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Gasoline Powered Push Mower Maintenance
 You
will need: 4 cycle engine oil, a plastic pan to dump the old oil
into, a grindstone bit made just for mowers, an electric drill,
a vise, a socket wrench, a large flathead screw driver and safety
glasses or goggles.
Pull the mower onto a hard flat surface such as a driveway or level
patio.
Unscrew the spark plug with the socket wrench. Always
remove the spark plug before doing any work below the deck!
Removing the spark plug will prevent any chance of the mower accidentally
starting while you are working on it.
Look at the end of the spark plug that has been inside the engine
and inspect it for signs of corrosion. If there is none, you do
not need a new spark plug and can put it back into the engine when
finished with the maintenance. If the spark plug is corroded, you
will need a replacement.
Unscrew the cap on the oil chamber. It will usually be on the opposite
side of the engine from where the gas cap is. (If yours is on the
same side as where the gas goes in, you'll have to drain your oil
from underneath the deck.) There should be a short dip stick attached
to the underside of the cap. Turn the mower over slowly so that
the old oil drains out into the plastic pan. Be
sure to dispose of the old oil properly at a landfill or service
station. Never dump it on the ground or down a household drain!
While the oil is still draining into the pan, use the socket wrench
and take off the nut and washer securing the blade arm of the mower.
Put those in a cup where you'll be able to find them again, and
then remove the blade arm itself. Clean any caked on grass off of
the underside of the deck.
 There
are 2 blades, one at each end of the blade arm. Sharpen them one
at a time. Place the blade arm into the vise of your workbench.
Put the grindstone bit into the drill. Always
wear safety glasses or goggles when grinding! Begin
to sharpen the first blade. Shine up the bevel of metal on top of
the blade with the bottom of the grindstone. Then flip over the
blade arm, securing it in the vise again and run the length of the
blade between the grindstone and the white plastic guide attached
to the upper end of the bit. Alternate back and forth between the
two surfaces, flipping the blade arm as needed, until the blade
is sharp. Then do the same thing to the blade on the opposite end
of the blade arm.
Put the freshly sharpened blade arm back onto the underside of
the deck, securing it with the washer and nut. Gently right the
mower. Use a large flathead screw driver and unscrewed the cover
of the air filter compartment. Remove the sponge-like air filter.
It contains a small amount of engine oil and will be fairly dirty.
Wash it in a pan of water with a small amount of soap and degreaser.
It is best to dispose of the dirty water at an approved facility
so that the engine oil in the filter does not enter the sewer or
storm drain systems. You do not need to replace the air filter unless
it is disintegrating.
Put about a tablespoon of the new engine oil on the air filter
and work it in with your fingers. Put the filter back in its basket
and back into its compartment, screwing the cover down tightly,
but not too tight.
Put the new engine oil into the oil chamber. Some engine oil comes
in a bottle containing more oil than what will fit into the engine,
so be careful and do it slowly. Keep checking the level with the
dipstick attached to the cap every couple of teaspoons until the
proper level is reached.
Lastly, put the spark plug back in with the socket wrench.
Fill the gas tank with new gas and start the mower.
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