Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Are you Looking For a New Toro Snow Blower?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Where are you on Santa's List?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
What's The Difference Between The Toro Power Shovel & 1800 Power Curve?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Comparison of Echo Chainsaw~ CS-370 & CS-600P
Monday, December 14, 2009
Echo CS-8000 Chainsaw
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Illinois Changes Law on Insurance of All-Terrain Vehicles
Monday, December 7, 2009
Lawn Mower Race
Recently one of our very own mechanics, Jake Devall was involved in a lawn mower race at Post Oak near St. Elmo, IL. Jake had a great time being involved in this event. He brought home the gold and won 1st place in this race. Way To Go Jake!!!!
Jake has been a mechanic here at Bahrns Equipment, Inc. since May of 2007. He lives here in Effingham & is a graduate of Effingham High School. Jake often enters varies lawn mower races around the area.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sledding
December Is Here
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Be Thankful This Thanksgiving
If you are like I am, the holiday shopping wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the crowded stores and the lack of parking. The hustle and bustle is to some one of their favorite parts of Christmas. I on the other hand could do without that part of it. This time of year, or any time of year for that matter if you need a part for your chainsaw, or your snow blower, or your generator, why not avoid getting out at all. Use our handy online ordering and have the part shipped to your door. Let your mail carrier get out in the weather and you can order your part and sit back and wait for it to be delivered. Just one more thing to be thankful for.
My wish for all is a wonderful Thanksgiving, followed by a Merry Christmas and/or Great Holiday, and of course a Very Happy New Year.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Children & Toy Tractors
Encourage your possible future farmer by allowing his or her imagination to run wild with a variety of farm toys and tractors. Our farmers are important to our country and teaching our kids this by encouraging them to play with toy tractors and to learn about farming is a good thing.
Are You Ready For The Snow??
Friday, November 13, 2009
Lawn Mower Filter Fouls
I have a friend that is a HVAC repair person. When he comes to visit us he is known for checking the air filter of my HVAC unit. He charges me with a filter foul if it hasn't been changed in a timely manner and there is too much dirt on the existing one. He has stressed the importance of a clean air filter on more than one occasion. Air filters on lawn mowers are just as important as the filters inside your home.
The air filter on your lawn mower keeps dust, dirt, pollen & other contaminants out of the air intake manifold. These contaminants can damage the engines pistons, can clog valves and can cause expensive breakdowns. Your lawn mower engine won't last long if the filter isn't changed on a regular basis.
The air filter is porous with small enough holes to keep the bad stuff our but let plenty of air in. If the filter gets really dirty the good stuff, which is air, can't get to the intake manifold and it also allows the bad stuff to make its way to the engine.
Take care of the investment you have made in your lawn by cleaning and/ or changing your air filter regularly. Honda recommends checking the air filter element before each use and servicing it at least every 50 hours. More often if used in dirty/ dusty conditions.
A dirty lawn mower filter doesn't allow the engine to breathe and just like air is important to us, it is also important to an engine.
Author: Tara Funneman
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Gotta Love The Fall Season
Monday, November 9, 2009
Winters & Generators
Make sure you have enough water to drink and enough dried or canned food that you can prepare without electricity. Don’t forget to keep a hand operated can opener with the food supply. If you have pets, don’t forget to have a food supply for them stored as well. Next you will need extra clothing and blankets for warmth. Flashlights with extra batteries and/or the type of flashlights that don’t require batteries are a necessity. If you are using any type of space heater you have to make sure you have adequate ventilation and are using only the type of heater that is made to be used in enclosed areas. Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas so don’t take the importance of this lightly.
Having a generator ready and available is something that can help you survive a long power outage and make a short one less of an inconvenience. Choosing the right size of generator takes some planning. Square footage has nothing to do with sizing a generator. Add up the wattage of the items that the generator will be required to run and then add 10%. You can also contact your power company to get your average usage. This will give you a general idea of what you would need to run the items in your home that you normally run. The proper generator ready and available will help make your life much better in the event of a storm or power outage any time of year.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Push Mowers Then & Now
Going to my great grandmother’s house was always a treat for me as a youngster. Some of the contraptions she had at her house were interesting in appearance. One of my favorite items she had was her push lawn mower. It wasn’t powered in any way, it was a manual push reel mower. It was a challenge for all of us to push, let along cut the grass with it. Granny didn’t feel the need to own what she referred to as “one of those new-fangled contraptions”. Dad would bring over his push mower to mow the lawn and have it cut before Granny caught on that he wasn’t using her mower.
