Lawn Equipment: questions, answered with sources
Each answer cites the public sources it was checked against, with the date it checked them. Jobs that need a licensed pro in Virginia say so, and explain the job instead of teaching it.
Battery & Charger Repair
2 answers
Why won't my riding mower battery hold a charge?
Usually the battery is worn out, the terminals are dirty or loose, the key was left on, or the engine is not charging it. Clean the terminals, charge the battery with an automotive charger, and check its resting voltage. If it is flat again after a day, replace the battery. If it dies mid-mow, have the charging system tested.
How do I store a riding mower battery for the winter?
Take the battery out of the mower, clean the terminals, charge it fully, and store it in a cool, dry place away from direct cold, not on the machine. Disconnect the black cable first when removing it. Top up the charge from an automotive charger now and then so it does not go flat over the winter.
Blade Sharpening
5 answers
How do I sharpen lawn mower blades?
Disconnect the spark plug wire (or remove the battery on an electric mower), take the blade off, clean it, and file or grind the edge at its original angle. Check that the blade is balanced, then refit it to the torque in your manual. A file, a vise and a socket wrench are enough.
How much does mower blade sharpening cost in Virginia?
Mower blade sharpening has no standard price, so shops, lawn services and hardware stores each set their own. The cost depends on how many blades, who removes them, balancing and the season. Get a written price, or sharpen the blade yourself with a file or an inexpensive kit.
Should I sharpen mower blades myself or have them sharpened?
Sharpen a push mower's blade yourself if you are handy with a wrench and file, since it is quick and cheap. Have a shop do it for a riding mower, a damaged blade, a stuck bolt, or if you lack the tools. Either way, disconnect the spark plug or battery first.
Why does my lawn look ragged after mowing?
Most often a dull mower blade is tearing the grass instead of cutting it, leaving frayed, tan tips. Check the tips a day after mowing. If they are frayed, sharpen or replace the blade. Also rule out mowing too much at once, cutting wet grass, a deck set too low, and a bent or unbalanced blade.
How often should mower blades be sharpened?
Sharpen about every four to six weeks during the mowing season, per Virginia Cooperative Extension, and more often for tall fescue or zoysiagrass. Sharpen sooner after hitting a stone or stump, or when the grass tips look frayed and tan after mowing. Keep a spare blade so swapping is quick.
Edger Repair
1 answer
Electric Mower Repair
1 answer
Mower Deck Repair
3 answers
How do I clean under a mower deck?
Shut off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire, or remove the battery on an electric mower, before your hand goes near the blades. Then scrape the caked clippings off the underside of the deck with a putty knife, and finish with a brush or the deck wash port if your mower has one. Dry the deck before storing it.
Why is my mower leaving an uneven cut?
Usually dull, bent or unbalanced blades, a deck that is out of level, uneven tire pressure, or clippings packed under the deck. Check tire pressures, scrape the deck, inspect the blades, then measure from the floor to each blade tip: Ariens says the sides should match within 1/8 inch. Wet or tall grass and driving too fast also cause it.
How do I keep a mower deck from rusting?
Clean the underside of the deck after each mow, because clippings stuck there hold water and rust the metal. Let the deck dry, touch up chipped paint, and before storage spray a thin layer of oil on the underside, as Husqvarna's manual advises. Store the mower somewhere dry.
Push Mower Repair
2 answers
How much does push mower repair cost in Virginia?
No official Virginia price list exists, so push mower repair is priced shop by shop. The bill depends on the problem, the parts, the mower type and the shop's labor and diagnostic charges. Ask for an itemised written estimate first. Fresh fuel, an air filter, a spark plug and a sharpened blade are cheap fixes you can often do yourself.
Why is my push mower smoking?
White or blue smoke from a push mower usually means the engine is burning oil, most often because the crankcase is overfilled or the mower was tilted so oil ran where it should not. Black smoke points to a dirty air filter or a carburetor that needs adjusting. Stop mowing, let it cool and check the oil first.
