Your Mower Repair & Servicing Questions Answered

Most domestic mowers should be serviced at least once a year, ideally at the start of the mowing season. Commercial machines used daily may need attention every 25 to 50 hours. Regular servicing keeps your engine running on clean oil, clean air and fresh spark plugs.

The most common causes are a blocked air filter, a dirty carburettor, a dull blade or stale fuel. Start by replacing the air filter and spark plug and inspecting the blade. If the issue continues, bring it in, and our Gympie, QLD, team will carry out a full diagnosis.

Most four-stroke domestic engines use SAE 30 or 10W-30 motor oil. Always check your owner's manual for the correct grade and never overfill, as too much oil is just as damaging as too little.

Petrol begins to degrade after around 30 days and can clog carburettor jets, fuel lines and filters. Drain old fuel before the start of each season and consider using a fuel stabiliser before storage to extend shelf life.

As a general guide, push mowers suit blocks up to 800 square metres, self-propelled models up to 1,500 square metres, small ride-ons up to 4,000 square metres, and zero-turn mowers for larger properties where speed and efficiency matter most.

Battery platforms like EGO Power+, Greenworks and Kress now deliver genuine petrol-equivalent performance with quieter operation, lower running costs and simpler maintenance. Petrol still suits very large properties or extended continuous use. Our team can help you compare options.

This usually points to a fuel delivery issue, most commonly a partially blocked carburettor from stale fuel varnish. A carburettor clean or rebuild and a fuel system service will resolve most cases.

Heavy smoke is almost always caused by an incorrect fuel-to-oil mixture or the wrong type of two-stroke oil. Most modern equipment runs at a 50:1 ratio. Always check your manual and use purpose-formulated two-stroke oil rather than automotive alternatives.