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04/12/2016 12:00 AMWho could forget Forrest Gump riding on his iconic Snapper Hi-Vac lawnmower when Jenny makes her dramatic return? The scene is unforgettable because it perfectly captures Americana. But even that classic lawnmower has needed a few updates since its glory days. And yours might, too. Luckily there's plenty of time left to service your lawnmower before any of your own special guests arrive this spring.
Whether you have a push or riding mower, the first thing any lawnmower owner should do is check the owner's manual to make sure all of the service measures are being followed. Each mower requires maintenance after a certain amount of miles or hours of use. Just like a car, maintenance is the key to getting the most life out of your mower.
Dave Clark, general manager at New England Power Equipment in Old Saybrook, suggests having your lawnmower serviced before the season. He says, "We have a lot of customers who bring their mowers to us for routine maintenance, but the work can also be done at home." Clark says that some mower manufactures, like John Deere, even sell one-year maintenance kits.
If somebody does choose to maintain their own lawnmower, the first thing they should do, regardless of whether it is a push or riding mower, is change the air filter, change the oil, and fill the mower with gasoline. Next, they should ensure the blades are sharp. Most blades can be removed fairly easily and sharpened using a bench grinder. Otherwise blades can be dropped off at a shop for sharpening.
From there, things get a bit more complicated, but are still manageable. All cables need to be lubed and spark plugs need to be changed. To change a spark plug, disconnect it, remove the old spark plug with a wrench, and insert the new one. A riding mower requires belts to be replaced periodically, and even if they do not need replacing, they need to be checked for their functionality.
Skip Bray, owner of Giant Oak Power Equipment LLC in North Branford, says that changing the gas in a mower is extremely important. He explains that gas today is different than it was even five years ago. The gas you purchase now contains higher levels of ethanol, which is great for the environment, but bad for fuel systems. Bray says, "You can damage the fuel system if you don't add stabilizer to it." He suggests buying gas in small quantities, adding stabilizer directly to the fuel, and not letting fuel sit in a mower for more than 30 days. If this seems like too much trouble, Bray says special fuel can be purchased that does not contain ethanol.
Prevention is key. After each use, with the motor turned off, the mower should be brushed off. Any extra grass stuck to the bottom of the mower should be removed. At the end of the season, give it a good wipe down with soap and water, drain all the fluids, and remove the battery. Last, the mower should be stored in a dry environment, until it is needed again the following spring.
With a little maintenance, your lawnmower should start right up season after season. And you won't have bailed on your mower like Forrest bailed on his shrimp boat.