Help Me Take Care Of My Lawn!

Spring has sprung!  Of course, living in Utah, we can never be 100% sure that one last snowstorm will sneak up on us, but for all intents and purposes, we are on the eve of a summer of outdoor fun and adventure.  One of the first steps to segue into spring and summer is by taking care of your lawn, which may or may not have been as battered as normal due to our mild winter.

When caring for your lawn, it's important take the appropriate steps to make sure that it is healthy, green, and beautiful.  Follow the basic steps below to ensure that your lawn is ready for summer barbecues, flag football games, and more.

1.     Follow the One-Third Rule – NEVER cut your grass more than one-third of its current height.  Taking more than that one-third is traumatizing on the grass plant and will lead to unhealthy, dying grass that is hard to treat.  If your lawn needs to be cut by more than this one-third rule of thumb, you can do it in stages over a few days.

2.     Cut Your Grass to the Highest Acceptable Height – By cutting your grass a little longer, you are ensuring that it retains water more than if it were short.  More retained water means greener grass.  While a short lawn may hold some visual appeal, your lawn will brown and the soil will quickly dry and lose crucial nutrients.

3.     Sharpen Your Mower Blades – Unsharpened mower blades take a toll on your grass, as that hack at the grass rather than cut it cleanly.  Grass that has been hacked at is damaged and more prone to not growing healthily.  Blades can be easily sharpened, and should be sharpened at least twice a season.

4.     Fertilize – Fertilizing your lawn ensures that your grass is given the appropriate nutrients to stay healthy and green.  Fertilizer is readily available at any home and garden center, and is easily applied to your lawn.  It's best practice to treat your lawn with fertilizer every 4-6 weeks to keep it looking beautiful and green.

5.     Treat Weeds and Disease – If you have some unsightly brown spots or dandelions, you may have a problem with your lawn.  Insects, disease, and weeds can undermine a dedicated lawn care effort.  There is treatment through various products such as weed and feed, but the best course of action is to consult a lawn care professional for further advice and treatment.

6.     Watering Your Lawn – Deep watering is  When watering, it's more effective to water every few days than for a little bit every day.  Having said that, you will want to give your lawn at least 1 ½ inches of water a week.  Make sure to water it in the mornings to make sure the water doesn't quickly get burned off by the scintillating summer sun.

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Crowell's Flying Wrench is a full-service mobile repair company that comes to you and services your equipment at your convenience.  Our lawn mower repair service in Draper, Utah provides years of experience and friendly service that will leave a lasting impression upon you.  In addition to Draper, we service all of the Salt Lake Valley.  Give us a call today to see how we can help you!

By: Kyson Crowell

How Long Should Your Grass Be When You Mow It?

Now that spring has sprung, it’s nearly time to dust off your lawn mower and get your yard looking immaculate.  Mowing a lawn is considered an art form by many people, as you will often see various patterns and trims as you head through your neighborhood.  One question that is often asked is regarding the length of cut grass.  The length of grass is vital to keeping a beautiful, green, weed-free yard.

When dealing with grass height, there are several considerations to be taken into account.  By keeping grass at least 3 inches tall until the autumn, you are ensuring that weed seeds from germinating and taking over your yard.  Those nasty crabgrass seeds need light to germinate, and by keeping your grass long, you ensure that doesn’t happen.  Certain species of grass, including bentgrass, Bermudagrass, and seasore paspalum can be cut down as low as one inch, but these are the exception, rather than the rule. 

Also, by keeping it at least 3 inches in length, you are ensuring that your soil doesn’t dry out, which leads to brown grass and overwatering.  Overwatering has become a problem in our Utah communities in the summer, especially with the water conservation acts that have become vital as our population continues to grow. 

It is also important to remember the rule of thirds.  What this means is that when you cut your grass, no more than one-third of the grass plant should be cut at any one time.  Then, after trimming the grass, you will need to wait at least 48 hours before trimming again.  The grass plant is sensitive, while resilient, and cutting it affects the plant, necessitating a 48-hour period to heal.  After these 48 hours have passed, the grass has had an ample opportunity to fully heal, so it can again be trimmed, by that same one-third ratio.

In order to ensure a freshly cut lawn, it’s vital to make sure that your lawn mower is in tip top condition.  If it is in need of service, Crowell’s Flying Wrench will help you get it running like new.  Crowell’s Flying Wrench is a full-service mobile repair company that specializes in small engines.  Our lawnmower repair in Sandy, UT will come to you and get your lawn mower running like new in no time.  Give Crowell’s Flying Wrench a call at (801) 860-3605, or visit our website at www.crowellsflyingwrench.com to schedule an appointment today!

How Often Should You Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blade?

