4 Steps to Keeping your Lawn Mower Running all Summer Long

Summer is almost halfway over, which means your lawn mower has probably seen it’s fair share of daylight.  In order to keep your lawn mower running great all summer long, now is the perfect time to give your mower a mid-season tune up.  Here are five steps to giving your lawn mower some mid-season maintenance.

1. Give your Lawn Mower a Good Cleaning

The first step in giving your lawn mower a mid-summer tuneup is to clean it up a little bit.  During the first half of the summer, chances are, your mower has collected some dirt, debris and grass.  It’s important to give your mower a good cleaning.  Clean thoroughly, especially underneath the mower deck.  Grass buildup underneath the mower deck can hold a great deal of moisture, which will make your mower deck rust.

PRO TIP:  Save water and use an air compressor to get rid of debris quickly!  If you don’t have an air compressor, a leaf blower will work just as well.

2. Tighten Bolts and Hardware

Over the course of a summer, your lawn mower takes on a great deal of wear.  Vibrations among other things can cause bolts on your lawn mower to loosen.  Grab a wrench and make sure all of your hardware and bolts are tightened up!

3. Change the Air Filter

If your air filter is dirty, then it’s probably time to change it.  Replacing your paper air filter can maximize your mowers performance and engine life.  If your air filter is foam, then you could probably benefit from cleaning it.  Using soap and water, remove all debris, grass, and anything else it might have collected so far.

4. Check the Blades

Well sharpened blades can make all the difference in the world, when it comes to cut quality.  Remove the blades and carefully inspect them for chipped or dull edges or any chunks that are missing. Properly balanced and sharpened Lawn mower blades are without a doubt, the most important part of achieving a high quality of cut.

After you do these 4 simple steps, your lawn mower should be all ready to take on whatever you throw at it, as we head into the last half of the summer.  Happy Mowing!