Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up

To keep your lawnmower’s engine running all season long, make sure to take some time to keep it maintained. In this video, we’ll teach you the proper preventive maintenance that every mower needs to keep it running like a well-oiled machine.

Tools

  • Spark Plug
  • Air Filter
  • Tarp
  • Brush
  • Cleaner Degreaser
  • Spark Plug Socket Wrench
  • Fresh Fuel
  • 2-cycle Oil (for 2-cycle engines)
  • 30W Oil (for 4-cycle engines)
  • New Gas Can
  • Fuel Stabilizer

Steps

  1. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 1

    Lay down a drop cloth if you’re working in the garage.

  2. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 2

    Air filter: For a paper filter, replace with a new one.

  3. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 3

    Air filter: For sponge filters, replace or clean it. If replacing, lubricate it with oil before placing it in.

  4. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 4

    Use a spark plug socket wrench to remove the spark plug.

  5. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 5

    If your spark plug looks worn down or is older than a year, replace it with a new one.

  6. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 6

    Screw the spark plug back in using the spark plug socket wrench.

  7. Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up - Step 7

    Replace the old fuel in the gas tank with the proper new engine fuel if it hasn’t been changed for a while.


Read Video Transcript

It happens every year without fail. It’s a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, and you’re planning to watch the big game as soon as you mow the yard. The mower is all gassed up, it’s on the right setting, but when you reach down and pull the cord—you guessed it—that familiar sound of nothing happening. Well you can forget about the game, because for the next hour you won’t be mowing … you’ll be trying to figure out what’s wrong.

Now is the time to do some preventive maintenance on your mower’s engine. The four areas you need to check include the spark plug, the air filter, the fuel, and, if you have a four-cycle engine, the oil. Our mower is what’s called a 2-cycle mower, which means the oil and gas are mixed together, combining two of these steps. Therefore, we don’t have to change the oil. For more information on the differences between 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines, see our list of Frequently Asked Questions specific to this video.

Let’s start with the air filter. You may want to lay a tarp down to protect the floor if you are working in a garage. Some mower engines have paper filters, while others, like ours, have a sponge filter. First remove the filter from the filter housing. You may need to consult the user’s manual to locate the filter compartment. If your mower has a paper filter, you should replace it. If it has a sponge filter, you can either replace it or clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. After cleaning it, or if you’re installing a new one like we are, you will need to lubricate it with oil, which helps remove fine dust particles that can be harmful to your engine.

Now it’s time to check the spark plug. One handy tool for removing spark plugs is this spark plug socket wrench, which you can purchase at your local independent home improvement retailer. They’ll even help you find the right replacement plug compatible with your mower. Just be sure to note your mower’s make and model number before you go. Simply unscrew the plug and check for excessive wear. You can sure see a difference between an old one and a new one. It’s a good idea to replace the spark plug every year, which will help your engine run more efficiently.

The last step if to make sure you fill the gas tank with fresh fuel, which means removing any existing fuel from the tank that was left over from last year. Old fuel in the tank is probably the leading cause of mower starting failure.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, at the end of last season we ran the mower out of fuel the last time we mowed so the fuel wouldn’t get stale over the winter. If there is still fuel in your tank from last season, make sure you remove it from the tank according to the manufacturer’s instructions and dispose of it by taking it to a hazardous waste recycling center in your community.

The same holds true for any stale fuel in your gas can left over from last winter. Gasoline breaks down over time, which can damage your mower’s engine. Always note when you last filled up your gas can by writing the date you filled up a piece of tape. If you will be storing fuel for a prolonged period of time, it’s always a good idea to add a fuel stabilizer to your gas, which prevents this breakdown from occurring. Also, if you’re gas can is several years old, it’s probably time for a new one.

If your mower has a 2-cycle engine, add the appropriate amount of 2-cycle engine oil to your gas can, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you don’t use much gas, the easiest way to keep your fuel fresh is to use a smaller gas can. While it may require more frequent trips to the gas station, it will help ensure that the fuel in your mower’s engine is always fresh.

There you have it. Now you can be sure you’ve done everything you can to help your mower’s engine run like a top all season long.

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement project, be sure to read our list of Frequently Asked Questions for this video. And be sure to print out our Project Instructions, which includes a Tools and Materials checklist, before visiting your local independent home improvement retailer. That’s where you’ll find all the products and helpful advice to complete your project. If you’re not sure where to find your local store, check out our Store Locator.

Good luck with your project and thanks for watching.

Close Transcript

Send to Kindle


Read more from: How-To Videos > Lawn & Garden

Back to top

15 responses to “Lawn Mower Engine Tune-up”

  1. Thanks for writing this!

  2. Mike Bessette says:

    Does your Smyrna Store on Jefferson Pike Has a lawnmower tuneup service, to where they can Pick up my Lawnmower In Murfreesboro To be worked on. Please let me know if this is possible. Thanks and have a Great day..

  3. Eric says:

    Great info, but also good to sharpen the blade. It may be helpful to have a spare blade and alternate using them and sharpening them. For safety, disconnect the wire to the spark plug before working on blade. Don’t forget to reconnect the spark plug before trying to start it up.

  4. and new players go to the site from that connection, the sharing client gains ROBUX from every single purchase the newly added player make.

  5. I was working and suddenly I visits your site frequently and recommended it to me to read also. The writing style is superior and the content is relevant. Thanks for the insight you provide the readers!

  6. megadede com says:

    What is the primary reason your customers or clients come to you? Or purchase your product or service?

  7. Thank for nice post!!

  8. al3abfarmm says:

    Thank you for this video good work bro and good luck for the next keep going.

  9. Mary Thacker says:

    There are a few simple considerations to keep in mind in order to make the situation slightly less painful, not to mention bewildering. Firstly, make sure of the exact model or equivalent you require to avoid the unnecessary and annoying sales pitch which sees you leaving with something completely superfluous to your needs.

  10. run 3 says:

    Your article is very useful, the content is great, I have read a lot of articles, but for your article, it left me a deep impression, thank you for sharing.

  11. Thank you for sharing a detailed tutorial video like this one. It helps me a lot in the most basic maintenance of the lawn mower!

  12. Blake Guerrero says:

    descargar minecraft apk is a popular game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. The game is available on a variety of platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and Xbox One. The Minecraft Pocket Edition APK is the mobile version of the game that can be played on Android devices.

  13. craiggardner says:

    After work you should entertain with
    Minecraft APK 2023 with the latest features for your non-stop creativity

  14. anna says:

    I used to be afraid of car hire because I thought it was expensive and problematic. But recently, when I hired a car for the first time from Enterprise at Leeds Bradford LBA, I changed my mind. Car hire was much easier than I had imagined, especially when booking through rental24.co.uk

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Current month ye@r day *