very dangerous.
- Clean the machine. A hand brush and a dry cloth work best.
- Lubricate components where needed, using WD-40 or another suitable oil.
- Inspect the blades and sharpen them.
- If the mower is going to be unused for an extended period, it's best to remove the battery. The charge capacity of a battery decreases by around 15% per month when left idle.
By the way: Your mower will also thank you if you remove any dry, stuck-on grass after every cut — especially from the blades. A quick clean after mowing reduces the effort required during the annual service. As with most things, the key is not to let it get out of hand. Regular checks and quick cleans — just a few minutes after each mow — will save you a great deal of hassle and expense in the long run.
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