Tip 5: How to Tilt a Lawn Mower Correctly
3 min read
Need to clean under your lawn mower, inspect the blade or carry out maintenance? Tilting a petrol lawn mower the wrong way can allow oil or fuel to move towards the air filter, carburettor or exhaust — which may lead to smoke, starting problems or unnecessary mess.
In OVDV Tip 5, Olivier shows you the simple rule to remember before putting your mower on its side and explains what to check first. Watch the video and see exactly how Oli explains and demonstrates it.
Need to clean the underside of your lawn mower, check the blade or carry out some basic maintenance? Then you will often need to tilt the mower onto its side.
It sounds simple, but the direction matters. Tilting a petrol lawn mower the wrong way can allow oil or fuel to move into parts of the engine where it should not be.
In TIP 5, Olivier shows the simple rule to remember before putting a lawn mower on its side.
Which side should you tilt a petrol lawn mower onto?
As a general rule, keep the air-filter side facing upwards when you tilt the mower.
This is also the guidance given by major engine and lawn-mower manufacturers. Husqvarna advises keeping the air-filter side up when a petrol mower is tilted. Briggs & Stratton likewise provides guidance on correct mower positioning for maintenance.
However, lawn mowers differ by model and engine configuration. Always check the manufacturer’s manual for your specific machine before tilting it.
Why does the direction matter?
A petrol lawn mower contains engine oil, fuel and an air-intake system. If the mower is placed on the wrong side, fluids can move towards the air filter, carburettor or exhaust.
That can lead to symptoms such as:
- oil in or around the air filter
- difficulty starting the mower afterwards
- smoke when the engine is restarted
- unnecessary contamination around engine components
Briggs & Stratton notes that a mower can smoke after oil has leaked into the exhaust when the machine was tilted incorrectly.
Before you tilt the mower
Before working underneath a lawn mower, make safety the priority:
- Switch the engine off and let it cool.
- Disconnect the spark-plug lead on a petrol mower so the engine cannot start accidentally.
- If the mower has an electric-start battery, remove or disconnect it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Check where the air filter and spark plug are located.
- Consult the user manual if you are unsure which side the manufacturer recommends.
Wear suitable gloves when working around the cutting deck or blade. Lawn-mower blades remain sharp even when the machine is switched off.
When do you need to tilt a lawn mower?
Access to the underside is commonly needed when you want to:
- remove accumulated grass from the cutting deck
- inspect the mowing blade
- replace or sharpen a blade
- check for damage beneath the deck
- carry out certain maintenance procedures
Grass and debris underneath the mowing deck can restrict airflow and reduce collection performance, so checking and cleaning this area is part of sensible mower maintenance.
OVDV TIP 5: remember this simple rule
Air filter up.
Before you place a petrol lawn mower on its side, locate the air filter and make sure it remains on the upper side of the machine unless the manufacturer of your specific mower instructs otherwise.
It takes only a few seconds to check and can prevent unnecessary problems afterwards.
Not sure whether your lawn mower needs maintenance?
OVDV provides professional garden machinery maintenance and repair in Laarne and the surrounding area. If your mower is difficult to start, running unevenly, smoking or simply due for maintenance, we can inspect the machine and advise you on the right next step.
