Are you mowing someone's grass?
While this statement, commonly used in jest, actually makes you think, "can you start a lawn mower?" I'm all for empowering woman, and that we can achieve anything, however, it is still surprising how many of us don't mow our own grass, let alone start a lawn mower!
Here is an easy how to guide to ensuring your lawn mower is maintained and that you can start it, cut that grass back and out of your way! (Good luck to all those hayfever sufferers out there!)
Firstly, it is important to know whether your lawn mower is a 2-stroke or 4-stroke mower. Simply, the 4-stroke will require you to put the fuel and oil in separately and for the 2-stroke mower you need to mix the oil and fuel together. This is important to remember otherwise you could be burning out your motor or causing it to seize up. So, without too much information a 2-stroke piston engine requires all the air, fuel and combustion products to be moved in 2 strokes, however for a 4-stroke engine there is a separate stroke for the intake, compression, expansion and exhaust. Your owner manual will tell you the ratio of fuel to oil ratio if you own a 2-stroke mower, and you will commonly find that if you also have a whipper snipper that this will be 2-stroke. I rarely come across 2-stroke mowers. Ratio could vary from 25:1 to 40:1 or 50:1 meaning for every litre of petrol there is 50ml of oil. (If you are ever unsure feel free to email us at Fox&Sage)
For those 4-stroke users, your oil will go in separately and there is a dipstick to see if you have reached the right mark. The oil should be changed each year and topped up as required. If your oil is thick and black, it's not good! Look for a red, clear viscous oil.
Now this is just a quick go-to guide, so no more of the technical stuff!
1. Prime the lawn mower, (This means something completely different in makeup terms) There will be a little rubbery button on the side of the mower (engine area) somewhere, usually red, or can be clear and filled with fluid. Push this in approx 3 times.
2. Set the throttle to full. Most of the time there will be diagrams, Tortoise to Rabbit. Slow to Fast!
This allows for more fuel to flow through. 3. Pull the starter cord sharply! This could take a few tries especially if you haven't used the mower for a while. Also keep in mind how high or low the mower is off the ground, as this could be restricting the airflow to the engine. I hope this helps a few of you! The hayfever, the clumps of grass you miss and the swear words you utter will all be worth it when you sit back with a glass of beer, wine or mojito and appreciate the wild jungle you have conquered.
Good luck!
Caution: Remember mowers cut through some tough stuff, so use caution and don't put hands anywhere underneath whilst the mower is running (or even when stopped, unless the throttle is cut!)
