Get Your Mower Ready for Spring

Spring is the perfect time to give your lawn mower a little attention so it’s ready for the mowing season ahead. A few simple steps now can save you a lot of frustration later and help your machine run cleaner, cut better, and last longer.

Follow this quick start-up guide to get your mower back in action:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Put fresh gas in your mower

Your mower should start spring with fuel that’s either:

• Completely empty, or

• Completely full with fuel that has stabilizer mixed in

If the gas sitting in your tank is old, replace it with fresh fuel so you’re not fighting hard starts or poor engine performance when the grass starts growing.

Step 2 – Check your oil levels

Every spring, take a moment to check your engine oil level.
This helps you spot low oil or early signs of leaks before they turn into bigger issues.

💡 Pro Tip:
If your mower has hydrostatic transmissions, make sure to check your hydro oil level too. Keeping it topped up ensures smooth driving and steady ground speed.

Step 3 – Give your machine an engine service

If you didn’t do a full service at the end of last season, now is the time. A proper spring tune-up includes:

• New air filter

• New fuel filter

• New spark plugs

• Fresh oil

• New oil filter

This keeps your mower breathing easy, running strong, and starting reliably throughout the busy mowing months.

Step 4 – Sharpen or change your blades

Dull mower blades can:

• Tear your grass instead of cutting it

• Leave Stripes in the yard

• Cause uneven mowing patterns

• Stress your lawn’s root system

A sharp blade gives you that clean, striped, professional-looking cut you want.

💡 Pro Tip:
Keep an extra set of blades on hand! If one gets damaged by a stick, rock, or hidden root, you can swap it out quickly and keep mowing.

Step 5 – Check for signs of mice or winter critters

During colder months, small animals love to build nests around engines and in cozy compartments.
Take a look under the hood and around the engine shrouds for:

• Nests

• Chewed wiring

• Damaged covers

Removing nest material and addressing any damage early helps protect your mower from overheating or electrical issues.

Step 6 – Reinstall your battery

If you stored your battery indoors for winter (great job!) now’s the time to reinstall it. Cold temperatures shorten battery life, so protecting it over winter is a smart move.

You can also use a trickle charger or battery maintainer to keep it in good health throughout the season.

Step 7 – Give it a good first start

Once everything is back together, it’s time for the moment of truth: start up your mower!

A few tips for the first spring start:

• Use full choke when you turn the key

• Once the engine warms up, ease back the choke

• Move your mower out into the yard

• Engage your PTO (blades) at full throttle

• Start mowing!

A few minutes of running time helps the engine settle in after its winter rest.

Need Help Getting Your Mower Spring-Ready?

Whether you need parts, blades, a tune-up, or a full service, we’re here to help.
Stop by the shop or give us a call — we’ll make sure your mower is ready for a strong start to the season.

Looking for diagnostic tools for your CMC lift?

Diagnostic codes can prevent you from using your machine on a jobsite. No one wants increased downtime and we recognize how important it is to keep you moving! CMC has put together a per model resource page. 

This website lists out Error codes, engine and machine manuals, maintenance schedules, handling/transport, and videos to help you work through live machine operations. 

All you need to do to start this process is click on the model of your machine. 

https://www.cmcliftna.com/resources

In order to get the correct parts for your machine a model and serial number are often required. While these locations differ between machines here are some common locations for machine model numbers. Keep in mind that machine model numbers are important for any part you are looking for that goes directly on the mower. Some of these might include PTO switches, blades, belts, attachments, and chutes. 

If you need a part for your engine it is important to get your model type and code directly from the engine itself.  

 1 – Under your seat

Lift up the mower’s seat and look for a white tag typically with a barcode that says model and serial number. This tag may be on the underneath of the mower seat or on the frame of your mower where your seat was.
Pro tip: Exmark mowers often have a model plate on the frame where you place your feet.

2 – By the back wheel

Some machines have their model and serial number located on the frame next to either rear wheel.

3 – Next to the motor

The piece of the frame that holds the mower up and attached to the machine can often have a model and serial number plate next to it. This one can be hard to see and you may need a flashlight because it is very close to the motor. 

Handheld equipment

Small machines like handmowers often have a model number underneath the back grass flap or on the top of the deck next to the engine. Stihl equipment places their model numbers in a small circle on the right side of the machine. 

Engine model numbers

Engine model numbers are typically located on the side of the engine fan shroud or stamped into the engine valve cover.