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A healthy, green lawn requires an ongoing maintenance routine to stay lush and attractive. Some maintenance chores, like watering and mowing, are done weekly, while other parts of the lawn care routine are seasonal or annual. The grass type and your local growing conditions affect your lawn care routine, but most lawns benefit from a general maintenance schedule.
The Craftsman 12.5 mower is as versatile as riding mowers get; powerful enough for the heavy stuff, but not too big or heavy for everyday lawn work. This mower's front axle is a fairly simple affair, by automotive standards -- and at least average by mower standards. Replacement is straightforward, as is removal and replacement of the axle stubs -- spindles -- that hold the wheels on either side.
The Craftsman name has long been associated with indestructible tools, and, true to the name, Craftsman mowers have historically been known as some of the more reliable out there. The Craftsman II mower lives up to its heritage as well as any other produced by the company, but even these titans of the greenway require some maintenance from time to time. Rear axle-shaft replacement isn't easy, by mower standards; but, it's no more difficult than the average automotive wheel bearing replacement. So, it's still well suited for DIY replacement.
The electric clutch on your riding mower is controlled by the PTO engage/disengage switch. This is an indispensable safety feature allowing you to stop the mower blades while moving the tractor, and to engage the blades while mowing the lawn. When the PTO is set to the “engage” position, the electric clutch is activated. This causes the clutch pulley to rotate and transfer power to the cutting deck via the vee-belt. In addition, a mechanical brake built into the electric clutch, stops the blades as soon as the PTO is set to the “disengage” position.
Since the drive belt on your Craftsman DYS 4500 riding mower is subjected to abrasion from flying grit and debris, you need to fit a replacement from time to time before the belt snaps. Save unexpected down-time by inspecting the belt regularly for signs of wear. Look for frayed edges, signs of burning, and cracks on the inner “vee” section where it meets the pulleys. In addition, if you hear a squealing noise coming from under the tractor and the mower blades start hesitating, it’s time to remove the deck and install a new belt.
Keep your walk-behind mower blades sharp. According to research carried out by Don Steinegger and Bob Sherman of the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, a dull rotary mower blade not only imparts a brown cast to your lawn, but it also increases your mower's fuel consumption by as much as 22 percent. Replace your mower blade as soon as it becomes dull.
The Craftsman GT 22.5 hp riding mower is a solidly engineered, easy to maintain machine. However, since the drive belts are exposed, they take a beating from abrasive grit and flying debris during normal operation. Save down-time by inspecting both the main drive belt and mower blade belt regularly, and replacing them as soon as they become worn or show signs of fraying.
Most Craftsman walk-behind mowers and lawn tractors are equipped with a quick release deck wash system, which should be used after every mowing to prevent the buildup of corrosive grass clippings on the underside of your mower deck. Although sluicing the underside of a walk-behind mower is a simple operation, certain safety procedures are called for when cleaning a lawn tractor’s mower deck.
Since you usually stop and restart your push mower more than once every time you mow your lawn, constant friction against the ferule on the starter housing causes the pull string to become frayed and eventually snap. Save time digging out the jammed remnants of a broken cord by replacing the pull string at the first signs of wear. Although there are several ways of doing this, the easiest method can be completed in a few simple steps.
If your lawnmower fails to start, the most likely cause is ignition failure. Remove the spark plug and reattach the lead. Once this is done, wheel the mower into dark corner of your garage, don a pair of rubber gloves and hold the threads of the plug against the mower’s cylinder head. Have a friend crank the engine; if you don't see a bright white spark leap across the plug terminals, test the coil with a volt-ohm meter for a possible loose connection or a faulty coil.
The oil on a Murray 3.5HP mower should be changed prior to or at the end of each mowing season. It must also be checked prior to each use to assure the proper oil level. This is a good time to replace the spark plug, clean the air filter and sharpen the blade if needed. The spark plug and the air cleaner are very inexpensive and are necessary to extend the life of the mower. Any auto parts store will carry these parts.
Welch plugs cover carburetor passages that affect the performance of a lawn mower’s engine system. Welch plugs help ensure that proper amounts of air and fuel circulate within mower engines to keep them running smoothly. Sometimes mower performance problems can be traced to a faulty plug seal or a missing plug.
You finally get around to mowing the lawn, and lo and behold, your "automatic" mower won't start. After expressing your frustration, you try wheedling, coaxing and begging the engine to start, all to no avail. And you shopped so carefully for the device that was supposed to make your life easier. Before you tear your hair out, there are ways to help ensure your lawn mower starts up automatically every time.
