Grass in Simcoe County usually needs its first cut in late April; in Muskoka it can be mid-May. Either way, the mowers that come into our shops in June with a scalped lawn or a smoking belt almost always skipped the same few spring steps. Here are the eight that matter, in the order we do them.
1. Fresh fuel and a fuel check
If you did not stabilize the fuel last fall, drain it. Stale ethanol fuel gums up carburetors and is the most common reason a mower will not start in spring. Refill with fresh fuel and inspect fuel lines for cracks.
2. Oil and filter
Change the engine oil and filter if you did not do it at the end of last season. Check the manual for the right weight; most John Deere lawn tractors take 10W-30 for summer use.
3. Air filter and spark plugs
Tap out or replace the air filter and pre-cleaner. Pull the plugs, check the gap and replace them if the electrodes are rounded. A new plug is cheap insurance for easy starting.
4. Battery
Charge the battery fully, clean the terminals and load-test it. If it has been through three or more winters, replace it before it fails in the middle of the lawn.
5. Blades
Sharp, balanced blades cut cleanly and reduce engine load. Sharpen or replace them, and replace any blade with a crack or a bent tip. We sharpen and balance blades at both our parts counters.
6. Belts, pulleys and spindles
Look for glazing, cracks or fraying on the deck and drive belts. Spin the spindles and idler pulleys by hand; any grinding or wobble means a bearing needs attention before it takes the belt with it.
7. Tires and deck level
Set tire pressures to the values on the sidewall or in the manual, then level the deck side-to-side and set the front slightly lower than the rear. An unlevel deck is the usual cause of stripes and scalping.
8. Grease and hardware
Grease the front axle, wheel bearings and deck spindles where fittings exist. Walk around the machine and snug up loose fasteners, especially on the deck hangers and anti-scalp wheels.
Zero-turn owners: two extra checks
Check hydrostatic oil level and condition on Z300, Z500 and Z700 Series zero-turns, and confirm the parking brake and seat safety switch work. Commercial ZTrak owners should also check the deck's anti-scalp rollers and the hydraulic filter interval.
Or let us do it
Our Ready-to-Mow spring service covers all eight steps plus a full safety inspection, and if your tractor spent the winter with a snow blower on it we swap the deck back at the same visit. We offer pickup and delivery across Simcoe County and Muskoka, and our service department uses genuine John Deere parts and filters. Book early; April fills fast.
Mower past its best? Compare new John Deere mowers in stock, ask about a trade-in value, or spread the cost with the John Deere Multi-Use Account for parts and service.
