Learn to Tune Up Your Mower
Posted by ReadyMade
Photo courtesy of Fiskars Brands, Inc.
Sharpen your skills to ensure that your lawn gear is ready to slice and dice.
“Most tune-ups will take no more than 15 minutes, cost less than $13, and add another season to the tool’s life span,” says Jake Fahsbender, product manager for FRAM, a company that makes parts for engines. Ready?
Skill Level
Easy
Active Time
Less than an hour
Cost
$
- Oil
- Air filter
Materials
- Wire brush
- Metal file
Tools
Clear off any mud or rust from the past year with a wire brush.
Check the blade: Is it dull or nicked? If the answer is yes, grind and sharpen it along the cutting edge, following the angle of the factory bezel, with a metal file. (Or take it to the nearest hardware store for a professional sharpening.)
Start the engine. Was it slow? You might have a spark plug issue; a couple bucks and a few minutes can remedy it.
Change the oil and replace the air filter so you’re not yanking the starter cord more than necessary.
If, after all that, your power mower still doesn’t cut it, you might want to check out a reel mower. We researched several models, and the Fiskars Momentum Reel Push Mower stole the show. It’s light enough to haul up a hill, it cuts grass like scissors (better for the lawn than the tearing that power mowers can cause), it throws the grass clippings forward so it’s bagless, and you get a workout because you’re the muscle behind it. Plus, you not only skip buying fuel, but also decrease your noise output. There really isn’t anything quite like the “tsk, tsk, tsk” of a reel mower to usher in the impending sounds of summer. $250, fiskars.com .
