Lawnmower Service: How to Change the Lawnmower Oil

A lawnmower is one of the most essential garden machines, especially if you have grass. Ensuring that they are well serviced is integral to their performance and longevity.

The lawnmower was invented in 1830 by Edwin Beard Budding designed to cut grass that was primarily on sports grounds and gardens to replace the traditional scythe method of cutting the lawn.

Instead of having a motorised engine, the first lawnmower was designed to be pushed from behind and the roller would turn the blades placed on a cylinder that has a wheel attached to either side. Over time, this style has adapted. Another design saw that it would be pulled by animals in order to cover a wider span of land. Sixty years after the initial invention, the first steam-powered lawnmower was built.

Whilst we have come a long way since the first development of lawnmowers, we still need to ensure that we take care of our current machines. Lawnmower maintenance is essential to keep it in working condition as well as generate a perfectly healthy lawn after using it.

You will find that routine maintenance, especially with the engine of your machine will increase the life of your lawnmower. This can either be done at home or carried out by a professional lawnmower service company.

Whilst this is not something that needs to be done every time you cut your grass, we do recommend that you aim to have your lawnmower serviced once a year before the season begins and you are likely to start using your lawnmower more regularly.

What Needs to Be Done During a Lawnmower Service?

Whilst the extent of your service is down to you and your service provider, we have compiled a short checklist of checks that ideally should be performed to ensure that your lawnmower is in the best shape.

• Check/Change the oil
• Check/Replace the spark plug if its electrical
• Clean the lawnmower from debris
• Check the sharpness of the blades and sharpen if needed
• Ensure that blades are well balanced
• Clean the filter if it has one
• Check the engine

In the instance you want to perform your own service, we have produced the following guide. Ensure that all motors are completely switched off and you are wearing the correct safety equipment.

Lawnmower Oil Change

This process will vary depending on the type of lawnmower that you have, however, this is a basic guide.

Find your oil cap - Locating the oil cap on your lawnmower should be a fairly easy task. Most models will indicate where the oil cap is. This can be in the form of 'oil' pressed onto the cap or shown with a simple. If in doubt, check the user manual and it should indicate where the oil cap is located on your machine.

Clean - If this area is dirty with old oil, then it would be best to clean the area to prevent debris from entering the oil compartment. 

Check the dipstick - If your type of lawnmower has a dipstick, this should be used to get a ready of the oil, as well as inspect its condition.

Drain the oil - If you have decided at this point that you are going to change the oil in your lawnmower, then open the drain plug. Tilt the lawnmower to dispose of the oil in a way that suits you. This can be done into a bucket and disposed of.

Add Lawnmower oil - Once the oil has been removed, then add the new oil of your choice to the capacity. This will be located in your user manual if you are unsure.

Run the mower - Once you have placed the oil cap back on, run the lawnmower to ensure that it is working.

Change the Spark Plug on a Lawn Mower

It is recommended that you should replace the spark plug on an outdoor machine, such as the lawnmower every season so that you can ensure a consistent spark and it reliable start.

Remove the current spark plug - You are going to want to ensure that the lawnmower is completely discounted. If you find that there is debris around the current plug, then you are going to want to remove this to ensure it does not fall into the space when the spark plug is removed. Remove the old spark plug.

Replace the spark plug - When this one has been removed, put in the new spark plug. If you are struggling to find this location, your user manual should have this listed. Always check that the new spark plug is compatible with your make and model.

How to Clean a Lawnmower

As with any part of the service, you need to ensure that you are wearing your protective equipment as this aspect includes cleaning the blades.

It is always easiest to clean your lawnmower straight after it has been used as the grass is still soft and wet. When it dries, it can be harder to remove. Once you have finished mowing, completely disconnect the lawnmower and ensure that underside is safe to clean.

If you are using a petrol lawnmower, remove the sparkplug and drain the oil so that when you lay the mower on its side, it will not leak. If your lawnmower has a grass collection box, remove this and empty its contents into a bin. 

Use a tool to brush the debris from the blades and underside of the lawnmower. You can then use a damp, not wet, cloth to wipe the leftover grass from the underside of the lawnmower.

If you are wanting to clean the rest of the mower, a dry cloth can be used to wipe down the rest of the machine. Cleaning your machine will prevent a debris build-up which can make the machine unsafe, especially the blades.

