Does A Riding Lawn Mower Charge Its Own Battery? Find Out Here!

What Charges A Battery On A Lawnmower?

Lawnmowers, big or small, I’ve maintained a lot of them over the years, including those with problematic battery’s - but how exactly do they recharge the battery?

A ride-on lawnmower charges its own battery and this is done - usually -  through an alternator. The battery will start up the engine and once it’s started, the alternator will drive the engine. Any excess power is pushed back to the battery so it’s able to recharge. 

There’s a bit more to it than that and as with all things with mechanical parts, things can go wrong. Luckily, I have a few answers! 

Why A Ride-on Lawnmower Needs A Battery

Ride-on lawnmowers come with a battery and this powers the electrical system. You also get an oil reservoir to store the lubrication so the engine can run smoothly and a gas tank - these are things you don’t often get with a push lawnmower.

To keep this battery charged and working, a lawnmower needs to have a charging system. If you think of an alternator in a car, then you’re on the right track and should be able to relate!

Push lawnmowers don’t require a battery to operate, however, ride-on mowers do. Why is that?

So as we now know, ride-on lawnmowers have more components than that are found on push mowers. These components need a battery to run.

Things such as headlights, ignitions, starters, and clutches are some of what is on a ride-on mower that requires a battery.

If there wasn’t a charging system present then you’d soon find yourself without power to these components and ultimately a dead lawnmower, in need of being jump-started or plugged in to charge the battery. 

I think we can agree that that isn’t an ideal situation when you just want to get on and get the job done!

Charging Systems On Lawnmowers

There are two likely types of charging systems on ride-on mowers and these help to keep the battery-powered. 

So what are they?

Well, one system is a belt-driven alternator. You will often found that this is mounted onto the engine. 

The belt will turn the alternator, as the alternator is turning it will slowly generate power. This power recharges the battery.

The other type of charging system has a stator. This is a round, metal body and has a central hole that is surrounded by prongs that are wrapped in coil wires. All of this sits underneath the flywheel.

[How long should a battery last? Find out here!]

Common Problems With The Charging System Of A Lawnmower

Problems do develop with a charging system, this can be caused by different things. 

The alternator failing or stator is something you do see. As is wiring that has seen better days, that could mean it’s frayed, damaged, or become loose. 

The belt on the alternator can break too - but that’s fixable too. 

One thing to do before assuming that there is a problem with the system itself is to test the battery.

If your battery loses charge quickly then that’s a good sign that your battery needs to be replaced. 

Test the voltage output of the battery using a multimeter. It’s worth checking what the output level should be but anything under 11.5v or less would indicate the need for a new battery. 

How To Test The Charging System On A Lawnmower

If your battery is in good order then you should test your charging system. Make sure your battery is fully charged for this!

If you don’t already have one, I’d recommend that you pick up a multimeter, they’re great to have around and particularly useful in this instance. They are pretty tiny and you are able to hook them up to things to test the voltage, electric current, and resistance. For what we’re about to do, they’re ideal! 

Connect the multimeter up and see what the output is, from this you will be able to work out whether or not it’s charging the battery. 

If you don’t have a multimeter, that’s no worries either - you can just work on a different elimination method!

If you’re finding that your battery isn’t holding the charge then hook it up to the charger. 

Leave it for around 8 hours and it should be fully charged. If not, it’s probably you’re battery. 

How does a Briggs and Stratton charge the battery?

With a Briggs and Stratton engine, the battery will supply the starter motor to get things started. 

When the engine is up and running, the alternator will start to provide the electrical delivery. Any surplus current will go back into the battery and this is what recharges it. 

Reasons Why Your Lawnmower Battery Will Not Charge

An issue with the battery is a common reason why the battery itself won’t hold a charge but there can be other reasons.

Engine

One of the first reasons could be that the engine’s RPM isn’t sufficient. The battery is reliant on getting enough power from the engine to be able to recharge so if the RPM isn’t there, it’s not going to get recharged. 

If you suspect that your engine’s RPM is a problem then you can adjust the speed by adjusting the governor or throttle cable.

I’d suggest starting with the throttle cable and tightening it, this will allow the engine to get more air when it’s idling. 

Should that not have the desired result, then you can adjust the governor, this will enable the engine to achieve a greater RPM speed. 

Fuse

Another cause of your battery not charging could be that the fuse in the charging system has blown. 

Where your fuse is located will depend on the model of your lawnmower so it’s best to check out the owner’s manual for this. 

Fuses do wear out and from time to time and need changing.

Battery Ground Or Charge Lead

Check the connections to the battery. Current should be able to pass through them.

When you’re looking if you notice that there’s some corrosion then disconnect the wires and give the connections a clean. 

I tend to use a wire brush for this and they scrub up well!

However, if the battery is suffering badly from corrosion then baking soda might be more appropriate. As with any good cleaning solution, leave it to sit for a while and give it a wipe afterward. 

