With spring underway, it’s time to start dusting off your garden tools and machinery to ensure that they’re ready for the warmer months ahead. Periods of time packed away in a shed or garage can leave your garden machinery in need of a little TLC – and there’s nothing worse than your petrol or electric lawn mower breaking down during the first grass cut of the year!
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Not sure where to start? This handy checklist will help prepare you for the coming season.
1. Check for Broken Parts
A lawn mower or machine with broken or worn parts will not only not work efficiently, it can also compromise your safety. The first step is to check there’s no visible damage to your lawn mower or other machinery. Parts that look very worn may need replacing, whilst damaged parts will need to be repaired.
Lawn mower parts that commonly need repairing or replacing are air filters, fuel and oil filters, blades, cables, spark plugs, fuel pumps and fuel lines. Air filters that have seen a lot of use (over 300 hours) should be replaced.
2. Sharpen Blades
Blades lose their sharpness as they are used, and if you didn’t sharpen your blades at the end last season, there’s a good chance they’re not as sharp as they should be.
Blunt blades can be very dangerous, so you should make sure to check any blades or teeth on your tools before use. If your chainsaw blades are blunt, they are unlikely to get through logs and may jam, leading to injury. Blunt lawn mower blades can damage the grass and cause discolouration. Lawn mower blades should ideally be sharpened every 25 hours of use.
You should also examine all blades for cracks, chips, bends or thin edges. If your blades have cracks or bends, they’ll need replacing.
3. Recharge Batteries
If your batteries have been stored correctly, you shouldn’t have too many problems when it comes to restarting your machinery. Ideally, any batteries should have been stored partly charged, in a cool, dry spot to prevent damage from extreme temperatures. If your batteries have been stored with no charge in a freezing garage, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to revive them!
Before use, clean the casing of the batteries thoroughly. Charge all lawnmower batteries and other rechargeable units for your garden tools and machinery, then insert them into the machine and check that they are working.
4. Change Fuel and Oil
Old fuel is one of the most common reasons why a lawn mower won’t start after a winter in storage. Fuel only stays fresh for around a month, and unless you’ve added a fuel stabiliser, you’ll need to drain the tank and insert fresh fuel. For 2-stroke machines, mix a batch of fresh fuel and oil at the ratio given by the manufacturer.
5. Clean and Lubricate Moving Parts
Just because your tools are free from physical damage, doesn’t mean they are in the best condition they could be. You should check and clean all moving parts, including wheels, bearings and hinges. Tighten any loose parts.
It’s normal for your machines to have gathered some dust if left uncovered in storage. Using a blower will help to blast away dust from small gaps in the machine, whilst soft brushes can remove stubborn bits of debris.
6. Check Your Machinery Works
The final step is to switch on your tools and check that they work.
Before starting any new projects, allow your tools to warm up for a few minutes. If they’ve spent the winter in a cold shed, a little stuttering is normal at first. After a few minutes of warming up, your machinery should run smoothly, but you should listen out for any unusual sounds that might indicate that there’s a problem.
If you are in need of some further help and expert advice:
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