DIY Friday: Lawnmower Tune-up
The lunatic is on the grass — and the grass is getting greener every day here in the northeast U.S. It won’t be long before we need to start mowing it. Got that lawnmower tuned-up? In this economy, you better consider doing it yourself.
Popular Mechanics is one source that’s always helpful:
Seasonal maintenance consists largely of cleaning and lubricating. Dirt on the inside is abrasive, while dirt on the outside traps heat–both increase wear and shorten service life. To avoid these problems, follow this four-step program, further detailed in the diagrams on the following pages.
1. Clean the underside of the deck whenever you see windrows of grass clippings on the lawn. These indicate a clogged deck.
2. Sharpen the blade at least once a year. A dull blade tears the grass instead of cutting it.
3. Install a new spark plug every year. A fouled plug and stale gas are the two leading causes of hard starts.
4. Change the oil and filter, and clean the fuel tank at least once a year.
Too much trouble? Bring it to the University of Delaware annual push mower tune-up:
Looking to save a little money on your lawn care in these tight financial times? The University of Delaware’s Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity for agriculture, the Society of Automotive Engineers Club and the Engineering Technology Club are once again offering a push lawn mower tune-up service on April 17-18, rain or shine.
Since 2000, this annual event has serviced more than 4,000 push mowers.
The tune-up — provided by trained students and alumni members of the clubs — includes an oil change, spark plug replacement, air filter check and cleaning, blade sharpening, and power washing. The cost is $35, the same as it has been for the past four years.
Drop off times are from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 17, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
Customers can pick up their mowers on Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. for the first 300 mowers taken on Friday, or on Sunday, April 19, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for the remaining mowers. All mowers must be picked up by 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Lawnmowers — push lawnmowers only; no riding mowers — may be dropped off and picked up in the parking lot behind Worrilow and Townsend halls on UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources campus at 531 South College Avenue, across from the Chrysler Plant, just north of the Fred Rust Ice Arena. Look for signs for the tune-up.
Tired of pushing that thing around or riding a boring little tractor for hours? Get a robot, like the $2,200+ Ambrogio L50. Or build one yourself:
Tractor too slow? Modify it with a jet engine:
I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon.