Word of caution, don’t let water or soda get into the battery cells, and be sure that the connections at thoroughly rinsed before you reconnect the wires. 

In some cases, it may actually be easier to replace the battery but that’s entirely up to you!

Wire Outputs

Any wiring that is shorted, grounded, or exposed is going to need to be repaired. 

Wires need to be insulated properly in order to stop moisture and debris from getting in. Anything getting into the wiring can interrupt and interfere with the current. 

Diode

Think of a diode as a sort of gatekeeper. It keeps electricity following one way only. 

Diodes can lose connection and this can impact your battery’s ability to charge. The quickest way to test this is using a multimeter. 

Another thing that can happen is that a diode might not be installed correctly as it can be easy to install one backward. Much like a battery, it won’t correctly. So if you have replaced or removed your diode recently, it’s worth going back over your steps to make sure it’s in the correct way.

Final Thoughts

Ride-on lawnmowers, as you’d expect are more complicated than push mowers but hopefully, now you have a better understanding of how the battery and the system around it operates.

A ride-on lawnmower has many more components than your standard lawnmower and these all need power. Thanks to an alternator, this power comes back round to the battery so it’s able to be recharged.

Pretty neat, huh? 

How Many AMPs Does A Lawn Mower Use? Find Out Here!

How Many Amps Does My Lawnmower Need?

I’ve replaced a lot of lawnmower batteries in my times and I’ll be honest, I’ve got it wrong a few times! Though that was a while ago and I’ve learnt the error of my ways.

Every lawnmower will vary and it’s important to know how many amps your lawnmower needs. An electric cordless mower usually needs 12 amps but these amps are different to those in a gas-powered mower. 

Not making much sense?

The key thing to do when changing a battery of a lawnmower is to make sure it’s compatible with your engine and for this, we need to know how many amps are in your lawnmower’s battery.

There isn’t one answer that fits all for this and it’s worth understanding the subject a little more too. Are you up for it?

Let’s go!

What Does Amps Mean When Looking At A Lawnmower?

When you’re looking at lawnmower batteries you will see that they are either rated by amps or volts - more often than not, both.

Whilst we use amps and volts to measure electricity, they aren’t the same so it’s worth finding out the difference.

Basically, amps are used to measure the electrical current. Volts measure voltage. 

Clear as mud?

I’ll try and give you an analogy to work with.

Think about water moving through a pipe. You would measure the speed it moves as if it were the electrical current so this would be measured in amps.

The water running through the pipes at a greater speed would be the same as having more current.

Now the pressure that forces the water to go through the pipe is like the electrical voltage and you’d measure this in volts. 

If the water was being pushed through at greater force, this would be the same as having a higher voltage.

Any clearer?

I think that’s enough science for now. We don’t need to know much more. The key thing to getting a new battery for your lawnmower is making sure that the current and voltage match up and are compatible.

How To Choose A Battery For Your Lawnmower

The majority of ride-on mower batteries are now rated at 12 volts. This makes things much easier! However, I’d always advocate double-checking this is the case with yours! 

[How long should a battery last? Find out here!]

Whilst voltage is simplified you do have other things to think about, the two main things are the terminal position and Cold Cranking Amps - sometimes shortened to CCA.

Terminal Position

When we talk about the terminal position, we are referring to the physical configuration of the battery. 

Lawnmower batteries usually come as either U1L or U1R. 

The sharp-eyed amongst you will have guessed that L stands for Left and R stands for Right. 

In practice, this means that a U1L battery has a positive terminal in the left corner and a U1R is in the right corner. 

Quite simple when you break it down, right?

This is something you need to keep in mind when shopping for a battery to ensure that it fits inside of your mower.

Cold Cranking Amps

Focusing our attention on amps, you need to look at Cold Cranking Amps.

Lawnmower batteries do not provide a constant current. They are there to issue the initial burst of power to get the engine going and this is something you need to factor in. 

A larger lawnmower engine is going to require more current to get started so you need to ensure you don’t buy a battery that doesn’t have enough power.

Why?

If the battery can’t produce enough current, it will have to work harder to get your engine started (that’s assuming it’s capable of doing so!). Whilst some people may say the important thing is that it started the engine, what you have to factor in, is the fact that the life of the battery will be greatly shortened due to it being overworked.

How Do You Choose The Right Lawnmower Battery?

Now you know that batteries come with different ratings so when you’re replacing your old one, you need to make sure all of these ratings match not just amps.

Yes, amps are one factor but you also need to ask about voltage, CCA, and terminal position to successfully find a battery that will be ideal for your lawnmower.

One way that works well is to simply refer to the user manual, this will provide guidance on what type of battery you will need. 

Of course, user manuals have a habit of disappearing so if this is the first time you’re changing the battery, you can just look at the battery you’re replacing. It will have the CCA and voltage displayed on it.

