Now’s the time to give your mower a winter once-over

A bit of maintenance in winter can save you costly repairs in spring. If you’re servicing your mower at home, start with the part that works the hardest: the deck. 

From worn belts to dodgy bearings, here’s a simple step-by-step to make sure everything’s running as it should.

Step 1: Remove the deck 
Remove the deck from the mower completely and place it on a workbench or table.  

Step 2: Remove the belt and blades 
Take off the belt and remove the blades. 

Step 3: Check the spindle bearings  
Check the spindle bearings. If your mower has blade brakes, hold them off manually and spin the top pulley. It should be virtually silent. If it sounds rough or grumbly (like a bag of rocks), you’ll need to replace the bearings. 

Step 4: Spin the idler pulleys 
Remove and spin the idler pulleys – same test. If they’re smooth and quiet, they’re good for another season. If not, replace them. 

Step 5: Clean and reassemble 
Scrape the deck clean. Sharpen or replace the blades, reassemble the idlers, and make sure the blade brakes still work properly. 

Step 6: Inspect the belt 
Visually check the belt. Look for cracks or tears. Press it into a V pulley – if the belt sits flush or touches the bottom, it’s worn out and should be replaced. 

Step 7: Reassemble and test 
Reassemble everything and test run the mower. 

A couple of notes:

• Belts don’t just break, they usually fail because of bad bearings. Catch the bearings early and you’ll save yourself the cost (and hassle) of premature belt failures.
• Never waterblast your mower. The bearings and electrics can’t handle that kind of pressure, it’ll just cause damage.
• Read your owner’s manual or search your mower’s product number online. (Failing that, try YouTube — Chickanic is awesome at this stuff!)