Are you interested to learn how to make a lawnmower faster?
Speed is not usually a priority for a typical lawnmower. Its principal purpose is to cut grass neatly, and as long as it is doing its task properly, its duration is generally not an issue.
However, some homeowners do not have much time to spare and would instead finish mowing as soon as possible, so souping up a mower to make it go faster is an excellent idea.
However, modifying a lawnmower to go faster may come with potential risks, so you must adhere to some tough measures to cope with the ensuing performance.
An average lawnmower goes as fast as fifty miles per hour. To make it go faster, you have to alter some of its components, like the frames, breaks, engine, and steering wheels.
If you want your mower to go faster, you must follow strict safety measures, have safety equipment, and wear protective clothing.
The engine of a lawnmower has safety features that prohibit it to run faster, and if forced to do it, its engine will wear down.
It is not built for speed, and if you intend for it to go fast, you will be bypassing built-in safety features. Not all types of mowers are suitable for this transition, and using an unsuitable type will damage the engine and result in injury.
With that in mind, here is how you can make a lawnmower speedier:
Table of Contents
How to make a lawn mower faster
- Change the pulley systemAs mentioned, some lawnmowers could not be readjusted to become faster, but one type can be: a belt-driven one.These types have a pulley system that you can alter the size to enhance its performance and is situated at the rear of the mower.To create more performance impact, you will need to expand the size of the pulley. There is also another one in the engine and do the same thing.After altering both pulleys, your mower will be noticeably brisk and speedy.
- Compressing the springA typical lawnmower has a spring located in the governor, which functions as a control to maintain its speed. To make it go faster, you can change the size of the spring to become smaller.If you still want the mower to become faster, then you can altogether withdraw the spring. And once done, you notice your lawnmower will become perceptively quicker.
- Changing its buildThis enhancement in a mower requires a bit of mechanical knowledge. You will be adding new components and altering its build.The whole process is similar to what racing cars go through, and most of their parts are enhanced to become faster.This process can be done to any type of mower, be it an electrical corded or cordless, gas-powered, etc.The enhancement procedure will depend on the mechanic, the kind of mower, and the lengths undertook.
Finding suitable mower parts for it will be challenging. And components like new tires, gearbox, and the clutch has to be changed.
Regarding the new wheels, go-cart tires will work the best for its enhancement. Try looking for the most suitable one in any online shopping store that sells go-cart parts.
While there, you can also look for new brakes and rear axle components to include in the fix.
Other parts to be included in the enhancement process are the spindles, chains, front axle, axle hangers, gas lever, sprockets, and a couple of electrical and high-resistance engine components.
Some of the parts can be designed and readjusted by hand. Some are already go-cart parts that you would not need to alter anymore. You can also add in some motorbike components, which will suit you well.
Are there additional tips to make your mower go faster?
There are small things you can do to increase the speed of your lawnmower. As mentioned earlier, you still have to practice safety precautions at all times since some of the tips suggest altering its natural capabilities.
- Exercise routine maintenanceThe natural way to make your mower go faster is simply to perform regular maintenance when necessary.A typical mower has many moving parts that are exposed to dirt, mud, stones, etc., and can potentially wear them down. Taking care and maintaining it can help in keeping it in tip-top condition.Not only will it help in making it fast, but it will also drastically lower the downtime since the mower hardly malfunctions and breaks down. Then you can finish mowing the entire yard quickly and would not need to stop due to some engine malfunction.
- Check on the tiresAlong with mower blades, the tires are the most important components in a lawnmower. Without them, the whole contraption would not run, and no grass will be cut.Make it a habit to inspect your tires every time you begin mowing. Look for wear and tear, pressure, and treads are in working condition. Faulty tires will hinder your mower’s speed.
- Utilize proper fuelAnother excellent tip to naturally make your mower go faster is using the right fuel, which increases speed and power.The best kind of fuel to pour into a mower fuel tank is ninety-two or higher octane gasoline.
- Always check for damages or leaksIf there is a leak anywhere in the mower especially in the fuel system, it will hinder its ability to become faster.The same thing goes for damaged components, and if you find one, have it fixed immediately.
- Check the oil levelOil and gas are the lifeblood of a lawnmower, and oil particularly lubricates its moving components. Without it, friction happens that leads to immediate wear and tear.Check on your mower’s oil level before each time you mow your lawn if it needs an oil change or tops up.
