Spring Time Mower Tune Up..

It is easy to tune-up your tractor, lawn mower, or anything that uses a small gasoline engine. The procedure that is laid out here assumes that you have basic mechanical skills and the correct tools.


1) Lets start with a good clean-up. A little soap and water will make the job easier. If you have a pressure washer feel free to use it but, equipment manufacturers never thought folks would have 1000+ PSI in their hands. Take care that you do not force dirt and water into bearings that were not designed to withstand that kind of pressure. The high pressure spray will also wash away any lubricant that it hits. After a good cleaning it would not hurt to wax the steel metal. Some small tractors cost more than the car I drive.

2) The next step is to inspect the deck, deck belts, hangers, and blades. If anything is broken or worn, replace it now. You can find belts, blades and deck parts here. A tip here is to grab the blade tips and see if you can rock the blades, any movement more than 1/8" should be investigated. Make sure you replace any guides that you remove or are missing. If you have the deck off or tractor jacked up, remove the blades and have them sharpened. You can get the blades off by blocking the blade with a Blade Lock and unscrewing the blade bolt or nut. Wearing gloves is a good idea especially when re-installing the sharpened or new blades. Its a good idea to replace belts that have any signs of wear or are 4 seasons old. That way you are guaranteed to get through the next cutting season without any downtime for a belt. They always brake when you're doing that last minute cut before your wifes lawn party.

3) Now is a good time to lube the tractor, especially if you have removed the deck. Use your owner's manual. Most owner's manuals will point out where, and what kind of lube should be applied. Check the air in the tires for correct pressure. Low tire pressure can affect the quality of cut that you tractor will give.

4) Lets stop here and change the oil. Check the oil level. If its ok, start the engine and allow it to warm up a little. This will make the oil easier to change and will also stir up the dirt that may be in the oil pan so that it will come out with the used oil. Stop the engine. Spread some newspaper or have some Oil Sponge on hand. Now drain the oil into a receptacle. Here is a clean easy way to remove used oil, the "Oil Pump". Don't forget to replace the drain plug before refilling. If your engine is equipped with an oil filter, change it now. Fill the new oil filter with enough oil to at least wet the paper material inside. This will prevent a dry engine start up. Now Refill the engine with the proper oil.

While you are working around the tractor grab and shake things as you go. This is to help locate loose or missing parts. Rock the wheels to see if the bearings are loose or worn. Check the ball joints for signs of wear. Are all the deck hangers tight? Look for loose or missing bolts, clips or pins. Finding one now may save you not only down time during the cutting season, it could save you a "big" repair bill later. Check every electrical wiring plug that you find for tight fix and corrosion. Repair them now, not when the grass is 4" high and getting higher.

Gasoline is very dangerous. Work only in a well ventilated area, away from any source of heat or open flame!

5) Now for the engine parts.

A) Start by changing the fuel filter. Clamp off the fuel line between the tank and the fuel filter. Remove the filter by loosing the clamps that hold it and pulling it out of the hose. Be careful to catch any gasoline that may spill. ALWAYS replace the hose that is between the filter and the carburetor. That is because if you notice the filter usually has barbs on it. These barbs tear the inside of the hose when the filter is removed. A piece of hose could enter the carb and cause real problems.

B) Change the Air Filter if needed. Remove the air filter and precleaner. Clean or replace them as necessary. Be carefull if you have an air compressor. Do not use high pressure that will create small holes in the filter. Reinstall the Air Cleaner.

C) This next step is very important! Inspect the area of the cooling shroud. This is the cover that is over the engine itself. What you are looking for is any signs there may be of a mouse nest inside. Don't laugh. If you have never had one just wait and you will. If you do not remove it or grass clippings block the cooling fans of the engine, its toast. A tell tale sign of a mouse nest is thread or cloth. Some grass clippings are normal and need to be cleaned out.

