The first mistake anyone can make when it comes to maintaining a lawn mower is thinking a good manufacturer is all it takes to keeping your equipment in operating condition. No matter how well designed your mower might be, no equipment is going to take care of itself. Only through regular, proper maintenance will you be able to protect your mower from wearing down and becoming less efficient in its operation or else ceasing operation altogether.

At Mid-State Equipment, we put an emphasis on the importance of taking care of the machines that make hard work so much easier for us. Mowers can sometimes be the forgotten child of equipment, left alone in the shed to wait without care until the next week’s cut. Giving your mower some attention in the form of regular maintenance will ensure it’s ready to get to work every week without mechanical complaint. We’ve put together this short guide that focuses on easily overlooked tasks and mistakes made when caring for mowers. Read on for more information, or if you’re interested in taking a look at our stock of new and used mowers, head into one of our seven locations throughout Southern Wisconsin.

Clogged Air Filter

Perhaps the most common mistake in lawn mower maintenance is ignoring the air filter. A dirty filter can cause serious problems, like preventing enough air from getting to the engine. This means the engine will burn a less-than-optimal mixture of gas and oxygen, leading to even more buildup in the filter if not elsewhere in the mower. Air filters can become so clogged that they creates suction that’ll tear right through it and make way for debris to get into the cylinder and run amok. Avoid expensive repairs by checking your mower air filter!

Dull Blades

Your mower won’t do much cutting without blades sharp enough for the job. Think of the debris you mow over with confidence knowing that the spinning blades will make short work of that twig or those leaves. But debris dulls the blades which in turn will start to tear your lawn more than cut it. This can be seen when you see white or brown streaks forming on your lawn. Torn grass doesn’t look good and is more susceptible to disease and insects, so that’s just another reason to get your blades sharpened. Depending on how much grass you’re cutting, you can get away with a single sharpening at the beginning of the season, but quarterly checks aren’t out of the questions. Consult the Mid-State Equipment Lawn & Garden Service Department for details about removing and replacing blades.

Old Fuel

The scourge of any gas-powered equipment put in storage, old fuel can cause a variety of issues for your mower. Whether it’s water buildup or sludgy fuel, the result is the same: sputtering starts and eventual damage to your mower. Simply drain old fuel before you put your mower away for the season and fill it with a fuel stabilizer. This will prevent water buildup and make sure your mower is ready to go when spring arrives.

Old Spark Plugs

Old spark plugs should not be cleaned or reused. They corrode and will not function effectively once they are already damaged. Replace them at the beginning of mowing season. Also be wary of tipping your mower on its side or at an angle, as this can cause oil to coat the plugs, ruining them. Tipping a mower can also leak oil into the air filter, which as we’ve already discussed, is its own problem!

Avoiding Professional Help

No one would fault an owner for wanting to take care of their equipment themselves. It’s a great ideal, and we here at Mid-State Equipment are eager for all our customers to become experts in their own rights, but sometimes the garage doesn’t have an answer for your mower problem. If you notice a major issue that’s giving you pause, or if you’re just stuck with something you’ve been told is supposed to be easy but isn’t solved, do not hesitate to give the pros a call. Even if you don’t want to take your mower into a shop, you’ll get some quick advice for moving forward.

Regular maintenance can be tricky if you don’t know what to pay attention to, but with a few of these tips you should be well on your way to keeping your mower running happily for years to come. And if you’re after a dependable mower for tackling your lawn, call or head into Mid-State Equipment. Our family-owned business is the perfect place to find the equipment you need with the backing of a staff of knowledgeable and courteous professionals ready to answer all your questions. Come in today and let us show you and your family the true meaning of customer appreciation!