How To Properly Clean A Lawn Mower?

Throughout the summer season, lawnmowers are used a lot. Effective lawn mowing is directly dependent on the efficiency of the Lawnmower used. Like other mechanical tools and machines, lawnmowers also require proper maintenance and check-up to function correctly. The most basic maintenance initiative for a lawnmower is cleaning it properly. This step is simple yet very effective in enhancing the Lawnmower’s overall performance and incrementing its life span.

How to Properly clean a lawnmower:

• Step 1: Clean the Deck of your Lawn Mower
• Step 2: Check and clean the Engine
• Step 3: Inspect and clean the Spark Plugs
• Step 4: Clean the Fuel System of your Lawnmower
• Step 5: Check and clean the Carburetor of your Lawn Mower
• Step 6: Clean or replace the air filter
• Step 7: Cleaning the Blades of Lawn Mower

How to Clean a Lawnmower in 7 Steps

Cleaning of the Lawnmower is not as complicated as it may seem. People generally opt to take it to the repair shop, but this is something you can do yourself easily. If you want to save yourself some cash, have a look at this article. We have put together all the critical steps for the preventative maintenance of a lawnmower.

● Step 1. Cleaning the Deck of a Lawn Mower

A lawnmower is a fuel-driven machine, resulting from the integration of various mechanical components. In this article, a thorough guide is provided to help an individual clean the different parts and components of a lawnmower.

– Why clean the Deck of the Lawn Mower?

The deck of a lawnmower contains the blades responsible for cutting the grass.

– Need to clean?

In a scenario, if dry grass is stuck between the blades, it can cause the blades to deflect, thus reducing its efficiency. Cleaning the deck of the Lawnmower will inevitably enhance its performance efficiency.

– How to clean?

Deck cleaning should be done at the end of each mowing session. It can be cleaned, hollowing the gas tank, disconnecting the spark wire, and washing by using a garden hose. Other dirt and grass can be removed by using brushes.

● Step 2: Cleaning the Engine of a Lawnmower

An engine is a driving factor in a machine. A healthy engine ensures maximum performance.

– How to clean?

To clean the engine, take off the engine covering and clean the radiator fins, the blower’s inner side, and the flywheel fins using a high-pressure water stream and a brush. The battery fittings and mower choke are also to be cleaned. To prevent rusting, lubricate the battery terminals and deck surface.

– Safety measures:

While cleaning a mower’s engine, keep the following precautions in mind.

1. Remove the spark plug
2. Avoid using compressed air for cleaning to dodge small debris pieces into inaccessible areas of the engine.
3. The engine must be entirely cold.

● Step 3: Cleaning the Spark Plugs of a Lawnmower

Clean spark plugs offer smooth ignition of the Lawnmower. Dirt in the spark plug might cause complications in starting the mower.

– How to clean?

Following steps are to be followed to clean the spark plug

1. Spark plug: Remove the spark plug from the mower’s engine
2. Brake cleaner: Apply thinner or brake cleaner on the plug.
3. Clean metal strips: Use a brush to clean the metal spirals of the plug
4. Clean the plug: Use a clean cloth to wipe the plug
5. Repeat and Reassemble Repeat until little or no dirt is left and then reassemble.

This URL provides a detailed guide to the entire plug cleaning process.

● Step 4: Cleaning the Fuel System of a Lawnmower

The fuel system relays fuel to the carburetor, which burns the fuel and mower function. The presence of dirt and other small particles in the fuel system compels the engine to make different noises and also reduces the overall efficiency of the engine

– How to clean?

To clean the mower’s fuel system, firstly locate the fuel system, which is usually on the mower’s underside, and turn off the fuel valve. Secondly, use an air nozzle to clean the passages to the carburetor.

To keep the fuel system clean in the future, use a fuel filter. It blocks dirt and other particles from entering the carburetor.

– Safety Precautions:

1. Before operation gas tank to be vacant: Empty the gas tank before starting
2. Turn off the mower: The mower should be turned off
3. Remove the plugs: Remove the spark plug

● Step 5: Cleaning the Carburetor of a Lawn Mower

A dirty or corrosive carburetor reduces the performance and the life expectancy of the mower to an immense extent.

