How does one go about servicing a lawn mower?

Is it a case of filter, plug, oil, and give the blades a quick sharpen?

I cant see a drain point for the oil though?

Old stylee briggs and stratton 206cc 5hp beast if its any help?

Thats exactly it mate. Give a general clean up.. Clean up the magnets for the coil..

If u flip it over and have a gander underneath there should be a drain plug under there. I seem to remember them being square fo some reason.

If you sharpen the blade make sure its roughly balanced so it dont shake,,

B&Q sell briggs service kits (well ours did). Just a new plug, air filter and a bottle of oil.

The drain plugs are usually under the deck, where the blades are. So have fun scraping off dried grass looking for that...As said they are sometimes square, but they arent that tight and an adjustable wrench will get them out easy enough.

David

[Edited on 19/4/05 by flak monkey]

I have a 14 year old flymo petrol. I think there isnt a drain hole, you tip it upside down and the oil comes out the way it went in.

Ive changed the oil twice in 14 years and it still runs fine!

atb

steve

mine wouldnt start after winter, i snapped the pull cord trying so i need a big service on mine. Might just buy a new one

I would not recommend flipping it over as I tried this with mine when trying to clean grass off the blades.

Tipped it through 90 degrees and the oil pours through the exhaust, lots of black smoke for half an hour while it burns off.

Not popular with the neighbours.

Not sure if you can tip it away from the exhaust.

Got a quote for servicing (£50 !!).

I tipped it up through 90 away from the exhaust last night for about an hour whilst trying to get the blades off!

It was ok,


Tipped it the other way about a week ago and as above it pi55ed oil out the exhaust and smoked like a goodun for ages.

Remove the plug or the cap while you do anything with the blade or tip the mower over.
http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/Briggs_Stratton.html
When I worked on the school gardens rotary mowers were never sharpened, only cylinder mowers


[Edited on 19/4/05 by Peteff]

Anybody got an old motor from a lawnmower they no longer want?
I've been looking for one for a while (not too hard) for a small project.
A cylinder mower engine would be preferable, but not essential. Just easier to get drive from sprocket on side than underneath.

Cheers!

Peteff,

That link doesnt go anywhere

I made sure i pulled the lead off the plug prior to puting my hands anywhere near the blades!

The blades do need sharpening because a certin member of my family has a tendancy to run over the same tree stump that has been there longer than we have!

Petes link should be:

http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/Briggs_Stratton.html

Service ideally should be done for the lay up (titter ye not !)

Best oil to use is 0w/40 Mobile 1 ---- I jest not official Briggs & Stratton approved. Mine runs on anything I have around that isn't to thick at the cold end usually 5w/30 or 10w/40 ------

Always remove the plug and turn the engine over a few time if you have tipped it up or it has be stored over winter.
Plugs aren't a problem on 4 strokes just clean gap them and refit.

Foam airfilter on mine just washes in hot soapy water.
I change the blade every other otherwise it gets sharpened & some attempt made to balance it.

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/display/router.asp?docid=78498

[Edited on 19/4/05 by britishtrident]

The missus has an electric flymo, doesn't need servicing but I do change the blade for her

quote:

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Originally posted by Peteff
Remove the plug or the cap while you do anything with the blade or tip the mower over.
http://www.mower-magic.co.uk/acatalog/Briggs_Stratton.html
When I worked on the school gardens rotary mowers were never sharpened, only cylinder mowers


[Edited on 19/4/05 by Peteff]

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