Your Ultimate Guide: 30 Lawn Mower FAQs Answered!

HomeLawn & Yard CareYour Ultimate Guide: 30 Lawn Mower FAQs Answered!

Welcome to the comprehensive guide that answers all your burning questions about lawn mowers. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, we’ve got you covered with 30 frequently asked questions. Let’s dive into the world of lawn care and mowers to ensure your outdoor space stays pristine!

You asked, we listened and we answered. All those questions about your lawn mower and its accessories that you need answered in one (long) very well elaborated article.




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Q1. What Is A Brushless Lawn Mower?

Brushless lawn mowers are slowly carving a niche for themselves in the lawn mowers’ market.

But what is a brush-less lawn mower?

Now, a brushless lawn mower is simply a mower flaunting a brushless motor.

On the other hand, conventional mowers spot brush motors. So what the difference?

The traditional model has carbon brushes, an armature, a commutator, and magnetic rings while the increasingly famous brushless motor doesn’t include the commutator and brushes.

Instead, they have a small circuit board coordinating energy delivery during ignition.

Additionally, the windings and magnets locations are reversed.

Because of this design , the motor auto adjusts according to how tough a task is with tougher cutting jobs drawing more power and vice versa.

This improves battery life and leads to a more intelligent and efficient cut.

The absence of carbon braches also translates into reduced maintenance and longer engine life.

Conversely, a regular brushed motor maxes out on the speed you have set it to and runs less efficiently.





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Q2. How To Start A Riding Lawn Mower

A riding lawn mower is the preferred trimming machine for large lawns.

However, riding lawn mowers are sometimes difficult to start..

Steps:

1: Sit and ensure you can reach all levers and pedals.

2: Press the brakes (push the brake pedal or lever).Also, engage its parking brake.

3: Shift the mower’s gear to neutral. The shift lever should be near the steering wheel or below the seat.

4: Engage the choke by moving the throttle lever to be between the fast & slow positions.

5: Turn the ignition to the right- all the way. Hold the key for about 15 seconds. If it doesn’t start, turn off for 10 seconds then re-try for 15 seconds until the engine starts.

6: Slowly release the choke by raising the throttle knob to the fast setting.

7: Let the engine warm up before shifting to drive.





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Q3.How To Use A Lawn Mower?

Using a lawnmower shouldn’t be an intimidating spectacle. Here is an easy guide:

  • Inspection:

Check for leaking fluids (gas or oil) and the fuel level (Refill if it’s running low). Also, confirm that your spark plug is correctly inserted and that it’s in top condition.

  • Prime it:

To prime the engine is to squirt small amounts of gas into the carburetor and gives the mower optimal combustion reaction for an optimal run.

  • Start it:

Yank the ripcord to ignite the mower. Remember to hold down the safety bar while pulling the cord and to set the choke to ‘off’.

  • Operating it:

Now, Set the right cutting height (between 1 3/4 – 2 inches) depending on the grass type and begin mowing. Take breaks whenever mowing an expansive lawn and never abandon a running mower.

Since slopes can be slippery; mow them side to side to reduce the risk.

Note: If the mower had already warmed up, just pull the ripcord string safely to start it. Priming isn’t necessary.
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Q4. Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?

Since making their entry into the mowers’ market, a lot of lawn owners have been wondering if robotic lawn mowers work?

And the answer is a big yes. It’s true some resemble tiny racing cars but robotic lawn mowers can cut every blade of grass to your preferred height.

The units come with rechargeable batteries (lead-acid, nickel cadmium, or lithium-ion) and a charging station.

You plug the charging center to an accessible outdoor outlet. Now, the robot will automatically return to the charging base when it goes low on battery and self-charge.

While they may not mow in the usual immaculate straight lines as conventional mowers, they consume less energy than gas-powered models, and crucially, never release harmful emissions.

You can even schedule it to mow at your most convenient time while monitoring it from your phone.





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Q5. What is the Best Lawn Mower For Hills

Hilly and winding yards are an amazing sight but can be costly to maintain.

That’s because standard lawn mowers are wanting when we come to climbs and can even be unsafe in excessively hilly landscapes

And so yard owners often have to spend on lawn mowers for hills- specially built mowers to cut on extreme slopes and challenging climbs.

Now, I know you would want the best trimmer but which tops them all?

