How to Maintain a Riding Lawn Mower

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Performing regular maintenance on a riding lawn mower is a great way to ensure the life of the mower. Checking the fluids, maintaining tire pressure and keeping blades sharp are all critical to keeping the unit in top form. Here are some tips on how to maintain your riding lawn mower.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Oil and filter
White grease
Cleaning supplies

Step1

Keep the entire riding lawn mower clean of dust and debris. Wipe down the mower after each use and check for obstructions to the vents and air cleaner. Remove any debris immediately to prevent it from falling into the engine area.

Step2

Check the entire belt or pulley system of the mower. Periodically test the tension and torque on all belts and pulleys. Belts are the muscles of the riding mower and make practically every moving part move. Inspect belts for damage, and replace them if they are nicked, fraying or cut.

Step3

Grease all joints that have pivot points. A small amount of white grease will go along way to ensure proper turning and flexing. The front and rear axle are common pivot points. Grease any chain driven system as well.

Step4

Clean the deck as often as possible. Turn the deck over to remove debris and built-up grass for better performance.

Step5

Replace or clean the fuel and oil filter after every 100 hours of use or to the manufacturer's specifications.

Step6

Store the riding lawn mower in a garage or storage area that is protected from the elements. A mower left to the elements can rust faster as water will penetrate metal surfaces.

Tips & Warnings

Check the fuel filter for obstructions periodically. These are inexpensive to replace and crucial to the life of the riding lawn mower.
Remove the battery from time to time and inspect and clean the terminals with a wire brush to remove battery acid build-up.
Never attempt to lift a riding lawn mower to access the deck or blades. Read the owner's manual for instructions on how to remove the deck from the mower.
Wear eye protection and gloves when maintaining a riding lawn mower.