Hopefully, you now have the needed information so you know what specification you need your new battery to be. 

If you’re still having difficulty confirming the right battery specification then you can contact the manufacturer who should be able to advise.

Do you remember earlier I said that you will want to ensure that the battery has a CCA rating that is high enough or it will struggle to get your engine going? 

Well, I should also mention that you need to make sure you don’t go for one that is too powerful.

Whilst choosing a higher rated battery than what is recommended won’t cause damage to your engine, it won’t give you any benefit. 

Not to mention, they are usually more expensive so essentially you’re paying for something that you aren’t seeing any benefit on. 

[Cant decide between electric or gas-powered? Let me help you!]

How Many Amps In A Battery Powered Lawnmower?

If you’ve seen electric cordless lawnmowers, you may have noticed that they display the number of amps - this is different.

Cordless lawn mowers aren’t powered by gas engines so it isn’t referring to cold-cranking amps. Amps on these types of mowers are referring to the amount of current the battery will deliver in order to power the engine. 

The majority of battery-powered lawnmowers have a 12 amp engine. This means that the current that is constantly delivered to the engine is 12 amps.

Most people who use this type of lawnmower at home will find this to be more than sufficient. 

It’s good to know how amps differ from volts and watts - it’s important too! Most of the time we don’t give much thought to it, why should we?

However, when it comes to replacing something like a battery for your lawnmower, it becomes relevant. It how you end up buying the correct battery! 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to replacing your lawnmower battery, you need to ensure you get one that is compatible. 

Too little power? Your battery is going to wear out quickly due to it working too hard. 

Too much power? You’ve just spent more money than you needed to, for little benefit and frankly, that’s just silly.

Spending a bit of time, understanding what your lawnmower needs could potentially save you a lot of hassle (and money!) in the future.

Can You Run A Lawn Mower Without An Air Filter? Should You?

Do I Need An Air Filter For My Lawnmower?

I like tinkering with things, it’s a man thing I think (Gents, back me up on this one). This has led me to strip down many lawnmowers over the years so I happen to know a thing or two about how they work. 

Lawnmowers should not be used without air filters. Mowing the lawn causes dirt, grass, and debris to go in all sorts of places and one place you don’t want it to go is the engine of your lawnmower. This is why an air filter is important. 

Without it, you run the risk of damaging your mower. 

I’m sure you may have heard about someone using their lawnmower without an air filter and it didn’t do any harm but below I’ll explain what damage it could do to your engine and what’s actually happening when you’re not using an air filter...it’s pretty interesting! 

Is The Air Filter Important On A Lawnmower?

Yes!

Air that goes into lawnmowers is cleaned by the air filters. Much in the same way they ensure, it’s clean air that goes into your car or your vacuum.

An air filter is designed to prevent any dirt, grass, or unwanted particles from getting into the engine, which could ultimately damage the engine. 

As part of any lawnmower, the cooling system needs clean air to function properly. 

If you have a petrol-driven lawnmower, then an air filter is arguably more important. It will help to combust fuel and power the engine. 

If a filter isn’t present, this can lead to a damaged engine due to debris getting into it. However, it also means that the ratio of air to fuel is all wrong with a petrol engine. 

These issue will affect how the lawnmower functions and not for the best! 

[Is your lawnmower overheating? Read this.]

Why Do Some People Use A Lawnmower With An Air Filter?

Sometimes people will use a lawnmower without a filter - rightly or wrongly! So let’s look at situations when that might happen. 

1. The Air Filter Is Missing - Alright, so, some people will lose the air filters, and rather than replacing them, they will use their mowers without one for months and report no or little damage. 

I am not recommending this in the slightest as at any point you could find something enter your engine and damage it beyond repair. 

It wouldn’t take a lot, let’s say even a tiny stone to enter the engine and destroy an essential part such as the carburetor. 

Yes, it could be repairable but quite often it isn’t and for the cost of an air filter, you could save yourself a lot of money down the line and hassle! 

[Have you got white smoke coming from your lawnmower? Take a look at this]

2. Lawnmower Isn’t Starting With The Air Filter In Place - This is more likely to be the case with petrol lawnmowers. You may find that when you remove the air filter, the mower will start but it won’t start when it’s in place.

Why is that?

Honestly, it’s just down to the fact that the air filter is most likely going to be clogged - time to clean it!

If your air filter is dirty, the air is not going to be able to make its way to the engine. Meaning that no combustion will happen and so the engine won’t start.

The engine not starting could also be a sign that there is damage to the air filter or not installed correctly (or the gasket could be faulty).

Whilst removing the air filter will resolve the issue, it’s not something to see as a permanent solution. 

Cleaning, replacing, or repairing the filter so that your lawnmower can operate exactly how it’s intended is the right answer! It’s the only answer frankly.

