Riding Lawn Mower Repair

Tips On Riding Lawn Mower Repair

The riding lawn mower is all fun and games as you gobble up the long grass and weeds that have invaded your lawn. You feel like king of the cul-de-sac as you mow down every blade in site. You fell like king, that is, until the day you start feeling it vibrate uncontrollably with the clutch engaged. Or maybe it just won't crank? You may start to see a poor or uneven cut appearing. What is a loyal subject to do? First of all, it's time to pull out your owner's manual and see what kind of regular maintenance you were supposed to be doing all along.

Let's say the problem is in the uneven cutting. If this is your problem, the first thing you want to check is the mower deck. See if there is any dried on grass or other debris there. Next, check your blades and see if they're dull or bent. They may need sharpening. Another tip is to slow it down some. By adjusting your speed, you will usually get a more even cutting job. Another common problem found in the riding lawn mowers is excessive vibrations when you're using the clutch. Again, keeping the under deck cleaned will help alleviate this problem. Additionally, check the blades as they may need to be balanced or even replaced. This is a repair you can take care of yourself. However, you may find that the problem lies in the drive belt or pulley, you may want to have a professional do that job for you.

When attempting riding lawn mower repair yourself, some tools you will need include weather work gloves, screwdrivers, wrenches and scrap lumber. The leather gloves are a must if you're doing work around sharp edges although of course, you'll want to remove them for more delicate work.  Safety glasses are a plus too. Lawnmower parts are available at many home improvement stores as well as lawnmower repair service companies and the manufacturer of your mower.  Whether your mower is a John Deere, Toro or Craftsman, the basic maintenance should be done on the mower to keep repairs to a minimum. Your manual will instruct you on this.