How to Maintain a Riding Mower: Simple Tasks to Do Before Summer Ends to Keep Your Mower in Good Condition
From your lawn mower’s perspective, these tasks are ride or die.
Whether you use a tow-tastic lawn tractor or a precision-cutting zero turn mower, all of the best riding lawn mowers require ongoing maintenance in order to function as they should.
There are several routine maintenance tasks that every riding mower owner should do regularly, including fuel refills, condition checks, and cleaning. You’ll also need to keep on top of occasional measures such as replacing worn-out parts and blade sharpening, as required.
In this guide, I’ll take you through five of the most important riding lawn mower maintenance tasks that will ensure your riding mower stays works safely and mows as well as it should. To guarantee the quality of advice provided, I interviewed two lawn care experts – Lowe’s Store Manager, Brian Shaunfield, and lawn care expert, Jimmy The Mower – who have kindly shared the guidance below.
Brian Shaunfield is Store Manager of a Lowe's location in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lowe's is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States, offering a vast range of yard tools including riding mowers and lawn care accessories.
“Regular maintenance is essential in keeping your riding mower running reliably,” says Lowe’s Store Manager, Brian Shaunfield.
“A riding lawn mower should receive a full tune-up at least once a year – every 100 hours of use is a good rule of thumb. While some basic maintenance may seem trivial in the short term, long-term damage can build up and prevent your machine from functioning. Lawn mower engines are surprisingly precise and require specific parts, oil, and upkeep,” he says.
Jimmy The Mower is a lawn care professional and prominent turf industry influencer. Thousands of lawn enthusiasts subscribe to Jimmy's YouTube channel, which features honest gear reviews and how-to guides.
Riding Mower Maintenance Basics
- Check condition before mowing
- Clean the mowing deck
- Maintain the power source
- Lubricate moving parts
- Replace or maintain worn-out components
What You Will Need
- Stiff-bristled brush (like these wire brushes from Amazon)
- Large cleaning cloth or towel
- File (like this 8'' Flat Hand Metal File on Amazon)
- Blade stop
- Mower jack (where required)
- Mechanical lubricant (like this grease from WD-40 on Amazon)
- Gasoline or diesel (where applicable)
- Leaf blower (optional)
- Work gloves
How to Maintain a Riding Lawn Mower
With their powerful drive systems and mowing components, riding lawn mowers far exceed the maintenance requirements of a cordless lawn mower.
If you plan on purchasing one of these highly capable lawn care tools, you should be mindful that ongoing maintenance will be essential to its long-term performance and safe usage. At the very least, you'll need to carry out all the maintenance steps below – and you'll almost certainly need some professional help along the way.
1. Check the condition before each use.
Good riding mower maintenance begins before you even start the mower for the first cut of the year, as you’ll need to check its condition to ensure it can mow safely.
“Whenever you use the mower, walk around it in your garage or shed and do a visual check,” says lawn care expert, Jimmy The Mower.
“Make sure that the tires are fully inflated, and there are no signs of damage, leaks, or drips. And if you’re an occasional, domestic user, double check the oil level – and the water level, if the mower has a water-cooled engine,” he adds.
If the oil or water level looks too low, top up the relevant fluid before you mow your lawn.
“It’s also crucial to make sure all shields and deflectors are in place and undamaged, and make sure the tires are inflated and the brakes are working properly,” says Shaunfield.
“Plus, before you start mowing, move the machine to an outside area before running the engine. Avoid enclosed areas, like a garage, even if the doors and windows are open, because running an engine indoors can produce harmful fumes.”
How often: Before every mow
2. Clean the mowing deck.
Every time you use your riding mower, you can bet your bottom dollar grass clippings and other natural debris will accumulate on some of its components – especially in the mowing deck, which houses the blade(s).
If left unattended, this detritus can be a problem, as it may cause parts of the riding mower to rust and fail.
“The most important thing is cleaning the mowing deck after every use, because grass sticks to this easily, and the moisture it carries can very quickly cause rotting and lead to rust,” says Jimmy The Mower.
To clean your riding mower’s mowing deck, you’ll first need to access the deck, which may be difficult. With some models, you can remove the deck (which will be heavy) and upend it, allowing easy access for cleaning with a stiff-bristled brush (and a hose for rinsing, if necessary). Remember to dry the mowing deck very thoroughly using a large cloth or towel when you’re done cleaning.