As you can see here, Honda’s 3-in-1 self-propelled gas hills mower is a favorite for many lawn owners.

It packs incredible horsepower and is very talented climber dashing across yards at full speed.

But the biggest attraction is the reassuring zone starting safety system which shuts the engine automatically if it slips from your control.

That it uses less gas than competing lawn mowers is another huge bonus.





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Q6. How To Winterize A Lawn Mower?

Starting a lawn mower after spring can be a daunting task. But if you properly prepare it for the cold season storage, it will come out in shape and ready to roar to life.

Here is how to winterize your lawn mower:

  • Empty it:

If you’ll be keeping it in the basement, have it run until it’s out of gas. Or just follow the instructions on your owners’ manual to empty the gas tank.

This protects carburetors and discourages corrosion of the engine parts.

  • Use a fuel stabilizer:

If you’ll be leaving the mower in the garage, refill the fuel tank and add a gas stabilizer.

This keeps the gasoline from disintegrating.

  • Oil Changeover:

Check and refill the oil to the designated marking on the dipstick. This helps preserve the engine.

  • Clean It:

Scrape grass clippings and other debris from under the mower deck by spraying with a garden hose or using an old school bristled pot scrubber

This prevents rusting.

  • Change The Plug:

Inspect and change the spark plug if there are signs of corrosion. If it looks fine, add some oil to its crankcase and reinstall the plug.

  • Sharpening the Blades:

You can also sharpen the blades now.





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Q7. How To Clean A Lawn Mower?

Cleaning is an important part of maintaining your mower on a tip-top condition.

Follow the following steps to clean your lawn mower:

  • Empty the gas and disconnect your mower’s spark plug wire.
  • Stand the mower on its side.
  • Attack the grass clippings on the underside by blasting using a garden hose. To loosen the stubborn dirt and grass clippings, spray the underside deck with cooking spray or silicone lubricant. A gas scrapper or putty knife may help you conquer the caked-on stuff.
  • To shine the engine area, blast with a powerful compressed air hose.
  • Scrub off remaining debris everywhere else using soap, hot water, and a brush.
  • Reconnect the spark plug, refuel, and start the mower. It’s advisable to have it run for some time before shutting it.



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Q8. How To Make A Lawn Mower Fast?

Here are some tweaks you can try to make your mower mow like a racer:

Tweak 1: Sharpen The Mower Blades

Blunt blades cut slowly and make it sluggish. Sharpen them and you may immediately notice quicker cutting. Also, clean the undercarriage.

Tweak 2: Change The Pulley System (for belt-driven mowers)

For belt-driven lawn mowers, altering the size of their pulley systems can speed it operations. You expand the size of both the pulley at the rear and the one attached to its engine. These are minor adjustments but can have an impressive impact.

Tweak 3: Change The Gas & Ensure Its Running Full

High-octane gasoline helps the engine to achieve maximum running efficiency which translates to easier and quicker cutting.

Also, Adding a fuel stabilizer can help it will run more efficiently.

Lastly, always check that it’s running at full tank and that the engine oil is at optimum.

Tweak 4: Shorten the Spring

Accessing the governor of the lawnmower and shortening the spring can help.

If not, remove the aforementioned spring altogether. The latter works like a charm!

Tweak 5: Check That Every Part Is In Top Condition

Finally, confirm that every other component is in top-tip condition. The air filter, tires, shafts, chains, and everything.



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Q9. How To Soften The Ride Of A Zero Turn Mower

A rough-riding zero turn mower is bad for your back and is generally disconcerting to mow with.

But you can tweak it and make it comfier to ride even on rough terrain.

Here is how:

  • Get a great suspension seat: a very cushy seat coupled with a superb seat suspension help soak up bumps. Arm rests should help you remain in position if it goes crazy.
  • Change to smooth tires: Smooth tires let your mower to navigate sharper turns easily because of reduced friction between your mower and the grass-thanks to the absence of tread.
  • Check tire pressure: Try lowering the tire pressure –both rear and front appropriately as recommended in the user manual.





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Q10. How To Change A Spark Plug In A Lawn Mower?

But for a few commercial grade and large mowers, it’s pretty easy to change a spark plug and service lawn mowers.

