Hello, my name is Gina and this is my garden equipment and supplies blog. For many years, I lived alone in a small flat in Sydney. It was quite a lonely existence. However, all that changed when I met a lovely man. We fell in love and I moved into his large home out in the country. My lover has a very large and wonderful garden. He taught me how to care for the plants and trees and how to use different forms of gardening equipment. I decided to start a blog to pass on everything I have learnt to others.
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Get Out in the Garden
How To Keep Your Cylinder Lawn Mower in Top Condition
Steven Lee
Cylinder mowers are a popular choice because of their clean-cutting action, but they will need a small amount of regular maintenance if they are to be kept in top condition. Here are some of the things you can do to keep your cylinder mower working at its best.
Clean the mower
You will need to clean the excess grass cuttings from the mower every few mows. Make sure the engine is switched off, and tip the mower backwards (do not tip it to the sides as this can cause the fuel to flow into other parts of the mower). A brush will remove the excess grass, and you can use a plastic ice scraper to remove dried grass from the cylinder itself. Spraying the blade with WD40 or a similar penetrating oil will help to protect it from rust and corrosion.
Check the reel
The reel should only just be touching the bottom blade. If it is too tight or too loose, it will not cut the grass properly. One way to test it is to see if it will cut paper cleanly. If it doesn't, you will need to adjust the reel until it is in the right position.
Drain the fuel
You should not store the cylinder mower for a long period of time, particularly over the winter, with fuel in it. This is because the fuel can deteriorate and will not power the mower again in the spring. Drain as much as you can before putting it into storage and then run the engine until the tank is completely empty. You may also find it useful to change the oil before using the mower again next year.
Ground the reel
The reel will begin to become blunt with use. After a couple of years, you may find that it is no longer cutting cleanly and will need to be sent away to be professionally ground (try the paper test as described above — if the reel will not cut the paper when it is just touching the bottom blade, it will need to be ground). You will need to send it away with the soleplate to be ground professionally. This is best done in the autumn as there can be long waiting lists in the spring.
Cylinder mowers can give your lawn a professional look, but only if you look after them. For more advice, just contact your dealer.
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