Even Dad’s mower back then is a far cry from the walk behind, self propelled mowers that are now available for home owners lawn care needs. It is so nice mowing my lawn with my Toro Super Bagger walk-behind mower. It is self propelled, has a bag attachment to catch all the trimmings and leave my lawn so well manicured that all my neighbors are green with envy.
As I prepare to store my walk-mower for the winter, I fondly look back on my childhood days and Granny’s push mower and count my blessings that I won’t be mowing with it in the Spring.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
How Do I order the right lawn mower part?
Now if you are the Mr. or Ms. Fix-it you will need to order the right parts for your lawn mower. The question becomes “How do I order the right lawn mower parts the first time?” There are a couple of ways to go about it. You can get in your car, and go to the local shop and order them from the parts guy there, or the most convenient way is to go online and look the parts up and order them from the convenience of your home.
Either endeavor will begin the same way. Knowing that your mower is red is no help at all. Whether you are looking the parts up online yourself or your local parts guy is looking them up the same information will be necessary; make, model and serial number – knowing the year is sometimes helpful too. Keeping this information written down in a convenient place will make future purchases simpler.
It is easy to purchase your lawn mower parts online and have them delivered to your home. You can find a large variety of parts lookups on LawnEq.com. You can follow the easy screens and use the drop down arrows to get to the lookup you are needing. Once you get all the specifics about the equipment entered you will be taken to another screen where you will be able to select the area of the equipment that you need to see the parts lookup for. After you have this selected you will see a diagram with all parts numbered. From this screen it is as easy as clicking the add to cart button by the part that you need. In no time at all you will have your lawn mower up and running smoothly with the correct parts.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Stihl or Echo Blowers???
Ever wonder what brand of blower you should buy. Maybe this will help...
Stihl
Stihl makes professional-grade gas leaf blowers and high-end electric models. It sells exclusively through outdoor power equipment dealers. Stihl uses the HomeScaper line name on some consumer-grade models. The Stihl line of gas handheld and backpack blowers features high power and high amount of air moved, measured in cubic feet per minute.
Echo
Echo makes high-end handheld and backpack professional-grade gas leaf blowers. Its gas blowers feature lower weight and high power, the latest starting and sound-reduction improvements, and high cfm. They're available at The Home Depot, outdoor power equipment dealers and hardware stores.
Source: Consumer Reports
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fall in the Midwest
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Starting a Stihl Chainsaw Step By Step
Step 2- Always remove the scabbard before starting your saw.
Step3- If your chainsaw has a decompression valve, it must now be pressed.
Step 4- If you chainsaw has a fuel pump, it must be actuated several times. This makes it easier to start.
Step 5- Set the slide control to Choke / Cold start. Press the throttle trigger interlock and squeeze the throttle trigger, then puch the slide control fully down.
Step 6- The chainsaw needs to be placed on a level surface. The bar & chain must not touch the ground.
Step 8- Slowly pull the starter rope with your right hand until you encounter a resistance. Then pull the starter rope several times until the engine briefly starts.
Step 9- The engine briefly starts, but immediately stops again. Open the choke by moving the slide control to the next position.
Step 10- Pull the starter rope again until the engine starts.
Step 11- As soon as the engine has started and it is running, flip the throttle trigger with your index finger. The slide control moves into the normal idle position.
Step 14- Before starting, check the chain lube. Hold the chainsaw against a light background and sqeeze the throttle fully. If a little oil appears against the background, the chain lube is alright.
Step 15- Your chainsaw is now ready to start working.
Source: Stihl, Inc.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dixon Lawn Mowers
Dixon acquired the patent to a unique mechanical transmission that allowed a zero turning radius on a mower. This transaxle allows steering to be controlled by the power wheels on the mower instead of a steering wheel. By delivering the power independently to each rear wheel, the operator is able to turn the mower around within its own dimensions. This greater maneuverability allows for trimming close to shrubs, around trees, and in fence corners or other tight spots – places that usually had to be trimmed by hand.
