Zen and the art of mower maintenance

We don't have to remind you that this summer's been hot—wiltingly so. The grass is scorched and the hydrangeas are hanging their heads. Even if you're taking a break from yard work until the temperatures moderate, you should still heed the needs of your lawn equipment. It doesn't do well in this weather either. So pour yourself a tall glass of your favorite beverage and meander out to the shed to perform some midsummer maintenance.

Oil levels in yard equipment should be checked frequently and topped off if needed to ensure maximum lubrication and cooling on hot days, says Peter Sawchuk, our guru of lawn equipment. But don't overfill either—too much oil can cause air bubbles. It's also wise to add a fuel stabilizer during extremely hot spells. "Hot weather accelerates the normal degradation of gasoline," saws Sawchuk, who also offers these tips.

Lawn mowers

• Hose or scrape off old clippings from beneath the deck (using a plastic putty knife).
• Remove grass and debris from a gas engine's cooling fins, engine covers, and air-intake screens after each use to help prevent engine overheating.
• If your mower has a manual engine-speed control, be sure it's properly adjusted.
• Regularly check belts/chain drives for wear and tightness. 

Lawn tractors

• Hose or scrape old clippings from beneath the mowing deck (using a plastic putty knife). If your tractor is equipped with a washout port, Sawchuk recommends lowering the deck for more efficient cleaning.
• Check tires visually before each use and check their pressure as per the manufacturer's instructions.
• Regularly check belts/chain drives for wear and tightness. Most belts contain some Kevlar that limits stretching.
• If the seat is damaged, consider replacing it.

Hedge trimmers

• Sawchuk stresses that it's most important at this point in the season to get some lubrication on the blade, especially if you did any heavy trimming this spring.
• Check that the intake vent near a gas trimmer's carburetor air filter is clear of debris so that the engine runs efficiently.
• On gas trimmers with a clutch, check that the blades don't begin moving at idle until you increase the engine speed. Reduce the engine idle speed if needed by turning a screw on the carburetor.

String trimmers

• String can get brittle with age. Sawchuk advises getting a new supply of string and to re-wrap it.
• For gas trimmers, be sure intake vents near the air filter are clear of debris so that the engine runs efficiently.
• Clean or replace a gas trimmer's air filter as needed, and more frequently in dry, dusty environments.
• Some gas trimmers have a centrifugal clutch that keeps the cutting head from spinning until you squeeze the throttle. (You can tell by looking at the head when you start the engine.) On these, the carburetor idle speed should be slow enough so that the cutting head doesn't turn.

Garden mini-tillers

• Before each use, check all moving parts to see if they are operating properly.
• Make sure nuts and bolts are tight.
• After each use, thoroughly clean all dirt and debris from the tiller before it has a chance to harden.
• Let the tiller dry to prevent rust.

—Gian Trotta
 
Mow better. Our Lawn & Garden Guide offers reviews of the best yard equipment, money-saving makeovers for your outdoor spaces and year-round advice on maintaining yard equipment. For more tips, read the transcript of Sawchuk's live chat on our mowers, tractors, and lawns forum.