Earlier this week, on Groundhog Day, Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil and Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam emerged from their burrows without seeing their shadows, declaring an early spring is in store.
We won’t count Ontario’s Wiarton Willie, who did see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. But that’s Ontario.
So as groundhogs and slo-pitch players start to emerge from the winter burrows to take over local parks later this month, it is a good time to look ahead at what your lawnmower needs to prepare for spring. It’s relatively easy to prepare your lawn mower for summer’s onslaught of grass cutting.
In the spring, there are four main that need to be taken care of when it comes to lawn mower maintenance: changing its oil, cleaning or replacing its sparkplug, cleaning or replacing its air filter and sharpening the mower’s blade.
Change your mower’s oil
Even if you don’t think your mower needs its oil changed, it is definitely worth it to change it anyway.
Lawnmower oil should be changed at the beginning of every season. Over the course of the lawn-cutting season, dirt and other foreign bodies, that can ruin an engine, will contaminate the oil.
Consult your lawnmower’s owner’s manual for proper procedure and correct oil for your mower.
Sparkplug maintenance
Many sparkplug manufacturers now package new plugs with its gap pre-set to the correct distance. So it’s simply a matter of using a sparkplug wrench to remove the old plug and install a new one. But it’s still a good idea to check the sparkplug gap with an inexpensive spark plug gap tool, just in case.
While some folks like to change their lawnmower sparkplug every, you can just clean the plug — especially around the gap — if it’s still in good condition, and carry on.
Replace air filter
If the lawnmower air filter is an accordion-style paper filter, remove the filter’s cover and blow debris out of it with air. A high-pressure air hose is best.
You will have to replace the filter if it’s too clogged and dirty.
Foam filters don’t often require replacing and usually a simple cleaning will do the trick. If your mower’s filter is foam, wash it in a water and soap solution, then let it dry.
Apply a few drops of oil to the filter before re-inserting it into place.
Lawn blades
Every year your lawnmower blade should get some maintenance attention prior to the first cutting.
A sharp mower blade cuts grass, while a dull mower blade tears grass, which can lead to diseased lawn issues.
Before one removes the lawnmower blade, it’s important to detach the spark plug wire so the mower won’t accidentally start.
Then tilt the mower and use a wrench to turn the holding bolt counter-clockwise to loosen it.
A metal file, sharpening stone, or a motorized grinder can be used to sharpen a lawnmower blade. An easy way to sharpen your mower’s blade is to use a small grinding attachment on your cordless drill. Just place the blade in a bench vice and you can hone the blade edge easily.
Whichever you use, follow the blade’s existing beveled edge on by passing the file over the blade, in the same direction, each time.
Now, once the rain stops, and the sun comes out, the grass will start to grow again, and you’ll be ready.
Good mowing.
Kevin Gillies is a freelance writer for Black Press.