Here are the steps:

  • With the mower parked on level ground, remove (if applicable) the engine cover/heat shield.
  • Disconnect the connecting wire from the spark plug and tie/tape it on one aside to prevent accidental starting.
  • Fit and turn a spark plug socket counterclockwise over the plug until the plug comes out.
  • In case of difficulties, spray the spark plug with a quality penetrating lubricant and let it soak for about 10 minutes before retrying. It should eventually give in.
  • The new plug should then be threaded into the empty hole and turned, first by hand, then the plug socket until it stops turning.
  • Reconnect the usual spark plug wire and replace the cover (if applicable).



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Q11. How To Change A Lawn Mower Tire?

Changing a lawn mower tire isn’t as taxing or time consuming as many people think.

Steps:

  • Park the mower on an even, flat surface and engage the parking brake to prevent it from rolling.
  • Then, using a floor jack, placed on the mower’s frame raise the wheel you are changing off the ground. Once it’s secured, slide your jack stands under to hold it safely in place.
  • Next, remove the tire’s debris cap before taking your pliers to remove the axle pin. You then slide the wheel slowly off the axle.
  • Now let the air out by pressing the valve down and holding till all the air is out. You can also deflate it by unscrewing the valve core using a cheap valve stem tool.
  • By now, the tire is ready to come out. Lubricate the contact point between the tire and rim by applying a generous amount of soap and water mixture.
  • Using two large screwdrivers, work around the tire prying carefully underneath while trying to get the rim out. Apply more solution around the other side and make your way round using the screwdrivers until your tire slips off. At this stage, apply some soap and water and clean the rim.
  • This is the time to install your new tire. Pick your brush and again apply an ample mixture of water and dish soap around the center part of your new tire.

Try to slide the rim into your new tire, prying the tire open as appropriate with the screwdrivers until the rim fits. Keep applying more solution until you get your way.

  • Once the tire has fitted, reinstall the valve and inflate the tire to the recommended PSI range.

Now replace the tire onto its axle then the pin/clip and lastly the debris cap.

  • Finally lower and remove the jack.





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Q12. How to take care of Battery For Riding Lawn Mowers?

Riding lawn mowers are easier to start than traditional push mowers thanks to the installed batteries. Now, riding lawn mower batteries are mostly the standard lead-acid 12-volt designs but for a few mowers that use gel batteries (a variation of the lead-acid types).

Lawnmower batteries usually die after sitting for a prolonged duration, after being shorted out, or being drained by too many attempts at turning the starter.

However, proper usage and care for the battery will give you three to four years of service (even longer in some climates).

Examples of care practices include ensuring it stays charged, cleaning corrosion off the terminals, monitoring and refilling the battery as necessary, fitting the right battery, and checking that the terminals are never loose.




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Q13. How Long Does It Take To Charge A Lawn Mower Battery?

Some mowers use the standard 6-volt batteries but riding mower uses the higher 12-volt battery (you can confirm from the label) and will take anything from 4 to 8 hours to charge on the recommended “trickle charge” setting.

Most chargers also feature a “fast charge” setting that takes less time but which exposes the battery to the risk of damage or explosion.

For efficient charging, you should always stick to the correct amperage for the battery charger as specified in the manual.

Having said that, always allow enough amount of time to adequately charge the battery.

Then, always charge your mower’s battery before storing the mower for winter and before recalling it to duty.



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Q14. What Kind Of Gas For Lawn Mower

Using the wrong kind of gas for your lawn mower could sound the death knell for your engine. It may also void your warranty.

So, what gas should you fill in your mower?

Four-stroke engines will use high-quality unleaded gasoline (at least 87 octane rating).

Two stroke engines still use this gasoline but need it to be mixed with high-grade two-cycle engine oil in the proportions indicated on the lid.

In most case, the ratio is 50:1 (fuel : oil) for higher revving mower engines.





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Q15. How Much Oil Does A Lawn Mower Take?

Most standard push lawn mowers will take 2/3 to 3/4 quarts of oil to maintain optimum performance.

Riding lawn mowers will, however, take substantially more depending on the brand and engine capacity.

It’s also clear that bigger engines generally requiring more oil. For example, a 19 HP engine may need slightly above 1.5 quarts while a 26 horsepower engine may need about 2 quarts of oil to fill.

The best way is to refer to the mower’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations on the correct oil amount.

