Outdoor Power Equipment Service That Works

Deciding whether to repair or replace a lawn mower depends on a few factors:

1. Age of the Lawn Mower: If your lawn mower is relatively new and has been well-maintained, it's probably worth repairing. On the other hand, if it's old and has a history of breaking down frequently, it may be time to consider getting a new one. Repairs are inevitable as your mower gets older, regardless of how well it was maintained, and it can be incredibly frustrating if your mower is continuously breaking down.
2. Cost of Repairs: If repairing your lawn mower is more than half the cost of a new one, replacing it may be more cost-effective.
3. Condition of the Mower: It may be time for a new mower if the frame or the deck has rusted or corroded extensively. Similarly, depending on the size of your mower, it may not be worth repairing if the engine has suffered significant damage, such as a cracked engine block or a seized crankshaft. However, replacing the engine on larger mowers may make sense if the rest of the mower is still in good condition. Other common problems include oil leaks from the engine and the hydraulic system due to excessive exposure to heat over time. Bearings are another component that will inevitably fail with time. Even though some of these repairs can be cost significant, on larger models, the price of a new mower will usually be significantly more than the cost to repair.
4. Frequency of Use: If you regularly use your lawn mower and rely on it to keep your lawn looking good, it may be worth repairing. However, if you only use it occasionally or for light tasks, you can get by with a less expensive model.
5. Availability of Parts: If the lawn mower is an older model and parts are difficult to find, replacing it may be more cost-effective.

Ultimately, deciding to repair or replace a lawn mower depends on your specific situation and needs. Consider the factors above and weigh each option's costs and benefits before deciding.

The average life expectancy of a well-maintained lawnmower depends on several factors, including the quality of the machine, the frequency and quality of maintenance, the hours of operation, and the environmental conditions it is used in, to name a few. To put a number on it is almost impossible.

Generally speaking, any mower that is used as intended and properly maintained, should provide you with reliability and performance for many years. However, some lawnmowers may last longer, while others may need to be replaced sooner.

Regular maintenance is critical to extending the life of a lawnmower. This includes changing the oil and air filter, sharpening and balancing the blades, and cleaning the deck after each use. It's also important to store the lawnmower properly, such as in a dry location, and emptying the fuel tank when it’s not being used for extended periods of time.

When your equipment breaks down in season, it happens either when you’re using it or when you go to use it, only to find out that it doesn’t work. That’s why our goal isn’t just to return your equipment as soon as possible but to do our best to ensure that your equipment does not break down throughout the entire season. That’s why we not only repair the problem with high-quality service and parts, but we perform a root cause analysis to determine and eliminate the cause of the equipment failure.

Servicing your equipment annually, regardless of how little or how heavy it is used during the season, goes a long way to ensure that you will receive maximum life from your equipment. At SteveCo, the core components of a standard service include the following:

1. A thorough inspection of the mower for any visible damage or fuel and oil leaks.
2. Replacing the air filter ensures that the engine gets enough air to run efficiently.
3. Replacing the fuel filter and cleaning the fuel system to remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated in the fuel tank or fuel lines.
4. Replacing the spark plugs to ensure the mower starts easily and runs smoothly.
5. Replacing the oil filter and changing the oil to ensure the engine is properly lubricated and cooled.
6. Inspecting and cleaning the engine cooling fins to ensure the engine can effectively dissipate heat and keep from overheating.
7. Applying grease to all of the grease points.
8. Testing the battery and the charging system and thoroughly inspecting the wiring harness.
9. Cleaning, sharpening, and balancing the blades and thoroughly cleaning the deck. This ensures the blades make clean and even cuts while minimizing damage to the blade spindles and the mower deck.
10. A thorough inspection of the belts for cuts or excessive wear.
11. A thorough inspection of the blade spindles and the idler pulleys for bad bearings or excessive wear.
12. Checking and adjusting the tire pressures and inspecting the tire treads to ensure the mower will have traction and will cut evenly.
13. Inspecting the drive system and recommending a hydraulic service if necessary.
14. Thoroughly cleaning and testing the unit to ensure optimal operation of all components.