3. When You Need To Diagnose The Faults On A Lawnmower - If you feel like your lawnmower isn’t running as it should, removing the air filter is often a good way to run a diagnostic test on it.

Again, this is only a very short-term thing to assess what the fault is. If your lawnmower is still not performing as it should, then it’s likely that the fault is somewhere else in the machine. 

At this point, you should replace the air filter and continue finding out the issue. 

The Importance Of Air Filter MaintenanceTo Your Lawnmower (And You!)

If your air filter is damaged or dirty, then it’s almost as bad as not using one. 

Your engine will not be able to breathe as it should as the air circulation won’t be operating correctly. 

Using a dirty or worn-out air filter can actually result in dangerous debris getting into the engine. 

There are several things you need to do to maintain your lawnmower and cleaning your air filter (and occasionally replacing it) is one of those things.

Using the right type of filter is important too - there are different types - three of them to be exact!

You can get foam air filters. In order to trap particles, these filters need oil. 

Then you have paper filters and dual filters. These both have paper and foam components. 

Depending on which type of air filter you have, will determine how you should care for it. My advice is to read the owner’s manual as this will give you tailored advice.

If you continue to use your lawnmower with a dirty air filter, it won’t run efficiently and you’re going to get poor performance, essentially meaning that you’re going to be working harder to get the right type of cut you want.

[What lawnmower will give you the best cut? Find out here!]

It will also mean that your lawnmower will be more difficult to start and won’t have the power you’re used to. This is down to the fact that the engine won’t have access to the required airflow and combustion will be less. 

In order to compensate for this lack in performance, the mower will use more fuel so it’s going to cost you more in running costs too. 

A lawnmower without an air filter will also run in a similar way, have trouble starting, and lack power. 

Combustion won’t be able to occur efficiently because there will be more air than fuel in the engine.

Is It Expensive To Run Your Lawnmower Without An Air Filter?

As we’ve discussed, lawnmowers can run without an air filter but that doesn’t mean they should. It’s likely to cause damage. 

When you’re trying to diagnose a fault with a lawnmower, it should be fine to run the mower without a filter for a short while and that’s all it needs to be. 

For all other times, you really should be using an air filter!

If you lose or damage your filter, replace it. If it’s dirty, clean it (or treat yourself to a new one).

The good news is that air filters aren’t an expensive part of the mower and they’re easy to look after too! 

Using an air filter means that you could be potentially saving yourself from the greater expense of replacing your engine or lawnmower - now that makes sense, doesn’t it?

[How often should you service your lawnmower?]

Final Thoughts

So yes, lawnmowers can function without an air filter but they are not designed to and shouldn’t unless for very specific reasons. 

When was the last time you looked at your filter?

How Often Should You Change Lawn Mower Oil? Find Out Here!

Ultimate Guide To Changing Your Lawn Mower Oil!

After many years of mowing lawns, I have come to learn the importance of changing your oil and also the best time to do so. 

Lawnmower oil should be changed at least once a year. Some people change it after fifty hours of use and that’s a good benchmark too. Whatever you settle on be sure to change your lawnmower oil!

Changing the oil in your mower is one way to ensure your lawnmower is being maintained well, there are other simple steps you can take that should extend the life of your mower. Want to know more?...keep reading! 

Steps To Keep A Lawn Mower Running

Lawnmowers can be expensive so ideally, you want yours to work for a long time, right? Thought so!

In order to get the best out of your mower then it’s going to require a spot of maintenance every now and again.

This is a great opportunity to spot potential issues before they become real issues and cost you a lot of money. 

Leaving issues also opens you up for the possibility that whatever is wrong could be fatal to the mower and you need a new one altogether so don’t be that person! 

Here are a few steps you can take that ought to mean your lawnmower will be usable for many years to come.

1. Consult the manufacturer’s manual - There are always good tips to be found in the user manual - I promise! You can usually find some good troubleshooting tips too. Remember, the manual is made specifically for the model of lawn mower you have so it’s not general advice - it’s tailored.
2. Empty the tank at the end of the mowing season - Using old fuel is a big reason for lawn mowers not starting up after a break. Save your future self some hassle and drain any excess fuel before you pack your mower away for the winter. It should be nice and easy to get things running again when spring arrives!
3. Monitor the oil level - Just like you do with a car, you need to check the level of oil in your lawnmower. Also, check for any general debris within the oil as this can happen over time. Heads up - dark black oil suggests that it’s quite old and may need replacing. Time to treat your lawnmower with some new oil!
4. Keep the undercarriage clean - From time to time, you will need to unclog the undercarriage of your lawnmower. It’s inevitable that grass clippings and general debris will get stuck there so a good clear out will keep things fresh and working well. 
5. Inspect the air filters - There’s no getting away from it, air filters are important. They keep your lawnmower running efficiently. A dirty air filter will prevent your fuel from being burnt efficiently so essentially costing you more money. I’d recommend changing your air filter on an annual basis. They don’t cost a lot as they are basically paper or foam. 
6. Replace the spark plug - Another inexpensive but important part of your lawnmower. Again, I’d recommend changing it once a year to keep it functioning well. A spark plug produces the spark to get your engine started so it really is crucial! 
7. Keep the blades sharp - May seem like an obvious one but dull blades won’t cut your grass with much precision. A dull blade tends to rip and tear at the grass - it’s not a good look! Sharpening your lawnmower blades isn’t a job I’d recommend you take on yourself. Take it to a shop and let a professional look at it. 
8. Take your mower for a service - As with a car or a bike, getting your lawnmower serviced every year can be a good thing to do. A service will give your mower a general tune-up and check out any issues before they start becoming problematic. A service isn’t usually too pricey and knowing a professional tuned-up your mower can bring you that peace of mind.

