posted
on Thursday, February 20, 2020
in
Dealer News
Being in Louisiana, we don’t tend to get enough inclement weather to warrant a long off-season compared to other parts of the U.S., but we still do see our fair share of rain and cold snaps.
Even so, your lawn mower has probably been sitting idle during the winter months.
So, what steps should you take before you break out the lawn mower this year? Our equipment experts weigh in on a few key points to prep your lawn mower before spring. Don’t want to do it yourself? Schedule a service appointment today.
Get a Maintenance Kit:
John Deere makes prepping your mower for the spring mowing season as easy as dusting off the cobwebs and rolling it back out into the yard. Home Maintenance Kits from John Deere come with nearly everything you’ll need in one user-friendly box.
Change the Oil:
Next, you’ll want to change the oil. Remove the oil drain plug and let the dirty oil run into a drip pan. Once the oil has fully drained, replace the drain plug and refill the crankcase with the correct quantity and oil type recommended in your owner’s manual.
This step can be a little messy. Learn about our Service Specials here. Find John Deere Operator Manual’s or Service Intervals here.
Sharpen or Replace the Mower Blade:
Next, you’ll want to sharpen your mower’s blade. Mower blades should be sharpened at least once a year, because a dull blade can cause your lawn to turn brown and leave you with a messy cut. Be sure to remove it from the mower before sharpening. If there are large nicks on the cutting edge from hitting sticks, rocks, or other debris, you should replace it.
Clean the Mower Deck:
Since the blade is off, now is a great time to clean underneath the mower. Use a high-pressured hose and a putty knife to remove any grass or debris that has dried on the inside of the mower deck. Use a rag or brush to clean grass clippings, leaves or any other debris off of the top of the mower and around the engine and wheels. When finished, you can wax the mower deck to help keep grass from sticking to it.
Check the Tire Pressure:
Make sure that your tires are properly inflated before every use. This will help the tires last longer and it will help avoid any unforeseen accidents from occurring to a deflated or over-inflated tire.
Not sure what’s the appropriate tire pressure for a lawn mower? Give us a call. Our experts can help guide you in the right direction for any kind of lawn mower.
Level the Mower Deck:
Once you’ve cleaned the mower, sharpened the blade, and checked tire pressure it’s time to reattach the blade and level the mower deck. The trick is to park your mower on level ground and to measure before and after adjusting in order to ensure that you have correctly leveled the deck within a quarter inch. Consult your owner’s manual for your mower deck’s proper leveling procedure.
Stay on Schedule:
Remember that the forecast for this spring will be mild compared to recent years with our last cold spell coming around Easter. Getting ahead of your mower preparation for the spring is a great idea.
While John Deere is well-known for its longevity, your lawnmower will last even longer years if you follow proper maintenance techniques. Keeping up with regular lawn mower maintenance will also help your lawn stay healthier and assure that your mower is ready whenever you need to use it.
If you’re not comfortable performing the maintenance yourself, all Sunshine locations are more than happy to perform the routine maintenance for you. Remember, the busiest times for maintenance tend to be early spring and you’ll likely find some great winter maintenance deals to take advantage of. Be sure to schedule an appointment ahead of the busy spring growing season!
- lawn mower