How To Prepare Your Riding Mower For Spring

Spring will be here before you know it. Make sure your rider is ready for that first cut with these tips.

Step 1: Prepare your lawn mower

Before performing any maintenance on your equipment, disconnect the spark plug.

Step 2: Remove last season’s fuel and oil

Fuel can become stale in as little as 30 days, so you want to remove last season's fuel from your rider to prevent starting issues. Use a siphon to remove both the old oil and fuel.

Step 3: Inspect your lawn mower

Next, you'll want to inspect your motor’s parts for any wear or tear and replace them if they're worn or damaged. This includes your air filter, belts, mower blades, tires and spark plug.

Step 4: Re-install your battery

Once you've inspected your rider, re-install your battery and tighten the connections. Be careful not to touch both battery posts at the same time with your wrenches.

Step 5: Remove debris

Remove debris from around the engine muffler and cutting deck. Always wear gloves and be careful not to use any tools that could scratch the paint and cause rust.

Step 6: Add new fuel and oil

When you're done, add the new oil and fuel. if you're using gasoline with ethanol make sure to use a fuel stabilizer to help keep it fresh for more than 30 days, or you can use synthetic fuels without ethanol to avoid engine damage.

Step 7: Re-connect spark plug

Finally, re-connect the spark plug and you're good to go!

By following these tips you'll know your rider is ready for that first spring day.

Be sure to always choose MTD genuine parts. MTD genuine parts are specifically designed

and manufactured to fit your MTD made equipment.

Fix equipment issues quickly

When you need parts for your riding lawn mower, you can use the MTD Genuine Parts Part Finder to find the correct one. Common parts include:

Shop equipment and parts

Resolving outdoor power equipment problems as soon as they arise will prolong the life of your machine. Troubleshoot riding lawn mower problems using our symptom guide .

The MTD Genuine Parts Knowledge Center provides do-it-yourself instructions for performing many basic maintenance items, including replacing cutting blades, drive and deck belts, and engine oil. If you find your machine has a bigger problem, use our service locator to find a qualified MTD service provider in your area.