Overall, standard service is designed to keep your mower running smoothly and efficiently and to help extend its lifespan. We realize that although some repairs may seem cost significant, if we can find and eliminate any potential problems that could cause your equipment to breakdown during the season, not only will it save you time and money in the long run, but it will eliminate the frustration that comes with equipment failure during the season. If our inspection reveals any unexpected problems, our service manager will contact you with a repair recommendation and a quote. You can decide whether you want to repair the problem or ignore it and run the risk of potential equipment failure during the season.

Yes, depending on your expertise level, you can absolutely service your mower. Some basic maintenance tasks you can do yourself include:

1. Inspecting and replacing the spark plugs.
2. Cleaning or replacing the air filter and the fuel filter.
3. Replacing the engine oil filter and changing the oil.
4. Sharpening the blades and cleaning the deck.

Call us or stop in at our location anytime with the model number of your mower and engine, and one of our professionals will provide you with the parts you need and answer any questions you have.

Yes, depending on your expertise level, you can absolutely service your mower. Some basic maintenance tasks you can do yourself include:

1. Inspecting and replacing the spark plugs.
2. Cleaning or replacing the air filter and the fuel filter.
3. Replacing the engine oil filter and changing the oil.
4. Sharpening the blades and cleaning the deck.

Call us or stop in at our location anytime with the model number of your mower and engine, and one of our professionals will provide you with the parts you need and answer any questions you have.

Lack of maintenance, overheating, contaminated fuel, and neglecting warning signs such as unusual noises, smoke, or reduced performance are common causes of engine failure.

Your lawn mower works hard in the summer heat to keep your lawn beautiful. The combination of heat and long hours of operation can put thermal stress on your mower engine, but your machine should be able to keep elevated temperatures under control. Under certain circumstances, a few issues can cause the engine to overheat.

Air-cooled engines depend on air flowing through the cooling fins and the shroud to keep the engine’s temperature in check. The flywheel has rows of fins that act as a radial fan to circulate cool air through the cooling fins. When the engine is running, these fins draw air in through the flywheel screen and circulate it through the cooling fins and the shroud to dissipate heat. If excessive dirt or debris gathers on top of the flywheel screen or in the cooling fins or the shroud, it can cause airflow problems and can eliminate the ability of the engine to cool down while it’s running.

Liquid-cooled engines depend on anti-freeze and a clean radiator to keep their temperature in check. Low anti-freeze levels or clogged or damaged radiator fins can cause the anti-freeze to overheat and eliminates its ability to cool the engine as it circulates through the system.

Oil is the lifeblood of an engine. The metal parts inside an engine running at thousands of revolutions per minute create friction. Not only can friction wear those parts, but friction​​​ also produces intense heat. The oil is a buffer between these moving parts and a cooling agent that keeps your engine’s internal components cool. The value of regularly changing the oil in an engine is often underestimated. Typically, oil breaks down over time and loses its cooling agents and detergents, becoming less effective in cooling and lubricating the engine, which can cause significant damage to your engine. If an engine runs entirely out of oil, it will cause extreme heat and friction inside the engine, causing the aluminum components to melt and seize to the steel components. This will destroy the engine’s internal components and can lead to irreversible damage to the engine.

Fuel plays a role in cooling as well. It absorbs heat from the combustion chamber and keeps combustion heat at a sufficient level. If your engine runs lean, temperatures can increase. While causing the engine to run hotter, a lean fuel mixture alone will rarely overheat an engine to the point of failure.

Another cause of overheating is overloading your mower with more work than it was built to handle. Clogged cutting decks can overstrain the engine as it tries to power through with jammed blades, increasing the operating temperature. Mowing wet and thick grass can similarly affect the engine, making it work harder than designed. Not only can these reasons create excessive heat in your engine, but they can also exacerbate things on a particularly hot day. That said, it takes intense, continuous strain to overheat an engine to the point of failure.

We service all brands and sizes of mowers, tillers, and handheld equipment, including string trimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws.