Why does a lawn mower live such a hard life? Why does a lawnmower have a short lifespan? Lawnmowers help you do the gardening efficiently. New generations of lawnmowers such as electric ones are easier to maintain and fix. However, the average lifespan of a mover is not more than 10 years. Indeed, it will be shorter if you don’t clean it or change the oil periodically.
Thanks to some tips, a farmer has been successful in extending the life of a lawnmower. Let’s apply the following tips and help your lawnmower have better health.
Related Post: 11 Lawn mower maintenance checklist & tips for gardeners
Reasons Why a lawn mower lives such a hard life
Below are some reasons Why a lawn mower lives such a hard life:
- Lawnmowers cut every type of grass.
- Long and hard grass gradually destroys the engine.
- The lawnmower works in all seasons.
- Owners usually forget to change the oil each month.
- Owners deny maintenance because of the high cost.
- The lawnmower has a long rest before coming back to work.
- The lawnmower not only faces the grass but also smashes rocks and hard objects.
- You use any type of fuel for the lawnmower.
- Low-quality oil gives bad effects on the engine.
The lawnmower lifespan is between 6 to 10 years. If products are high-quality, the life of lawnmowers can be longer. Moreover, working in a good environment is a plus.
How to maintain a lawn mower longer life?
A wonderful lawn with soft grass is what everyone wants. However, you need a sharp lawnmower to do this. Therefore, the technicians suggest that you should replace the lawnmower every six-year.
Luckily, you have another solution. Instead of buying a new one, you can extend the lifespan of your lawnmower.
Here are some tips for you:
1. Pay attention to your spark plug
A good spark plug helps your mower start easily. Don’t forget to charge your battery every 100 hours of use. A poor spark plug can damage the motor and reduce life. It also can lead to bad performance of the lawnmower.
If the spark plug is too old, you can buy a new one. Replacing the spark plug is not difficult, and you can do it yourself. Moreover, a new one is not expensive.
3. Charge the battery every 100 hours of use
First, you need to have a charger that fits the battery. You can find your lawnmower battery below the seat or behind the engine. You join the plus (+) terminal to the red cable and the minus (-) one to the black cable.
After everything was fixed, you set a 12-volt move. Then you plug in the charger. It will take you at least 5 hours to complete a full charge.
4. Check your tire
A damaged or underinflated tire gives you difficulty in controlling lawnmowing. Indeed, it also consumes more fuel than a normal one. Use a pressure meter to check your tire at least once a week. Make sure that the pressure in all the tires is similar.
If your tire is worn or has a big hole, you should change to a new one. The model or the brand of every tire must be the same.
Recommendation: How to change a lawn mower tire? A simple guide for newbies
5. Change the oil for a smoother move
Changing oil regularly is good for your lawnmower. Oil is the blood of the engine. It helps everything work in harmony. To change the oil:
- First, you must elevate the lawnmower on a workbench.
- Then you open the drain plug.
- When all of the oil drains out, you tighten the drain plug.
- Pour new oil into the storage.
You should choose clean and high-quality oil. Although it is a little bit more expensive, it gives a huge benefit. It helps you extend the life of the spark plug and the lawnmower.
Let’s have a schedule. It helps you remember the changing oil date accurately.
6. Choose good fuel
People think that choosing the right type of fuel as the instruction of the brand is enough. However, choosing a qualified one is also important. It is wrong to think that spending more on high-quality fuel is a kind of waste. The extra spend is significantly smaller than the replacing spend.
The requirements of lawnmower high-quality fuel:
- It must be 91 RON or higher.
- The fuel has no more than 10% ethanol and 15% MTBE.
- Having a fuel stabilizer in the ingredients of fuel is a plus.
- Winter fuel is preferred.
7. Test the air filter
The lawnmower has one air filter, and it is cheap. Moreover, it only takes you two seconds to remove and two more seconds to replace. Therefore, you can clean or even replace it if you want.
A screwdriver or a wrench helps you remove the filter easier. If the filter only has a little dirt or oil, you just need to clean the air filter. If it’s damaged and full of oil, you should replace it with a new one.
The step-by-step guide:
- Remove the filter.
- Clean the compartment.
- Place new filter.
8. Sharpen the blade
A dull blade can cut the grass, but it leaves some torn tips. And that is the reason why the grass turns brown. Keeping your blade sharp is important. Sharp blades help you cut grass cleanly and quickly.
The following steps will help you sharpen the blade:
- Remove the battery or the ignition wire of the spark plug.
- Remove the blade and clean it.
- Use the sharpener to sharpen the blade.
- Place it back.
- Use a wrench to tighten up.
For the details, you should read this guide: How to sharpen a reel mower blade?
FAQs on Why does a lawn live such a hard life
1. Does the change need too much oil?
It depends on the model of your lawnmower. The standard one will be between 2/3 to 3/4 quarts. Let’s read the manufacturer’s recommendations to know the accurate amount.
2. What is the standard charger of the battery?
There are two standards for two different types of lawnmowers. The first one is 6-volt batteries. The second one is the 12-volt batteries. The label will tell you which standard the battery is.
Final thoughts
With good maintenance, your lawnmower can go strong from year to year. Treating your mower well is the best way to save money. You can cut down the expense on a fix, replacement.
Why does a lawn mower live such a hard life is not important. Following the above tips don’t take too much time. Moreover, it helps you double the lifespan of your lawnmower. Let’s smartly use your money.