Lawn & Garden Tech – Lawn Mower Upgrade Tips

For most of us, mowing the lawn is a necessary chore that we must undertake every couple of weeks in order to keep the grass under control and the Homeowners Association hawks at bay. Unless you hire a service or a neighborhood kid to take on this task, it is up to you to get it done. Why not spend an hour on a few lawn mower upgrade projects to make things easier? 

Safety First

Before doing any work on a push mower, lawn mower, or lawn tractor you need to do a few things first. Start by disconnecting the spark plug so the mower can’t start by accident. If your mower has a battery go ahead and disconnect it was well. Next if the work will require the mower to be in any position other than sitting flat on the ground, go ahead and drain the fuel tank. You can just pour it back into your gas can and put it back in later.

Upgraded Spark Plug

Since you have already disconnected the spark plug, you might as well take the next step and swap it out with a new one. Try an upgraded spark plug like one from E3 with a unique electrode design designed to deliver more power and efficiency. Swapping out the spark plug is easy. You will need a deep-well socket (typically either 13/16″ or 5/8″ size) that fits your spark plug and a ratchet. That’s it. The spark plug may require a little extra effort to break free if it has been in place for several seasons. Once you have the old spark plug out carefully thread the new spark plug in by hand until it is seated firmly. Then you can tighten it with the ratchet until it is snug, but don’t go overboard.

Mower Deck Coating

One of the biggest issues with most lawn mowers is clogging up the deck with grass clippings. Even just a little moisture in the grass will leave chunks of grass sticking to the deck, reducing the efficiency of the lawn mower itself. Our first mower upgrade addresses the issue with a coating of graphite spray. From the makers of SLIP Plate, Mower Guard is a dry-film lubricant that uses powdered graphite to provide a slippery surface for grass clippings. Graphite’s inherent hydrophobic nature, moisture simply does not stick, along with it, the grass clippings. They will simply fall away to be blown out the discharge chute.

We are using a push mower as our project, but the same technique applies for riding mowers and lawn tractors. We suggest going through the steps of actually dropping the mower deck on these mowers to make it easier to work. Most riding mower/lawn tractor mower decks are designed to be easily removed with simple tools.

Blade Sharpening

A lawn mower is only as good as it’s blade. If the blade is nicked and dull, the grass is not cut, rather it is smashed and ripped. This slows down the engine, generates more heat and wears out the rest of the lawn mower faster. Not to mention that it requires more effort on your part to get the job done. Sharpening the blade is a quick mower upgrade that takes just a few minutes, yet it can save you hours in the hot sun.  Again our project mower is a push mower, but the same techniques hold true for larger multi-blade riding mowers/lawn tractors. Just make sure to sharpen all the blades at once for an even cut.

Smoother Rolling

Unless you are using a power-driven mower, it is your power that moves the mower through the grass. Most lawn mowers do not have bearings on the wheels, they use simple plastic wheels riding on hardened steel shafts. The lack of a bearing surface means that all of the weight of the mower is riding on one strip of the axle. This means a lot of friction and heat. You could use a wet-film lubricant such as WD40 on the axles, but that only works for a short time and the oil draws in dirt and grass particles, which creates even more friction. The better solution is to remove the wheels and treat them with Mower Guard Graphite Lubricant. Graphite resists water, so the axles will not rust, but the biggest benefit in this use is the lubrication factor. Graphite is one of the best lubricants available, and it does not dry out like oil nor does it attract dirt and other particles, so it stays clean. If you can shed a few pound of rolling effort, your lawn maintenance routine is faster and you can get back to enjoying your weekend.

Owners of riding mowers and lawn tractors are in luck as most of these mowers use sealed wheel bearings that never require additional lubricant. For these mowers just make sure to maintain your tire pressures at the manufacture’s suggested level for the best ride and traction.

These tips will not only save your back, but also save your hard-earned money in less fuel and less wear and tear on your lawn mower. All three processes can be done in about an hour in  your garage with just a few basic tools.

Check out all the lawn & garden products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more lawn mower upgrade tips, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.