By David Martin, Exmark customer service manager
Minimize the use of water when cleaning your mower. Instead, use compressed air whenever possible.
Now that mowing season is well under way, the last thing you want to happen is for your mower to experience downtime. The following maintenance tips will help you keep your mower running in tip-top shape.
Sharp, balanced blades are critical to the performance of the cutting system. Check and sharpen blades if necessary.
- Check the operator’s manual to see what might need to be greased. Keeping the right parts greased is an important step in extending the life of a mower.
- Check the air filter (inner and outer) and change it if necessary. Never use compressed air to clean a filter. The powerful air stream can compromise the filter’s ability to effectively filter the air coming into the engine.
- Depending on how many hours the mower has been running, consider changing the fuel filter. Consult your owner’s manual or http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Maintenance/Schedules/ for the recommended replacement interval.
- Check and, if necessary, change the spark plugs.
- Blow the debris off the unit:
- Remove the belt deck belt shields and blow off all foreign material.
- Blow the grass off the areas around the pumps and wheel motors (overheated oil leads to shorter component life).
- Blow through the openings in and around the console or remove the console mounting screws to get debris out of this area.
- Check for loose hardware.
- Verify torque on wheel motor castle nut and tire mounting lug nuts.
- Verify oil changes are being performed at the proper intervals, and perform the service if necessary. NEVER, under any circumstances, exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations by more than 100 hours. Significant damage will result that will reduce the machine’s lifespan and compromise productivity.
Learn more about how to effectively service and maintain your mowers and lawn care equipment at http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Maintenance/Service-Tips/.
