Essential Mower Parts Every Kansas Landscaper Should Have on Hand
Your mower works extra hard during the peak seasons of spring and summer, and it's up to you to give your machine the support it needs by keeping these essential parts close by. Regular mower maintenance promotes the longevity of your equipment and ensures its best performance to complete jobs with ultimate satisfaction. Keeping these parts close will save you from extended downtime when your mower needs immediate repair.
Blades
The quality of your cut largely depends on the quality of your blades. Worn or dull blades produce uneven, ragged cuts that compromise grass health. Keeping a pair of fresh, sharp blades on hand helps you reduce downtime and keep grass clean and pristine. How often you should replace blades depends on how often you mow and what kind of conditions you’re mowing in. Landscapers who frequently use their mowers for heavy-duty jobs might need to replace them more often. However, a general rule of thumb is to replace blades every 100-200 hours of use or when sharpening no longer produces a clean edge.
Belts
Belts are an integral part of the mower, assisting in the transfer of power from the engine to components like the drive system or mower deck. There are different types of belts needed to keep your mower running strong, including deck belts, drive belts, and PTO belts. Keeping a couple of spares close by can keep things running smoothly if your current belts get compromised.
Filters
Your mower needs clean filters to keep contaminants like dirt and debris out of critical areas such as the engine or fuel center. Landscapers who routinely work on heavy-duty jobs are more likely to need filter replacements more often. Air filters, oil filters, fuel filters—and for some zero-turn mowers— hydraulic filters are all needed to keep these systems running efficiently and extend the life of your equipment. Signs that you might be due for a filter replacement include reduced engine power, increased fuel consumption, dirty oil, and hard starts.
Spark Plugs
Keeping spare spark plugs around can save you from extended downtime due to misfires or stalling. These small but essential parts are responsible for igniting the fuel-air mixture in the engine’s cylinder, allowing combustion to take place for quick and reliable starts. A faulty spark plug can cause complications when starting your mower, leading to poor engine performance and even engine failure. To prevent this, you should replace your spark plugs every 100-200 hours or if you start to notice signs of a failing spark plug, such as difficult starts, misfires, or loss of power.
Batteries and Chargers
Your mower’s battery is a key component to powering the electrical system, which is why it’s always good practice to keep a spare battery and chargers on hand. Mower batteries supply the electrical energy to start the engine, power PTO clutches, support fuel-injected systems, and power electronic displays. When your battery starts to weaken, you may experience things like slow engine cranking, a clicking sound once you turn the key, dimming or flickering lights, or the constant need for a jump-start. While chargers can provide a temporary boost in times of need, a spare, fully-charged battery can save you from extended downtime in the event of a completely dead battery.
Tires
Nothing slows you down like an unexpected flat or damaged tire when you’re in the middle of a job. When working on various types of turf, especially rough terrain, it's not uncommon to come across punctures from sharp objects like nails and rocks or to hit curbs and other objects that can damage your tires. You can save your mower from being out of commission by keeping a spare tire or inner tube on hand. For minor tire issues, you can keep a tire repair kit with materials like plugs, air compressors, and tire sealant to keep you afloat while you’re on the go.
Unexpected hiccups often come with the job, but having the right parts and tools on hand can save you from costly downtime and help you stay productive. Whether you need blades, belts, filters, or tires, our parts department is here to help you find exactly what you need. Contact your nearest American Implement today! We proudly serve Kansas and Colorado with top-quality John Deere parts and expert support to keep your equipment running strong.