MTD Parts and Lawn Mower Service Tips

Walk-behind mowers and riding mowers have similar systems and parts, and maintenance procedures for both types of mowers are very similar.

That being said, riding mowers generally require a few more service checks and repairs than traditional mowers, if nothing else than because they are larger machines with more parts than their smaller cousins.

Companies like MTD and Murray manufacture lawn mowers of both types, and it's common for professionals and homeowners alike to own both a riding mower and a walk-behind mower for different applications.

To help with your seasonal riding mower and walk-behind mower maintenance, we've decided to list some of the most overlooked mower repair issues, as well as tips for getting the O.E.M. MTD parts and Murray mower parts you need to keep your machines cutting like pros.

Overlooked Safety Procedures:

• Remember to park your mower (of either type) on a flat surface and engage its brake–if it has one–before continuing maintenance.
• Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug.
• Allow the engine to cool, unless you need it warm for an oil change.

Oil Changes and Fresh Fuel:

• Believe it or not, users often forget to change their mower's oil with seasonal tune-ups and other service.
• Over-filling oil can be just as bad for your mower engine as under-filling.
• Gasoline only keeps for 3 to 6 months. Fuel stored in your mower must be removed at the start of each season.

Siphon pumps are a great way to speed up an oil change or transfer of fuel from a mower to an appropriate container. Also, a pump like the one pictured below makes it possible to change your walk-behind mower's oil without having to remove its fuel and tip it.

Cleaning the Pre-Filter:

• Some mowers have a two filters in their air filtering systems: a main air filter usually made of pleated paper, and a pre-filter made of foam. Foam pre-filters can be cleaned with water and liquid detergent when lightly-to-moderately dirty.
  
• Allow the pre-filter to completely dry after cleaning and before re-installation.
• Replace excessively dirty pre-filters.

O.E.M. Replacement Mower Parts Only:

• After-market mower parts may look similar to manufacturer parts for both kinds of mowers, but after-market parts will be a different nonetheless, and the quality of their manufacture can not compare to that of genuine O.E.M. parts.
• This is especially true for the drive and transmission belts of riding mowers and lawn tractors.

eReplacementParts.com offers only genuine O.E.M. MTD lawn mower parts and Murray lawn mower parts, including engine belts.
Riding Mower and Lawn Tractor Service:

• Among other belts, make sure to give a riding mower's transmission belt an inspection every 25 hours of service or so. A bad transmission belt is also a likely cause of the mower starting but not moving.
• Lawn tractors and riding mowers may have more than one spark plug.
• These larger machines deserve a thorough inspection of their tires at least every season.

Visit our Murray lawn tractor parts page and our MTD lawn tractor parts page here at eReplacementParts.com for riding mower parts you need. Our specialized ordering service and website information are here to help you make sure nothing gets overlooked when it comes to your tools.

Poulan Trimmers and Trimmer Head Upgrades

Lawn and garden season is here, which means that it's time for tune-ups and parts replacement for your outdoor equipment.

Line trimmers, weedeaters, and grass trimmers are designed so that users can replace many key parts. Spark plugs, filters, handles, straps, and even trimmer heads can be changed easily and with little expense.
In addition, many outdoor equipment parts, like weedeaters, can also be upgraded with handy usability features and time saving gadgets.
Poulan trimmers are a great example of how you can upgrade your favorite yard tool. Users who have come to love and depend on the performance of their Poulan line trimmers can customize their machines with after-market accessories.
For example, trimmer owners have a couple options when it comes time to replace their trimmer's trimmer head:

• If you're happy with your trimmer head's loading style, feed style, and performance, you can simply order the same trimmer head that came with your trimmer.

In the case of that trusty Poulan trimmer, navigate to this Poulan weedeater parts page. Find your trimmer model by scrolling down the list or by typing its model number in the search field at the top of the page.

You will be able to view and order the O.E.M. Poulan parts that your trimmer needs, including factory replacement trimmer heads like the one that came with your model.

• After-market trimmer heads offer trimmer users another head replacement option.

Many after-market trimmer heads are designed to increase a trimmer's usability and performance, and most are designed for cross-compatibility between models and brands.

Shindaiwa Speed-Feed trimmer heads do all of this and more! These after-market trimmer heads are compatible with hundreds of trimmer models, including many Poulan trimmer models.

Line loading can be the most time consuming part of yard trimming, often taking 10-15 minutes or more. On top of that, winding line around a trimmer head can be very frustrating unless everything goes just right.
What makes Speed-Feed trimmer heads so great is given away by their names . . .
Speed-Feed trimmer heads do not require any disassembly for line loading, and their unique, innovative design makes it possible to load new cutting line in under 60 seconds!
Trimmer owners still need to ensure that their new trimmer head is compatible with their Poulan trimmer. Check your trimmer's arbor bolt size with the trimmer head's compatibility options.
For more information about Speed-Feed trimmer accessories, click the links below:

• Shindaiwa 450 Speed-Feed Trimmer Head
• Shindaiwa 375 Speed-Feed Trimmer Head
• Shindaiwa 375 Speed-Feed Trimmer Head

Read some review on these awesome power tool accessories or take a leap and give a Speed-Feed trimmer head a shot.
You may have your favorite Poulan trimmer performing like never before!