Back in the day, whenever a mower stopped working on the job, I’d do what most people do.
​Straight to the shop. Wheel the mower in. Explain the issue.

However, I noticed the first thing the mower shop did was replace the spark plug — and half the time, that was all it needed.

It took me way too long to realise I was paying someone eighty bucks to do something that takes thirty seconds and costs just a few dollars.

These days, I carry spare spark plugs in the wagon.
If a mower plays up, I swap it on the spot and get back to work.
​Nine times out of ten, that’s all it needs.​
That one small change has saved me heaps of downtime (and cash).

And it got me thinking — there are plenty of simple habits like that which keep my machines running smoothly. Especially the mowers.

Here’s what I do now:

🗓 On the first Saturday of the month, I service my mowers:

• A quick wash
• Blade off, sharpened, and back on
• Replace anything worn — bearings, fans, whatever needs it
• Check the air filter and oil, top up or swap as needed
• Lube all the cables

Takes a couple of hours max, and then I’m good for another month.

When I had more vans and crews, I used engine timers to track usage so I knew when each machine was due. (Those little tach/hour meters are fantastic.)

I don’t stress too much about the smaller two-stroke gear — I just replace filters and plugs on the job when needed.
And I don’t mess with engines. They don’t like me, and the feeling’s mutual.

But since getting into this routine, breakdowns are rare and jobs run smoothly.

So if you’re still playing mower roulette each week, waiting for something to go wrong, try this instead:

📅 Block out a regular time in your calendar and stick to a simple maintenance routine.
​Your future self will thank you.

Until next time,
​Get out there, mow lawns and have fun!​
​Stuart​
​Lawnmowing101

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