Q16. How To Change Oil In Lawn Mower

Lawn mowers engines, like car engines, need regular oil changeover to increase the lifespan.

Here is how to change oil in lawn mowers:

  • Park the mower on flat ground. You may put some newspapers (or other materials) below it to catch oil spillovers.
  • Since warm oil is easier to remove, run your lawn mower for about a minute (maximum two) to heat the oil up a bit before turning it off.
  • Disconnect the connecting wire from the spark plug and tie/tape it on one aside to prevent accidental starting.
  • Clean the area surrounding the oil tank of any debris.
  • Prop up your mower – the spark plug will be facing up- and place a drain pan under the mower. Locate the mower’s oil plug bolt and loosen it with a socket wrench.
  • Turn the oil plug counterclockwise until you see oil start to drain from the engine into the pan. Wipe the area sparkling clean (with paper towels) once all the oil has drained. You can also remove the dipstick and tip the mower the dipstick tube drains fully. The oil filter should be facing up while using this method to prevent oil from flowing into the carburetor. You can even use a pump to siphon the oil if everything else fails.
  • Now turn the oil plug bolt clockwise to tighten it then remove the drain pan from below there.
  • Lower the lawn mower back to the wheels and remove the dipstick. You can now add oil as per the user manual recommendations before replacing the dipstick.
  • Tip: Consider replacing the old filter with each oil change as an old filter tarnishes the new oil inhibiting performance.





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Q17. How To Drain Gas From a Lawn Mower?

You should always drain the gas from the mower before storing it for the off season or when you feel that the gas quality has deteriorated and needs a fresh refill.

Here is how to drain gas from your lawn mower:

1: Set the mower safely on raised ground. Some people use a set of saw horses or cinder blocks. This gives easy access to the underside. You can spread a tarpaulin under the mower to collect the spills.

2: Disconnect the connecting wire from the spark plug.

3: Attached to the carburetor is the fuel line which runs all the way from the mower’s gas tank. Detach it, place a collecting can underneath the tank and let the gas drain freely into the container. You can also siphon the fuel with a hand pump.

4: Next, turn to the carburetor and locate the drainage bolt typically on the floor of its float “bowl”. Remove the bolt and allow the fuel to drain from the float tank.

5: Now remove the entire carburetor and clean it. You can spray an aerosol carburetor cleaner on all its accessible parts for a better wash. Reinstall the carburetor.

6: Clean the gas tank now by adding some fresh gas (not water as it poses danger to injectors and carburetors) and sloshing it around in the tank. Thoroughly drain the added ‘cleaning’ gas into the can and wipe the tank dry using rags.

7: Reconnect the fuel line on both sides and the spark plug.

8: If you will be using it, fill up the tank and start it.

Tip:

You may take advantage of the process to also inspect and clean or replace the air filter as necessary.



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Q18. How To Prime A Lawn Mower Without Primer

If your mower’s primer bulb is missing or broken, you can still start the mower by adopting a substitute priming method.

Essentially, you will be adding starter gas manually to the bowl via the air intake hole:

Steps:

1: Remove the cover protecting the air filter by unsnapping small retaining clips (or in some cases by removing the screw).

2: Remove the now visible air cleaner from its housing.

3: Fetch and spray a reasonable amount of your regular fuel (using an eye dropper) through the air intake hole at the rear of the housing.

4: Start the engine immediately via the electric starter or pull lord as the gas evaporates rapidly.

5: If it doesn’t start, keep retrying. (You can squirt some more fuel after 6 failed attempts)

6: Eventually replace the filter correctly and the cover.



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Q19. How To Remove A Lawn Mower Blade?

You may need to remove the lawn mower’s blade to sharpen or for replacement reasons.

It’s fairly straightforward:

1: Set the mower on its side.

2: Disengage the spark plug.

3: Wedge a wooden block between the blade and the mower’s deck to steady the blade.

4: With a wrench, remove the fasteners on the blade. If they’re too tight, spray a lubricant and retry.

5: Pull the blade plus the support off the crankshaft.



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Q20. How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades With A Bench Grinder

A bench grinder is a quicker and easier alternative lawn mower blade sharpening tool.

Here are the similarly easy steps:

Stage A: Remove the Blade

1: Tip the mower on its side

2: Disengage the spark plug

3: Wedge a wooden block between the blade and the mower’s deck to steady the blade.

