Hopefully your commercial lawn equipment has been sitting in a cool, dry, dark location all winter long. Now, it's time to get out your mower and get it ready for the coming growing season. These tips will help you prepare your lawn mower for the hard work that awaits it when the growing season begins. 

Two-Stroke Mower Owners: Replace the Oil and Gas

Two-stroke mowers run on a combination of oil and gas. You can mix this combination of oil and gas personally, but you'll need to follow the instructions in your mower's owner's manual to ensure that you use the right type of oil and gas and at the correct proportions. Drain the old oil and gas from the mower, and replace it with a fresh oil and gas combination. 

Four-Stroke Mower Owners: Change the Oil and Replace the Gas

Four-stroke mowers use oil and gas separately. Check the dipstick on your lawn mower. The oil should be a light, buttery brown color and free of contaminants. If the oil is dark, muddy, black or contains flecks of dirt, it's time for a change. Drain the oil from the bottom of the mower and replace the oil with the quantity and type of oil specified by your mower's manufacturer. Don't forget to recycle the oil when you're done. 

Next, drain the gas from the year before and replace it with fresh gas. This will ensure that the gas, which may have separated over the course of the winter, is fresh and well-mixed. 

Check the Filters, and Replace or Clean as Necessary

Replacing and cleaning filters is an important part of keeping your mower functioning efficiently. Your mower may have a paper or foam air filter, depending on the make and model. The air filter will likely be near the top of the engine, fitted with a metal or plastic top. Your mower may also have an oil or fuel filter, which is a feature found in some commercial mowers. For many mowers, the fuel filter will either be inside the fuel tank, or in the fuel line between the fuel tank and fuel pump. Remove the filters. If they're dirty, follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacing or cleaning them.

Clean and Sharpen the Blades

Remove the blades from your mower, then have them cleaned and professionally sharpened. Alternatively, you may also replace the blades and use the old blades as a spare part for emergencies. Your mower's owner's manual will give you instructions for removing the blades safely. To have the blades sharpened, contact hardware stores in your area. Some hardware stores will sharpen knifes and blades for a fee.

Performing this type of maintenance will help you keep your mower working throughout the growing season. Talk to experts like Bensalem Lawn Equipment for more information.