- Examine the air filterIf the air filter of your lawnmower becomes congested, its engine will not get the necessary airflow it requires.It can also obstruct the engine and result in problems in the performance.The air filter is situated at the topmost portion of your mower’s engine and is attached inside a metal or plastic encasement.You can easily replace it, and an air filter is quite affordable. You only have to be sure that it is compatible with your mower.
- Upgrading the tiresIf you have checked that the tires on your mower are already worn out, then it is time to buy a new set.As mentioned earlier, you can get go-cart tires for your mower, which are made for speed.
- Substituting the mower bladesIf you have observed that the lawnmower blades have not been cutting grass neatly, which causes the mower to slow down.The blades have become too dull, which hinders its ability to evenly cut grass.Then it is time to replace them with a new one, this way, a quick grass cutting means better and faster performance.You can also sharpen them and see if it enables grass-cutting to be better.
- Remove the governorThis procedure was mentioned earlier, but with a slight alteration. Instead of compressing the spring found in the governor, remove the entire component itself attached to the mower.Use a wrench to unfasten the flywheel housing, and after doing this, you can gain access to the governor and remove it.Once done, put the housing back on, and your mower can now go faster.
- Increase the airflow of the engineThe mower’s engine required airflow, and if given more than necessary, it will make it go faster. It also assists in cooling down the system after the grass cutting is done.To enable more airflow, remove the hood from your lawnmower. It also lessens the weight and makes it run quicker.Hydrostatic lawnmowers will allow you to unfasten the hood entirely by unscrewing the bolts.Removal of the hood will leave the engine exposed to the elements, so make sure it does not happen and store it in your garage and not outdoors after use.
- Check the mufflerA damaged muffler will cause problems to your mower and impede it from functioning properly. Its exhaust system will have back pressure and makes the mower go slower than usual.Check on the muffler often before mowing, and make sure there are no holes that might hinder its performance.
- Choose the best pattern for mowingSeasoned lawn mowers will attest that an excellent pattern will make the job quicker.The best pattern to use for mowing is a straight line from one end to another. Doing circular or any other motions will cost you a lot more time and is inefficient.
- Cut your grass regularly
In principle, the more you cut your grass, the less amount of time is spent cutting.Do not wait for the grass to grow too tall, which will make mowing longer and tedious.It will be up to you to decide when is the best time to cut your grass since it will depend on the type of grass and the weather conditions.Just remember the one-third rule, which means do not cut off more than one-third of the blades of grass, and more than that will harm it.
Lawnmower Troubleshooting tips
When your mower suddenly loses its speed, bogs down, or would not start, there is something wrong with it.
Here are some common issues lawnmowers have and their respective fixes:
Mower would not start
- Loose or dirty spark plug- Check on it and makes sure it is clean and secure in place.
- Dirty air filter- Clean it, and if it is already too far gone, then replace it.
- Gas does not reach the engine- Try tapping the carburetor side to enable the gas to flow, and if it would not work, replace the fuel filter.
Power loses in the middle of mowing
- Loose or dirty spark plug- Check on it and makes sure it is clean and secure in place.
- Dirty air filter- Clean it, if it is already too far gone, then replace it.
- Whenever cutting tall grass- just raise your mower’s cutting height.
- Dirty underbelly- Clean the underside of any dirt, mud, or grass stuck in it.
Mower is struggling to mow
- Dirty underbelly- Clean the underside of any dirt, mud, or grass stuck in it.
- Loose, bent, or dull blades- Dull blades can still be sharpened and tighten loose blades, but bent ones need to be replaced.
Smoking mower
In the middle of mowing your lawn, you notice smoke emanating from the engine, so what will you do?
It might look horrifying, but the good news is: it is not that serious.
It may mean that the oil chamber is too full of oil, or some of it leaked through the exhaust muffler. It is just burning itself out while the engine is scalding.
However, if the smoke has a lighter color and has issues keeping the engine running, you need to have it fixed by a professional.
Hard to pull or stuck starter rope
One reason for this is the flywheel brake on the engine is engaged. You only have to bring it down before pulling the starter rope.
Another reason is the mower blades have almost reached the ground and are dragging the grass. Or they may also be clogged with dirt, mud, and grass.
First, you will need to transfer your mower to an even surface. Make sure that the engine is off and remove the spark plug.
Clean the underbelly of all mud, dirt, and grass cuttings stuck in it.
Once done, set it back upright and pull the starter rope again.
Conclusion
Most homeowners are busy and prefer to mow their yard as quickly and as neatly as possible.
Making their lawnmowers quicker is an excellent idea, but it has to be done in the correct procedures. This way, accidents would not happen, and their lawns remain beautiful for everyone to see.