Do Lawn Mowers Need Tune Ups?

If you desire to have a well-maintained lawn, a well-maintained mower is essential. Maintaining your mower regularly can protect against costly repairs.

In addition, keeping your mower intact helps increase performance and extends the lawn mower’s life.

But some people go beyond basic repairs and ask “do lawn mowers need tune ups?” Well! Tuning up the machine can enhance its performance beyond the regular numbers.

Here, we will explore what tuning up means and how you can do it for better performance.

Do Lawn Mowers Need Tune Ups?

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You need to tune up your riding lawn mower or lawn tractor at least once every year. The process is simple and will take a maximum of 30 minutes.

So, it’s a yes for “do lawn mowers need tune ups?” And here are the steps you should follow.

Oil and Filter Change

A maintenance kit comes with enough oil and an oil filter for the intended machine.

Tools you should gather before proceeding include a drain pan, a Strap-top oil filter wrench, and some more items from your garage.

Air Filter Installation

An air filter is also provided with every kit. Cool down the engine and clean the air filter screen of the debris before changing this filter.

Take the pre-cleaner and the existing filter out by detaching the cover and screws. Now, put in the new pre-cleaner above the mower’s air filter.

Since pre-cleaner isn’t a part of every mower, so you might not find it in the kit for your mower brand and product.

Fuel Filter Replacement

After the oil and air filters, you need to replace the last one, the fuel filter. Since it could produce fumes, look for a ventilated place to do this.

And if you are working indoors, open the shed or garage door.

There is an arrow provided on the fuel filter to show the gas flow direction. Verify the new filter for the arrow pointing in the same direction.

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Move the hose clamps using a plier, pull hoses from the gas side first, and attach them rapidly to the new filter. Now, reinstate the hose clamps at the place they were.

Check the leaks by turning the mower on and running the engine. Also, check for cracks and wear in the fuel lines to know if they are still usable or need replacement.

Spark Plug Swapping

The last step needs you to change the spark plug. This will let your engine fire when needed. Tools you need include a spark plug gap gauge, socket wrench, and new plugs.

Pull the plug wires out followed by loosening the spark plug using a wrench. The gap gauge will allow the creation of the right gap on the spark plugs.

Now, install the spark plugs and tighten them followed by connecting the plug wires. Turn the mower on to check if it fires.

Mower Blade Sharpening

After you have tuned the mower, head over to the blade section. Sharp blades give a sharper cut while dull ones create a ragged look that damages the lawn.

Sharp blades minimize the wear and tear on the lawn mower as they cut with ease and need less horsepower. Though it is not the tune-up thing but an essential.

Probably, blades won’t be there in the replacement kit for the tune-up of mowers. But it would be an essential step to ensure performance in the spring.

So, always keep a set of new blades ready. That would come in handy when you need to use new, sharp blades instantly without investing time in sharpening.

Cleaning the Mower

Gunk may get collected under the mower’s deck which can corrode the machine. The primary reason is the lack of proper maintenance unless you winterized the mower.

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Even if you winterize, the cleaning process should be carried out a minimum of 2 times a year.

You can also use the garden hose pressure washer to blast away the grass clippings and dirt. Scrub the stubborn things with the help of warm water, soap, and a brush.

You may also find debris invisible to the eye at places like under the belt guard on the mower deck top.

All the parts suck up the grass, soil, and yard waste, and then trap it. Clean it with a leaf blower or compressed air.

You can also remove the belt guards to blow the debris that can damage the pulleys or belts. Get a screwdriver to remove debris from under the pulleys.

Basic Maintenance Schedule

This tune-up process needs annual or bi-annual attention. Besides this, every machine should be maintained regularly to keep the performance intact.

How often you need to do these tasks depends on how long the mower has run. So, take note of the machine’s hour meter and do as required.

Break-in Period

Every machine comes with a break-in period after which it comes out of the newness and enters the real world.

After this time, some things loosen up. And this is when the machine needs break-in maintenance.

After 8 Hours

The machine is still new. But the mower needs to alter the oil filter and engine oil after this usage period. Tighten everything loose including the wheel hardware.

After 50 hours

Depending upon the property size and schedule of the lawn care, it may take time to hit the mark. At this point, change the filter, and transmission oil, and check the torque.

Every 50 hours

Now, after every 50-hour use, components of the mower deck need lubrication such as:

Idler arm pivot
Axle spindles and front axle pivot
Rear U-joints
Pivot points, lift pedal, and mower spindles

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Every 100 hours

Since annual tune-up is a must, if the machine runs for more than 100 hours before that, it needs cleaning and blade sharpening.

Also, check for and maintain the tire pressure and clean the cooling fins of the engine.

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Wrap Up

Are you clear about “do lawn mowers need tune ups?” They need regular maintenance with schedules as per hours of use and annual upkeep.

FAQs

How much does it cost to do a tune up on a lawn mower?

The cost varies with the mower type. For instance, a reel mower can cost around $10-$50 for the tune-up and a riding mower can cost around 10 times more.