If you are someone who does his own lawn, you know how sluggish lawn mowers can feel, especially on large yards. Mowing the lawn can take longer than you’d like, and the constant thought of how to make a riding mower faster lingers on your mind.
Well, you are not alone. People suffer from all kinds of problems when it comes to their lawn care. Some complain that their lawn mower starts then dies right after. Others want to increase the speed of their lawn mowers.
So, If you’re one of the latter ones looking for ways to shave some time off your mowing routine, Perfect Care Lawn Advice is here with all the tips and tricks to make your lawn mower fast.
In this blog, we will be talking about a few things you can do to give your mower a little boost. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
Note:
It’s important to note that some modifications may void your warranty and can be dangerous. Always prioritize safety and consult your mower’s manual before making any changes.
How to Optimize the Performance of Your Lawn Mower?
The first part of optimizing performance is taking care of maintenance. Regular maintenance is key to a mower running smoothly. Make sure you have a clean air filter and spark plug so that the engine gets proper airflow and combustion. Furthermore, you need to sharpen your blades. The sharper your lawn mower blades are, the cleaner their cuts are. And sharpened blades require less effort from the engine. Don’t forget to check out your mower’s recommended maintenance schedule to improve performance without any modifications. Secondly, you need to check the tire pressure. Make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure listed in the owner’s manual. Underinflated tires create more drag, slowing you down. Proper inflation also improves handling and protects the tires from damage.What are Some Minor Adjustments You Can Make on Your Riding Lawn Mower?
Some riding mowers have a belt-driven transmission system with pulleys. The size ratio between the drive pulley on the engine crankshaft and the driven pulley on the rear axle affects ground speed. Caution. This is a complex modification and should only be attempted by someone comfortable working with mechanics. Improperly sized pulleys can damage the belt or cause the engine to over-rev, leading to serious problems. Consult a professional if you’re considering this adjustment. You can also adjust the governor spring. The governor regulates engine speed by limiting the amount of fuel entering the engine. Replacing the spring with a weaker one might allow the engine to rev higher, potentially increasing speed. Caution. However, this is a dangerous modification. An engine exceeding its designed RPM can overheat, seize, or even explode. It’s strongly discouraged.Advanced Modification of Engine Upgrade.
You can upgrade your engine. Replacing the engine with a higher horsepower can significantly increase speed. This is a complex and expensive modification that requires significant mechanical expertise. Swapping engines often voids the warranty and may require alterations to the mower’s frame to accommodate the new engine. Unless you’re a professional mechanic with experience modifying mowers, it’s not recommended.Alternatives to Speed Modifications.
- Zero-Turn Mowers – For large lawns, you can consider a zero-turn mower. These mowers can turn on a dime, allowing for faster maneuvering and reduced mowing time compared to traditional riding mowers. While they may not necessarily go much faster in a straight line, their agility can significantly improve overall mowing efficiency.
- Riding Lawn Mowers – If you have a large lawn and a walk-behind mower is too time-consuming, consider upgrading to a riding lawn mower. Even at moderate speeds, you’ll cover more ground in less time compared to a push mower.