Regularly mowing your lawn will give it that smooth and gorgeous appearance that everyone desires. But the process can consume time, especially if you have a large yard. For this reason, most people opt for hydrostatic lawnmowers since they are faster. This type of lawnmower uses hydraulic systems instead of gears and belts, making it faster than regular lawnmowers.
Read this to learn how to make hydrostatic mower faster.
But even with its high speed and fast response functions, hydrostatic lawnmowers can slow down sometimes after extended use. It is possible to remedy it and make it fast again when this occurs.
This guide explains how you can make a hydrostatic lawnmower faster, and some maintenance tips for the machine.
Steps to make hydrostatic lawnmower faster
- Sharpen the mower blades, or replace them
- Change the small tires to larger ones
- Remove the small pulleys and install larger ones
- Remove the governor
- Detach non-essential components from the mower
All these are the changes you can make to the lawnmower to increase its speed if it starts slowing down. You can also carry out regular maintenance on the machine to maintain its performance, but we will get to this.
For now, let’s see how you can modify your hydrostatic lawnmower to make it faster.
Revamping your hydrostatic lawnmower to make it faster
- Replace or sharpen the blades
- Change the small tires to bigger ones
- Remove the small pulleys and install larger ones
- Remove the governor
- Detach unnecessary components from the mower
The hydrostatic mower blades can go dull from regular use without sharpening them. Also if the blades hit a stone or hard object, it can become dull and blunt, and you might have to replace it.
Ideally, you should sharpen your hydrostatic mower blade at least twice in a mowing season. You can do this yourself using a bench grinder or a file. This keeps it sharp, and sharp blades cut your grass quickly and neatly.
Replacing the old blades with new ones revamps your mower and improves its performance.
Bigger tires will increase the speed of hydrostatic mowers as they tend to cover more distance when they move. Make sure that the tires you choose are not so much bigger than the mower’s original tire.
If they are, it raises the mower so that the blades are too far from the grass for proper cutting. Tall tires can also easily get into accidents when you try to turn the mower. It could tumble when you try to maneuver or climb a steep slope.
Installing a larger pulley can significantly boost the speed of your hydrostatic mower. But this is a bit complex to do. You have to follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s manual carefully or get help from a professional.
Also, ensure you get the correct model that fits your mower, and do not upgrade the pulley by a high amount at once. Instead, be gradual, and upgrade it inch by inch, from 2 inches to 3 inches, 3 inches to 4 inches, and so forth.
Test the mower once you do each upgrade.
The governor is a device that manufacturers put in outdoor equipment, such as the lawnmower, to regulate and maintain its speed. Over time, this device can cause the mower to move slower and decrease the engine’s efficiency.
Removing the governor from your hydrostatic mower will raise the engine’s efficiency and increase its speed.
There are components in the mower that are needless and do not perform any meaningful function in the machine. These added items increase the mower’s weight and can reduce its speed with time.
Browse through your instruction manual to see the functions of all the parts. Take out the unnecessary components to lighten your mower so it could move with more ease.
Now, let’s see how you can maintain the speed and performance of your hydrostatic lawnmower.
Consistent maintenance for your hydrostatic lawnmower
- Inspect the tires regularly
- The oil level must be accurate
- Use good quality fuel
- Clean the air filter consistently
- Check for leaks and damages
- Clean underneath regularly
- Purge the air on the hydraulic drive
The tires play an important role in the speed of the machine. The air pressure on all the tires must be the same and it must be the right amount.
You need to constantly check the tire pressure of your hydrostatic lawnmower to keep it running efficiently.
The correct oil level will be specified in the manufacturer’s manual. Read through this and ensure you maintain this level at all times for optimum performance of your hydrostatic mower.
Check and change the oils at intervals, or when you see it turning darker from dirt.
Hydrostatic lawnmowers are powered by gasoline, and you need to use the type recommended by the manufacturer to maintain the mower’s performance. Fuels with high octane numbers are also good quality and can increase the speed of your mower.
Check the air filter regularly, and make sure it stays clean. Change the air filter immediately if it has gone bad.
A dirty or bad air filter can hinder the flow of air in and out of the machine. This results in slow performance and decrease speed.
Regularly check the wires of your mower to make sure there are no leaks or damage.
A leak can cause the machine to slow down as power could not flow through efficiently. Fix any leaks by calling a professional if you are unsure how to go about them.
Replace any damaged wires to ensure efficient power flow through all the circuits.
Make sure underneath the lawnmower is clean and there is no dirt. That way, the blades move with ease and consume less power.
When using the mower in the rainy season, grass and debris can accumulate beneath the machine. Ensure you check and remove this regularly to keep it clean.
This process is an essential maintenance one that ensures the hydrostatic mower does not lose its speed. The mower would not only lose speed, but fails to power on if you don’t cleanse the air on the hydraulic drive often enough.
Since the mower’s transmission uses oil, too much air can mix with the oil. This can obstruct the pump, causing the mower to become sluggish.
The process of purging the air on your mower’s hydraulic drive would be included in your instruction manual. The procedure might vary according to the model and make. Refer to the manual to see the best way to do this process on your mower.
Many people are now opting for hydrostatic lawnmowers because of their speed and efficiency. We have explained how you can maintain its high performance and prevent it from slowing down. Following these routine maintenance tips can keep your hydrostatic mower in top shape for a long time.
If the mower starts to slow down, you can revamp it by changing the applicable parts as we have explained. Take out unnecessary components from the machine to make it lighter and faster. These modifications will restore the mower’s speed and save you time and fuel.
You can maintain, repair, or modify your mower by yourself, as long as you have the tools and are technically inclined. It is helpful to read the manufacturer manual for reference while you work. But if you are unsure, you can always get help from a professional.
