[Ral1121]

What all should I go over on a used mower before using it. This is what I have thought of. Let me know if I missed anything

- change oil
- change air filter
- grease zerk fittings
- check all belts
- clean fuel filter
- reel to bedknife does it cut paper

Anything else?

 

[kur1j]

You got most of it that I would check. I would track down the owners manually and see if anything else should be done.

 

[Sam23]

spark plug.
drain old gas and put new.

 

[Ral1121]

spark plug.
drain old gas and put new.

What is the best way to drain old gas?

 

[Sam23]

You can either empty it with a Turkey baster.
Or crimp the fuel line, unclamp the fuel line and pour it into a plastic bowl some times I use an empty 2-liter coke bottle, but be sure and dispose of gas properly.
After that you can take off the screw to the carb bowl and empty it and clean out the jets in the bowl screw it also helps clean out all of the old gas from the bowl. Do not remove the bowl without first removing gas or crimping the fuel line.
One thing to do is check the old gas for water. You will see bubbles in the old gas if there is water present. Draining the old gas will remove this.
If the old gas is yellow it is about a year old if it is orange it could be 2 years old.
Tools you might need.
Fuel lIne pliers - to crimp the hose
Carburetor cleaner -to clean out the carb
Air canister with straw -to blow out the jets if your carb cleaner does not have a straw.
Brass brush -to clean the carb screw only.
wire twisty with the plastic pealed off so you can run it though the jet holes of the carb screw if needed.

 

[Ral1121]

@Sam23

Wow thanks for all the info. That really helps out.

 

[Sam23]

@Ral1121 Just a note:
If you do the carb procedure just be aware there is a gasket for the bowl when taking it off. If it is torn you will need to replace it, but most of the time you can reuse it. When putting the carb bowl back on just make sure the gasket is seated properly and do not over tighten the bolt it only needs to be a snug fit. Good luck.

Also:
These are procedures that I have done to rotary push mowers.
I noticed you have a Reel mower so I am not for sure all that I have suggested does apply, but maybe someone who has worked on a Reel Mower can confirm. I apologize if it does not apply.

 

[MasterMech]

Sam is pretty much on point. Carb work is carb work regardless of whether the machine is a rotary or a reel. An once of prevention and all that but most carbs can be brought back to life if you are detail oriented and still have excellent eyesight.

Some advice for new mowers, regarding spare parts. Even though we aren't a commercial enterprise, the results we get on our home lawns depend on machine uptime. Think about what could fail and put your mower out-of-service for more than a day or three. Price those items out and keep the less expensive ones on hand. Keeping $50 worth of belts, bearings, etc on-hand could have you back up and running same-day, if not in a matter of minutes. For a reel mower, I'd also consider keeping a spare bedknife on hand.

 

[Ral1121]

Sam is pretty much on point. Carb work is carb work regardless of whether the machine is a rotary or a reel. An once of prevention and all that but most carbs can be brought back to life if you are detail oriented and still have excellent eyesight.

Some advice for new mowers, regarding spare parts. Even though we aren't a commercial enterprise, the results we get on our home lawns depend on machine uptime. Think about what could fail and put your mower out-of-service for more than a day or three. Price those items out and keep the less expensive ones on hand. Keeping $50 worth of belts, bearings, etc on-hand could have you back up and running same-day, if not in a matter of minutes. For a reel mower, I'd also consider keeping a spare bedknife on hand.

thanks for the advice. I will have to do that. As far as belts, which ones do you try and keep on hand. When I was checking them there seemed to be I think 4 or 5 belts. Keep all on hand or are there specific ones that go out more often then others?

 

[MasterMech]

Sam is pretty much on point. Carb work is carb work regardless of whether the machine is a rotary or a reel. An once of prevention and all that but most carbs can be brought back to life if you are detail oriented and still have excellent eyesight.

Some advice for new mowers, regarding spare parts. Even though we aren't a commercial enterprise, the results we get on our home lawns depend on machine uptime. Think about what could fail and put your mower out-of-service for more than a day or three. Price those items out and keep the less expensive ones on hand. Keeping $50 worth of belts, bearings, etc on-hand could have you back up and running same-day, if not in a matter of minutes. For a reel mower, I'd also consider keeping a spare bedknife on hand.

thanks for the advice. I will have to do that. As far as belts, which ones do you try and keep on hand. When I was checking them there seemed to be I think 4 or 5 belts. Keep all on hand or are there specific ones that go out more often then others?

Which model of mower did you just get?

 

[Ral1121]

@MasterMech

2013 Toro gm1000 w/ groomer

Here is a link to the page with maintenance info on all belts
https://www.toro.com/getpub/70966

all the belt info starts on page 28

 

[MasterMech]

I'd consider putting one of each of those cog belts on the shelf. Be that they are indeed cog belts, they aren't likely to fail on you out of nowhere. But hitting something in the lawn, like a stick, may bust one. When I hit my water meter cover, I actually busted the traction roller belt. But I also killed other parts so the belt was the least of my worries. But it was nice to have the belts and seals/bearings already.