| Lawnmower Maintenance |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-207 |
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Q: How can I keep my lawnmower in top working condition?
A: (Brad Staggs, Ask DIY Home Repair expert): With a few parts from the nearest lawnmower store, it's pretty simple to keep your mower running well. Follow these steps:
- For safety's sake, run the lawnmower completely out of gas, or drain the gas from the tank. Also disable the sparkplug (figure A) by taking the lead off. That way the mower can't start up accidentally while you're working.
- Change the sparkplug -- make sure you buy one that fits your mower. If you don't have a socket set, consider purchasing a sparkplug wrench (figure B), which is fairly inexpensive and available at the auto-parts store or a home center.
- Slip the socket or sparkplug wrench over the sparkplug, give it a twist to loosen it, and then spin it off. If you like, you can clean the carbon deposits off the old sparkplug and replace it, or you can spend a dollar or two and twist in a new one. Place the new (or newly cleaned) sparkplug with your fingers, finger-tighten it, and then use the sparkplug wrench to tighten it another 1/8 of a turn.
- Change the air filter at the top of the mower. A clogged, dirty filter can cause poor performance, so make sure you change it each new lawn season (figure C).
- Turn the mower over on a stable work surface (like the driveway). Use a putty knife to scrape any dirt and grime clumps off the bottom (figure D), or use a pressure washer to clean it if you have one. Then spray the underside with a lubricant.
- Take the mower blade off, first spraying the nut that holds it on with a lubricant spray. Using a cloth to protect your hand, hold the blade steady while you use a wrench to loosen the nut and remove the blade. Then either sharpen the blade and replace it or buy a new one to install -- they're not that expensive.
- Take out the oil drain plug (also on the underside of the mower), preferably while the engine is still warm. Let the oil drain out into a drip pan, then replace the plug. Add new oil from the top of the mower, making sure it's two-cycle oil if you have a two-cycle engine. Take the old oil in for recycling.
More Questions for Brad:
Q: How can I refinish an aluminum storm door? I'd like to repaint it, but I don't know how to remove the old paint and prep for new. Can you help?
A: If you're really in love with that old door, you can have the paint removed by media-blasting and new paint put on with powder-coating, which lasts virtually forever. But unless you're really attached to the old door, I'd suggest just buying a new one for 80 bucks or so.
Q: Can you use a power washer on a wood deck that's two years old?
A: Absolutely. But make sure you don't hold the stream in one place for a long time.
Q: How do I remove extra grout from ceramic floor tiles?
A: You can use a damp sponge to get the film off. If it's already dried, you may have to scrape it off with a razor blade, making sure not to scrape the tiles.
Web site resources for Lawn Mower Maintenance:
Lawn Mower Maintenance from All Sands.Com
Books:
Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Service Manual
By Mike Morlan
ISBN: 0872886476
Intertec Publishing Corporation (1997) 9800 Metcalf Ave.
We apologize no contact information is available.
Riding Lawn Mower Service Manual
By Editors of Intertec Publishing
ISBN: 0872885259
Intertec Publishing Corporation (1997)
We apologize no contact information is available.
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