Craftsman used a V-belt drive system on the 917.273811 model, which is a 42-inch lawn tractor. Power is transmitted from the engine to the rear transaxle and the mower attachment through two separate drive belts. The mower drive belt turns the mower blades and the motion drive belt drives the rear wheels. Craftsman recommends inspecting the belt for deterioration and wear after every 100 hours of use. The belts are non-adjustable and must be replaced if they are worn or slipping.
Powerful Kohler engines give Craftsman mowers the kick needed to tackle enough the toughest lawns. These engines not only power the blades for the mower, but the drive train as well. Replacing a Craftsman Kohler mower engine isn't as difficult as it sounds. Once the fuel and electrical systems are disconnected, you need to loosen the mounting bolts and slip the engine out of the drive belt system.
The belly mower is a type of riding lawnmower manufactured and sold by the Woods Equipment Company. The mower features several safety features to keep the operator safe when using the heavy-duty machinery. The Powerlink switch controls the electrical output produced by the clutch and operation of the mower. When the electrical output threshold is reached, the mower turns off. If you mow a large area of land, you may reach the electrical threshold before you finish. To bypass and override the clutch so that you can continue your mowing job, reset the Powerlink switch on your mower.
Older model Briggs & Stratton small gasoline engines with breaker point/condenser ignition systems can be converted to a modern breakerless electronic ignition. Briggs & Stratton offers conversion kits for most of its old-model engines. You can purchase these kits from lawn and garden equipment dealers, hardware stores and home centers, or order from the company itself.
One space-saving advantage on push-style lawnmowers is a folding handle. Manufacturers usually offer this feature standard with all their newer models, but many older model lawnmowers came with rigid handles that are less compact and often take up more storage area. However, using improvised techniques, a few tools and basic do-it-yourself skills, you can convert the old rigid handle on your mower into a folding handle in about an hour.
Craftsman push mowers are a line of walk-behind lawnmowers from the Craftsman brand, sold exclusively at Sears department stores. Unlike Craftsman hand tools, which feature lifetime replacement warranties, Craftsman push mowers typically have warranties that last around two years. This means that if your Craftsman mower stops working after two years, you'll need to consider hiring a repair professional or performing repairs yourself. Rebuilding a Craftsman mower includes many steps, many of which you can perform yourself, along with the owner's manual as a guide. Be sure to troubleshoot the problem first with the guide supplied with the manual before…
The method by which to replace a Briggs & Stratton ignition module depends on the age of the engine. Engines manufactured after 1982 rely on magnets in a module known as the magneto. Engines manufactured prior to 1982 need retrofitting. Briggs & Stratton ignition modules need precise installation at the proper distance away from the flywheel. The distance will vary depending on the engine model, but will range from 0.006 inch to 0.014 inch. Ignition modules come with a shim to insert between the module and the flywheel to achieve the proper distance. Consult your engine's manual to determine proper…
As the price of gasoline soars, it’s a good idea to get a solid grasp on how far you can go before you need to refill your riding lawn mower tank. Knowing the mileage and the time it takes to cut your yard can help you budget your annual lawn maintenance costs and help you determine how often you’re going to cut. With a clear picture, you may decide to let your grass grow a little longer in the future.
A piston serves an integral function in a small engine such as that found on a lawnmower by helping transfer combustion power to the working parts of the machine. Among the parts found on a piston are rings, which prevent compression pressure from leaking out of the engine. The process of replacing piston rings on a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower differs depending upon the type of engine in question, though follows a basic, relatively simple pattern.
A starter clutch is a device that allows the one-way operation of a pulley. It engages with a gear in one rotational direction and allows the release of that gear in the other. In a lawn mower, this serves to allow the starter pull-rope to turn the engine over to start it but releases the rope and pull mechanism from the crankshaft as soon as the engine fires. This, in turn, stops the starter rope from being dragged -- possibly along with the operator’s digits -- into the running engine.
A rear-end differential is most commonly used on riding lawn mowers with a rear engine and is used to bring transmission power to the mower wheels. When the rear differential is not locked, the wheels can spin at different speeds. However, the rear differential can be locked to keep the wheels turning at the same speed. Owners should note that this provides better traction to the wheels but can create faster wear and tear on the mower and may require the drive or differential to be replaced sooner.
