Riding lawn mower mechanic. Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips

Lawn Mower Maintenance Tips

Keeping your lawn mower in excellent working condition is a big part of maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn, and it’s also key to ensuring your lawn mower will last as long as possible – approximately 10-15 years. Performing regular maintenance on your lawn mower, particularly its engine, will extend your lawn mower’s life and help it work its best all season long.

You can either tune-up your lawn mower yourself or hire a lawn mower service expert to take care of it professionally. Either way, lawn mower maintenance is something that should be done at least once a year and will only take a few hours to complete. Use this guide to learn how to properly maintain your lawn mower and extend its life.

When to Perform Lawn Mower Maintenance

Be sure to clear the area of objects like twigs, stones, and toys and never mow in the dark. Lawn mower maintenance can be carried out at any time of the year, but two of the best times for it are at the beginning of the season before it’s time for the first mow, or at the end of the season when you’re putting your mower away until next year. note that timing will vary based on geography.

The end of the mowing season is an ideal time to perform annual lawn mower maintenance because there are certain things you need to do to take care of it goes unused for months at a time. By performing routine maintenance and winterizing your lawn mower in the fall, you’ll be able to get mowing right away when spring arrives and be less likely to cause damage to your mower’s engine or lawn from dull blades or malfunctioning parts.

Annual Lawn Mower Maintenance Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you’re doing everything needed to keep your lawn mower running at its best:

• Change the engine oil
• Add fuel stabilizer to the fuel system, or remove all fuel from the mower if discontinuing mower use for more than 30 days
• Replace the spark plug
• Replace and clean the air filter
• Sharpen the lawn mower blades
• Balance the lawn mower blades
• Keep the mower clean
• Fog the engine

Tips for Lawn Mower Maintenance

Many people opt to take their mowers to a professional for lawn mower service at the beginning or end of the mowing season, but plenty of people perform their own maintenance. Caring for a lawn mower can be a messy and time-consuming process, but it’s a necessary evil. Lawn Doctor can provide you with l awn mower maintenance services in your area. However, if you decide to care for your lawn mower yourself, follow these tips to help you succeed:

• Get familiar with the owner’s manual. The last thing you want to do is cause damage to your lawn mower, so make sure you understand how to care for it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These instructions are provided to make sure your mower runs as long as possible.
• Disconnect or remove the spark plug. You’ll want to replace the spark plug annually to make sure your mower starts up easily, but taking it out at the beginning of maintenance is also a good idea for safety as it prevents the mower from being started accidentally.
• Drain the gasoline out if it’s the end of the season. Either run the mower’s engine until the remaining gas is all used up or drain it out, and begin with new gasoline in the spring. Old gas can keep your mower from starting.
• Clean the lawn mower. To aid in performance, clear out all the grass and any other debris that’s become caked on the undercarriage during the mowing season.
• Replace or top up the oil. Consult the owner’s manual to learn how to change lawn mower oil correctly and the proper type of oil for your lawn mower. Change the oil in your mower if it is old or contaminated; drain it out and replace it with new oil. Make sure to dispose of the oil properly. Most towns have oil recycling centers available for free.
• Clean or replace the air filter. A clean air filter helps your mower work at peak efficiency. Follow the owner’s manual for specific directions on installing a replacement air filter.
• Sharpen and balance the blades. Even if your lawn is relatively clear from branches, rocks, and foreign objects, the blades will wear down over time. You can sharpen the blades yourself, but this is one step that is generally better left to the lawn mower service professionals unless you’ve mastered the technique.
• Fog the engine. If your mower will be sitting idle during the winter, the lubricants in the engine can drain away over time, and then the water in the air can cause corrosion and damage to occur. Fogging oil can help prevent this from happening. Check your owner’s manual to see if your lawn mower needs engine fogging, and be careful to follow the directions exactly.

Lawn Doctor’s Mower Maintenance Program

Do it yourself not your thing? Lawn Doctor’s lawn care professionals are ready to help you identify what maintenance your lawn mower needs and help keep it operating at its top condition. When you use a Lawn Doctor professional to help maintain or repair your lawn mower, you get fast service with great results that assure trouble-free operation. You also save money as you protect the initial investment you made in your mower and are unlikely to need multiple repairs to enjoy optimal operation of your mower. Lawn mower tune up service is not available in all areas. Be sure to contact your local Lawn Doctor to find out if this service is offered.

