Your mower is talking, are you listening?

Your mower speaks its own language and has “feelings,” too. There’s the way your machine feels when crossing terrain, the sounds it makes, odors you might notice, and noises you pick up on that signal your mower is running A-OK, or not. 

Your mower is talking. Are you listening?

Clanging sounds, vibration, rough running and compromised cut quality could mean your mower is overdue for various service points. 

We always advise a quick mower checkup before any mowing session that includes examining fluid levels (oil), the air filter and tire pressure. 

However, if you see, hear or feel any of the issues we’ll cover in this article, step one is to stop mowing. Now, let’s dig into what your mower might be telling you about its maintenance needs.

Mower deck pain points 

The mower deck is a crucial “body part” of your mower because it houses the blades, directs airflow, manages and disperses clippings, and ensures a quality cut. But are you noticing uneven stripes or an otherwise subpar cut? Here are some common culprits. 

• Deck pitch: Your deck should be leveled at a slight angle from front to back for an even, clean, quality cut. This also prevents grass from clumping and sticking to the underside of the deck. 
• Tire pressure: Your deck may not be level due to tire pressure, which is something you should check before each mowing session. 
• Bent blade: Do you hear clanging noises—metal-on-metal sounds? Again, turn the mower off. Check for a bent blade. If the blades show no signs of damage, lift the mower deck and spin the blade manually to determine whether there is a baffle issue. 
• Belt tension: If you’ve checked deck pitch, tire pressure, blades and spindles, another possibility for quality-cut issues is belt tension. 
  
  

Tune into the transmission

Your Grasshopper mower’s hydrostatic transmission allows you to control the speed, delivers a smooth and comfortable ride, and enhances maneuverability. But to accomplish all these things, regular fluid level checks (before every mowing session) are critical, and so is recognizing symptoms of other transmission-related troubles. Listen and feel for potential transmission snags. 

• Whining sounds: A pronounced whining sound that indicates your mower’s transmission is in overdrive could be cause for concern. However, if you’re navigating uneven or hilly terrain, you should expect your transmission to speak up a bit. Excessive, labored noise is a potential red flag, but the sound of plugging away to navigate slopes is generally typical. 
• Dragging turns: Does one side of the mower tend to pull back and not move as swiftly on a turn? Do you feel a delayed reaction on one side, or a too-fast response? When you push on one zero-turn lever and then the next and feel an unequal push-pull, the transmission might need inspecting. The issue could be belt tension or something wrong with the hydrostatics.
  
  

Engine bay signals

The engine bay is your mower’s heart and powerhouse, and maintaining top performance is essential for productivity, a high-quality cut and a smooth-running machine. The health of your engine bay also will mitigate downtime. Do you feel like the engine is running hot? Do you notice a rough sound?

• Fuel pump fails: If you hear that rough-running sound from the mower engine, the fuel filter might be clogged or there could be some gummed-up debris in the fuel line. This causes the fuel pump to fail and not engage to send fuel into the engine. 
• Carburetor causes: When was the last time you refueled your mower, especially if you are using ethanol-based fuel? Fuel separation can cause gumming up in the carburetor. (Note: Many engines have moved toward EFI—Electronic Fuel Injection—with no carburetor involved.) 
• Hot, hot, hot!: If you smell or hear your mower engine as if it could be overheating, again we emphasize the importance of turning off your mower. Diesel and liquid-cooled engines with a front radiator screen can suck in grass clippings and debris, causing stress to the engine. The easy fix is to use pressurized air or a blower to whisk away clippings after each mowing session. Note: Avoid using water to clean your mower, which is not recommended in Grasshopper Mowers’ operating manuals. 

• Dirty air filter: This is a silent cause of engine hiccups. You won’t hear, smell or feel if your mower’s air filter needs to be changed. But this is why we include checking your air filter as a pre-mow best practice, along with checking fluids and tire pressure. 
  
  

What else could be going wrong with your mower?

Your mower operating manual includes most answers to your questions concerning mower maintenance, troubleshooting and when repairs might be necessary. If your unit is still under warranty or new, we recommend taking it to your servicing dealer to be sure issues are properly addressed.

The same is true if you do not feel comfortable self-servicing your mower or are uncertain of a problem. Your servicing dealer can also answer any of your questions and may suggest bringing the mower in for diagnosis to see if repairs are necessary. Signs that you may need to take your mower in for service from your Grasshopper dealer include sudden, increased vibration in the seat or foot pan.

And whenever there is a concern, your Grasshopper servicing dealer has your back and your best interests in mind. 

The Grasshopper advantage 

Your local authorized Grasshopper dealer is your partner in business, whether you’re mowing at home or as a living. We are a ready source for all of your mower equipment, maintenance, parts and education needs. 

You can always ask a technician. 

Our network of dealers plays an integral role in ensuring you realize a maximum return on your investment, from fuel savings and generating additional revenue with implements to achieving labor savings. When you buy a premium quality zero-turn mower from a company like Grasshopper that supports our products, the results are profitability, sustainability and longevity. Plus, when you hear, see, smell or feel something that isn’t quite right, we’ll get to the bottom of it.