So, we all have various petrol driven machinery don't we?
How often do YOU service it (or have it serviced)?
Do you even know what the oil change intervals actually ARE?
To clarify we are talking the likes of Briggs and Stratton engines such the 'Intek', 'Max', 'Quantum' and 'Sprint' variants and Hondas such as the 'GV' and 'GVC' among others.
Did you know these require an oil change every 50 hours in 'arduous' or 'heavy' (read commercial) use?
Just have a look at the service schedule here - 5th page down.
http://www5.briggsandstratton.com/eu/en/pdf/owners_manual/100%5CMS8057-GB.pdf
Just think - if you use your lawnmower five hours a day, five days a week, like some of us do, then it has done fifty hours running in two weeks!
The average homeowner may get away with a yearly service but very few do more than fifty hours of cutting a year.
By sticking to this recommended oil change interval, it greatly prolongs the engines lifespan - I know of a contractor that only had their Hayter Harriers serviced TWICE a year - after a years cutting, the engines were all worn out, smoky and knocking.
They shifted to doing their own oil changes approx every fifty hours - now they haven't changed an engine in 4 years AND they don't smoke, knock or rattle - as a matter of fact they run very well!
Most small engines only use around a pint of oil every oil change - so 5 litres of oil will last most of the season, even if you use 10 litres, its cheaper than a new engine every year!
Don't forget - always take the spark plug lead off before doing anything under your mower, always tip it carburetor side upwards and be careful of that (hopefully!) sharp blade....Don't forget to check/change the air filter and spark plug at recommended intervals too.
I know there may be someone out there that will say, I've NEVER changed the oil and it still runs fine - all I can say is "You've been lucky so far"......
Not sure how many hours your mower runs? - you can even get a handy electronic hour meter that will count them for you.....
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Replies
I've had my new mower serviced twice but will try and do myself every 50 hours. I do not mow 5 hours a day though so not so often for me.
The supplier of my mowers allows me to turn up when i've accrued the relevant hours use for an oil change and just charges me for the oil. The mowers then get serviced annually.
Kevin
www.gardencoaching.blogspot.com
Briggs & stratton do a service meter that cable ties to the handle of a mower - the 'servisexpert', any good?
I have just ordered one, only costs £7.99 No doubt shame me into more regular maintenance. interesting to know how the hours mount up.
Richard Thornton said:
I do the oil, clean the filter and sharpen the blade on my Honda every few weeks in the busy season. The oil isn't too dirty but certainly not clean, that's got to be 50-ish hours per week. I've NEVER, touch wood, had engine issues on the Honda, but the drive system is hopeless and I treat it as a consumable now. The mowers are worn out long before the engine is showing any wear. Why not change the oil regularly? Its pennies, takes minutes to do and must prolong the engine's effective life. Warm up, remove dipstick, tip on side to drain, refill and good to go. Air filters are just as important to clean, wash the foam and clear the cartridge with compressed air.
My two Hayter pros only lasted a year, with the same oil changes.
we use a hour clock on the bahia ride on mower which is pre programed for 50 hour service intervals etc, the clock is wired to the spark plug so it will also give the rpm of the engine as its running as-well as total hours etc.
i mention the above because this type of clock can and has been fitted buy some council contractors to our pro51 mowers ( walkbehind mowers) so it reads out service intervals and total hours for them.
if any one is interested in knowing a little more i could put up the part number and current price.
regards
neal
Hi Neal,
we use these on all our machines. Great devices, we've the one that is a rev counter as well. helps tell if mower is underperforming and/or under too much load. Siimple 2 wire & tie wrap installation.
Got them on our Bahia's too ;-)
I do change the oil on my machines fairly often, but i do feel 50hrs is a bit on the early side. just as a comparsion my bike is 600cc, 4 cylinder air cooled engine, 80hp, so each cylinder is 150cc putting out 20hp three times the power of most lawnmower engines. The service interval is 4500miles or about 100hrs and the oil gets a much tougher time in that.
Would be interested in this, if you could post details that would be great.
Neal Barker @ Etesia uk said:
hi stephen
the etesia part number for it is 32211 = £70.73 +vat
you wire it direct onto the spark plug and mount where ever you want it,it display's the rpm / total hours / and will display oil every 50 hours when its in need of the average 50 hours oil change and other service times
i have put up 2 pics for you to look at aswell
Stephen @ SJS said:
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