• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

lawn mower owners: how do you tune it up?

L

LordSnailz

Diamond Member
Found a lawn mower in the classifieds, ~5yrs. old, mentions that it needs a tune up. What exactly is a tune and can I do it myself?

TIA!
 
Depends on what a "tune up" means. If it just needs a new air filter and spark plug and some carb cleaner shot though it, it's easy. If the carb needs rebuilt, then that's a little harder.
 
My Cub Cadet is 10 years old and the only thing I've ever done is change the oil, sharpen the blades and replace belts.
 
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: Queasy
ummm...check your manual?
Click to expand...
I don't think you read the first post...
Click to expand...

I did. I know it was classified ad but any lawn mower manual should tell you the steps to maintain and tune-up your lawn mower. If the seller doesn't have a manual, that's a different story.
 
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
Click to expand...

LOL. Those electric mowers are hilarious. I keep waiting for one of my neighbors to run over their long ass electric cord
 
hopefully just an oil change, plug, sharpen and clean up. If it needs a carb, and it's a common briggs engine, you can just buy a new carb for about 30 bucks and bolt it on.
 
buying a used mower can be a good or bad thing. in general mower engines take alot of abuse.
the only real way to know what type of condition its in would be to disassemble the motor and inspect it for wear. you can check compression and other things but really your better off spending 120.00 at walmart for a cheap mower.
there is no mileage indicator on most mowers.
dont buy it.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
Click to expand...

LOL. Those electric mowers are hilarious. I keep waiting for one of my neighbors to run over their long ass electric cord
Click to expand...
Mrsskoorb wanted me to get one when we moved here and I told her I'd be the target of ridicule from neighbours. I know I'd secretely laugh inside if I saw a neighbour pushing around a cord. You can buy battery motors now, though I try to avoid batteries whenever I can.

I am still mad that I bought a plug in trimmer instead of a gas one 🙁
 
Spark plug, air filter, and I usually degreased the engine with some simple green - maybe a new blade if it warrants it 🙂
 
I usually run over small trees and dead birds on the lawn.



....oh wait, you said tune up? I thought you said how do you dull the blades early and spray chopped up bird parts all over the lawn.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
Click to expand...

LOL. Those electric mowers are hilarious. I keep waiting for one of my neighbors to run over their long ass electric cord
Click to expand...

have a pretty small sized lot, so I bought an electric mower...never ran over the cord, but it sucked always making sure I didn't trip on it or run over it...bought a gas mower last Sept from Sears...will probably fire it up this weekend....

didn't find any takers around here to buy it (selling it for $40)...will probably donate it to Goodwill here soon...
 
hrmm ... dang it. I'm second guessing it now, $65 for 5yr old Yard Machines brand. Guess I can take a look at the sucker when I get there. Hard to know how well he's been keeping the mower.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
Click to expand...
LOL. Those electric mowers are hilarious. I keep waiting for one of my neighbors to run over their long ass electric cord
Click to expand...
I used a corded electric mower all the time growing up. Great for a small to medium sized lawn. Never ran over the cord once and they're very quiet and reliable (it lasted more than 20 years with ZERO maintenance required, except blade sharpening). They do tend to be underpowered though (2-3hp tops).
My current yard is much too large for one (25k square feet), so I use a regular gas mower, and if I did have a small yard I'd rather have a human-powered push mower than an electric -- better for exercise.

With the cost of a brand new 6.5hp Yard Machines gas mower that bags and mulches down to $200 at Home Depot, I can see absolutely no reason why anyone would ever buy a used mower.

edit: Yard Machines is fine btw. American-made by the same company that makes Toro and Ryobi (MTD).
 
Originally posted by: rhino56
buying a used mower can be a good or bad thing. in general mower engines take alot of abuse.
the only real way to know what type of condition its in would be to disassemble the motor and inspect it for wear. you can check compression and other things but really your better off spending 120.00 at walmart for a cheap mower.
there is no mileage indicator on most mowers.
dont buy it.
Click to expand...


agreed. i bought the cheapo 99 murray 3 years ago, and i havent had any trouble other than cleaning the air filter. cranked up the first time again this year. i need to sharpen the blades, tho.

by the time you put the money and effort into a used one, you could have new for not much more. while not the greatest, the cheap ones work and thats all i care about.
 
Okay, I'm probably opting for a new one then, but I'll still run into the same issue after a few yrs.

How do I sharpen the blades? 😱
 
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Queasy
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Oh god... we bought an electric mower when we moved. That thing is so ghetto... I'd rather have a sh!tty push-mower (the OLD SKOOL kind)...
Click to expand...
LOL. Those electric mowers are hilarious. I keep waiting for one of my neighbors to run over their long ass electric cord
Click to expand...
I used a corded electric mower all the time growing up. Great for a small to medium sized lawn. Never ran over the cord once and they're very quiet and reliable (it lasted more than 20 years with ZERO maintenance required, except blade sharpening). They do tend to be underpowered though (2-3hp tops).
My current yard is much too large for one (25k square feet), so I use a regular gas mower, and if I did have a small yard I'd rather have a human-powered push mower than an electric -- better for exercise.

With the cost of a brand new 6.5hp Yard Machines gas mower that bags and mulches down to $200 at Home Depot, I can see absolutely no reason why anyone would ever buy a used mower.

edit: Yard Machines is fine btw. American-made by the same company that makes Toro and Ryobi (MTD).
Click to expand...

Not to mention that the human-powered push mowers are actually better for your lawn 🙂
 
Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Okay, I'm probably opting for a new one then, but I'll still run into the same issue after a few yrs.

How do I sharpen the blades? 😱
Click to expand...

Well, I know that here in Iowa, we have Hardware stores that will sharpen a blade for 3 or 4 bucks.. Saves me the hassle.

-Jaison
 
Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Okay, I'm probably opting for a new one then, but I'll still run into the same issue after a few yrs.

How do I sharpen the blades? 😱
Click to expand...
You can buy new ones inexpensively, or use a dremel with a metal grinder attachment to sharpen them.
 
you can use a file, a sharpening attachment for a drill, or grinding wheel. you can check the yellow pages for small engine repair/lawnmower shops and they can do it also. that will be my route, as i dont have the tools to do it myself, and i imagine someone trained can do a much better job than i.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top