Starting off springtime with clean, sharp tools at your fingertips will reduce your stress level and yield better results. And probably no tool gets a bigger workout than your lawnmower.
“A sharp blade will give your lawn that beautiful, manicured look and keep the blades of grass from weakening and being susceptible to disease,” says Tim Kinney, manager of Lincoln Rent-All and Sales at the 3110 Auburn St. location in Rockford. The store has a second location at 6635 E. Riverside Blvd.
A mower spring tune-up can increase fuel efficiency by about one-third, extend the life of the engine, reduce repair costs and decrease emissions by half, adds Kinney.
Getting a lawn mower ready for spring starts in the fall, when you make sure fuel is drained and the underdeck is clean and free of grass build-up.
Gas out of the pump lasts about 30 days before it starts to break down and collect moisture, especially with the addition of ethanol in recent years. Too much moisture in fuel will prevent an engine from starting.
Other mower maintenance includes changing the oil once a year or every 25 hours of use, changing the spark plug and air filter, and sharpening the blade.
Clean oil prevents the engine from getting clogged up. A spark plug’s health is directly linked to engine performance, including power and fuel economy. And a clean air filter helps to maintain the proper air and fuel ratio, allowing the mower to have the best fuel efficiency.
Lincoln Rent-All sells and services Toro mowers – a push mower service costs $70, including pick-up and drop-off, a riding mower more depending on what needs to be done.
There are certain tools you only need occasionally. In those cases, it may make more sense to rent than to buy that rototiller, aerator, edger, leaf blower, weed whacker or chain saw, all of which Lincoln Rent-All carries.
“It can be nice to pick it up, use it, and not have to worry about servicing it or storing it,” says Kinney. ❚