With its new design and a plan to carve a niche in the riding mower market, Dixon rolled its first zero turn mowers off the assembly line in 1974. Then, beginning with a group of distributors in the Midwest, Dixon convinced the world that there was a better, faster and easier way to mow. The rest is an American success story. Today, Dixon mowers are sold across the United States and throughout the world.
Monday, October 12, 2009
History of Kubota - Kubota Tractors In The Beginning
Kubota was established in 1890. The corporation has a long history of manufacturing agricultural machinery in Japan. With a great line of compact tractors, necessary on smaller Japanese farms, Kubota entered the North American market in 1969. In 1974, Kubota introduced a 12 HP four-wheel drive tractor in the US.
The popularity and low price of Kubota tractors led to a number of "grey market" imports of Japanese models into North America. These models lack safety equipment required in teh US such as PTO shields and seatbelts. Kubota won a lawsuit in 1997 to make it illegal to distribute these tractors.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Fall Checklist... Is Your Lawn Ready for Winter? What About Your Lawn Mower?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
5 of The Top Trees & Shrubs For Adding Fall Colors To Your Yard
Sugar Maple- The Sugar Maple is a great tree that makes a nice fall statement, it has gorgeous red, orange or yellow leaves towards the end of the season.
Sweet Birch- The Sweet Birch is a very pretty tree. It has cinnamon colored peeling bark and dark green leaves that turn a very beautiful golden yellow color in the fall.
Japanese Maple- The Japanese Maple is one of the best-known plants for the autumn, they turn on their glowing shades of red, orange, or yellow at season's end.
Stewartia- The Stewartia is a top-notch tree that looks very pretty throughout the year. It has dark green leaves make a nice foil for the late-summer, white camellia-shape flowers. In fall, the leaves turn festive shades of orange, yellow, and red.
Ginkgo- The Ginkgo is slow growing but it has fan shaped leaves. In the fall they show shades of luminous, golden yellow. After all the leaves have fallen you will be waiting until next fall.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Leaf Blower Safety
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
What to Look For When Purchasing a Lawn Mower
You want to ensure your lawn mower is going to be a good fit for your needs. There are many models and features to choose from, but by focusing on these basics, you will be able to choose the right mower for both your budget and your lawn. Knowing what to look for when purchasing a lawn mower can save you money and frustration down the road.
Another key aspect of choosing a lawn mower is the size of its engine and lawn mower deck. The size of the mower deck relates to how much grass the lawn mower will cut at each pass. For large yards, having an engine of suitable power and a large lower deck, helps to get the job done quickly and efficiently. However, you don't want to overshoot your lawn mower's power and size, because that will just cost you money in fuel expenses.
The new models of lawn mowers can come with many extras, such as mulching the lawn cutting as you go and redistributing them over the lawn. Lawn mowers that also mulch have specially designed blades, which cut the grass into many tiny fragments as you go. Those grass fragments are a great natural source of fertilizer as they decompose. If you don't want this option, make sure your lawn mower bags your grass clippings.
Now that you know what to look for when purchasing a lawn mower, you will be able to make the best decision for your yard.
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Lawn Mower Fuel Issues- Ethanol & Storage
Many people are using gas for their lawn mowers that contains around 10% ethanol. Ethanol blended fuel is commonly used as an alternative to unleaded fuel. If you are switching to gas that contains ethanol, check your lawn mower's manufacturer's recommendations on any adjustments that may be required to carburetor first. Lawn mower fuel issues for ethanol & storage are outlined below.
A common problem with ethanol blended gas is that the piston ring may start sticking after a long period of use. This may occur because gas with 10% ethanol has a higher water absorption rate, and can attract water, which can reduce lubrication and allow rubber gaskets and hoses to dry out. The alcohol results in a phase separation occurring in the fuel.
At the end of your lawn mower's season, you should ensure the fuel tank is empty. For lawn mowers that use unleaded gas, you can add a stabilizer to it, to keep the fuel ready for next season. However, ethanol blended fuel has much less of a shelf life than regular gasoline. Its maximum shelf life is only 90 days, which means it's less stable, so to be safe you should replace this type of fuel every 2 to 4 weeks while your lawn mower is in use.
