Friday, March 17, 2017

Mower Maintenance Made Easy

It’s time to start thinking about mowing your lawn again! And that means keeping your mower in top shape. Follow these ten tips, and you’ll breeze through this year’s lawn mowing without a single hitch:

1. Don’t be a gas hoarder. Never store more than a month’s worth of gas in your garage or shed (and at today’s prices, who can afford to?). Old gas often collects condensation, which can gum up your carburetor. 
2. Give the blades plenty of elbow room. Before you start your mower, look underneath it. Clear away any built-up grass or other debris.
3. Sharpen the blade every third mowing. And keep at least two back-up blades handy and sharp.
4. Remember the oil. Depending on how much lawn you have and how often you cut it, change the oil at least once a season. Too little oil can put a death grip on your engine—a costly fate for you!
5. Keep the cooling fins clean.
6. Check the belt condition and tension each time before you mow.
7. Let your mower breathe clean air. Check out your air filter; replace it when it gets dirty. Otherwise, dirt will sneak into the engine, wearing down vital parts and making starting a real hassle.
8. Wipe down all the rubber and plastic parts with Armorall® once a month to keep them from drying out, cracking, and disintegrating.
9. Wipe down all chrome and metal parts with WD-40® every few weeks to keep them from rusting and sticking.
10. Check out all safety controls (automatic shutoff, all-wheel control, etc.) before each use.

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