Mower or Tractor Will Not Start

Check the mower or tractor’s battery first. Batteries lose their charge over time, especially after sitting dormant over the winter. Most batteries can be recharged, unless frozen or damaged in some other manner. Consult the owner’s manual for battery charging recommendations. Consider investing in a compact battery charger to maintain the battery at a full charge state. Chargers are available in Yardener’s Tool Shed.
Next you need to be sure the gasoline is fresh. If you have left gas in the mower over the winter, or for some reason have not used the mower for over a month, the gas may be bad. Modern gasoline stays fresh for only about 30 days unless it has been given a gas stabilizer liquid or powder. If the gas is not fresh, you may have to remove it from the tank. Be sure to press the primer button to get all the gas out of the system that you can. Put the bad gas into your car, it will not hurt the car and that approach gives you a way to dispose of the gas in an environmentally positive manner. Put fresh gas into the tank and prime it several times and it should start.

Poor Engine Performance

Your engine is not running smoothly. Maybe it backfires sometimes. It could be an air filter problem. Check the tractor’s air filter. Most quality engines include two air filters. The outer filter or pre-filter consists of foam-rubber. The foam-rubber covers the inner paper-type filter. Maintain the foam filter by cleaning, then oiling it with 30w motor oil. Place the foam filter in a seal top plastic bag along with the teaspoon of the oil. Work the oil into the filter until it’s completely saturated, then remove the filter and install it. The oil is needed to trap dust particles. Based on environmental conditions, most paper-type filters will last an entire season. Foam filters may last up to two seasons, before needing replacement. Proper filter maintenance is essential to prolong engine life and insure solid engine performance.

Poor Cutting or Blade Won’t turn

Check the blade drive belt. Blade drive belts are specially designed to withstand the forces of cutting. The majority of wear on the belt occurs when the blade is engaged. Heavy grass cutting adds stress to the belt. Belt life can be extended by first engaging the blade with the engine at half throttle, then increasing to full throttle for mowing. Always mow using full throttle. When mowing tall grass, cut it twice; using a shorter cut the first time and then lower the blade to the final cutting height for the second round. For mulching, cut only 1/3 of the height of the grass. Avoid cutting wet grass. Wet grass clumps and sticks to the mower deck. The best time for mowing is late afternoon when the grass is dry and not exposed to direct sun.

Grass Does Not Look Wonderful After Mowing

Is Deck Level? - Could be a mower deck that is not level. Review the owner’s manual on leveling the mower deck; good cutting comes from a level deck. Check the pressure in all tires before adjusting the mower deck; the tires may be giving you an uneven cut. With the engine off, and with the tractor on a flat surface, measure each side of the mower deck, from the deck’s lower rim to the ground. Make sure it’s level, then follow the same procedure from the front to the back of the deck. Most mower systems require a slightly lower deck in the front by ¼” to ¾” than in the back; check your manual to be sure.

Tire Inflation? - Under inflated or over inflated tires can affect the quality of the cut of the riding mower or garden tractor with a mowing attachment. Make sure that the mower deck is level and the tractor’s tires are properly inflated. Do this when the tractor or mower is parked on a smooth level surface. Many lawn and garden tractor cutting blades need replacing before their time because they’re bent from hitting an obstruction. When that happens, it affects the blade’s performance and ability to cut grass evenly. Always remove solid objects from the mowing area to prevent blade impact damage.

Grass Buildup Underneath - Also make sure the underside of the deck is clear of grass buildup. Use a scraper to remove the grass. The Mowermate® scraper pictured here is available from QVC. It will clean under your riding lawn mower without removing its deck. Mowermate reaches under a riding lawn mower's deck while keeping hands and arms safely away from the blades. Also remember that blades are designed to cut grass; never to “mow down” hills of dirt.

Sharpening Mower Blades - Don’t try to sharpen your mower blades yourself. Make it a habit to purchase a new blade every season especially if baggers are used. The mower’s or tractor’s blade is designed with two sides; one side lifts the grass while the other side cuts it. The “lift” side of the blade wears out just like the cutting edge. The blade’s cutting side can be sharp, while the lift side is worn, thus affecting the quality of the cut.

Leaking Or Flat Tire

First we try to avoid damaging the tires in the first place. Remove debris and obstacles from the mowing area. Pay close attention to removing objects such as sticks, glass or any other sharp materials that might harm the tires. In some parts of the country, thorns and burrs are common, and are a leading cause of flat tires. Several companies, including Sears sell a tractor tire sealant that rushes to the puncture wound and seals the leak, saving you the nuisance of having to repair the tire.