As a general rule of thumb, you always want to store your lawn mower in a dry, well-covered place. This is even more important if you are using ethanol blended fuel, because you need to ensure additional water/moisture does not come in contact with this gas. As a caution against water contamination of the fuel, you should ensure the octane level is over 90, because the water can dilute the ethanol blended fuel, dropping its octane level by as much as three points.
When using ethanol blended fuel make sure you don't put any additional additives or treatment products for fuel systems into the tank, because most of those things also contain alcohol.
It is also worth noting that ethanol blended gas can reduce the fuel efficiency by anywhere between 2 to 40%, resulting in lower gas mileage.
When you are using ethanol blended fuel, you must ensure that you store it in dry, clean tanks that are alcohol resistant. To know if the fuel has gone bad, you can look to see if the gases become layered. If water contamination or phase separation has occurred, you will be able to see two or three different layers in the fuel. There is nothing you can do at this point to restore the fuel - it would have to be properly disposed of.
Knowing these lawn mower fuel issues, relating to ethanol & storage, you can take proper care of your lawn mower and possibly still use ethanol blended fuel. However, you should read your lawn mowers owner's manual to ensure that ethanol blended gas is suitable for your particular model. It is worth noting that any engine, whether it be in a car or a lawn mower, that is older than 1998 will generally not allow for this type of fuel to be used. Doing so can invite damage to the engine's parts and performance issues for the machinery. Always check the specifications first.
About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Lawn Care Advise- How High To Mow Grass
Many people wonder how high to mow grass, for a great-looking lawn that is properly maintained. Knowing the proper height that you should keep your grass at, will keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
It's very tempting to cut your lawn short so that you don't have to mow it as often. However, mowing your lawn too short only damages the grass by making it more prone to the growth of weeds, to insect infestations and to drought. This happens because your lawn's roots won't be as strong and healthy, and their smaller size gives plenty of room for weeds and other undesirables to take hold. Mowing your lawn too short also allows for increased water loss in the soil, because of the thinner, smaller root system. The optimal height for your grass is about 3 inches. This may take some adjustment in your lawn mower itself to achieve the proper grass height.
Your lawn mowing schedule will change throughout the season, because in the spring grass will be growing faster. This may mean you need to mow your lawn each week. However as summer approaches and the weather heats up, you may be able to mow your lawn only every couple of weeks. Keep an eye on your lawn's growth, because different climates will mean some grass grows faster than others. Don't let your grass grow higher than 5 inches. If you find your grass is growing quickly, you can cut down on your watering to compensate. In addition changing your fertilizer routine to fall or summer, instead of the spring may also help to slow your grass growth.
An exception to the 3 inch height rule for your grass, is when you first mow your lawn after winter. The winter months means that some of the grass may be damaged and contain other debris, so you should set the blade of your lawn mower to cut as close as possible. That will ensure a clean cut and a good start to the spring season. Then, as the weather warms, you can adjust the level of your lawn mower blade higher. You'll need to cut your lawn more often as a result, but you will actually save on watering they doing this. The higher your grass grows, means the longer and stronger the root system will become. That enables it to retain water, rather than it being lost in the soil. Before you know it, your lawn will be returning to a green and lush state.
Knowing how high to mow grass in the various seasons, will prevent damage to your lawn, and promote healthy growth. It will also keep pests and weeds away, both of which can be difficult to get rid of. Now that you know how high to mow grass, your lawn mowing time will be spent more efficiently, you will save on water costs, and it will result in healthier, more appealing lawn for you, your family and friends to enjoy.
About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Is Your Lawn Mower Leaving Stripes in Your Yard?
You want your lawnmower to give you an even straight cut all over your lawn. When you start noticing that your lawnmower is leaving stripes in the yard, you will need to adjust your mower deck. These simple steps will help you learn how to level your mower deck.
As with any lawnmower adjustments or repairs, you want to ensure you familiarize yourself with your owner's manual first. Each lawnmower will have specific manufacturer's recommendations on the details of how to level your mower deck. With that in mind, these are the basic steps you will need to do in the process of how to level your mower deck.
