Lawn Mower Maintenance – Spring Checklist (Gasoline powered)
Tune up your lawn mower for the new mowing season
* When you remove your lawn mower from winter storage, your gas tank should be empty. Don’t fill it until other maintenance is complete. *
Sharpen the lawnmower’s blade or install a new one
Before you begin, disconnect the spark plug for safety. Instructions for how to remove the lawnmower blade should be in your manual. It should also tell you which kind of replacement blade to buy if you go that route. Options for sharpening the blade include using a file, a drill-powered grinding stone, or an angle grinder. Read more about sharpening a blade using these methods here, here, here and here.
You can also have your blade sharpened for you at a local lawn equipment dealer and some hardware stores like Ace Hardware and True Value. Prices range from $5 to $30 so shop around. Depending on costs, it might be cheaper to buy a new blade.
If your blade is damaged (cracks, missing chunks, severely bent) you should replace it instead of sharpening it.
Inspect the spark plug and replace if needed
Your manual might suggest replacing your spark plug annually or every two years, but many experts say you don’t need to replace your spark plug unless you have problems with it. It’s up to you.
Whenever you replace your spark plug, make sure you check your manual so you buy the correct part.
Signs that your spark plug needs to be replaced:
- The spark plug is damaged or corroded with rust or carbon buildup.
- The engine has difficulty starting or won’t start at all
- The engine runs rough or misfires
- The engine stalls soon after starting
- The engine is consuming more fuel than normal
- The lawn mower stalls while mowing
- The mower gets more difficult to start each time it stalls
See: Briggs & Stratton – How to check, clean and change small engine spark plugs
Change the lawn mower’s oil
For safety, make sure the spark plug is still disconnected. Follow the directions to remove the old oil, which should be disposed of properly. Click here for USA recycling locations
Add the new oil. Make sure you use oil recommended for your mower. Be careful to add the right amount. Use the dipstick to check the oil level. Check your oil level before each use.
Replace the air filter if it’s dirty
Check your manual to determine the right filter for your lawn mower. [Air filters on Amazon]
Clean dirt, dried grass and other debris from both the top and underside of the mower.
Buildup of debris in the lawn mower deck (where the blade is) can hurt performance.
Grease the mower’s lubrication points
Check your manual to see if it recommends greasing any moving parts such as spindles, springs, and external pivot points. Even if it doesn’t, you might want to grease some parts anyway, such as wheels. (See: HOW TO GREASE LAWN MOWER WHEELS FAST AND EASY on YouTube)