Riding mowers & tractors parts

Here are a few easy tricks to get your riding mower working properly.

Common riding mower issues

1. Loose steering—Inspect the steering shaft and tie rods and replace any damaged parts. Issues with the front axle or wheel spindle can also impact steering and should be replaced as well.
2. Won't cut grass—Replace the belt if it's worn or broken. Also, check the electric clutch and PTO switch to ensure everything is in working condition.
3. Deck vibrates—This could be caused by debris lodged inside a pulley or a bad blade belt. Safely inspect the blades to make sure they're balanced. If you see any broken or damaged pulley or blade parts, replace them.
4. Dead battery—A dead battery can happen when the battery loses charge after not being used for a while. Measure the battery voltage. Charge or replace the battery if necessary. If the mower is able to start but the battery doesn't hold a charge during use, then the engine could have a bad alternator.
5. Leaking fuel or oil—If your mower is leaking gas, find out exactly where the leak is coming from. A damaged fuel line or cracked fuel tank could be responsible for the leaking. If the carburetor is leaking, it will need to be rebuilt or replaced. Your mower can leak oil if a sump gasket or head gasket is damaged. In either case, replace the faulty gasket.

Five riding mower parts that often need to be replaced

1. Head gasket—The head gasket seals the cylinder head to the engine. If there's a leak with the head gasket, there will be reduced cylinder compression, which leads to less engine power.
2. Carburetor—The carburetor mixes compressed fuel with air at a specific ratio, which is fed into the engine cylinder and drives the piston. If the carburetor is damaged, it may leak air or fuel, which can reduce engine power or prevent the engine from starting at all.
3. Mandrel assembly—The mandrel assembly is attached to the deck of the mower and spins the cutting blade. As the bearings inside the mandrel wear down, the blades can become unbalanced and vibrate. In this situation, the mandrel assembly will need to be replaced.
4. Blade drive belt—The blade drive belt attaches to the engine pulley or electric clutch and spins the blades. If the belt breaks, the blades may not spin properly or at all, so the belt will need to be replaced.
5. Cutting blades—The cutting blades are attached to the mandrel assembly. Rocks and other hard objects may dent or deform the blades. They can also become dull and unbalanced over time and will need to be replaced.