Mower Tune-up
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You’ll find useful resources on this page, tips, links to tools, parts and supplies required to complete your repair.
A mower needs a good tune-up at least once a year, if you do the basics your mower will sing all summer long and your lawn will look greener, seriously!
A blunt blade tears at the grass blades, instead of cutting them clean, the torn grass turns yellow as it looses excess moisture.
A tune-up is easy to do and best done in the spring. Change the oil, spark plug, air filter, gas filter, sharpen and balance the blade, adjust the self drive and lube all controls. Nice!
This video shows you how to take care of it start to finish.
Before working on your mower be sure to remove the plug wire to prevent accidental starting, see “Repair Safety Video”.
Tools & Parts
To nail this procedure you may need the following tools, parts and supplies.
Ratchet Tool Set
Before we can do anything, we'll need tools. I've selected this set as I own some Craftsman tools and while I have worn some out, they did do a lot of work. So I expect this set will last the occasional user quite a long time.
This set carries both metric and standard sockets and that's important, because some mowers will have both type of fastener sizes. Set includes spark plug sockets. Picture links to Amazon.com
Gas Line Clamp
Impact Wrench
Drill/Screw Gun
Torque Wrench
Teng 1/2 Torque wrench, fantastic tool I use it every day and mine is still going strong. A torque wrench is advised for tightening components such as flywheel nuts and blades. The torque spec of these components is very important. Picture links to Amazon.com
If you are considering buying a torque wrench, definitely check out my review of Teng torque wrench.
John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer on Lawnmowerfixed.com. I've been a mechanic for over twenty years, I use my knowledge and experience to write "How to" articles that help fellow gear-heads with all aspects of mechanical repairs, from lawn mowers to classic cars.