Looking for lawn mower service near you? Contact your local Lawn Doctor professional today to schedule an appointment for lawn mower maintenance.

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Residential Commercial Lawn Equipment Repairs

• Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers
• Rototillers
• Aerators
• Paddle Two-Stage Snow Blowers
• RedMax Handheld Equipment
• String Trimmers
• Hedge Trimmers
• Backpack Blowers
• Handheld Blowers

We offer repair services for most brands of lawn equipment. If you do not see your equipment’s brand listed below, please contact us before visiting to make sure it’s something that we service.

Please note: We do not service Chainsaws, Generators,

Power Washers or Cultivators!

As of July 2023, we no longer service the Toro 30 two-blade machines.

Lawn Mower Service

A Walk-Behind Lawn Mower service includes:

Sharpening balancing the blade(s). Cleaning the underside of the deck. Changing the engine oil. Replacing the air filter and spark plug if needed. Cleaning the engine’s cooling fins. Purging the fuel tank. Removing and cleaning the carburetor assembly. Flushing the fuel tank and lines. Lubing the self-propel system or grease fittings if applicable.

For most brands this totals about 125 ~ 155

Snow Blower Services

We are currently not accepting Snow Blowers for Service

A service on a Snow Blower includes:

Changing the engine oil. Replace the spark plug. Purging the fuel tank. Flushing and cleaning the tank and fuel line. Removing and cleaning the carburetor (in sonic tank if needed). Reassembling carb while replacing any worn parts. Inspecting the belt(s) and idler(s). Refueling with fresh non-ethanol and stabilizer.

Paddle Blowers: Inspecting the paddles and scraper bar.

Two-Stage: Inspecting the scraper bar and skid shoes. Adjusting skids for best performance. Checking and replacing any missing sheer pins. Setting tire pressure (if applicable).

For the paddle style of most brands 200~225

(If needing new paddles and/or scraper blade can be 300)

For the two-stage style of most brands 215~245

(If needing new scraper bar and skid shoes can be 300)

Highest recommendation! I managed to gum up my snow blower’s fuel system with lack of maintenance. Two days before a forecasted storm, I dropped it off with Dan (no appointment) before noon on Monday. To my surprise, they had it fixed by noon the next day! Knowing of the impending storm, they had taken it upon themselves to prioritize snowblower repairs. I was thrilled. Not only that, rather than shotgunning and just replacing the whole fuel system, Dan performed individualized component level repair/renew of just the compromised parts. 20 in parts/oil/fuel plus an hour of labor and I was good to go. more than reasonable! These folks will treat you right.

Rochester Lawn Mower Repair and Tune-Up

Rochester’s top-rated lawn mower repair and tune-up service. We drive to you. Industry-leading, expert technicians. Google 5-Star rating.

Lawn Mower Repairs and Tune-Ups Direct-To-Your-Door

Mowers and Blowers specializes in mobile, on-site (at your home) maintenance and repair of all small engine equipment. We provide on-site service for all makes and models of lawn mowers, snow blowers, tillers, and generators. We also work on hand held equipment (trimmers, chain saws, and leaf blowers). All work is performed by qualified technicians.

Our Customers are Our Priority

We take great pride in responding quickly and efficiently to our customer’s needs. Visit our Google Business Listing and Angie’s List to see why Mowers and Blowers is rated as Southeastern Wisconsin’s #1 lawn mower and snow blower tune-up and repair company.

Why Choose Us?

Our industry-proven technicians have a passion for customer service. We ask the right questions in order to correctly and efficiently diagnose and repair your machine. Contact us today to find out how Mowers and Blowers is taking small engine repair and customer service to the next level.

Customer service and satisfaction is our top priority, so it only makes sense for us to bring our state-of-the-art maintenance and repair facility right to your front door.

Find out for yourself how convenient our on-site service really is by scheduling your appointment today! Customer satisfaction is guaranteed.

