Lawns and Gardens

Lawnmowers are a gardener’s best friend, taking the work out of keeping your lawn in perfect condition. Unfortunately problems can often arise with all types of mowers. Luckily, most problems can be sorted pretty quickly, and at little expense. If you have not used your mower for a while, especially over the winter months and you find it will not start up, then if it is electric, you should first check there is power going to the mower. It could be just a blown fuse in the plug. If there is power, then check that the blades are turning freely. Most electric mowers have a thermal cut off switch, and if the blades are not turning it may be overheating and causing the fault.

For petrol mowers you should check there is enough fuel in the tank if it will not start up. Also check for dirt or debris in the fuel tank, this could be blocking the fuel filter. If this is the problem you will need to drain the fuel tank and replace the filter. Mower fuel filters are inexpensive and can be bought from home stores like argos extra, or from your local garden centre. Alternatively it may just be a case of the fuel valve not being in the “on” position, so check this first.

If you find the mower is not cutting the grass then check the blade height. You can adjust the height, so make sure the blades are low enough to meet the grass. The blades may be blunt, so sharpen them, remembering to turn off the power supply before you try to take them out. A useful tip to stop them turning as you work with them is to place a piece of wood between them. If the grass is too long then this could be causing the blades to malfunction. This is a common problem if the lawn has been left untreated for a long time. You may need to use a strimmer to get the grass to a manageable length before cutting with the mower. Also check that the underside of the mower is not clogged up, this can cause the blades to miss the cut. If new blades are needed then try the additions catalogue, making sure you know the make and model of the mower beforehand.

If you notice uneven cutting then make sure the blades are not twisted or damaged in any way. There could be something blocking them that just needs clearing. If you notice black smoke coming from the back of the mower, then check the air and oil filters first. If the oil level is too high then this could be the cause of the black smoke. Another potential reason for this is the fuel mixture adjustment screw. Try turning it one way and see what happens. If the problem gets worse then turn it the other way. If you follow these tips you should be able to fix and diagnose most of the common lawnmower faults.

Read more:

1. Lawnmower Types – What are the Alternatives?
2. Lawn Mower Do-It-Yourself Maintenance
3. Sharpen Your Lawnmower Blades Yourself
4. Do You Know How Important Lawnmower Care Is?
5. Robomow Lawn Mower: Save Time Mowing Your Lawn With Robomow

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