How Often Should I Change My Lawnmower Oil?

So as you now know, checking your oil should be done often. Check the oil levels when the engine is cold, otherwise, the reading may not be very accurate. 

At the point in which the oil is below the minimum level, it’s time to change it. 

I’d always be looking at changing the oil at least once a year anyway. Before spring is a great time to do it. Get your lawnmower working brilliantly before the season starts.

Some people recommend changing your oil after every 50 hours of use. That’s possibly not a bad principle to adhere to either so whichever you find works best for you.

If you’ve just picked up a brand new lawnmower then firstly, nice, enjoy! Secondly, it’s best to check the oil level after you’ve been using the mower for around 5 hours as it may need a top-up. 

With a new lawnmower, I’d check the oil level more frequently. It gives you a chance to understand how much oil the mower is getting through.

If you find yourself cutting grass in wet conditions or challenging conditions then check your oil more frequently. 

Anything that is challenging can result in the need to change your oil more frequently. The lawnmower is working harder so it makes sense that it burns through more oil.

How To Change Oil In A Lawnmower

The majority of people will choose to change the oil themselves and in all honesty, it’s not too difficult once you understand the method. 

The time needed to complete the job is about 5 minutes so it’s not a time-consuming task! 

Step One - Preparation 

You will need to remove the old oil from your lawnmower, this can be done by:

• Warming up the engine - Fire up the engine as this gets the oil flowing. It will actually speed up the process of changing the oil too! 
• Clean the oil fill area - I use a clean towel for this but you can also use a special air compressor if you’re feeling fancy 😉
• Get a container to catch the oil - The old oil in your lawnmower will be running out so you’ll need something to catch it. An old container or pan works well for this! 

Step Two - Drain The Mower Oil

Some lawnmowers come with a dedicated drain plug, if yours does...you’re in for an easy job! All that you have to do is remove the plug and watch the oil drain away.

However, if yours doesn’t, that pop your lawnmower on one side and drain the oil this way. 

You will need to remove the pol fill cap to this. When you’re tilting your mower, you should do this slowly. You don’t want the risk of oil going everywhere...just in the container will do nicely!

Step Three - Change The Oil Filter

Your lawnmower may not have an oil filter so this step doesn’t apply. However, if yours does then I would always recommend changing the filter when you’re changing the oil. 

An oil filter is an inexpensive part of your mower, that can be changed easily but it does play an important part in keeping your mower running smoothly.

Step Four - Refilling The Oil

Now it’s time to put the new stuff in! 

One thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to overfill or underfill your mower with oil so it’s important to get the correct quantity of oil.

[If you do overfill your lawnmower, here’s how to fix it!]

Before pouring the oil, I’d recommend checking how much oil your lawnmower will take. From experience, it’s usually around 0.6/0.7 of a litre.

Then all that’s left to do is put it back together and get mowing!

Final Words

Changing the oil in your lawnmower is a quick job and a fairly simple one. It doesn’t need to be done often, most likely once a year.

Failing to change your oil can impact the life of your lawnmower and cost you more in the long run so it’s also a good skill to have up your sleeve.

When did you last change your lawnmower oil?

How Do You Fix A Flooded Petrol Lawn Mower? Find Out Here!

Everything You Need To About Unflooding Your Lawn Mower!

If you can smell fuel coming from your lawn mower and it won’t start, it can be quite worrying. Have I written off my mower?

The good news is, it’s unlikely!

If you flood your lawn mower, there are a few things you can do to fix it. The first step is to drain the excess fuel from your mower. The cause of flooding can be a few things - it’s good to know what these are!

I won’t be the first to flood a lawn mower, I certainly won’t be the last! I found it quite scary the first time it happened. However, I now know how to fix the issue - I also know to stop it from happening!

I’m going to share that knowledge with you below! 

Switch The Choke Off

When a lawn mower engine is flooded, the number one cause is overuse of the choke so this is where I’d recommend you start!