Services

Mowers and Blowers prides itself in being able to maintain and repair small engine equipment of all makes and models. be it riding lawn mowers, walk behind mowers (self-propelled and push), single stage snow blowers, two stage snow blowers, tillers, generators. you name it. Contact us today to service your machine.

MAINTENANCE (TUNE-UP) VS. REPAIR

Maintenance (tune-up) is something you should do annually regardless of how your machine is running. This will extend the life of your machine and ensure proper performance throughout the season. Click/tap here for pricing.

If your machine is not performing as well as it should be, chances are your machine needs a repair. It is important to recognize the difference between maintenance and repair work. Click/tap here for pricing.

Contact us today to find out which service is best for you.

Don’t give up on a reliable mower. Take it to one of these best lawn mower repair services for regular maintenance and repairs.

By Timothy Dale | Updated May 10, 2023 1:17 PM

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The yard is a great place for the kids and pets to run and play. It’s also nice to have outdoor space for get-togethers and barbecues. But if homeowners don’t stay on top of yard maintenance, then the lawn can quickly grow out of control. When the grass grows to over 4 inches in height, it doesn’t just pose an aesthetic problem to the yard—it can become a danger. Ticks seek out locations where they can easily latch onto a passing animal, and grass over 4 inches in height is ideal.

At least once a week, homeowners need to bring out the lawn mower and trim the yard to keep it safe for the home’s residents and pets. If the lawn mower starts showing signs that it isn’t working properly, like smoking or excessive vibration, it may be time to start searching for the “best place to buy a lawn mower near me” or “best deals on riding lawn mowers near me.” That being said, it would be more affordable to have minor problems repaired instead of buying a brand-new lawn mower.

A simple search engine query, like “where to find the best lawn mower repair near me,” can generate many results, but it can be difficult to sift through the choices to determine the best lawn mower service. The best lawn mower repair services can handle a wide range of brands and lawn mower types at a reasonable price. This guide will highlight some noteworthy nationwide providers and provide information about lawn mower repair services.

What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Lawn Mower Repair Services

A homeowner won’t want to search for “best deals on lawn mowers near me” or try to figure out the best place to get a lawn mower until they have inspected their current lawn mower. Minor repairs can be made more cost-effectively than replacing the lawn mower. Homeowners can consider whether the lawn mower can be repaired or if a replacement is the better option, then look at important lawn mower repair service factors, like the service area, scheduling, completion time, and the brands or lawn mower types the repair service can fix.

Repair vs. Replacement

A nearby lawn mower repair service can address minor damage or maintenance concerns. New spark plugs, an ignition switch, a new filter, or even a new battery are all relatively inexpensive repairs that can be made for less than the price of a new mower. Additionally, customers will want to check the warranty on their lawn mower. The best lawn mower warranty may be able to cover several different repairs, making it more cost-effective to have the current mower repaired instead of replaced.

However, even the best lawn mower engines will burn out or fail after several years of regular use, so customers won’t always be able to have a lawn mower repaired for less than it costs to simply upgrade. Customers can consider the costs involved and the potential for future repairs. It’s important to remember that lawn mowers tend to last about 7 to 10 years, even with regular maintenance and repairs, so if a lawn mower is nearing the end of its life, a customer may be better off investing in a new mower.

Tune-Ups and Maintenance

Heading to the nearest lawn mower repair service doesn’t need to be limited to damage or problems that need repair. Most of these companies also offer tune-up and maintenance services, ensuring that trained professionals can take care of lawn mowers. It’s a good idea to take the lawn mower in before the start of the lawn-mowing season to ensure it’s running smoothly.

There are also some steps owners can take to help maintain a lawn mower at home, such as emptying the gas tank before winter, regularly changing the oil, cleaning or replacing the filter as necessary, and storing the batteries in a safe location that isn’t too hot or too cold.

Service Area and Scheduling

Small, local lawn mower repair services typically have similarly small and localized service areas that can provide regular lawn mower maintenance and repairs to the client base in the town in which they are based. This may limit the number of appointments booked for maintenance and repairs or increase the job completion time.