Although we are mired in the cold of winter, spring is never far away.  As those winter snows melt away and flowers begin to blossom, many of us get back into the routine of lawn care.  Part of that lawn care means unpacking the lawn mower and making sure your grass looks trimmed and well-maintained. 

If you've owned a mower for a while, you surely have noticed that your lawn mower might not seem to trim as cleanly or effectively as it did when it was brand new.  The quality of your work has decreased, and a mowing job that used to take you 30 minutes is now taking you 45 minutes, and the results just aren't as good.  No, your mower isn't losing its efficacy, nor does it have any mechanical issues.  In reality, your lawn mower blades are dull and the time has come for the blades to be sharpened. 

It is recommended that you sharpen lawn mower blades twice a season.  Considering the typical mowing season in Utah can range anywhere from 6-9 months, it’s something you will want to look to do at the beginning of the spring and at some point in the summer.  Sharpened lawn mower blades will help you maintain a green, healthy lawn.  A sharp blade not only cuts grass cleanly, but it reduces the time it takes to mow your lawn, as well as helping grass to recover quickly, helping you maintain that pristine, green lawn that you've worked so hard to cultivate.

A dull lawn mower blade doesn't cleanly cut grass.  In fact, it rips, pulls, and hacks grass blades, which leaves your lawn looking poor and promotes the invitation of fungal growth, disease, and weeds.  Grass that is not in top health can often be a battle that last months, or even years.  Sharpening a blade is important, and it’s something that is neglected far too often. 

Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers a mobile, convenient blade sharpening service that will come to you and leave you ready to mow your lawn like a boss once again.  Our friendly, professional service team will come to you anywhere in Park City and the SaltLake Valley to fix your mower, and no job is too big or too small.  We work on both push and sit down mowers, and our full-service offerings will also repair other lawn mower issues, including engine repair and full blade replacement.  Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!

By: Kyson Crowell

You Ever Wondered Who Is The Best?

So that old mower you have been using has finally kicked the bucket? It’s not the mower’s fault; after
all, it made it through countless summers of unrelenting punishment. From those days when you
forced it through slightly damp grass because you had a tee-time to get to, to the triple digit temps it
weathered during the dog days of summer, that machine has had quite the run. It is time to retire it with
the honor it deserves. So now it’s time to replace it, but your old machine has set the bar pretty high.
We’ve all heard that they don’t make things quite like they used to – how can you be sure to choose a
mower that will pick up where its predecessor left off? Is there a brand, or list of brands that stands out
above the rest?

There are as many small engine manufacturers as there are stars in the sky, but one brand – Briggs &
Stratton – is almost universally considered to be the best. Their product line includes engines for push
mowers, riding mowers, snow blowers, and even generators. Their engines are so prevalent that they
can be found on nearly all major brands of lawn mowers and yard equipment. We recommend at least
190 CCs to ensure you have enough power for adverse conditions, but much of the rest just boils down to comfort and preference.

Husqvarna got their start producing weapons for the Swedish Army, but have gone on to become
the world’s largest producer of outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers and other yard
equipment. Their position at the top is no accident; a quick look online shows that they receive
overwhelmingly positive reviews. Many Husqvarna mowers come with the aforementioned Briggs &
Stratton Engines, but there are options available with Honda or Kohler engines as well.

Maybe you’re more of the ‘local first’ type and would prefer a domestic brand. If so, you really can’t go wrong with John Deere. Based out of Illinois, these iconic, green machines are about as American as it
gets. There is a reason you see a lot of old John Deere tractors in rural areas; these things are truly built
to last. And while they are mostly known for large agricultural machinery like harvesters, combines, and tractors, their riding and push mowers are built with the same attention commitment to quality.

While Briggs & Stratton have certainly made their mark on the small engine industry, and big companies like Husqvarna and Deere have developed a significant amount of brand loyalty among the general population, one should not interpret that to mean that they are the only options. There are plenty of other companies out there producing high quality machinery that is built to last including: Honda, Troy-Bilt and Toro. Unless you are using your machine for commercial applications, or in a particularly harsh environment, you should have no trouble finding a mower that fits your needs. The best thing to do is head out to your nearest small engine dealer and chat with them about the nature of your mowing and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

By: Kyson Crowell

Does Your Lawn Mower Stop Running After A Few Seconds?

Over the last few posts we have discussed a few possible solutions for a small engine that stops running after a few seconds. From using fuel stabilizer to prevent gas separation, to cleaning the carburetor. But there are two other common problems that could prevent your engine to lose power after starting; Bad spark plugs and the lesser known clogged gas cap.

Sparks plugs, as their name might suggest, provide the spark that ignites the gas in your engine.  When they go bad the engine won’t be able to run properly. Replacing spark plugs in your small engine is as easy as it is cheap. You simply remove the wire covering, and use a socket wrench to unscrew the spark old spark plug. Replace it with the new one and you should be good to go.

