Spring Lawnmower Maintenance: 8 Tips to Start the Year Strong
The snow is melted, the weather is warm, and you’re itching to get out there with your mower and give your grass a trim. But hold your horses—you’ve got to get your lawnmower ready for spring first.
Your mower has been sitting in storage all winter, so a quick tune-up is definitely in order so you can be sure it’s still up to the task.
We’ve rounded up a list of tips to help you do some spring maintenance on your lawnmower before your first cut of the year. There's also a printable checklist version at the bottom of the page, or you can just get it right here.
Plus, don't forget to brush up on your mower safety knowledge before you fire up your mower.
1. Review Your Mower's Literature or Owner's Manual
A key tip for lawnmower maintenance: before you start unbolting bolts and unscrewing screws at random, take a minute to read your owner’s manual. Chances are it contains trustworthy instructions which can save you time and effort.
2. Inspect your spark plugs
Worn-out spark plugs can cause a host of issues with your mower and inhibit its performance.
That means you’ll want to remove it and inspect it for rust or corrosion every spring. (However, before taking it out, make sure there’s no dirt or debris around the plug that will fall into the cylinder when you pull the plug out.) 1
If the spark plug doesn’t want to come free, you might have to use a rust-penetrating oil like WD-40 Specialist or Liquid Wrench to remove it. Don’t pull a Hulk and use sheer force! You’re sure to cause more harm than the shortcut is worth (if it even is a shortcut). 1
If the spark plug is merely a bit dirty, you can use a wire brush to clean it. If there are heavy deposits, scrapes, or other damages, it needs to be replaced.
Even if you know your spark plug is in great condition, you should remove it anyways before doing other maintenance. 2
3. Take care of your air filter
Depending on the type of filter installed in your mower, you’ll want to clean it or replace it every spring (or as recommended by your owner’s manual).
If you have a foam air filter, use some hot water and a dime-sized dollop of detergent to de-gunk it. Make sure it’s completely dry before putting it back in.
If you have a paper air filter that’s dirty, you’ll have to replace it since it can’t be cleaned. 2
4. Address your fuel system
This is one of the most important aspects of spring mower maintenance. Your fuel system is the heart of your gas-powered mower, and proper upkeep is key to staying rugged.
Worn fuel filters are bad news for your mower. They can cause hard starts, damage your carburetor, and make your mower less fuel efficient.1
Make sure your fuel filter is in tip-top shape to start the season, and if it looks dirty, replace it; fuel filters can’t be cleaned.
Check out your carburetor as well. They can get “gummed up” over the winter. If this is the case for yours, it will probably just need a simple cleaning, but if the gunk is bad enough, you might need to replace it.
Did your fuel filter or carb crap out? We have you covered.
Before trying to start your mower, empty any remaining fuel from the tank (ideally, your tank is already empty from your end-of-fall maintenance). Then fill your tank up with fresh fuel.
Bonus tip: Adding a fuel stabilizer each time you refuel will stop the gas from breaking down. This will help prevent plugged lines and sticky intake valves.
If you notice your engine is running rough when you start it, check each line and gasket in the fuel system to make sure you’re not sucking air. If you keep running the engine without correcting the issue, you’ll damage spark plugs and possibly the internals of the engine. If you can’t correct the issue on your own, don’t chance it—take it to a professional.
5. Maintain your mower blades
If you want to keep on top of that grass growth this spring, it’s crucial that your blades stay sharp. Mowing with a dull blade will not only slow you down, but it can also damage your lawn. Instead of chopping the grass, a blunt blade will tear it.
Remove the blades from your mower deck and take a good look at them. If their edges are intact, you can sharpen them yourself using a metal file. Can’t spare the time? Not to worry. Your local mower repair shop or hardware store should be able to get you taken care of.
Seeing nicks in the cutting edges? You’ll have to replace the blades. Make sure you get your OEM part number from your mower’s parts diagram before picking out a replacement; it’s easy to buy the wrong one.
Need a replacement blade? We’ve got a few.
6. Clean It Up
Now it's time to give your mower a serious spring cleaning. You can use a pressure washer for your deck's underside, but if there’s some serious gunk that just doesn’t want to come off, DON’T reach for a wire brush or putty knife. Using metal implements can scratch the deck, encouraging rust to develop.
Use a rag or a scrub brush with plastic bristles to clean clippings, dirt, and other messes from the top of your mower’s deck. Make sure you get around the engine and wheels, too. You can wax the deck once you’re finished to deter grass clippings from sticking to it.2 This will also help to protect against rust.
Get step-by-step instructions for cleaning your mower deck.
Bonus tip: Some mower decks have a built-in wash kit (or you can install one yourself). If you’re one of the lucky folks who have a mower with this function, just remember to put the deck DOWN before engaging your blades. This will trap the water under the deck when it enters the engaged blade area.
7. Tend to your oil system
If you didn’t check your owner’s manual earlier, you’ll want to now. Your mower will likely need oil of a specific viscosity (or weight, in layman’s terms), and your manual will tell you what to look for. It should also have the OEM part number for your oil filter and a schedule for how frequently that should be changed.
We carry replacement oil filters! Shop our selection today.
8. Check your mower belts
As a final step in your mower’s spring tune-up, look at the condition of your mower belts. If you see glazing, cracking, or blistering, it’s a sure sign it’s time to replace them. The same goes for "flat spots" (places that have been ground down by the blade jamming while the pulley kept spinning).
Keep in mind that replacing your mower belts requires the most technical know-how of the items in this list. If you’re not sure you can change them yourself, contact your local lawnmower repair shop and let them do it for you. Just be sure to do it before their busy season starts!
If you’ve got the experience and knowledge to change your mower’s belts, take a look at our selection of replacements.
Wrapping up your spring mower maintenance
Now that you’ve completed each step in our lawnmower maintenance checklist, you’re ready to get out there. Enjoy your mowing, and enjoy your mower!
Curious how to maintain your mower in the summer? We have you covered with our blog on midsummer mower maintenance.
The ROP Shop carries a wide selection of lawnmower and lawn tractor parts for a variety of makes and models. If you need any help finding replacement parts to prep your lawnmower or lawn tractor for spring, let us know! We’re here to help you stay rugged.
WRITTEN BY: KATE HUFFMAN [EDITED 3/2023]
Having trouble using your ROP Shop pressure washer surface cleaner? These tips can help you out.
Thinking about getting a pressure washer? Here are eight advantages to owning a pressure washer to help convince you.
Installing a new pressure washer pump doesn’t have to be a hassle. Let The ROP Shop walk you through it.
Ready to learn how to pressure wash quickly, effectively, and safely? Check out these eleven tips.