Walk Behind Mower Maintenance

Naturally, frequency of maintenance will vary with type and amount of use. Your push mower will need an oil change annually at minimum, possibly air filter, spark plug, blade sharpening, scraping under the deck, and sometimes lubrication of cables and wheels.

Keeping your oil, oil filters, and air filters clean will do wonders for the longevity of your mower. Keep in mind that any small engine not equipped with an oil filter needs its oil replaced with every 25 hours of operation.

For motors equipped with an oil filter, that figure extends to 100 hours. This is the typical manufacturer’s recommendation, but if you’re operating in very dusty, dirty conditions, you would be wise to change the oil more often. During spring cleanup in particular, clients “in-the-know” change their oil around the 50-hour mark. 

Cleaning Your Air Filters

It’s also wise when working in dusty conditions to keep a close eye on the condition of your air filters. This is an inexpensive part with a very important job. Inspect your air filters and give them a tap to shake loose accumulated debris. Don’t try to blow them clean; doing so actually makes them less effective. Check to be sure you can see light passing through the filter, and replace it if it fails this test.

Sharpening Your Blades

Keeping your mower’s blade sharp is the key to a quality, professional looking mow. A dull blade tears the grass instead of cleanly cutting it, leading to unsightly brown tips on each blade of grass within a day or so.

Your operating manual will give you specifics; try and be one of the exceptional folks who actually reads it! You’ll do well to maintain a written log of your usage in order to keep your maintenance on schedule.