Cleaning a mower

[coccinelle]

How do you clean a petrol lawn mower without losing either petrol or oil? I mean cleaning where the blade is

[dennisb66]

When the tank is very low I make sure that the oil and petrol caps are on tight,remove grass box and tilt the mower backwards on the handle.

[ruthandsam]

Make sure you tilt the mower on the opposite side to the filter. Wait until it has cooled down and definitely make sure that you disconnect the spark plug.

[coccinelle]

OK will try those two suggestions. How do I know where the filter is?

[AlBags]

Some have oil breather pipe .. tip sideways and jam upright to the other side.
Clean whem soaked wet underneath. Paint scraper useful .. Helps airflow underneath.

[coccinelle]

Now there you've lost me Albags: oil breather pipe? jam upright to other side? Helps airflow? ....

[AlBags]

OK. Has it an engine?
If so, where is the oil filler? Usually tip other way to that.
Clearing away stuff underneath helps air and grass flow.

[ruthandsam]

http://www.calgarydir...y-air-filter-open.JPG

This might help coccinelle. This shows the air filter so you would tip this mower onto it's right hand side if you were holding the handles.

[AlBags]

Hondas DO flood the AIR filter with oil if you tip them too far towards air filter side.

[ruthandsam]

That's why I said tip opposite side of air filter.

[coccinelle]

Right will have a look tomorrow as to where air filter is... I'm just one of these people who get the thing out and check for oil and petrol and off we go! Any problems and it goes to the mechanics. Anybody can guide me to a lawn mower lesson on internet?

[dennisb66]

Do you not have the machines instruction book,which would explain how it's done.

[TonyV]

cocc - can't see that anyone has asked if you have rotary or cylinder mower - can you advise make and model?

[coccinelle]

dennis it wouldn't tell you how to clean it without losing the oil or petrol and I'd have to start looking for instructions in the shed so asking here is quicker. It is a rotary cutter TonyV

[TonyV]

cocc - just need to get mower of ground so you scrape the the underside of deck with plastic scraperneed to - maybe need to wet with water and detrgent