4: With a wrench, remove the fasteners on the blade.

5: Pull the blade off the crankshaft.

Stage B: Sharpen the Blade

1: Move the blade back and forth -against the wheel- so as restore the edge. Make a couple of light passes and ensure you sharpen both edges

2: Balance the blade on a nail and grind the heavier side- if any- until it’s fully balanced.

3: Reinstall the blade by following the previous steps in reverse.





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Q21. How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades Without Removing

Sharpening the blades will make your mower to do a neat cutting job, quickly, and efficiently.

So, is there a way to sharpen lawn mower blades without removing them?

Sure, yes. And its quicker than removing.

This is how:

Steps:

  • Set the mower on its side
  • Disengage the spark plug.
  • You can now access the blade.
  • Grab a metal file and file the blade evenly ( flexible shaft angle grinders also work. )
  • Be sure not to over sharpen because of balance.

Tip: doing this with the gas tank empty prevents a messy gas spill.





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Q22. How To Balance A Lawn Mower Blade?

To be on top of things, change or file your mower’s blade regularly. And while you can file without removing it, it’s much easier to sharpen a blade when out.

Here is how I remove the blade:

  • Disconnect the spark plug wiring and tie it back to avoid it flopping back to contact the plug (which can accidentally start the mower).
  • Now turn your mower on the side so the air filter will face up to ensure that oil will not saturate the filter.
  • Next, secure the blade by wedging a 2×4 (make it short) between the blade and the deck. Then loosen the fasteners anchoring the blade with a wrench.
  • Now turn counterclockwise and remove the blade (mark the side facing up).
  • Grab a file or a bench grinder and sharpen it.

He is how to balance the blade:

  • Place it on a balancing tool (or a nail) and watch the heavier end drop. Now grind off material from the heavier end until your blade hangs level.
  • Finally, install/re-install the blade and tighten it because a loose blade can affect the engine’s operation.
  • Flip your mower back upright and reset everything.

Tip: To prevent a messy fuel spill, you can siphon out the gas before everything else.

For more on how to sharpen and balance a lawn mower blade, check out this video below.

You can also invest in a good blade balancer.



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Q23. How To Dethatch A Lawn With A Mower Attachment

While there are other ways of dethatching your lawn, using the small dethatching blades typically sold as lawn mower attachments remains one of the best methods.

Here is how to remove thatch from your lawn:

With the spark plug wire disconnected, tilt the lawn mower sideways.

Locate the spindle bolt that holds the old blade under the mowing deck.

Wedge a wooden block between the old blade and the deck to prevent the blade from moving or turning. Now wrench out the spindle bolt using a socket wrench.

Set the mower’s old blade aside and fix the dethatching blade – tines or springs facing down- on the spindle.

Fasten the spindle bolt to secure the dethatching blade.

Reinstall the spark plug wire.

Now set mower’s deck height highest possible and start mowing the yard in normal movements. The springs/tines will remove the nasty thatch as you ‘mow’.

‘Mow’ to satisfaction then follow the previous steps in reverse to reinstall the normal blade.

Rake up and clear the excess that you have removed.

Remove the ‘dethatcher’ and put the normal blade.



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Q24. How To Remove A Stuck Lawn Mower Wheel?

You can actually remove a stuck lawn mower wheel without injuring the rim.

Steps:

1: Jack the tire until it’s about 6 inches off the ground. Once you have confirmed that it’s safely supported with the jack stands, remove the wheel nuts.

2: Spray a penetrating fluid generously where the rim meets the wheel axle. Be sure to spray both the front and the back of the rim.

3: Now tap the rim around the axle’s circumference with a mallet (rubber mallets are preferred). Be sure to tap the front as well as the back of the rim.

Let the penetrating fluid to sit for about 20 minutes.

4: Grab the tire (the two sides) and with force (but not excessive), attempt to pull the wheel off the axle. To ease matters, use a rocking motion.

5: If the tire is unmoved, grab the rubber mallet one more time and bang on the back/front of the rim before re-applying more penetrating oil.

6: Using an emery cloth, remove any rust around the visible part of the axle while allowing the penetrative oil to work.

7: Now grab the tire, again the two sides and re-attempt to pull the wheel from the axle.