If you can’t access the underside of the mowing deck by removing the component, you might need to use a mower jack (like this model for $629.99 from Lowe’s) to safely lift the entire mower, taking all appropriate safety precautions.
Other riding mower parts that require very careful cleaning include grass collectors and mulching accessories.
How often: After every use
3. Maintain the power source.
You’ll need to continually maintain the power source of your riding mower, whether it runs off gasoline or a less commonly used fuel such as diesel or even rechargeable batteries, like this electric lawn tractor our experts tested.
On a regular basis – perhaps once weekly or once per use – replenish the mower’s power source. That could mean adding more gas or diesel via the relevant inlet or it could mean recharging batteries using your household electricity.
Annually, between the end of one mowing season and the start of the next, you’ll also need to take special steps to ensure the power source is ready to use again.
“Every year, a gas riding mower will need professional engine servicing, new filters, an oil change and spark plug replacement,” says Jimmy The Mower.
“If you have a cordless electric riding mower, make sure the battery stays topped up over winter. Remember to keep batteries somewhere warmer than the shed or garage during very cold weather,” he says.
How often: Weekly and annually
4. Lubricate any moving parts.
Keeping mower parts lubricated will encourage smooth operation and minimizes overall levels of wear and damage.
“Any moving parts need to be well lubricated so they don’t seize up and fail, so grease them regularly,” says Jimmy The Mower
Many of the mower parts that require lubrication the most are fitted with grease nipples, which you can use to direct lubricant to the right places. Look for these entry points on bearings, mowing deck spindles, and the steering and axle assemblies.
How often: Frequently (weekly, or at least once per month)
5. Replace or maintain worn-out parts.
The lifespan of a riding lawn mower is likely to be at least 4-5 years or 400-500 hours of mowing. Some models can last much longer. In order to get the most out of your mower during its lifespan, you’ll need to replace or maintain certain components as they wear out, like replacing a lawn mower carburetor.
“If you have the right DIY skills and are familiar with machinery, you may be able to switch out a part yourself,” says Shaunfield. “For instance, changing the air filter, spark plug, or changing the oil are occasional maintenance tasks that come with a mower.”
Another key task that many riding mower owners carry out for themselves is sharpening the mower blade. You can do this using a blade stop (like this one for $14.88 from Walmart) and hand file, provided it’s possible to safely access the underside of the mowing deck.
Replacement parts for your model of mower should be purchasable via the manufacturer.
How often: as required
Frequently Asked Questions
Are some riding mowers more complicated to maintain than others?
There’s a lot of variety in the riding mower market and, as a result, one model may have very different maintenance needs compared to another.
A key point of difference is the fuel source used to power the mower. Gas or diesel riding mowers are powered by a combustion engine, which will have various components that require servicing, including a carburetor, spark plug and air filter.
This makes gas riding mowers more complicated to maintain than a cordless electric riding mower – although lithium-ion batteries come with their own demands, including regular charging, occasional replacement, and proper handling to extend the life of your lawn mower battery.
Whichever riding mower you’ve purchased, you should have received a comprehensive instruction manual with the product. If you’re ever unsure how to maintain the mower, refer to the manufacturer’s guidance.
Which riding mower maintenance tasks require professional attention?
Riding mowers often appeal to folks who have some amount of mechanical knowledge or enthusiasm for vehicle maintenance. If that sounds like you, then you might feel comfortable handling most of the issues that arise in your riding model.
However, there are certain riding mower maintenance tasks that will usually require input from a specialist mechanic or engineer. These issues might include problems with the hydraulics system on a zero-turn lawn mower, failure to start with an undiagnosed cause, and replacing faulty or damaged internal components.
Do towed riding mower attachments require maintenance?
If you have a riding lawn tractor, there’s a pretty good chance you have some riding lawn mower attachments to go with it.
From dethatchers and scarifiers to spreaders and carts, all types of riding mower attachment should be diligently maintained, as this will help preserve both the attachment and the mower.
“Maintenance of riding mower attachments is paramount,” says Jimmy The Mower. “You might use these items only a handful of times per year, so make sure they’re clean and dry before storing to prevent rust. A light coating of oil would be a welcome addition, too.”
“Make sure the parts of your mower attachment are moving freely before attaching, because the mower’s drive system can seize up if the attachment doesn’t move,” he adds.
