Why you should have your electrical lawnmower serviced…
It is common for the average person not to have their power equipment serviced regularly. If only you realised how much money and heartache you can save yourselves by having your equipment serviced regularly! It is recommended by all major brands that all equipment is serviced every 100 operating hours. Since most owners do not keep track of operating hours, it is advisable that domestic equipment is serviced once a year.
All outdoor power equipment is only as reliable and efficient as the maintenance that it undergoes.
Electrical lawnmowers have four basic components that need regular maintenance:
- The electrical cable and switch
- The chassis
- The motor
- The blades
The electrical cable should not be twisted as the copper strands will be damaged and break. When this happens no power will go through to the motor or if both the live and neutral wires break and touch each other it will cause a short and/or an electrical shock.
The chassis is a vital part of your lawnmower. If the stub axles are worn, photo A (that is the axles the wheels run on) it means that the wheel bearings or bushes are also worn. To prevent excessive wear of the stub axles the wheel bearings or bushes should be replaced as soon as the wheel starts feeling loose on the axle.
The front and rear axles should also be monitored regularly. They are kept in position with axle holders. If you push down on the lawnmower handle so that the front wheels lift off the ground and the front wheels drop then it means your axle holders and/or axles are worn, photo B.
If the wheel bearings or wheel bushes are replaced timeously it will save you money. It will cost you three times more to either replace the stub axles or the front or rear axles.
The motor which is the most important part of your equipment, if it is neglected you will lose your equipment. If rust or corrosion sets in, as in photo C, it means that the motor must work much harder as it is supposed to. If it is removed from the armature and cleaned timeously it will prolong the life of your equipment substantially.
The motor runs on two bearings, top and bottom. If they are not serviced, greased and checked for play, they could cost you your motor. Moisture and dirt causes severe rust and corrosion, as in photo D. If the bearings are not checked regularly they might seize and cause the motor to burn out.
The blades take a huge amount of punishment due to sand and stones. The first part of the blade that is worn away is the wing that is responsible for the vacuum action. Blades never wear off evenly, which causes excessive vibration. This vibration, if not taken care of immediately, will have a severe effect on the motors bearings and on the rest of the equipment.
By taking care of your equipment and having it serviced regularly, you can prolong the life of your equipment with a number of years.
Article provided by: Lawnmower & Chainsaw Clinic Hermanus
