Troubleshooting Your Lawn Mower

How to find and solve Problems with Your Lawn Mower

From time to time You might have some trouble with Your Lawn Mower. Many of them are minor and You can save Yourself lots of money just by localizing the problem and then see if You can fix it Yourself.

The first sign of a problem is often a strange sound, heavy vibration or lack of control. You can sometimes connect the problem with an event like running over a stone on the lawn or the mower refuses to start after You did some work on it.

Before we go any further on this, we have to realize that some Lawn Mower repairs are specialized and require both special tools and a skilled person to make the work done right. It is not possible for me to cover all brands and types of mowers and You have to realize that any work You make on Your Mower is on Your own risk.

In this article I will start with the most common problems that most owners should be able to deal with.

Learn more...

Lawn Mower Expert.com
Bjorgvin Arnason

Electric Push Lawn Mower

The benefits of using an Electric Lawn Mower

• You can mow in the early morning cause the mower is so quiet
• You can store the mower anywhere and there are no gas fumes
• You never have to worry about engine problems
• You don't have to keep gas or oil at home
• The mower is light and virtually maintenance free for years

Electric mowers are suitable for small, flat lawn of less than a quarter acre. They are inexpensive, lightweight and very easy to use.

These push-type mowers are very similar to gas engine mowers except they have an electric motor instead of the engine. Underneath the motor is a rotating blade that cuts the grass. Most electric mowers have a cutting width of 18 - 19 inches while gas mowers have 20 - 22 inches.
Electric mowers require little maintenance aside form sharpening. They produce no exhaust emissions, they are quiet and are usually capable of mulching, side discharging and some of them can bag the clippings.

You can get electric mowers either corded or cordless. Both versions have their limits that should be considered. The corded mower is limited by the cord that should not be longer than 100 feet. The cord can also make some trouble if you have lots of trees, but You will learn to adjust the mowing pattern to avoid this. Cordless mowers are limited by the battery charge that usually equals about a quarter of acre. Both are less powerful than gas mowers and less capable of cutting thick grass.

As usual I have spent lot of effort finding the best offer for You. I read tons of recommendations and reviews before I made my recommendation. I am going to recommend to You one corded electric mower and one cordless mower. The cordless mower is more expensive but You don't need any cord and can move more freely.

Lawn Mower Expert.com
Bjorgvin Arnason

Self Propelled Walk Behind Mowers

The benefits of using Self Propelled Lawn Mower

• You don't have to push the mower around
• You can use the mower on uneven and hilly lawns
• You can use clipping bag that would be to heavy for a push mower
• You can enjoy features like electric starter

Selp Propelled Walk Behind Mowers usually have a 5 to 7 HP four-stroke engine and a cutting swath 21 or 22 inches wide, allowing you to cover more ground with each pass.

Most self propelled mowers provide three cutting modes: bagging, which gathers clippings in a removable catcher; side-discharging, which spews clippings onto the lawn; and mulching, which cuts and recuts clippings until they're small enough to settle and decompose within the lawn.

Mulching is the most recommended method by lawn specialists because it leaves the clippings on the lawn, producing fertilizer for the grass and contributing to better soil. If You are cutting thick, high grass then You might prefere bagging and the self propelled mower helps you carry more load each time.

I have been reading reviews and searching the web for Self Propelled Mowers and I am happy to tell you about my highest recommendations:

Lawn Mower Expert.com
Bjorgvin Arnason

All You Need to Know About Walk Behind Lawn Mowers

Walk Behind Lawn Mowers

Reel mowers are the ever popular model that actually was the first usable lawn mower produced. They used to be heavy and hard to handle, but that has changed drastically. Reel mowers have made a comeback because they are perfect for today's landscape. It's not your grandfather's lawn mower -- the today's reel mower is extremely easy to push and they are the lightest and most quiet mowers around.

Push mowers are the cheapest option for a motorized mower and the maintenance is low and easy. You should look for a model with large wheels (high wheel) for the best maneuverability, adjustable cutting height and low weight.The engine is usually 3 - 5.5 HP and the cutting width is 18 - 22in.

Self-propelled mowers are slightly more expensive, heavier and they have more wearing parts. However, if you only need to add $150 - $200 to get the self-propelled type you shouldn't even think twice if your lawn has slopes.Most self-propelled mowers have rear wheel drive and that combined with large rear wheels is the best option.Engines are usually 4.5 - 7 HP and the cutting width is normally 21 - 22in.

Lawn Mower Expert

B. Arnason

Gasoline Push Mowers

Gasoline Push Mowers

The benefits of using a Gas driven Walk Behind Mower

• You have all the power you need to mow a lawn up to an acre


• Your mower can handle long, thick grass


• You can mulch leaves


• You can bag the clippings

Gas driven push mowers are still the most common lawn mowers. They usually
have engine power from 3.5 to 5.5 HP and cutting width from 19 to 22 in.

Most gas mowers provide three cutting modes: bagging, which gathers clippings
in a removable catcher; side-discharging, which spews clippings onto the
lawn; and mulching, which cuts and recuts clippings until they're small
enough to settle and decompose within the lawn.

Mulching is the most recommended method by lawn specialists because it
leaves the clippings on the lawn, producing fertilizer for the grass and
contributing to better soil.

I have been reading reviews and searching the web for Gasoline Push Mowers
and I am happy to tell you about my highest recommendations:

#1 Husqvarna 21in, 5.5 HP Walk-Behind Mower

Lawn Mower Expert.com
B. Arnason

How should I prepare my lawn mower in the spring?

How should I prepare my lawn mower in the spring?

Use fresh gas. If you didn't drain the gas tank last fall then you should replace the gas. Gasoline that is older than a month has lost some of it's energy and can lead to problems with the carburetor and engine.

Change the engine oil. Find the drain plug and drain the oil to a container, replace it with clean SAE-30 engine oil. Check the owners manual for oil recommendations. The oil should be changed at least once a year.

Replace the spark plug. You can take the old spark plug to your local gas station or service shop or find the type and gap information in the owners manual. A new spark plug is inexpensive and can save you a lot of trouble later.

Check the air filter. Tap the filter on a flat surface or carefully clean it with pressurized air. If the filter is very dirty you should replace it. Never try to clean it with water.

Have a look at the blade. Is it dull? Is it broken or bent? If so then replace the blade. A dull blade can be sharpened with a file or grinder but never try to do it on the mower. Some blades are dual-edge and can be turned over but most blades has to be replaced or sharpened.

Check the drive belt. If your lawn mower has a drive belt then check it for wear and lack of tension. You should be able to move the belt sideways about half an inch with one finger if the tension is correct.

Clean the mower deck. Disconnect the spark wire from the spark plug to prevent engine from starting. Use water and a soft brush to carefully clean the outside of the mower deck around the engine.
Turn the mower 90 deg on it's side, with the carburetor facing up and clean the inside of the deck, using a wooden stick to remove heavy grass buildup.

Wish You all the best this summer
Lawn Mower Expert
Bjorgvin Arnason