The shaft on a lawn mower connects the blade to the motor and can easily be bent if the lawn mower hits a large or hard object, such as a tree stump, rock or any other large debris. Once the lawn mower shaft is bent, the lawn motor may vibrate excessively and other problems such as problems with the motor or transmission might occur. Straightening a bent shaft is possible, but owners should beware that doing so might invalidate their warranty unless the mower is serviced by an authorized service center.
Not all grinding noises signal trouble. The hydraulic transmissions on many Craftsman riding mowers and lawn tractors normally make some rumbling and grinding noises. Self-propelled walk-behind Craftsman lawnmowers also make a grinding sound when pushed with the drive disconnected. Sudden changes in the sounds a mower makes, or new and unusual grinding or screaming sounds, often do indicate mechanical problems. Lubrication and cleaning might resolve the issue quickly. Don't operate the mower if you suspect damage.
A typical lawn mower has a life expectancy of eight to 10 years, according to Consumer Reports. Owner use and maintenance are determining factors in the dependability and reliability of the machine. Improper shifting techniques can result in damage to the lawn
Bob-Cat zero-turn riding mowers are manufactured by Schiller Grounds Care. Five models of the zero-turn mower are available: the Predator-Pro, Predator-Pro LP, ProCat, FastCat Pro and FastCat RZ. Each of the zero-turn mowers can be customized with different size mower decks, ranging from 36 inches to 72 inches. The battery size is one of many standard batteries used in the lawn-care industry.
A riding lawn mower that has a bad starter can be difficult to diagnose. A bad starter can manifest itself in a cranking noise without engine turnover, a clicking when the ignition button is pressed, or a mower that simply does not respond to attempts to start. An indication of a bad starter motor is the absence of other electrical problems that can be more easily tested.
If the crankshaft on your eXmark Metro walk-behind lawn mower is vibrating abnormally, turn the lawn mower off immediately and inspect it to discover the cause of the vibration. Some problems are easy to fix and only require you to tighten a pulley or a bolt, but a bent crankshaft is a dangerous condition that can cause the blade to fly off at full speed.
Scotts lawn mowers are environmentally friendly for one simple reason: They use neither gas nor electricity. They're reel mowers whose blades rotate as the wheels turn when you push it, cutting grass in a fashion similar to the way scissors cut. They cost less than their gas-powered or electric counterparts. The Amazon retail website and the Home Depot website have user-submitted ratings and comments sections for the products they sell, including Scotts reel lawn mowers. While it's impossible to gauge the customer-submitted recommendations' objectivity, you can glean a modicum of reliability and ease-of-use information from them. These user reviews include…
Riding mowers eliminate the formerly backbreaking work associated with cutting the grass of spacious home landscapes. Chain-driven riding lawn mowers by and large use chain-and-pulley transmission systems to rotate the blades. These riding mower drive chains stretch out with use. Fortunately, when a chain gets loose, you can remove a link to increase the chain tension. Manufacturers usually recommend leaving no more than a half-inch of give on the slack side; keep this in mind when shortening the mower chain.
A lawn mower may perform better in reverse than forward gear for a number of reasons. When a gas powered lawn mower runs in reverse, its blade continues to spin in the same direction as it would if the mower were operated in the forward gear. Blade sharpness issues, therefore, can be discounted in powered mowers.
Before you can use your Craftsman lawn mower for the first time there are some parts that must be assembled, such as the upper and lower mower handles. For example, the control cable is a part that must be manually connected to the lower handle. The control cable and cable tie come with the lawn mower, and once the cable is attached, you will be able to control the speed of the mower.
Hydrostatic transmissions allow a lawn mower so equipped to operate without the gearing that a car's transmission has. The drive train system works on pressure plates responding to the gas pedal, and this makes them very responsive and maneuverable. However, they will need maintenance. Unlike a car, it's not a matter of driving down to the local garage. The transmission's maintenance must often be down on site.
Many residential walk behind lawn mowers include a safety feature known as a blade brake clutch system. Blade brake clutch systems allow the mower engine to continue running even when the blade is stationary. This feature comes in handy if you want to move the mower from one point to another without cutting the grass in between or having to restart the engine. If the clutch brake malfunctions or fails, you can remove it from the mower for repair or replacement.
The coil on a lawnmower engine provides a continuous high-voltage charge to maintain combustion in the engine. The initial spark to start the engine is provided by the spark plug, which is wired directly to the coil. Once the engine is running, the flywheel over the coil provides a continuous electric pulse. If the coil burns out, the engine will not run. Testing the coil for circuit continuity takes less than an hour using basic tools and an ohmmeter.