8: If you are not heading anywhere, ask a friend/colleague to tap the rim’s back side with the mallet while you simultaneously rock it off the axle.





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Q25. How To Install Side Discharge On Lawn Mower?

Installing a side discharge chute enables you to mow taller grass without clogging the mower deck as it is often the case when mulching with typical lawn mowers.

Installing a side discharge is very straightforward. Let’s dive into the step by step riding mower discharge chute modification:

  • Locate and unsnap the side discharge cap (vent cap)
  • Reach into the designated bag and extend its metal width bars till they clasp open then hold the bag to the full width.
  • Now snap this bag on the chassis attachment notch or in the vent cap’s attachment notch (on the mower’s side)..
  • Hold open your discharge chute while simultaneously attaching the hooks into the discharge chute’s cover openings.
  • Gently tug on your discharge chute to confirm it’s firmly secured to the mower’s deck.





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Q26. How To Fix A Smoking Lawn Mower

Smoke is bad for all engines and your lawn mower isn’t spared. Smoking may mean it needs a bit more of care and not necessarily a broken mower.

Here are the tests and what to do is its billowing smoke:

Color of the smoke Possible reasons Meaning What to do
White / blue *Oil has leaked into the engine- likely when tilting the mower to its side. This is completely harmless restarting the mower then allow the leaked oil to burn
White / blue *The oil chamber is exceedingly full. Avoid overfilling by checking the dipstick when refilling the oil
Persistent White/blue (even after trying everything else) *A possible air leakage in its crankshaftOR* Some engine’s components and/or seals need replacement. For example the head gasket, crankshaft vent, or piston ring. You are in serious trouble Take it to a professional
Black *carburetor isn’t getting sufficient air #The engine is “running rich” replace the air filteradjust the filter if the problem persistsTake it to a professional
Continued black smoke (after filter replacement and adjustment) * This could be a critical mechanical issue. There’s a lot of trouble ahead Take it to a professional
Any other strange looking smoke *Could mean anything The mower may be having problems Take it to a professional



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Q27. How To Dethatch A Lawn With A Mower Attachment?

While there are other ways of dethatching your lawn, using the small dethatching blades typically sold as lawn mower attachments remains one of the best methods.

Here is how to remove thatch from your lawn:

With the spark plug wire disconnected, tilt the lawn mower sideways.

Locate the spindle bolt that holds the old blade under the mowing deck.

Wedge a wooden block between the old blade and the deck to prevent the blade from moving or turning. Now wrench out the spindle bolt using a socket wrench.

Set the mower’s old blade aside and fix the dethatching blade – tines or springs facing down- on the spindle.

Fasten the spindle bolt to secure the dethatching blade.

Reinstall the spark plug wire.

Now set mower’s deck height highest possible and start mowing the yard in normal movements. The springs/tines will remove the nasty thatch as you ‘mow’.

‘Mow’ to satisfaction then follow the previous steps in reverse to reinstall the normal blade.

Rake up and clear the excess that you have removed.

Remove the ‘dethatcher’ and put the normal blade.



Click Here For Best Lawn Mower Dethatchers

Q28 : How Many Calories Burned Mowing The Lawn With Self Propelled Mowers?

Push mowers are more beneficial than power mowers in burning fat.

If you lawn mow for a half hour using a manual mower, you will burn 114 calories if you weigh 125 lbs., 138 calories if you are 150 lbs. and 156 calories if you are 175 lbs.

A power mower will burn 102 burn calories in a half-hour job if you weigh 125 lbs., 123 calories for a 150 lbs. person, and 141 calories if you are175 lbs.

According to calories calculators, a more intensive push-mowing task for 60 minutes can burn between 280 to 446 calories depending on your weight.
Click Here For Best Calorie Counters

Q29. What is the Best Hearing Protection For Lawn Mowing

Lawn mowers do exceptional jobs on our lawns but unfortunately, almost all are quite loud.

While it’s true that some models are less noisy, you will most certainly need some form of noise protection at some point.

The best hearing protection for lawn mowing should, at the bare minimum, block out noise while allowing normal conversations, be comfortable to your ears, easily adjustable, and generally, well built.

From my experience, the ProForSho Noise cancelling Earmuffs are outstanding. I have used them with my riding mowers and take it from me; these know how to silence mowers.

