The Lawn Mower Parts You Should Replace Every 100 Operating Hours Or Less

Don't wait until your lawn mower misfires or won't start up to worry about maintenance. Some of the most overlooked lawn mower maintenance tasks that everyone forgets are changing out simple parts. Depending on the make and model of your lawn mower, consult the manual for a specific maintenance schedule. However, general recommendations suggest changing several mower parts every 100 operating hours. The most common elements that need to be replaced are spark plugs, paper air filters, oil filters, and in-line fuel filters.

A mower's spark plugs help with ignition, and different filters prevent materials from clogging up the engine and other mechanical components. Neglecting to replace these parts will lead to inefficient fuel consumption in the short term and total failure to start in the long term. Keeping worn or clogged parts on your machine past the time they should be replaced has consequences. Your mower will likely work harder, straining the engine. And cutting performance will noticeably drop.

If you want to prevent lawn mower damage with a simple tip, start a log of how often you change the spark plugs and various filters on your machine. Also, keep track of your total operating time, so that you can schedule maintenance every 100 hours. If you do not run your mower 100 hours in a season, make a plan to at least check them once a year.

Spark plugs and filters are parts to replace every 100 operating hours or so. It's also likely you'll need to replace some parts sooner. For instance, if you use your lawn mower a lot in a season, check your filters. If your paper air filter looks dirty, it should be replaced. Your air filter keeps dust out the engine, so change it often for better operation. You can learn the clues for when to check the spark plug — for example, one of the signs that your mower may require new spark plugs is difficulty starting up.

Other filters to replace include the oil filter and the in-line fuel filter. However, not every lawn mower engine features an oil filter or an in-line fuel filter. Check your specific machine's manual to determine which filters are present and need to be replaced. If your machine has a foam air filter as opposed to a paper one, it should be washed with warm water and soap instead. While some parts are not included as part of yearly maintenance lists, also routinely check on the blade and drive belts. For example, deck drive belts need replacement every 100 to 200 operating hours. Paying attention to these small, but important, parts can help you get the most out of your lawn mower.