It has been quite a winter here in Michigan, but now it’s time to start thinking about spring. Before we know it, the grass will be growing and we will need to start mowing!
There are a few common services that need to be performed to get a lawn mower ready for spring. Some people like to do these things themselves, and some prefer to hire someone else to do it. In addition, sometimes a mower needs more work than just routine maintenance. We can help with both routine maintenance and the more complicated problems.
When you pull your mower out of winter storage, one of the first things to think about is the gas. Did you leave gas in the tank all winter, or drain it? If you left gas in the tank, did you add fuel stabilizer to it before storing it? The owners manuals of different makes and models have different advice regarding the storage of gas over the winter, but maybe you forgot to follow those guidelines, or maybe your lost your owner’s manual. Don’t worry, we have seen this problem before! Because the ethanol that is in most gas these days is less stable, there might be a problem starting your mower in the spring, especially if there was gas left in the tank all winter, or if you happened to pour old gas into your mower.
Ethanol draws moisture out of the air that is in your gas tank (or gas can), and if it sits around for a couple of months, it can cause water to form with the gas. The ethanol can also damage the carburetor, seals, gaskets, and other parts. If your mower was working fine at the end of the summer and then doesn’t start at the beginning of the spring, old gas is a likely culprit. The best way to avoid this problem is to use gas without ethanol, if you can find it. Otherwise, since most gas has ethanol added to it, don’t let it sit in your mower or your gas can for more than 30 days. If you suspect old gas has damaged your mower, just give us a call!
Some other jobs that are part of routine maintenance are cleaning or replacing the spark plug, cleaning or replacing the air filter, changing the oil and fuel filter, and of course, sharpening the lawn mower blades. The instructions for most of these tasks are likely in your owner’s manual, if you have time or are inclined to do the work yourself. If not, we are happy to do it for you! We also sharpen blades and have a wide array of new blades, in addition to a variety of replacement parts for all makes and models. Whether you need a routine tune up or a lawn mower repair, we are here to help!
For information purposes only. Use all safety precautions when servicing your own equipment. Call a professional when in doubt.