The Renohands

05/07/2023

MAINTENANCE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR LAWNMOWER RUNNING

Whether it's sharpening blades or getting a professional tune-up, follow these maintenance tips to help your lawnmower run longer.

Spring is only days away and before we know it, cleaning our lawns and eventually cutting the grass will be a routine between now and fall. But are you prepared to do the task? Few pieces of lawn care equipment take a beating like a lawnmower, yet this popular equipment is often neglected until it won't start or something breaks.
Yes, it is a common notion that newer machines are no longer manufactured as dependable as the older models but as an experienced technician in this field, I don’t totally agree with this. It is more on the lack of preventive maintenance that will almost guarantee an early death for your lawnmower, but you don't have to be a mechanic to keep it buzzing all summer long.

1. Read the owner’s manual
WHO READS MANUALs? No one does anymore me included. I always rely on my kids to teach me to operate my new cellphone. Your owner’s manual will guide you on how to take care of your machine. With proper care, your lawnmower may last 15-20 years before considering buying a new one.

2. Drain the gasoline at the end of each mowing season
Old gasoline is 90% of the causes why your lawnmower won’t start after storing it over winter. You should run the remaining gas out of the mower or drain it at the end of each mowing season and always use fresh gas in the spring.

3. Check the oil
Monitor the oil level in your mower and look for floating debris or oil that appears dark black in color. Old or contaminated oil should be drained and replaced. To change the oil, remove the drain plug underneath the mower and allow it to drain completely. If your mower doesn't have a drain plug, you'll need to carefully tilt the mower on its side and drain the oil through the fill hole. Be sure to consult your owner's manual for the correct method and type of oil to use.

4. Clean out the undercarriage
Grass can get caked in the undercarriage potentially clogging the mower’s discharge chute. Use a wire brush to scrape grass clippings and dirt from the undercarriage and spray the remaining debris away with a hose. As a safety precaution, always disconnect the spark plug before working around the undercarriage.

5. Inspect the air filter
A clogged or dirty air filter puts added stress on your lawnmower and burns gas less efficiently. Most lawnmowers have a paper or foam air filter that can be easily accessed. Replacement air filters are inexpensive, so most pros recommend an annual replacement to ensure optimal performance.

6. Change the spark plug
Like the air filter, the spark plug is extremely important to a functioning lawnmower, yet inexpensive and easy to replace. Change the spark plug every year to ensure an easy start. Unhook the spark plug wire and remove the old plug with a socket or spark plug wrench. Install the new plug but make sure not to overtighten it or it could prevent the mower from starting.

7. Sharpen the blade
Mower blades endure a great deal of stress thanks to rocks, large branches, and other hidden objects. A dull blade rips and tears
grass instead of providing a clean cut. Some people sharpen their own blades with a vice and metal file, but it's not recommended for the inexperienced. A mower repair shop can sharpen your blade for a small fee but you also have to factor in the effort and time you’ll spend bringing it to a shop compared to having it serviced by a mobile service provider like us doing the repair at your own place at your most convenient time, and it's usually included with our lawnmower tune-up package.

8. Get a professional tune-up
It's a great way to ensure your lawnmower is in top working order for the mowing season. Our small engine mobile crew will remove the old gas and fill it with fresh gas, replace the air filter and spark plug, and perform basic 360 degrees diagnostic tests.
For a quick turnaround, call us at the close of the mowing season or before spring grasses start to grow.
Our contact # is (647) 913-9779, OR
Visit us on our website: www.therenohands.com

11/13/2020

DON'T GET CAUGHT BY THE OLD MAN WINTER. GET YOUR SNOWBLOWER READY FOR THE SEASON.

You might not be ready for winter, but your snow blower should be.

11/13/2020

DON'T GET CAUGHT BY THE OLD MAN WINTER. GET YOUR SNOWBLOWERS READY FOR THE SEASON.

You might not be ready for winter, but your snow blower should be.

04/09/2020

5 ESSENTIAL SPRING LAWNMOWER MAINTENANCE TIPS

It’s lawn mowing season, and your mower works hard to keep your grass in ship- shape. It’s easy to take this everyday workhorse for granted until something goes wrong, and then a common chore turns into a massive headache. Keep your lawnmower healthy and running smoothly with these springtime maintenance steps!

The most popular mowers are gasoline-powered, and their small internal combustion engines need the same regular care as the larger one that powers your car. The first three mower maintenance steps you can take each spring will help keep your mower’s engine running strong:

1: Check the Spark Plug
A good spark plug is necessary for your lawnmower to run properly. A dirty spark plug, or one that is coming loose, will cause your mower to run choppy, be difficult to start, waste fuel, and “chew” your grass rather than cut it smoothly. A burned-out spark plug means that your mower won’t start at all.

Each spring, pull off your mower’s spark plug wire and remove the spark plug with a spark plug wrench or deep socket wrench. If you see dirt or signs of corrosion, spray the plug with brake cleaner, let it sit for a few minutes, and gently brush it clean with a wire brush. After you’ve removed the dirt, buff the plug with a soft cloth. Put the clean, dry plug back in place and hand-tighten it, and put the wire back in place.

If your mower won’t start at all or continues to run poorly after you clean the spark plug, the plug may be bad. Replace the plug, checking your owner’s manual first to be sure you buy the right plug for your mower. Because spark plugs are relatively inexpensive, some people choose to simply replace their plugs yearly to save time and effort.

*Note: if you find a white, oily substance on your spark plug, your mower may have a fuel leak.

2: Change the Oil
Mowers need oil changes just like cars, and spring is the perfect time to take this step. To keep your mower’s engine protected, change the oil at least once a year or after every 50 hours of use.

Check your owner’s manual to make sure you get the right type of oil for your mower. Disconnect your mower’s spark plug so it can’t accidentally start. Drain your mower’s oil into an approved container, replace the oil filter if your mower has one, and refill with new oil. Never over-fill; this can damage your mower. Last, reconnect the spark plug wire.

3: Replace the Air Filter
Your mower’s air filter can become dirty and clogged, and this will put extra strain on the engine and keep it from running efficiently. Change your lawn mower’s air filter each spring to help it “breathe” easily.

First, disconnect the spark plug wire. Remove the filter cover, clean the foam pre-filter, and replace the paper air filter. Replace the filter cover. Finally, reconnect the spark plug wire.

Now take care of the “business end” of your mower with the final two steps on our spring maintenance checklist:

4: Sharpen the Blade
Of course, your mower can’t cut your lawn well without a sharp blade. Remove the spark plug wire for safety, and then use a wrench to remove the blade. Many hardware stores will sharpen lawn mower blades for a fee, or you can sharpen the blade yourself.

5: Clean the Deck
Your mower’s underside, or “deck,” can become clogged with grass and debris that can interfere with its ability to function and lead to corrosion. A dirty mower deck can even become a vector to spread plant diseases around your property. Clean your mower’s deck each spring and midseason to head these problems off at the pass.

First, disconnect the spark plug wire for safety. Empty the gas tank, and turn your mower onto its side. Spray the underside thoroughly with a garden hose. Use a brush and soapy water to remove any other dirt and debris. Once the area is dry, coat the underside of your mower with a thin layer of vegetable oil to prevent debris from sticking to it.

Follow these steps and keep your mower running like a champ!