Many people are intimidated when something breaks or isn’t quite working right on their lawn tractor. If you are willing to do a little research, and use some patience, you can do quite a bit of repair and maintenance yourself.

One of the most common items that needs work on a lawn tractor is the blades. Depending on the size of the tractor, there could be two or three blades under the deck. The blades wear out as you mow, and will eventually need to be replaced. The first step in replacing the blades is to make sure the lawn tractor is turned off, and the key removed. You don’t want to have the engine start while you have your hands anywhere near the blades.

Raise the deck to it’s highest setting and use a flash-light to take a look under the deck at the blades. Normally there is a single bolt or nut holding each blade in place. You should wear gloves to protect your hands when removing the blades. Hold the blade as firmly as you can, and use a wrench to remove the bolt or nut from the centre of the blade.

Some blades will fall right off when you loosen them, other will need to be wiggled back and forth to drop off the deck. Once you have the blades removed, use a paint scraper or putty knife to remove all of the built up grass and dirt from the underside of the deck. It’s also a good idea to inspect the belt that drives the blades at this time. Verify that the new blades have the proper mounting holes and hardware.

Depending on the model and brand, you might need to transfer a mounting flange or bracket from the old blades to the new blades. Do this one blade at a time, so you can refer to the old blade if you become unsure of how to mount this hardware.

It’s also a good idea to use a small wire brush and clean any nuts, bolts or other hardware that you are reusing. This will help ensure you will be able to remove the hardware again. Simply bolt the new blades back in place, ensuring they are seated properly in their mounting positions.

Now your tractor should be ready to mow again. Another common issue with lawn tractors is difficult starting, or rough running. This can often be caused by a worn spark plug, or spark plug that has soot built up on it. To help keep the tractor running right , you can replace the spark plug each year. Refer to the owner’s manual, or your local parts store for the correct spark plug.

You will also want to make sure the plug has the correct gap. Incorrect spark plug gap can also cause the engine to run rough, or not start at all. Use a gap gauge, which are available where ever you purchase spark plugs. Once you’ve got the correct plug, and it’s gapped correctly, remove the old spark plug. A socket wrench with a deep well socket is needed to remove most spark plugs.

Remove the old plug, and install the new one. Be careful to tighten the plug so it’s snug, but do not over tighten. Once the plug is installed, reattach the plug wire. You’re now ready to start your lawn tractor and get to work.