Step #1
Ensure your lawnmower has been turned off and that the engine is cool. Then remove the spark plug's wire and keep it separated a good distance from the spark plug itself.
Step #2
Ensure your lawnmower is on a level surface. Next, under the center part of the lawn mower's deck, place a section of pipe or angle iron, or other such item.
Step #3
To balance your mower deck from side to side, you first need to remove the plates at the rear. Then you can have the deck's center and rear portions placed on the angle iron or other such object.
Step #4
Next figure out how far the floor is to the tips of your lawn mower's blade with a measuring tape. If this distance is more than 1/8 of an inch as measured from one side to the other, you will have to adjust the level. This involves loosening the eccentric's shoulder blade. You will need to then adjust the eccentric as needed until you get the distance between the floor and blade tips to within 1/8 of an inch. Then secure the shoulder blade back. Next, put the sector plates back on and remove the pipe or angle iron.
Step #5
Once your lawnmower has been leveled from side to side you now need to ensure the front and rear balance is correct. To do this, you will need to take off the sector plates for the rear lift arms. The rear lift arms will be connected with hairpins and washers, so you need to take those off. Then, adjust the sector plate so that it is in a position of being a quarter of an inch lower in the back. If you can't adjust the sector plates any lower, you might need to make adjustments to the lift front rods. This involves taking off the washer and hairpin that connects the front rear arm with the front lift cable. Then turn the front lift cable so that it can go into the front arm without having the deck raised.
Following these simple steps in how to level your mower deck will keep your lawn looking even and beautiful throughout the season. Once again, follow the manufacturer's specifications for this process, and you should be able to level the deck to achieve a stripe-free yard.
About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Monday, September 14, 2009
How To Inspect Lawn Mower Deck Belts and Bearings
A key part of your lawn mower maintenance schedule is knowing how to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings. Keeping these items in good working condition will ensure your lawn mower is performing efficiently and to keep it well tuned up.
Before starting to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings, you'll want to familiarize yourself with your owner's manual and pay special attention to the manufacturer's recommendations in this regard.
Always use gloves and safety glasses when doing any kind of repair or maintenance on your lawn mower. Then, remove the spark plug, so that your engine doesn't start accidentally. Being safety conscious will prevent injury and damage to people and machines. When you turn your lawn mower over, always make sure the side that has the air filter is pointing up. This will prevent your lawn mower's oil from leaking into the air filter. Never turn your lawn mower over more than 90¡.
Next, you should give your lawn mower a good wash. Using soap and water, and possibly a pressure washer that uses less than 1000 PSI, will help clean away dirt. Make sure that you wash the dirt and water away from, and not into, your lawn mower's bearings. You want to ensure your lawn mower's bearings do not become worn and are properly lubricated. Keeping the underside of your lawn mower clean and free of debris will help prevent rust, and prevent fire hazards, which can occur when grass leaves, and grease combine in a hot engine.
It is always a good idea to clean the underside of your lawn mower with water after each time you use it. Then apply WD-40, or other lubrication, to the moving parts, to allow them to work efficiently.
Keeping your lawn mower's deck belts and bearings clean, and in good working order will prevent noise and vibration problems and allow your lawn mower to do its job properly. Remember to consult your owner's manual for the specific processes on changing lawn mower deck belts and bearings.
Now that you know how to inspect lawn mower deck belts and bearings yourself, you can save money and time in taking your lawn mower into a repair shop. Staying on top of a regular tune up schedule will prolong the life of your lawn mower and save you money down the road.
About the Author
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Your Basic Lawn Care Maintenance Schedule
A recommended basic lawn care maintenance schedule involves three components. These are watering, mowing and fertilizing your lawn. This guide will let you know what schedule you should be keeping to take the best care of your lawn.
Following this basic lawn care maintenance schedule will keep your lawn healthy all season long.
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Tips on General Lawn Mower Maintenance
Keep your lawn mowers blade sharp. A dull lawn mower blade makes for an uneven cut to your lawn, and may even damage your grass. In addition, a sharp blade means cutting efficiency, reducing wear and tear on your lawn mower's engine and other parts.