– How to clean?

1. Disassemble the carburetor: Takedown the carburetor and put its component in an array along-with carburetor cleaner or thinner for at least an hour.
2. Filled with water: Rise the parts with water, and after completely drying them, they can be reassembled.
3. Replace the carb: If a part of the carburetor is rusty, immediately replace it. If some parts are dirty, they can be cleaned, and replacing them is not mandatory.

This video provides a practical demonstration of carburetor cleaning.

● Step 6: Cleaning the air filter of a Lawn Mower

Clogged and dirty air filter limits the air supply to the engine for the combustion reactions, thus reducing the mower’s performance. Usually, there are two types of air filters used in the Lawnmower; therefore, both the filters’ cleaning process shall be considered.

– Paper Air filter:

A mower having a paper air filter can be cleaned by initially tapping the filter by hand to ward off the majority of dust and clogging particles off the filter; however, it is recommended to replace the entire paper filter if it is immensely clogged and cannot be cleaned.

– Foam Pre-Filter:

Incase if the mower has a pre-form air filter, then, in that case, the filter should be necessarily cleaned after 24 hours of each mowing session. The filter can be washed using water and some detergent and dried using a paper towel or air to clean the filter. The filter is then placed back in the mower and is good to go.

● Step 7: Cleaning the Blades of a Lawn Mower

The mower’s blades are the frontline soldiers and deliver the entire operations performed by the mower. The mower’s blades must be sharp and clean for the Lawnmower to perform its maximum efficiency activities.

– How to clean?

The cleaning process of the blades of the Lawnmower is simple. To clean the blades, a garden hose with a suitable nozzle can be used. Furthermore, debris from the blades of the Lawnmower can be removed by hand.

– Safety Defenses:

Following precautions should be kept in consideration while cleaning the blades of the mower.

1. The necessity of gloves: Use gloves for extracting debris, grass, and old dirt from the blades
2. Avoid Personal damage: Handle with care to avoid cuts and any delicate harm from the sharp blades.

Frequently Asked Questions:

● 1. Is it necessary to clean the mower deck? If so, why?

Yes, it is vital to clean the deck of the Lawnmower from time to time. Cleaning the mower’s deck is necessary because a clogged deck would reduce the mower’s efficiency. The presence of dirt and clustered dry grass bend the blades. Thus it is unable to cut the grass straight. Likewise, the dry grass might hinder or even cease the rotation of the mower’s blade.

● 2. How can I prevent grass from sticking on my mower?

To prevent the grass from sticking up on the Lawnmower deck, one can use an anti-sticking spray or some deck liners, making it difficult for the grass to adhere to the deck’s surface.

● 3. Is it necessary to perform end-of-season maintenance of my Lawnmower? If yes, then why? Moreover, how to do it?

Yes, it is essential to perform an end-of-season performance for a lawnmower. It is because the mower shall not be used during the winters. Therefore, the presence of fuel, oil, or dirt in the mower’s engine or deck will damage the engine largely. Hence, its maintenance is vital to keep it in good shape and condition for smooth use in the future. Below are the following steps to be followed to perform an end of the mower’s season maintenance.

• Empty the gas tank: Unfilled the Lawnmower’s gas chamber by running it until the gas runs either out or by extracting the gas directly by opening the fuel value.
• Fuel stabilizer: The gas tank can be left full of fuel, but in that case, the addition of a fuel stabilizer is mandatory.
•  Fresh Fuel: Extract the engine oil from the engine of the mower and fill it with new engine oil. The engine oil should be following the oil recommended by the company or by an expert mechanic.

Final Remarks

A lawnmower is a reason behind our gardens’ beauty and aesthetic looks; however, it requires proper maintenance and cleaning after various sessions for the mower to work effectively and efficiently. The maintenance and cleaning is not a complicated operation at all and can be performed by every individual by following the guidelines discussed in this article. These simple cleaning and maintaining a lawnmower offer individuals the ability to enhance their lawnmowers’ efficiency and performance without sacrificing a significant budget.