They’re lightweight, feel good, and bring down noise to just about 34dB!

Check out our reviews on the best hear protection for lawn mowing here:





Click Here For Best Ear Protectors / Headphones With Bluetooth & Radio For Lawn Mowing

Q30. How To Dispose Of Lawn Mower?

A time comes when you and your old servant have to, sadly, part ways.

Now, you have several options to dispose of your old lawn mower:

Put It Up For Sale

You can decide to make one last kill from it by selling it. You post advertisements locally. Don’t forget to include details such as the engine size, year of manufacture, mower type and model, and deck width.

You can also share the ad online and local classifieds.

Scrap It

If you find the selling process laborious, you can call scrap waste dealers to pick up your mower. It may not fetch a lot but you are saved the hassle of looking for buyers.

Dismantle It For Parts

If the replacement is similar to your current model, you may want to keep it for parts. You break it down and select what you need. The rest can be disposed of through the local channels.

Give it To A Charitable Cause

You can also extend a helping hand to the neighboring trade school, charity or educational facility by donating the mower to them.

You can also give it away to one of the numerous online giveaway platforms.

Recycle It

Recycling is another smart option especially because it will cost you almost nothing.

Empty the oil and gas into an approved container then talk to a recycling agency and find out how else to prepare the mower prior to dropping it off.





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The Secret To A Luxurious Lawn

To get a beautiful, lush, and an immaculate green lawn, you need to observe a strict lawn maintenance routine.
Proper mowing, watering, fertilizing plus aeration are some of the vital lawn care activities.
Now, many of you seem okay with the others but I occasionally get asked what does lawn aeration do to your lawn?.
“What is it?”, “Is it necessary?”, “Can I do it next season?”… and questions of the sort.
And so I decided we need to talk about this indispensable soil improvement process- once and for all.
Let’s start with the basics:





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What is lawn Aeration?

Lawn aeration is the process of puncturing the soil to allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate the roots.
Your main goal is to break up compacted soil or deep thatch layer.
This is because such soil is highly impregnable. And this means that water, nutrients, and air may no longer be reaching an important part of your plants- the roots.
And when your grass plants are starving, your dream of having the most beautiful, lush and green lawn remains just that- a dream.

 

Causes of soil compaction and how to loosen compacted soil lawn

Any movement on your lawn may slowly lead to solidifying of the soil. For example, as you mow,you apply extra pressure to the soil
The same thing happens as your children play in the backyard.
Still, if you are fond of driving on your lawn, the weight of your car will certainly harden the surface.
Heavy rainfall,as well as low spots that fail to drain well, may also cause compaction.
And as we saw earlier on, consolidated soil is hard to infiltrate.
Also, remember that too much thatch hampers the movement of water and air





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Benefits of lawn aeration

 
Aerating your lawn has numerous benefits.
Here are the most obvious:

 

  • Worms become more active thus helping to decompose thatch.
  • Water, nutrients, and oxygen will reach all corners.
  • Your crops grow healthier roots.
  • Rainfall and irrigation water will penetrate deeply.
  • Fertilizer and pesticideswill flow into desired areas.

Signs that you need to Aerate your lawn (when to aerate your lawn)

So, how can you be sure that your grass needs aeration?
You will need to be on the lookout for the telltale signs.
These are the clearest signs:

 

  • Water puddles form on your lawn after raining
  • Presence of ultra-heavy clay soil
  • Thatch layer looks thicker than normal
  • Your grass looks thin, patchy or discolored despite your best efforts





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How to tell if a lawn needs aerating?

 
If not convinced, you can opt for a simple test
This is how you inspect your soil:

 

Test A: Using a Shovel, a Screwdriver (or a pencil)

Push either a screwdriver or a pencil into the soil.
If your garden is compacted, it will barely move.
Now what remains is to actually confirm it truly needs aeration.
So, do this:
Take a shovel and try to sink it underground- up to around half the blade
If you succeed, your soil is okay.
Otherwise, if it won’t budge, consider aerating it.


Test B: The Dig Test

Another way is to first dig up some soil (and grass).
In this case, you want to check the condition of the grass roots and the level of thatching.
You do this:
After digging up, first look for thatch.
Usually, you should notice a layer of thatch between soil and the grass blades.
If this layer happens to exceed one-half inch in thickness, you will need to aerate.

