- Lawnmower tilting with a sense of proportion - this is how it works
- Correct tilt direction is not enough - you should pay attention to that
It may be necessary to raise the lawnmower to the side for a variety of reasons. If it is a petrol-powered mower type, tilting it in the wrong direction can have fatal consequences. This guide explains how to properly tilt a lawnmower.
A lawn mower should not be tilted in any direction
Lawnmower tilting with a sense of proportion - this is how it works
It's not a question of right or left to lay a petrol lawn mower on the correct side. Rather, the position of the spark plug provides precise information about the direction in which you tilt the device. If you are not sure what a spark plug looks like or where it is located, please refer to the manual.
The rule of thumb is: Tilt the lawn mower with a petrol engine so that the spark plug is pointing upwards. If a petrol mower leans towards the ground with the spark plug, oil will run out. This floods the air filter, carburetor and cylinder head. In the worst case, the device will no longer start.
Correct tilt direction is not enough - you should pay attention to that
When cleaning or repairing your lawn mower, correct tilt direction is just one aspect of proper procedure. The following preparatory measures are much more important to ensure your safety:
- First pull the spark plug connector
- Then unscrew the spark plug with a spark plug wrench
- Cover the exposed contacts with a cloth
Only when you have ensured with these measures that the lawn mower is guaranteed not to start, tilt the device in the right direction. For the most unlikely of reasons, a lawnmower would start with busy hands in its knife block.
Empty the tank first
Even if you tilt your lawn mower in the correct direction, fuel can leak out. This applies primarily to a bulging tank. Plan the mowing work so that the tank is largely empty before you tilt the device. Alternatively, drain the tank using a suction pump before beginning scheduled maintenance.
tips
If your lawnmower smokes blue, this is an indication that you have tilted the device in the wrong direction. Blue-white smoke is always produced when leaked oil burns. With some models of lawnmowers, the problem already occurs when mowing a slope with an incline of more than 15 degrees.