Larger lawn mower repair services can have nationwide service areas, making it easy to find a reliable repair and maintenance shop nearby. However, the level of experience and knowledge may be lacking depending on the rate of turnover and the training required for new employees. However, scheduling is usually much easier with large lawn mower repair services because they have the staff to handle a larger volume of work. Customers can lean on reviews of the service to establish the company’s reputation and quality of work.

Brands and Types of Mowers Repaired

Similar to automotive repair services, lawn mower repair services can sometimes be limited by the brands and types of mowers they can repair. This is mainly due to the variety of different parts used by various global manufacturers, though training and experience can also be lacking when it comes to certain lawn mower types, like riding mowers.

Most lawn mower repair services will be able to work on a standard push mower with basic features, but as the mower gets more complex, the knowledge required to work on this lawn maintenance tool increases. Suppose a customer has a high-end riding mower manufactured internationally. In that case, they may have a hard time finding a local lawn mower repair service that can complete the work on-site. Customers can expect to pay a higher price to have the lawn mower shipped off-site for repairs.

Pricing, Diagnostic Fee, and Deposit

Whenever a customer is looking into a new lawn mower repair service, they will want to ask the necessary questions up front before agreeing to allow a technician to work on the lawn mower. The reason for this is that some repair services may charge a diagnostic fee, while other companies may ask customers to pay a deposit when dropping off a mower; this ensures customers aren’t using the repair service as a way to dispose of lawn mowers they no longer want.

Customers can ask the technician or customer service representative for the pricing and whether there are any additional fees or deposits they should know about. Customers don’t need to let situational ignorance force them into making a decision they don’t want to make.

Off-Site vs. On-Site Repairs

Not all lawn mower repair services have the parts and qualified personnel to deal with every brand and type of lawn mower. Some smaller lawn mower repair services may simply turn the customer away, explaining that they cannot fix the lawn mower, but large lawn mower repair services often have an alternative option. They send the lawn mower to a different location that has the parts and trained personnel to complete the repair.

When the lawn mower needs to be sent away for repairs, it is known as an off-site repair. These repairs typically take more time and may cost more, depending on the company. On-site repairs are completed at the tool repair center and are usually much faster than off-site repairs because there is no shipping involved. On-site repairs may also cost less, though this varies among lawn mower repair services.

Job Completion Time

The exact amount of time that it takes to fix a lawn mower doesn’t really matter when it comes to the job completion time. This is because there is usually more than one lawn mower to work on at the repair shop, so a customer’s lawn mower cannot be repaired as soon as they hand it over. Between the time a customer drops off the lawn mower and when it’s ready to be picked up, it could take from a few days to a few weeks depending on the volume of work the lawn mower repair company has to handle. Customers will want to keep in mind that many people discover problems with their lawn mowers in the spring when they start using the mower again, so customers can expect the longest wait times during these months.

Licensing, Certification, and Insurance

It’s always a good idea to ask about the technicians’ qualifications when a customer is looking into new lawn mower repair services, though it should be noted that there isn’t a strict licensing or certification program for lawn mower maintenance and repair. Instead, customers can check the technician’s qualifications and ask if the company has a business license and general liability insurance.

Companies that rely on positive customer interaction to help increase interest in their services will usually answer questions without any problems. However, if a customer gets a lot of pushback when they are asking about experience and qualifications, this is a red flag. Customers will want to consider opting for a different lawn mower repair service that is up front about the skill and knowledge they can offer to customers.

Guarantee

Some lawn mower repair services will offer a guarantee on the work performed by the technicians. This guarantee may cover just the work performed or it may be an overall satisfaction guarantee that can cover more generalized concerns. Essentially, a guarantee means that if the customer is not satisfied with the work or if the lawn mower begins experiencing the same problems shortly after the repair, then the customer can come back to the lawn mower repair shop to have the lawn mower reassessed.

If there is a problem with the work that was performed, customers may be eligible for a refund, though the lawn mower repair service may simply offer to take the lawn mower back and make the necessary repairs free of charge. Each company differs in how they deal with guarantees, so before a customer hands over their lawn mower, they should clearly understand what the guarantee covers and what they can expect to receive if there is a problem with the repair.

Our Top Picks

This list of the best lawn mower repair services was chosen for flexible scheduling, efficient job completion time, and a nationwide service area, as well as reasonable guarantee policies.