For absolute dedicated instructions on your lawn mower model, you will want to consult your manual on the process of starting your lawn mower.

However, the general process is to engage the choke, you will only want to do this for a maximum of five pulls.

After five pulls, you should set the choke to “Half” or “Off” before continue to pull. 

Why?

If you don’t switch the choke to either position and keep pulling then the carburetor and ignition chamber will become flooded with fuel. Now, this is actually something you can smell easily and if you do, you should stop what you’re doing!

It’s important to note, that you can get the engine running, even with the choke off.

Reasons Why A Lawn Mower May Flood

That isn’t the only reason why a lawn mower floods, it could also be down to the carburetor being overprimed before pulling the starting cord - this is more relevant to push lawn mowers and not something you need to worry about with a ride-on lawn mower.

I will say that amount of times you need to push the priming bulb will depend on the model of lawn mower. In my experience, you’ll be looking at around 3 to 5 times after the bulb is filled with fuel.

As you have probably realised, if you don’t start your lawn mower properly, you can cause it to flood. However, even if you start your lawn mower properly, you could still cause it to flood if the fuel you’re using is old. 

The reason being is that old fuel can collect moisture and prevent it from igniting. Rather than it igniting, more fuel will be pumped into the carburetor as you pump. As this happens, the smell will become noticeable. 

So if you’re just breaking out your lawn mower after a winter off, you may want to think about draining the fuel and putting in some fresh.

[Looking for winter storage tips? Look here]

You will also get the same result if the spark plug in the lawn mower is old. A corroded or old spark plug won’t be able to produce the necessary spark needed to ignite the engine and as you continue to try, the engine becomes flooded.

What To Do When The Lawn Mower Engine Floods

The first thing to note is that once the engine is flooded, your mower won’t be starting until the fuel has drained - and you should try!

Again, different manufacturers will recommend different times but the average seems to be around 15 minutes to let the mower sit. 

A key thing to remember is that you need to keep the mower on level ground while leaving it to drain. 

If you want to speed the process up, you can remove the air filter. What this will do is increase the rate of evaporation by providing a more direct air passage to the carburetor. 

Another thing worth doing is to remove the spark plug. This will provide ventilation to the combustion chamber. 

Only do this for about 5 minutes and then pop the spark plug back in. 

Keep the air filter off and try to start the lawn mower - do this with the choke off. 

Should your lawn mower start, you should stop it and pop the air filter back on.

This is all relevant to those who have a push lawn mower. If you have a ride-on mower, you’re just going to have to let it sit for 15 minutes. 

Tips For A Flooded Lawn Mower Engine

Before starting your lawn mower after a while in storage, change the fuel. 

If your lawn mower is a push mower then this can be done as you’re giving your carburetor and combustion chamber time to clear. 

I’d always advise removing your spark plug to inspect it. This gives you the chance to inspect it and if you need to change it, you are at least finding out before you flood the engine!

If you do flood your engine with fuel then it could be worth using starter fluid. As you can probably guess from the name, this helps to start an engine.

You should spray this into the air intake port - you will need to remove the air filter to do this. 

When it comes to starting your lawn mower, keep the choke off. If at this point, your lawn mower switches on, it’s going to burn the excess fuel. 

If it’s burning excess fuel, don’t be surprised to see white smoke coming off it - that’s normal! It shouldn’t go on for too long. 

[Other reasons why you lawn mower might be giving off white smoke]

Final thoughts

There we have it! No more flooding your lawn mower, right?! 🙂

Flooding your lawn mower happens. The best thing you can do is not to panic and follow the steps above.

Preventive is better than cure (or at least that’s what they say anyway!), so try to follow some of the tips above to prevent any flooding.

Happy mowing! 

How To Drain Excess Oil From A Lawn Mower? Find Out Here!

Removing Extra Oil From Your Lawn Mower

We’ve tried various methods to remove extra oil from a lawnmower and we believe we’ve come up with the ultimate method! 

Excess oil in a lawn mower can be removed by, cleaning the top of the crankcase, draining the excess oil, and then replacing the oil filter.

As with other machines, a lawn mower does require maintenance and some of that involves lubrication. When you get the level of oil required wrong and you put in too much, it can be difficult to know what to do.

You’re in luck! I’ll take you through the steps and give you a few tips on how to prevent this in the future.

What Happens When You Put Too Much Oil In A Lawn Mower?

One potential issue going to be that the oil may come into contact with parts of the lawn mower it shouldn’t. Whilst a bit of contact here and there isn’t bad - I don’t have the steadiest of hands and will spill so occasionally, who doesn’t?!

It’s when there is so much oil that it starts to damage other parts. 

The excess lubricant could end up in the crankcase, this is quite commonplace for it to end up when you overfill. What happens is the will cause leakage and oil splatter.

There is also the risk that the oil will end up in the exhaust muffler. The downside to this?