Alternatively:

Measure the depth of your grass roots.
If they extend up to 4-6 inches deep, then your soilis not compressed.
However, if the roots are only 1-2 inches deep, it’s time to aerate





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Best way to aerate your lawn

There are 2 main methods of aerating.
Let’s go through them:

 

  • Core / plug Aerating

Here, the aerator excavates a core (or plug) of soil by drilling hollow tubes into the turf.
Extracting of cores is recommended for deeply compacted soils

  • Solid Tine (Spike) Aerator

In this method, the core isn’t removed.
Instead, your aerator will punch solid holes using solid metallic spikes.
This is a basic way of relieving minor compaction and is less effective.

Types of lawn aerators

You have the option of using manual or mechanized aerating equipment.
Have a look:

  1. Machine Aerators

Motorized aerators come in two forms.

  • Smaller Machine Aerators

These are targeted at small and medium sized lawns.
They are pushed just like lawn mowers.

  • Larger Machine Aerators

Built for larger fields, these have to be pulled with a tractor being the most convenient pulling aid.
They are extremely effective but cost more.
We have reviewed the best tow behind aerators in the market today here. Have a read it will come in hardy one day.

2. Manual Aerators

As well as mechanical aerators, you can also go for manual methods. These techniques are mainly for small gardens and are very cost effective

  • Hand Operated Aerators

Hand operated tools such as a pitchfork or a pitchfork-like tool (having hollow tines) can also work.
For instance, the hollow tine pitchfork aerator removes plugs and is fairly effective though tiresome

  • Shoes / Sandals as Aeration Tool

You can also use aerating sandals (shoes) especially those with long spikes underneath.
You put them on and walk around (in an organized way).They will be punching holes with every step.
You can consider wearing them when mowing to get better results.





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What’s the Ideal Time To Perform Core Aeration? (Best time to aerate a lawn)

 
If you are growing cool-season grasses, do this in early fall.
But if you have warm-season grasses, the recommended time for plug aeration is mid-spring all the way to early summer.
Anyway, it’s always good to time it during the growing season as your grass will have a chance to heal and spread to the open areas where soil plugs were removed.

 

How frequently should you aerate?

To decide how frequently you should do it, you need to answer 2 questions:
What type of grass are you growing? Then, which is the dominant type of soil in your lawn?
Now, if your yard has heavy clay soil, aerate twice a year.
Sand-based lawns can do with one aeration per year.
However, your lawn can be busier or fairly free meaning you may need to aerate more or fewer times.
When completely unsure, just perform the aeration test. You will know when to aerate.

Tips on Aerating Your Yard

Here are some tips to help you aerate like a pro.

  • Ensure the soil is wet

Aerating bone dry soil can be frustrating.
So, to make it more enjoyable, water your lawn a day before. Alternatively, you can aerate after a rain shower

  • Multiple Passes are Essential

Aerators cover only a fraction of the surface per pass. So, to make sure 100% aeration, pass severally over the most affected areas.

  • Leave Plug to Dry before Breaking Them Up

So that your lawn can have a uniform, immaculate appearance, allow excavated soil plugs to dry before breaking them up.

  • Don’t forget your other lawn care practices

After aerating, continue with your lawn care routine. So, properly fertilize, mow and water.
That’s the only way to ensure your lawn reaches its full potential

Mastering Your Mower: A Greener Tomorrow Starts Today!

Congratulations! You’ve just unlocked the secrets to a well-manicured lawn. Armed with the knowledge from these 30 FAQs, your lawn mower expertise is unmatched. Keep mowing, keep growing, and embrace a greener tomorrow with confidence. Happy mowing!

Aeration is very beneficial if you will ever have the lawn you have always dreamed of.
It will help break up blocked soil particles and allow crucial nutrients, water and oxygen to reach your plants’ roots.
And it doesn’t have to be complicated or that costly especially for small lawns.
Hope I have answered the question “what does lawn aeration do to the lawn” and other questions you had, if not leave a comment, I will be happy to dig it up.
So, just be committed and then wait to enjoy the luscious lawn.





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Gaurav Mongia
Gaurav Mongia
Gaurav Mongia is a seasoned author and a marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience in the field. Gaurav is known for his expertise in digital marketing, branding, and market research, and is highly respected by his colleagues and clients alike.

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