Tip #2
Ensure your lawn mower's air filter is kept clean and free of dust and dirt. You can usually just shake the air filter out to remove dust and debris. However if your air filter has been in use for a while, and has a lot of build up on it you should replace it immediately. All of your lawn mower's parts work in conjunction with one another so saving money by not replacing an overly dirty air filter will only cost you money in the long run.
Tip #3
Clean your lawn mower's carburetor. Just like your car, your lawn mower's carburetor needs to be looked after. Before removing the carburetor, make sure the fuel line has been turned off. Once you have the carburetor out give it a good clean so that it's floating valve is able to move freely. Then replace the carburetor and turn the fuel on back on.
Check your lawn mower's fuel. In addition to keeping the fuel topped up, to at least halfway, you want to replace any gas that was left over from the previous season that did not have a stabilizer added to it.
In addition to keeping the fuel topped up and in good shape, you also want to inspect your lawn mower's fuel line. It's very common to switch your fuel line off at the end of the season, so it's easy to forget about it. If your lawn mower isn't starting check that first. If the engine still doesn't start the gas may not be getting to the carburetor. To check that, remove the fuel hose from the carburetor to see if the fuel is flowing through. If it is, you can reconnect the two. If it isn't your fuel line may be plugged or the filter may be blocked.
Check the spark plug. That's one of the most basic things you can do if your lawn mower is not starting or working properly. To check it, detach the wire at the end of the plug before removing it. You want to ensure the spark plug is not wet or dirty.
About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The Most Common Lawn Mower Problems
You depend on your lawn mower to keep your lawn healthy and properly maintained. Lawn mowers have many moving parts, and like any piece of equipment may break down from time to time. Troubleshooting common lawn mower problems can save you time and money in expensive lawn mower repair. Of course, the first step is to familiarize yourself with your owner's manual, to ensure proper procedures are followed for safety and to avoid damage to your lawn mower.
The most basic and common lawn mower problems involve a lawn mower that won't start or runs rough. There may be many reasons why this happens, but here are some easy things to check:
#1. Check to see that the fuel line is switched on. This is an easy one to forget at the beginning of the season, because several months may have passed since you last used it. In addition, you want to ensure you have enough gas for the engine to fire. That's another easy one to forget the first time you bring your mower back out.
#2. If your lawn mower has enough gas (at least half a tank) and the fuel line is switched on, the next thing you can check is to see that your fuel line is clear and enough gas is getting to the carburetor.
#3. While you're checking your gas, you may want to think back and try to recall if you had added a fuel stabilizer to it at the end of last season. If not, replace the gas.
#4. A dirty or faulty spark plug is a common culprit of lawn mower problems. Your lawn mower's spark plug should be dry and dirt free.
#5. Dirty air filters can also hamper the lawn mower's function. Before you replace your filter, you can shake it out to get rid of dust and dirt. However if the air filter looks oily and has a lot of caked on dirt you need to replace it.
#6. If you are finding your lawn mower is leaving a ragged edge on your grass, it probably means that the blade needs to be sharpened. A dull lawn mower blade will not only leave your lawn looking uneven, but it can also damage your grass.
#7. Clean your lawn mower's blade often. It's a good idea to clean grass and dirt off your blade after each mow. That goes for the rest of your lawn mower, too.
#8. Check your engine oil. The same way your car's oil needs to be clean and properly topped up, so does your lawn mower's oil. The oil provides a vital function in lubricating your lawn mower's engine parts, so replace it frequently to avoid damaging the engine.
Those are the most common lawn mower problems that people face. Checking each one of these items when your lawn mower is malfunctioning can save you costly repair bills. In addition, you want to make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommended guidelines carefully. Each lawn mower will have different specifications, so have a read over the owner's manual before attempting any repairs on your own.
About The Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Simple Steps For How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade
You take a great deal of pride in your lawn, and keeping it looking healthy and beautiful is important to you. To give your lawn a nice clean edge and to prevent the grass from being damaged or falling prey to disease you need to ensure your lawn mower blade is kept sharp. There are some simple steps for how to sharpen your lawn mower blade, that you can do yourself.
These are the following items that you will need to sharpen your lawn mower blade:
* Safety glasses, a sturdy set of gloves, WD-40, a grinder (also a vice grip if you are using a file or angle grinder instead of a bench grinder), a ratchet and socket set, a spark plug wrench, a scraper, a vice grip or C-clamp to hold the blade while the bolts are taken off.