The engine will end up producing white smoke. So if you’re lawn mower is producing white smoke, it’s usually a sign you’re burning oil.

Bonus fact: If you don’t put enough oil in, your lawn mower engine will begin to overheat. Oil is a lubricant and without it, the parts a subject to high friction as they move against each other. As you can tell - it’s a fine balance!

How To Drain Excess Oil From A Lawn Mower

As I said in the introduction, you’ll want to take it in three steps;

• Clean the crankcase. I use a piece of cloth for this.
• Remove and drain any unwanted oil. You can drain the excess oil from the oil tube. I’d recommend having the mower on an angle while you’re doing this so as not to get oil further into the machine!
• Change the oil filter. This is a good habit to get into as it helps to extend the life of your mower. 

Let’s look at each step in a little more detail!

The crankcase will need a clean, this is to prevent any dirt or unwanted substances from getting in. 

Dirt in a crankcase is bad news. It can actually clog up the carburetor, meaning that eventually, your lawn mower starts and then simply stall. 

So yeah, always clean the crankcase! 

Now it’s time to start the draining process. You need to unscrew the oil tube to do this. 

The best method I’ve found is to have the mower on the side with the carburetor facing upward. This keeps the oil from running into the carburetor or anywhere else! 

When you’re happy that you’ve got any excess oil out, you can replace the oil tube.

To be honest, I always try to replace the oil filter too. When there’s been too much oil in a lawn mower, you’ve asked a lot of the filter so change it - it’ll help your machines in the long run.

[Don’t forget about your air filter!]

If it isn’t obvious that you overfilled your lawn mower with oil, there can be a few telltale signs.

• Leaking oil
• Motor starting more slowly
• White smoke coming from the mower

Should your mower display any of these signs, it’s best to stop immediately and investigate. Stopping straight away will help to prevent any damage and allow you to fix the issue.

If you are uncertain about doing any of this, I’d recommend calling a professional. Certainly, the first time and they will be able to walk you through the steps and what to do.

However, a professional is also able to spot things you may not. Things such as any damage running your lawn mower with too much oil in as resulted in. 

If your lawn mower has flooded - we can help!

How Not To Overfill My Lawn Mower With Oil - Preventive Steps

I probably don’t need to tell you that excess oil can lead to a damaged lawn mower. However, you need to know how much oil to put in to give the engine the right amount of lubrication and how not to put more oil in than needed.

Alright, so there isn’t a one size fits all answer for this!

The amount of oil you need will depend on the brand of lawn mower you have and the model. The best place to find out your answer is going to be the manufacturer’s guide or website. It should clearly lay out how much oil (and the type) you need.

Don’t just wait until your lawn mower starts kicking out white smoke! 

One way to ensure you have the correct amount of oil in is to use the dipstick. With the dipstick, you are able to check the level of oil that is in the mower, just like you would when you’re checking the oil level in a car. 

It’s a great way to monitor the oil level on an ongoing basis so the level never gets too lower either! 

On the majority of lawn mowers, you will find the dipstick on the cap so you can find it easily when you unscrew the lid. 

Again, just like I would when I’m checking my car oil, I use a cloth to get a clean stick and dip it in. 

On the dipstick, you should see a maximum and minimum level. Ideally, you want it between those two markers. I always aim to have it closer to the maximum than the minimum. 

When it comes to topping the engine up with oil, I have found that cold oil going into a cold engine is more likely to lead to an overfill. 

Why?

Cold oil moves slowly so it’s easy to keep pouring without realising how much has gone into the tank. One way to avoid this is to top it little and often. Add a bit of oil. Walk away. Add a bit more until you’re happy with the level. 

Final thoughts

There we have it! Hopefully, you’ll be feeling more confident about how to deal with an overfill lawn mower but also how you can prevent it?

A few steps will resolve any excess oil issue - which should be done straight away to prevent damage to your mower.

Remember, there are telltale signs that there’s too much oil in the system - be sure to look out for those! 

And finally, prevention is better than cure, so where possible take the steps to prevent an overfill from happening. 

Do Landlords Need To Provide Lawn Mowers? Should They!?

Will a Landlord Provide a Lawnmower For The Tenant?

It can be frustrating as a tenant or as a landlord to keep up with garden maintenance, and for people who are short term renting, they may not want to invest in a mower, so the question is, should a landlord have to provide one?

Well, after doing our best research, there is no clear answer to whether a landlord should or should not provide a lawnmower due to liability issues if the equipment will get broken. However, some landlords may give a lawnmower for long term rentals who agree to upkeep the garden. 

So we can understand both sides of the matter, we have put together a short informative guide below that will explain why landlords should or should not provide a lawnmower, garden maintenance tips and other solutions for landlords if they want to keep their garden maintained.

