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CoolRam

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Lawnmower Tune Up
Jul 1^st, 2008 at 9:36am

I just learned this and I'm so proud. The biggest secret to working on your lawnmower is to keep the carberator up high. When you turn the lawnmower on its side to replace the blade or change the oil, make sure the carberator is always in the 'up' position so that it doesn't fill up with oil.

Failure to do this will require the disassembly of the carberator to clean it out.

Second tip ... what tool will you need to remove the oil plug? I found on my mowers that the 3/8" drive on my rachet handle from my socket set was perfect. No need to buy a tool for that. Use the 4" extension ... even better.

Now I can replace the blade, change the oil, change the spark plug on my mowers (I have three) without taking them into the shop and spending $70 each. Cost of blade, oil and plug will run less than $20 each and takes about 30 minutes.

It's never too late to learn, even for me.

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Fredonia4k

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #1 - Jul 1^st, 2008 at 9:43am

Thanks for the pointers, CR. I just bought a lawnmower for my new place. I got it off Craigslist from a woman who said it had been used about 10 times. I believe her, because this thing is pristine. It has been in storage for a while and they drained the gas and oil, so I need to replace those before I can get it going. I am hoping it will fire up with little difficulty, because I am by no means a lawn equipment expert.

That said, I can't push craigslist hard enough. This lawn mower retailed at $399 and I got it for $75. It's a Craftsman 6.75 HP self-propelled mulch/bagger with big rear wheels. Quite a find if I do say so. And when I went to pick it up, the woman also sold me her gas WeedEater and Scotts seed spreader for $25. One hundred bucks got me a pretty great start toward a nice lawn.

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Solar Ex Member	Re: Lawnmower Tune Up Reply #2 - Jul 1^st, 2008 at 10:37pm All good tips CR. You are the reason I started this site. I saw where you mentioned your wife was making you leave your comfort zone, so I thought I would start a basic repair help forum. It is tips like yours that may save someone else a big headache. Thank you sir.
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KSU_Aviator

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #3 - Jul 3^rd, 2008 at 3:35pm

If you have a typical suburban yard and only mow grass, you can prolong the life of your blade by running a file over it every spring. It only takes about 10 minutes of manual labor (egad...did he just say manual labor? I'm calling a mexican) and you'll have a good as new blade. I'm on the 5th season with my blade and it cuts a nice even line.

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Solar

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #4 - Jul 3^rd, 2008 at 3:57pm

Quote:

If you have a typical suburban yard and only mow grass, you can prolong the life of your blade by running a file over it every spring. It only takes about 10 minutes of manual labor (egad...did he just say manual labor? I'm calling a mexican) and you'll have a good as new blade. I'm on the 5th season with my blade and it cuts a nice even line.

Good tip. Also when storing the mower for the winter, change the oil, and run some fuel treatment through the tank then drain it.
I'm drawing a blank on the product....
Help me out here. Embarrassed

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KSU_Aviator

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #5 - Jul 6^th, 2008 at 11:47am

Quote:

Good tip. Also when storing the mower for the winter, change the oil, and run some fuel treatment through the tank then drain it.
I'm drawing a blank on the product....
Help me out here. Embarrassed

I wouldn't know. Here in Texas, we only skip 2, maybe 3, weeks of grass cutting in January, then its back to the grind. Embarrassed

I shouldn't use the sad face. I'm a sick man. I actually enjoying mowing the yard. I get satisfaction out of completing a project, even if it is the weekly lawn mowning. Wink

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Solar

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #6 - Jul 6^th, 2008 at 1:28pm

Quote:

I wouldn't know. Here in Texas, we only skip 2, maybe 3, weeks of grass cutting in January, then its back to the grind. Embarrassed

I shouldn't use the sad face. I'm a sick man. I actually enjoying mowing the yard. I get satisfaction out of completing a project, even if it is the weekly lawn mowning. Wink

LOL! Good thing you enjoy it. I had no idea you had that long of a growing season.
Here in the Sierra, we have about 3 months of dealing with it, the Sacto. valley is 6.
Though, where I live, the soil is pretty much lousy for lawns, I had a nice one sometime back, but I was a slave to it, same with gardens.
If it isn't the deer, it's the mole , and Stellar jays robbing me blind. Undecided

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walkstall

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #7 - Jan 12^th, 2009 at 8:57pm

Quote:

Good tip. Also when storing the mower for the winter, change the oil, and run some fuel treatment through the tank then drain it.
I'm drawing a blank on the product....
Help me out here. Embarrassed

I use STA-BIL for all my 2 and 4 cycle engines . I put it in all my 2 and 4 cycle gas year around.

You may like to check this out for some good info. around why I use it year around.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/sta-bil.htm

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Bigot Solar

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #8 - Jan 12^th, 2009 at 10:22pm

walkstall wrote on Jan 12^th, 2009 at 8:57pm:

I use STA-BIL for all my 2 and 4 cycle engines . I put it in all my 2 and 4 cycle gas year around.

You may like to check this out for some good info. around why I use it year around.
http://www.i4at.org/surv/sta-bil.htm

Thanks my friend, that is exactly what I was trying to think of.
Also that reminds me, as I need to do my Gold Dredge. DOH!!! Embarrassed

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walkstall

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Re: Lawnmower Tune Up
Reply #9 - Jan 12^th, 2009 at 11:28pm

Quote:

Thanks my friend, that is exactly what I was trying to think of.
Also that reminds me, as I need to do my Gold Dredge. DOH!!! Embarrassed

No problem, I alway put it in before go and fill my gas tanks. This way it works for me year around. As I use all my equipment it is nice to know I will have no starting problem. Even with the equipment that I mix oil with the gas I have no start up problems. I most of them I have used the same plug that came with the unit for over 6 years lol I have plugs for them but they always start up and run with no problems. But then I do not run my equipment with out it. I like it when in three pulls or less what I am using will start right up and keep running with no problems. Gold Dredge ya say lol you must be in some of God country also.

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