9 Things You Should
NEVER Do To Your Mower

 

1. Don't let your engine get low on oil.

Your engine needs to be lubricated well to prevent overheating. If your mower runs out of oil and is ran anyway, you WILL be either buying a new engine or a new mower. CHECK YOUR OIL BEFORE EVERY USE!

 

2. Don't let your radiator coolant get low.

This only applies to liquid cooled mowers. Engine will overheat and seize up without coolant! You need to check your coolant level BEFORE EACH USE!

 

3. Don't suffocate your engine.

Keep dirt and grass cleared away from the engine cooling fins. Your engine needs air circulation to prevent overheating. If your engine overheats it can lock up, or even worse it can catch on fire!

 

4. Don't hit tree stumps.

If you hit a tree stump with a push mower, you will most likely bend your blade and possibly crank shaft. This would result in a very expensive repair.

If you hit a tree stump with a riding lawn mower or zero turn, you will bend the blades and possibly bend the mower deck or break the spindles. This will also be a very expensive repair.

 

5. Don't operate your mower if safety equipment is not working properly.

Please check all of your safety equipment before you start your mower. There is no machine worth one of your loved ones getting injured or killed!

 

6. Don't let your mower deck get clogged with grass and debris.

Remove dirt, grass, and debris from top and underneath side of your mower deck after each use. This will keep your pulleys and belts moving freely without overheating. You can hose off your deck. When you're finished, just engage the mower blades and let them turn for a few minutes to induce drying and to re-heat the bearings.

 

7. Don't let animals live in your mower.

Often times critters make nice little homes in equipment, especially when the equipment is left outdoors or in a barn for the winter. Air filter compartments can make cozy places for mice to live. Make sure you check your air filter and other engine compartments regularly for signs of animal nesting.

 

8. Don't use unsafe mower blades.

There are many things that can make a mower blade unsafe.

1. Sharpening them too many times - If a blade is worn too thin it becomes weak. If you hit something, the blade could break off and injure someone.
2. Bent blade - If a blade is bent it will be out of balance. This can ruin your bearings and scalp your yard.
3. Cracked blade - If a blade is cracked and you hit something it can break off and injure someone.
4. Broken blade - A broken blade will be out of balance and ruin your bearings. You also risk the blade breaking off completely and doing serious property damage or injuring someone.

 

9. Don't forget regular maintenance.

Regular maintenance is very important. Your mower will last much longer if it is tuned up each year.

Riding Mower/Zero Turn: Change engine oil, oil filter, air filter, pre-air filter, spark plugs, and fuel filter. Clean the engine cooling fins and mower deck. Check deck belts, bearings, and idlers, transmission belt and idlers, tire pressures, charging system, and battery. Lube all grease fittings, level mower deck, sharpen and balance mower blades.

Push Mower: Change engine oil, spark plug, and air filter. Clean engine cooling fins and mower deck. Check cables, check self propel, lube machine, sharpen and balance mower blades.