Lawn Mower Servicing

[Benzman]

Has anyone ever had their petrol powered lawn mower serviced?

I have a push along mower not the sit on and ride variety.

If so what is the approximate cost and is it worth it or what's actually involved and is it easier to just do it myself?

[jas xjr]

i had one serviced a couple of years ago. cost about £60 . bearing in mind you can buy a basic one with the same engine for £100.

[Pickled Piper]

What's there to service?

I've had mine ten years and never bothered. I changed the spark plug once, change the oil every year and clean the air filter every couple of years. I've also changed a couple of belts. I certainly wouldn't pay anyone to do it.

Also, I don't bother draining the fuel every winter. Just use some eezi start spray or WD40 when I want to start it the first time in the spring. Just squirt some down the air intake, a couple of pulls on the starter and it's away.

pp

Edited by Pickled Piper on Sunday 31st January 15:57

[netherfield]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said,plus sharpen the blade once a year,mines a Honda rotary so it's a quick job with angle grinder to put a bit of an edge back on it. Don't know how easy it is to sharpen a cylinder though. Don't drain the petrol but do switch off the fuel tap and let the carb run dry.

[racing green]

Perhaps not worth paying for someone to do it as oil drain, air filter clean, spark plug change and general cleaning underneath is easy. But blade sharpening is essential and the blades must be balanced because they are directly connected to the engine!!! Imagine what the vibration would do to the engine at 3000 revs a minute. If you do want someone to do the servicing don't leave it till Spring as that is when they are busiest - best time is December/January/February - and yes it ain't cheap!

[Wings]

racing green said:

Perhaps not worth paying for someone to do it as oil drain, air filter clean, spark plug change and general cleaning underneath is easy. But blade sharpening is essential and the blades must be balanced because they are directly connected to the engine!!! Imagine what the vibration would do to the engine at 3000 revs a minute. If you do want someone to do the servicing don't leave it till Spring as that is when they are busiest - best time is December/January/February - and yes it ain't cheap!

Very much agree.

Blade sharpening I do by rubbing valve grinding paste (from auto spares shop) on facing of bottom blade, then allowing the cylinder and bottom blade to touch, and then spinning the cylinder blade by hand, in the opposite direction the cylinder normally operates. To set the cutting, I place a sheet of paper between cylinder blade and bottom blade, turn cylinder by hand in usual operating direction, keep adjusting distance/gap between cylinder and bottom blade, until paper is scissor/knife cut is evenly achieved to paper.

[Benzman]

Very Useful, thanks for that guys.

[davidspooner]

Wings said:

racing green said:

Perhaps not worth paying for someone to do it as oil drain, air filter clean, spark plug change and general cleaning underneath is easy. But blade sharpening is essential and the blades must be balanced because they are directly connected to the engine!!! Imagine what the vibration would do to the engine at 3000 revs a minute. If you do want someone to do the servicing don't leave it till Spring as that is when they are busiest - best time is December/January/February - and yes it ain't cheap!

Very much agree.

Blade sharpening I do by rubbing valve grinding paste (from auto spares shop) on facing of bottom blade, then allowing the cylinder and bottom blade to touch, and then spinning the cylinder blade by hand, in the opposite direction the cylinder normally operates. To set the cutting, I place a sheet of paper between cylinder blade and bottom blade, turn cylinder by hand in usual operating direction, keep adjusting distance/gap between cylinder and bottom blade, until paper is scissor/knife cut is evenly achieved to paper.

This applies to a cylinder, but not a rotary i take it?

[Don]

I got mine serviced.

They ask you if you want it done every year. The first time mine needed it was after 6 years.

Oil change, new spark plug, replace any missing bits, replace or sharpen the blades.

Cost £150 on a £500 mower so the price is only OK if it's every six years or so...

[Wings]

davidspooner said:

Wings said:

racing green said:

Perhaps not worth paying for someone to do it as oil drain, air filter clean, spark plug change and general cleaning underneath is easy. But blade sharpening is essential and the blades must be balanced because they are directly connected to the engine!!! Imagine what the vibration would do to the engine at 3000 revs a minute. If you do want someone to do the servicing don't leave it till Spring as that is when they are busiest - best time is December/January/February - and yes it ain't cheap!

Very much agree.

Blade sharpening I do by rubbing valve grinding paste (from auto spares shop) on facing of bottom blade, then allowing the cylinder and bottom blade to touch, and then spinning the cylinder blade by hand, in the opposite direction the cylinder normally operates. To set the cutting, I place a sheet of paper between cylinder blade and bottom blade, turn cylinder by hand in usual operating direction, keep adjusting distance/gap between cylinder and bottom blade, until paper is scissor/knife cut is evenly achieved to paper.

This applies to a cylinder, but not a rotary i take it?

Yes, turning by hand should be with socket wrench. Rotory blade can be removed by socket wrench at the same time using screwdriver to stop motor turning. Blade should cost about £5 for sharpening

[gordon lonsdale]

To sharpen rotary blades I simply turn it onto its side and flash them over with a 4" disc grinder,you've got to be careful about not spilling oil or petrol though.