Exmark Service Tips

EXMARK MOWER TROUBLESHOOTING & SERVICE TIPS

It’s easy for all of us to overcomplicate even the most straight-forward of service and maintenance tasks. For that reason, the Exmark Service Team has put together a list of tips to help you in the day to day service and maintenance of your equipment. Remember, if you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Cleaning your  Exmark mower

Clean your unit as often as possible, but minimize the use of water. Water under pressure + detergent = corrosion and problems. Pressure washers clean great, but they also put water and detergents into places that can be very detrimental to your equipment. Use compressed air or blowers as much as possible. Also make sure you grease and lubricate the unit afterward if water was used.

Installing a spring

An easy tool to remove or install a spring is an old starter rope. Simply take the old rope and make a loop at the handle. Attach it to one side of the spring and slip the rope over the other end. Use the rope to stretch the spring and attach it to the other anchor point.

A faster, simpler way to remove old engine oil

You may want to look at some of the oil evacuation systems that are on the market. Many dealers use these types of devices. They’re a lot like vacuum cleaners. You stick the hose down the dip stick tube and suck the old oil out. Remember to change the filter!

Fixing a flat

Flats can be a problem. Some tire sealant may work great. Be careful about how much weight this adds to the wheel. Do not use a sealant that makes the tire hard. Keep in mind, the tire is your shock absorber on the unit. You may put excessive load on the frame and drive system.

Storing foam precleaners

Keep extra oil-treated, foam precleaners for the engine in a zip-lock bag. The precleaner filters out most of the dirt and is reusable and inexpensive when compared to the price of the paper air cleaner element.

Greasing the pivot points of your Exmark Mower

Remove the tension from the spring-tensioned pivot points when greasing them. This will allow the grease to be more evenly distributed.

Corrosion prevention

Corrosion is inevitable—that's why you grease and lubricate your machine. Don't forget about the electrical connections. At least once a year, clean and repack the electrical connections with dielectric grease. Your dealer and many auto parts stores carry this type of grease for the electrical connections.

Types of oil

It's the quality not the quantity of grease that's important. Make sure the lubricates you choose will do an adequate job. A shortcut here to save a few cents can really cost you in the long run. Keep in mind that many engine manufacturers recommend a certain weight of oil, and it may depend on the time of year. This can make a big difference in oil consumption as well as the proper lubrication of the engine. Do not use synthetic oil in the engine during the break-in period. If you use synthetic oil, the change interval stays the same; however, most engine manufacturers do not recommend the use of synthetic oils. The proper petroleum-based oil lubricates the engine adequately.

Storing oxygenated fuels

Be aware that oxygenated fuels have a shelf life of 30 days (fuels containing alcohol blends or MTBE-methyl tertiary butyl ether). Mark the date on your gas can when you fill it. There are also inexpensive testers to check your fuel to be sure that it does not contain over the maximum 10 percent alcohol or 15 percent MTBE.

Maintaining idler pulleys

To add a little life to your idler pulleys, try using a little spray lubricant on the seals. Over time, water and sunlight can cause the seals to harden, shrink or crack. When this happens, the seal no longer protects the bearing and a failure will soon happen. The lubricant will help to keep the seal soft and resistant to the weathering that can occur.

Adjusting a new belt

Make sure to check the adjustment on a new belt, often. Check the belt three times in the first 24 hours of use, and adjust it if necessary. During this time, the belt is fitting into the pulleys. If the belt is allowed to loosen as it fits in, you may spin/burn the belt, which drastically reduces belt life.

Checking belt tension

A simple belt-tension gauge is a ruler and a fish scale. Simply hook the fish scale around the belt, and pull. Use the ruler to measure the distance. On some belts, we recommend a 1/2-inch deflection with 10 pounds of pressure. This means it would take a force of 10 pounds to move the belt a half-inch. Be sure to consult the operator's manual for the belt you're adjusting.

Sharpening and balancing mower blades

Blade sharpness and balancing are important. Dull blades tear leaf tips, making them susceptible to dieback and pests. A dull blade also increases the load on the belts, bearings, and engine. An unbalanced blade can cause vibrations and stress to the cutting deck. Every 8 to 10 hours of use, sharpen the blades and replace any damaged blades. Blade-balancing tools are inexpensive and readily available. Consider keeping an extra set of sharp, balanced blades on hand.

Using fuel stabilizers

As the season draws to an end, put a little fuel stabilizer in your gas. This will help protect the fuel when it's slow, and ensure that the stabilized fuel gets into the carburetor.

Are you still feeling doubtful about checking your Exmark equipment and need help servicing it? Contact our service team! Our talented service technicians can perform oil changes, tires and parts replacement, or just do an annual maintenance on your Exmark machine. Contact our service through our service form today and have confidence your Exmark equipment is being taken well care of.