Check, Replace, and Balance the Blades

Checking the blades on your lawnmower is incredibly important and this is a step that should ideally be completed every time you use your lawnmower. This is because you want to ensure that they are not damaged, blocked or unbalanced. 

The best way to check the blades is to ensure that the oil cap is tightly screwed on so that oil does not leak. Turn the mower on its side and check the blades. If the blades look unbalanced or blunt, then they may need to be replaced or sharpened. It is recommended that you sharpen the blades each season. This can be done as explored below.

Sharpen - If you decide that the lawnmower needs its blades sharpening, you will need a file, cloth and ratchet and a vice. Completely remove any power from the machine before starting. This can be done by removing the spark plug. You are going to want to mark the way that the blade is sitting in the machine to ensure you put it back the right way around. Once this is done, use the ratchet and unscrew the bold keeping the blade in place.

Take your blade and place it on a safe surface or place it in the vice. File the blade side until it is sharp. A hand file works best for this type of job.

Replace - Follow the steps as stated above, however instead of sharpening the blade, remove it altogether and instal a new blade in place of the old one. Safely discard the old blade.

Balance - Balancing your lawnmower blade ensures that you will have level and well-cut grass. This can be done by removing the blade, as per the instructions above and placing the blade on a nail to check the balance. If one side tilts, file that side further until both sides are balanced.

How to Clean the Filter

Disconnect the lawnmower from the power source before cleaning. Disconnect the spark plug. This is a more common part of servicing for a gas mower, but any with a filter will need to be maintained.

There will be a protective area that secures the filter onto the mower, this should be unscrewed and then remove the filter. Depending on the type of filter you have, you need to ensure that it is still in working condition. If not, this should be replaced.

The filter should be washed or brushed clean using the necessary tools. Be careful not to damage the filter. Dry the filter and reinsert it into the filter. Secure the protective cover back onto the lawnmower.

Check the Lawnmowers Engine

This step can be particularly difficult for people who are not familiar with the layout of a lawnmower. This step is integral but should be performed by a professional. This includes finding a local lawnmower service. Aside from that, there are some regular maintenance checks you can make. For example, look for debris that is lodged inside the engine and remove this as soon as it is spotted.

How to Find a Lawnmower Servicing Near Me

Finding a local lawnmower serving near you can seem difficult, especially if you don't know where to start. However, we have come up with some easy steps that you can take to find the best local lawnmowing services.

Google

Using google seems like the most simple way to research 'lawnmower servicing near me', however you may find that you do not know which company to choose. You need to look out for the most accessible, but well-rated business. Upon typing the abovementioned into google, you will be brought to a page that lists the places closest to you.

Here are some things to consider:

• Rating - How many stars does the company have? This is a really great way at finding out about the success of the company and finding out how others have found their service. You can find a lot of information online about a company and this is a great way to do so.
• Website - If the company have a website, be sure to check it out so that you can establish a rough idea of prices and what type of service you may require.
• Pre-Contact - Establishing contact with a company before you book their services can ensure that you are getting the right service.

Checkatrade.com

Checkatrade.com are a site that operates as a directory of vetted and recommended tradespeople. You can input a local business and find the following:

• Location of the company
• Company info
• Their skills & expertise
• Contact details
• Reviews summary
• Customer reviews

As well as this, you have the ability to search what type of business you require and manage through your options.

Access this website here: Checkatrade.com

Yelp

Yelp is a place where people can leave reviews about businesses. You are also able to place your own reviews if you wanted to. This doesn't necessarily help you find a company, but if you have narrowed it down, you can research the business and decide for yourself who you feel is best to go with.

Access this website here: Yelp

Lawn Mower Repair

In the instance that your lawnmower breaks, you are going to want to get it repaired. If you do not have experience in working with lawnmowers, then it is best that you source a company to do the repair for you.

Mowerpro

Mowerpro is a website that allows you to find your local lawnmower repair and dealer. Based upon UK services, you can find lawnmower dealers located in a town or city near you. Simply select your most local town and it will bring up a list of services in your area.

They offer a database where you can search over 200 authorised lawnmower dealerships and repairs. They state that you benefit from using lawnmower dealerships because they offer repairs and services that are carried out based on the manufacturer's guidance. In addition, if extra parts are required, then they are able to stock approved parts for the repair to be done. You will also find in most instances that they will carry out approved warranty work.

This offers a section where you can click through to more details.

Access this website here: Mowerpro