D) Replace the spark plug, with the engine cold. The aluminium head can be distorted a little when its hot. This could cause the spark plug removal to damage the threads. Check the gap of the spark plug. Install a new spark plug of the correct type. Here is a tip, if the plug is in a hard to reach area, use a piece of 1/4" fuel line to hold the plug. Turn the hose to hand tighten the plug. Always thread the plug as far as it will go (or at least 2 full turns) by hand. That way you know you will not damage the plug hole. Torque the spark plug to the manufacturers spec. You can find the specs in their engine manual.

E: Replace the points and condenser using your service manual as a guide, if your engine is equipped with a point ignition. You might even cconside rconverting your ignition system to electronic.
G) The battery is often overlooked. It needs service even if it started your unit right up. Just looking at the battery can save trouble later. If the case looks bulged replace the battery. Measure the voltage. If the voltage is below 9 volts the battery probably will not last much longer. Inspect the terminals to make sure they are clean and tight. If not fix them now or replace the bad battery parts. Fill the battery with water to the full mark and charge it with a battery charger.

You should be ready to tackle those lawn chores now! Happy Mowing


Dixie Chopper Inventory



How to have the best lawn on the block..

Lawn Mowing Tips

Proper mowing is essential to a beautiful lawn, and contrary to popular belief, leaving your clippings on the lawn are actually healthy for it. Clippings will return nutrients to the lawn. They do not add to thatch levels, so it is best to let your clippings filter down.

The Hidden Nutrients in Grass Clippings
Grass clippings are 75 to 80% water and contain up to 25% of the fertilizer applied to lawns. Clippings quickly break down, returning moisture and nutrients to the soil. It only makes sense to allow the clippings to recycle into the lawn, where they can decompose. Those returning nutrients build greener and healthier lawns.

Understanding Thatch Levels
Thatch is a layer of dead vegetation that builds up on lawns at the surface of the soil. While a small amount of thatch is healthy for your lawn, an excess of thatch can be problematic. But thatch is primarily made up of roots and stems. Most people don't realize that grass clippings do not add to thatch levels, as clippings decompose very quickly. Bagging and removing your grass clippings will not reduce your thatch level. For controlling thatch levels, see: aerating lawns.

The Right Height for Your Lawn
The length of your lawn is determined from the top of the thatch level to the top of the grass blade, and maintaining a taller blade length will help keep your lawn and root system healthy. Taller lawns reduce evaporation and help prevent weeds by shading your soil. Your lawn will stay greener when it's kept at the right height. That exact height will vary by grass type, but you should never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. For more information, ask your local K-Lawn lawn care specialist about the right height for your lawn.

The food producing part of your lawn is in the grass blade, and if you set your mower blade too low... you run the risk of damaging the plant. Scalping of this nature will cause your lawn to turn brown, restricts root growth and may run the risk of weed & disease problems.

How Often Should Your Lawn Be Mowed?
After determining the right height of your lawn, you'll need to adjust your mowing frequency to maintain that height. Lawn growth is effected by a variety of conditions, such as the season, grass type, irrigation frequency and the temperature. If possible, adapt your mowing schedule to your lawn's needs. During early spring and mid summer growing periods, you may need to mow more than once a week.

Using & Maintaining Your Lawn Mower
There are a number of good mowers on the market. It is preferable to use a mulching mower, so that clippings can be left on the lawn. Whatever mower you use, it is most important to keep your mower blade sharp. A dull, rough blade will damage the plant leaf and cause browning in lawns. Have your blade sharpened several times a year. Adjusting your mower deck height throughout the summer is equally as important. Remember, as temperatures rise, so should your mowing height. Early spring mowing can be lower to ‘clean up’ from the previous winter, but avoid scalping. Late fall mowing heights can be lowered as temperatures cool.

Points to Remember About Lawn Mowing:

Grass clippings left on the lawn are good for it, returning moisture and nutrients to your lawn

As temperatures rise, so should your mowing height.

Determine the right height for your lawn, removing only 1/3 of the leaf blade.

Mow your lawn as often as needed to maintain its determined height.

Use a mulcher with sharp mower blades to keep your lawn healthy