Why It's Important To Keep Your Rentals Garden Nice

Lawncare is very important for any house, especially if yours is a rental. Providing a lawnmower could potentially encourage your tenants to care for the garden, but you should understand you would have to buy the lawnmower and replace it if it gets broken.

We have listed out some reasons you need to ensure garden maintenance is happening on a property below.

• Your property has a higher chance of being rented - Properties with nice gardens will always have a higher chance of being rented than places without a garden.
• Appeals to families - A rental with a well-maintained garden will be better for families as the kids can be outside.
• Makes the house more attractive.
• People will pay extra for the house - Houses with nice gardens can have the price raised and people will be willing to pay for this addition.
• Avoids future work - Keep your rental garden maintained allows you to avoid trying to maintain a jungle a couple of years down the line!

Tenants & Landlords Garden Responsibilities

It can be hard to figure out who has which responsibilities for maintaining a rentals garden, surely it should be the landlord as it is his property? Or surely it should be the tenant as they are renting?

We have listed out some basic responsibilities that the tenant and landlord should share below for upkeeping a properties garden.

Tenant

• To mow the lawn.
• Get rid of weeds.
• Cut hedges and prune bushes.

Landlord

• Trim and maintain very tall hedges.
• Prune trees.
• Repair any walls or patio decking.

Should a Landlord Give Me a Lawnmower?

From a tenants point of view, you may argue that if the landlord wants you to upkeep the garden, they should provide you with a mower, and while this point can be understood, it is hard for landlords to do this as there is a liability that the equipment can be broken or not used properly.

Most of the time, a landlord who will provide a lawnmower for you to maintain the garden will have some kind of tenancy agreement which will state you have to upkeep the garden, thus providing you with the tools.

Generally, however, the tenant should have a lawnmower to upkeep the grass, especially if they are a long term rental.

Pros & Cons Of Providing a Lawnmower To Your Tenant

If you are considering leaving a lawnmower to your tenant, then you need to consider all the pros and cons of doing so, also never expect your tenant to upkeep the garden unless you state so in your tenancy agreement.

We have listed out the advantages disadvantages below to leaving a lawnmower for the tenant.

Advantages

• Saves the tenant money.
• Encourages them to maintain the lawn.
• No excuses for not cutting the grass.
• Keeps the property looking good.

Disadvantages

• They can break the machine.
• The tenant may argue the mower is not good enough.
• You will still have to state it as a requirement in the agreement.
• Costs the landlord.

Alternative Solutions To Keep a Well-Maintained Garden

Luckily, there are many other ways as a landlord that you can try and keep your garden maintained if you don't want to risk providing a mower.

We have listed out some of the ways to protect your garden on your property below.

Put It In The Tenancy Agreement

To avoid all disputes about the garden on your property, you should make it clear in the agreement what you do and what you don't want the tenant to do, for example, digging up the garden to install a deck might not be what you want someone to do.

However, if you want to grass to be cut and weeds to be picked, make sure to specify this to avoid any disagreements.

Offer a Rent Discount

If your tenants are willing to do all the gardening on the property then offering a rent discount is often appreciated as this benefits both the tenant and the landlord in the long run. This will also encourage the tenant to keep up with the gardening if they know that it's beneficial for them.

Make Your Garden Low Maintenance

Sometimes, stripping your properties garden back to basics is the best way to keep it in good condition. Try adding weed control or using fake turf instead of grass, low-growing plants and hedges are also great additions for a low-maintenance garden.

Help With Short Term Rentals

Short-term rentals will be much less likely to do garden maintenance, so in this case, it will likely be up to the landlord to maintain the garden for the short rental period.

Provide a Gardener

One way to take the hassle off the tenants and keep the landlord happy is by getting a gardener for the house, this can prove cost-effective if you are a landlord that has multiple properties and you can also keep your property looking how it should be.

Reach An Agreement

Maybe your tenants will be willing to do some garden tasks but not others or they might only want to perform garden maintenance if they are provided equipment. At the end of the day, in this case, it is best to be clear in a contract about what everyone's wants to avoid disputes about the garden.

Frequently Asked Questions About If a Landlord Should Provide a Lawnmower

If something breaks on the lawnmower provided by the landlord, should the tenant pay? 

No, the tenant should only pay if it is their fault that the lawnmower has broken, for example, if they used it incorrectly or they were not performing the required maintenance.

Who should pay for a gardener, the landlord or the tenant?

If it is agreed that a gardener should be used to maintain the property it is up to the landlord to pay for this.

Is the landlord allowed to inspect the garden?

Yes, the landlord can perform inspections on the garden to see if the tenant is taking care of it.

Last Words

Overall, the landlord is not obliged to give the tenant a lawnmower to take care of the property but may do if they wish.

The tenant should always care for the garden by doing low-maintenance tasks such as cutting the lawn or weeding, however, it is up to the landlord whether they will give tools or hire a gardener to perform these tasks so as it's achieved how they want.