The first thing you want to do is to take out your lawn mower's spark plug to ensure your engine doesn't accidentally start while you're taking off the blade. Since you're going to be tipping your lawn mower, you should also take off the air filter and remove the fuel cap. With the fuel cap off, place a plastic lining over the fuel hole, then replace the cap and make sure it's tight. This way your fuel won't leak out of the tank. Don't forget to get rid of the plastic when you're finished.
The next step in how to sharpen a lawn mower blade is to turn your lawn mower over. Make sure you don't turn the lawn mower upside down or even more than 90¡. That will keep oil from getting into your cylinder. Next, you'll be removing the lawn mower blade bolts. The number and placement of your bolts will vary based on the type of lot more you have. The bolts are likely stuck in there pretty good, so use a little WD-40 to make them easier to remove. Like any type of maintenance job, always pay careful attention to how things were initially placed, so that you can put them back the same way.
Before sharpening your lawn mower blade, give it a bit of a clean first. This not only helps with the sharpening, but it will prolong the life of your blade by helping to prevent rust from forming.
Now you're ready to start sharpening. By far, the best and safest way to sharpen your lawn mower blade is to use a grinder that is bench mounted. If you don't have one of those, you can easily make do by placing the blade in a clamp or vise on a table to stabilize it. Then you can use a file, the grinding attachment for a drill motor, or an angle grinder. It is extremely important that you only grind the engine side of your lawn mower blade. You must not sharpen the other side - the grass side - of the blade. You can tell the difference between the two because the engine side of the blade has a bevel - that's the portion of your lawn mower blade that you will be sharpening.
By following these simple steps for how to sharpen a lawn mower blade, you can easily and safely perform this task yourself. This will help to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Fall Lawn Mower Tune Up Steps
Your lawn mower has been working hard for you all summer long, so come the fall, it is a good idea to give it a tune up. You wouldn't let your car be used for an extended period of time, without checking its basics, so your lawn mower shouldn't be any different. Lawn mowers have many moving parts that need to be maintained for a long working life and effective performance.
Before you get started on performing your lawn mower's fall tune up, ensure you are familiar with the manufacturer's recommendations, and follow those guidelines accordingly. Doing that ensures your safety and the lawn mower's useful life.
Step #1
Check the spark plug. With frequent use, your lawn mower's sparkplug may become dirty or wet. If the spark plug is dirty, you may be able to clean it. If it's wet, it will need to be replaced. In addition, keep the spark plug out as you are checking all the other parts, so that the engine doesn't fire accidentally.
With the spark plug out, give your lawn mower a good clean with a scraper and an air gun. Lawn mowers are great at accumulating dirt and debris both on their underside and in any holes or ducts.
Step #3
Remove the lawn mower blade, and sharpen it. This will go a long way to improving your lawn mower's performance. Use either a bench mounted grinder or an angle grinder or file. Make sure you only sharpen the engine side of the blade, the side that is beveled.
Apply WD-40 to your lawn mower's various moving parts to keep them from sticking.
If you're going to be putting your lawn mower away for the season and you still have a half a tank of gas remaining, added fuel stabilizer to it. That will allow you to still use the gas next season. If you don't do this, the gas will need to be replaced.
Step #6
Change your lawn mower's engine oil. The oil is there to lubricate the engine, to prevent damage and to ensure efficiency in its performance. Therefore you want to make sure the oil is clean.
Inspect your lawn mower's engine belts. Any belts that appear frayed or loose should be replaced.
Step #8
The end of the lawn mowing season is a good time to replace your air filter. Throughout the season, it is okay to just shake your air filter out, removing dirt and debris. However, after a period of heavy use, it is more beneficial to replace a dirty air filter.
These steps should be followed after every lawn mowing season. Doing so will keep your lawn mower functioning at peak efficiency, and will prevent damage and costly repairs down the road. As always, you should ensure your lawn mower is kept in a dry, covered place. Following these steps, along with the recommendations from your owner's manual, will ensure a good fall tune up, and have your lawn mower ready in great working condition for the next season.