Your Cub Cadet 1024 Hydrostatic lawn tractor is designed to cut and maintain large lawns. It uses hydraulic fluid for steering and gear shifts. But it can’t do anything if you turn your engine on but the tractor does not move. Troubleshooting this problem includes examining key systems that stop or move your 1024.
On most riding lawn mowers and large lawn tractors with an attachable mower deck, the front of the deck needs to be slightly lower than the back of the deck. This allows the cutting blades to achieve an efficient angle for clipping grass. If the front is higher, the blades, deck and other mower parts may be damaged.
Troy-Bilt lawn tractors use a belt to transfer energy from the engine to drive the blades of the mower. The belt runs from the front of the machine and around pulleys on top of the mower deck. The belts eventually wear out from age and use. A cracked belt reduces engine efficiency and may cause unnecessary wear to the pulleys and engine. Homeowners should replace a worn-out belt before it breaks, leaving them and the mower with no place to go.
Rolling your lawn is an effective technique for smoothing air pockets when laying sod. Lawn rollers are also an effective tool for flattening out uneven surfaces on your lawn for ease of mowing, as well as for preparing your lawn for over seeding. You can convert a push lawn roller to pull behind a lawn mower, using a few items found at your local hardware store.
Cutting large areas of grass has become easier with the use of driving lawnmowers. However, it can be an even bigger chore to have to go back to bag up all of the shredded grass and carry the rake and heavy bags for disposal. To make this task easier, build a lawnmower trailer. Building a trailer for your driving lawnmower is a moderately challenging job but, with a little time and precision, you'll have a fully functional companion for your mower.
Hunter Douglas honeycomb blinds have two to three pull cords on each blind. If the pull cord breaks, you’ll have to replace it with a new one to lift the blind again. Hunter Douglas provides cord replacement kits you can use on your own to put a new cord in your blinds. To replace the cords, you have to make sure the new cords are the right size for your blinds.
No matter whether you have cellular, faux wood or mini Hunter blinds, the pull cord operates in the same manner. A pair of cords run through the blinds and travel over a system of pulleys in the head rail to allow you to adjust the height of the blinds to suit your needs. Over time, the cords wear out. Finding the right diameter cord may be the most difficult part of replacing the cords. If you can’t find cords at a store that sells blinds, look for cording in the notions department of a fabric store. Some retailers sell restringing…
No matter the size of your gas-powered lawn mower engine, the combustion chamber produces high temperatures. Those hot gases are what drive the engine to rotate the cutting blade on push mowers, and power the engine on riding lawn mowers. To relieve air pressure, lawn mowers are equipped with breather systems.
If you're in the market for a new riding mower, your first thought might be to buy the model with the biggest deck you can afford. After all, the larger the deck, the wider the cutting width is. That means fewer passes across your yard so you can get it mowed more quickly. The problem with that idea is that your yard may not be big enough to accommodate a riding mower with a large deck. It may be difficult to maneuver around, especially if your grassy area is fenced-in. A large cutting deck can make it hard to trim…
A Craftsman riding lawn tractor has a powerful engine and a large cutting blade. The engine is fitted with a choke designed to help the engine start and, in cold temperatures, to allow the engine to reach its optimal temperature quickly. If used improperly, the engine stalls, rather than idles. Even if the choke is used properly, the problem may lie elsewhere.
Deines lawn mowers are zero-degree-turn-radius mower with forward mower decks. They cut grass like any other ZTR mower. The mower deck on the Deines mower has pulleys mounted inside that guide the belts that spin the mower blades. Each pulley has a bearing, and these bearings wear out over time. The bearings in this case are cylindrical or doughnut-shaped devices that hold the blade shaft in place and facilitate rotation. Replacing the bearings in a Deines mower deck will get the mower back in peak condition.
Riding lawn mowers provide a convenient way to reduce the time and effort needed to mow lawns 1/2 an acre or larger. Assessing your property to determine its size and the flatness or roughness of the ground will guide you in choosing a mower that is a good fit for your lawn.
Lawn mowers with chain-driven transmissions use a chain and sprocket system to move the mower forward and help rotate the blades. Because these drive chains stretch over time, they require periodic adjustments to maintain the appropriate tension. Many mower manufacturers recommend having the drive chain adjusted after the first 10 to 15 hours of use and every 25 to 30 hours of subsequent use. Careful, regular adjustments may extend the life of the chain and sprocket assembly components.