Riding Mower Repair
4 answers
How do I change the oil in a riding mower?
Disconnect the spark plug wires, run the engine briefly so the oil is slightly warm, then drain it into a pan through the drain valve or as your manual directs. Replace the filter if there is one, refill with the oil type and amount in your manual, check the dipstick and recycle the old oil. Most residential mowers need it about once a year.
How much does riding mower repair cost in Virginia?
There is no standard Virginia price for riding mower repair. Shops set their own labor, diagnostic and pickup charges, and the bill depends on the problem, the parts and the mower. Routine items like filters and spark plugs are cheap. Ask for an itemized written estimate that says what the diagnosis costs and whether it is credited to the repair.
Is it worth fixing an old riding mower?
Often yes, if the problem is a wear item such as fuel, filters, spark plugs, a blade or a belt, and the frame and deck are sound. It is usually not worth it when the estimate is a large share of a comparable new mower or the engine or transmission is worn out. Get a written estimate and a new-mower price, and compare.
How do I maintain a riding mower?
Check oil and fuel before each mow and clean the deck after it. Each season, sharpen the blades and replace the oil, air filter and spark plugs on the schedule in your manual. In autumn, add fuel stabilizer, run the engine briefly, remove the battery and store the mower clean so it starts in spring.
Spreader & Sprayer Repair
1 answer
Starter Repair
1 answer
Transmission Repair
1 answer
Tune-Up & Service
4 answers
How do I tune up a lawn mower?
A tune-up is five small jobs: change the oil, the air filter and the spark plug, sharpen and balance the blade, and start with fresh fuel. Disconnect the spark plug wire before any work. Oil and air filter are typically yearly, spark plugs about every two years. If it still will not run well afterwards, take it to a shop.
How much does it cost to service a riding or push mower in Virginia?
Shops set their own prices for mower service, so quotes vary. A tune-up is parts (oil, air filter, spark plug, blade sharpening) plus labor and any pickup or diagnostic fee. A riding mower costs more than a push mower. Ask for an itemised written estimate first, and do the cheap jobs yourself.
Should I take my mower to a shop for a yearly tune-up?
Do the routine work yourself on a push mower: oil, air filter, spark plug and fuel. Take it to a shop if it is a riding or zero-turn mower, needs belts, a transmission or blade balancing, is hard to start, or is under warranty. Whoever does it, ask for a written itemised estimate first.
How do I store a lawn mower for the winter?
Deal with the fuel first: add an alcohol-free stabilizer to a full tank and run the engine a few minutes, or run the tank dry. Then change the oil, disconnect the spark plug wire and clean the engine and deck, look after the battery if it has one, and park the mower covered in a dry place away from flame.
Zero-Turn Repair
4 answers
How do I adjust zero-turn mower steering?
Fix tire pressure first, because uneven pressure is the main reason a zero-turn drifts. If it still pulls, park it, stop the engine, push both steering levers fully forward and compare. If one travels farther, adjust that lever's travel stop with the bolt or eccentric your manual shows, then test in an open area.
How much does zero-turn mower service cost in Virginia?
There is no standard Virginia price for zero-turn mower service. Shops set their own labor, diagnostic and pickup charges, and the bill depends on what the mower needs. Filters and spark plugs are cheap parts. Ask for an itemized written estimate that separates labor, parts and any pickup fee before you approve work.
Why does my zero-turn mower pull to one side?
Most often it is uneven tire pressure. Ariens calls incorrect or unbalanced tire air pressure the primary reason a zero-turn may not track straight. Next is uneven steering lever travel, then a caster that does not turn freely or a brake or drive-system fault. Check the tires and lever travel yourself; a drive that creeps or drags needs a dealer.
How often should a zero-turn mower be serviced?
Follow the hours schedule in your operator's manual, and do a full service at least once a year even on a lightly used mower. Check oil, tires and fasteners before each use, then change oil and filters, service the air cleaner and check belts at the manual's hour marks. Husqvarna recommends an annual service by an authorized workshop.