Another possible reason your engine won’t stay running is a bad gas cap. Gas caps have tiny vents in them to allow airflow to the gas tank. When they get clogged the engine can’t breathe, so to speak, and shuts down. To check if your gas cap is bad, try loosening it before starting the engine. If it runs better like this, the cap needs to go.

While there are many things that can cause your small engine to stop running after a few seconds, spark plugs and gas caps are cheap and easy to rule out. It is best to try the easy and inexpensive solutions before moving on to more complex repairs like disassembling your carburetor. Of course, if you are in Salt Lake City or surrounding areas, you can always give us a call and we can help you diagnose the problem. 

By: Kyson Crowell

Cleaning the Carburetor on Your Lawn Mower or Small Engine

A clogged carburetor can wreak havoc on a mower or small engine. If it sounds like your machine is struggling to idle, is lacking power or simply won’t start, cleaning the carburetor may be the answer to your problems.

Removal will vary depending on the model and type of engine, but once completed, the cleaning process is pretty much the same. First, you need to clean off the dirt and grime from around the idle assembly and the rest of the carburetor. Buildup in this area is often the cause of idling issues.

Once you have cleaned the exterior you are ready to take it apart and clean the inside. Using a socket wrench, remove the bolt holding the bowl on the carburetor. Be careful here, because some gas may pour out. Hold the assembly over a cup to prevent spilling all over your workspace. Once the bowl is removed, set it aside for later.

Remove Float Pin

Using needle nose pliers, remove the pin that holds the float and needle in place. Set this aside in the bowl, where it can be easily retrieved later. Remove the needle and float assembly and set them aside as well. Here is where you break out the carburetor cleaner.

Using short, half-second bursts of canned carburetor cleaner, spray each of the tiny holes on the inside of the chamber. Turn the carburetor body over and spray again through the bottom. Be sure to spray in through the jet as well. Do not, however, spray any cleaner into the hole the needle goes into because it will eat away at the area.

spray in through the jet as well. Do not, however, spray any cleaner into the hole the needle goes into because it will eat away at the area.

Using thin gauge wire (or a stripped down twist-tie, clear out any blockage or debris stuck in these holes and the jet. Use the wire to clear out the holes in the fixed jet as well. Once finished, use a compressor or compressed air to blast out any remaining grime. Be sure to wear eye protection, because carburetor fluid is not gentle on the eyes. Once completed, you are ready to reassemble. When you’ve reassembled the carburetor and put it back on the machine you should be good to go!

Cleaning out the carburetor on your small engine may seem daunting, but it is one of the easier bits of maintenance you can do. Improve the performance of your machine and extend its useful life by going through this process frequently. It’s like they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A little effort spent cleaning your carburetor regularly is worth it when compared to the price of a new motor. 

By: Kyson Crowell

Should I Use a Fuel Stabilizer

There is no shortage of products that claim to revolutionize the performance of your engine. Mowers and small engines are no different. You can get everything from antiknock agents that increase fuel’s octane rating, to additives with specially formulated enzymes designed to clean the entire fuel system. Many products falsely claim to be the silver bullet for your engine’s problems, but few are as helpful as fuel stabilizers.

Fuel stabilizers are important because of the increasing amount of ethanol found in gasoline sold across the country. While the addition of ethanol makes fuel burn cleaner, it can have adverse side effects if not used properly. The problem is that the ethanol draws moisture from the air over time. This moisture collects in the bottom of your gas tank and can wreak havoc on your entire fuel system. If left sitting long enough, gas can experience phase separation – a process by which the accumulated water separates from the rest of the fuel in the tank. Once completed, phase separation cannot be reversed. You’ll have to take your machine to a nearby small engine repair center and have it professionally drained. Avoid this hassle altogether by using fuel a quality fuel stabilizer.

Stabilizers work by breaking up water molecules that have accumulated in the tank, and allowing them to mix with the rest of the fuel. Check this out yourself by pouring some stabilizer into a cup of water. You can see the stabilizer go to work as the water begins to form tinny beads right before your eyes. This is the same process that allows your machine to easily burn through gas that would otherwise be problematic.

Fuel stabilizers don’t just help your engine burn through gas that has accumulated water over time. They also extend the life of your machine by reducing the amount of strain it is put through. You see, just because your engine is running, doesn’t mean water hasn’t accumulated in the system. Small engines are tough; they are capable of operating with a little bit of water in the line, it just takes a bit more work. This additional strain wears out the components of your engine. Additionally, constant exposure to watered-down fuel contributes to the corrosion of your carburetor, fuel injectors and other small engine components. Fuel stabilizers address all of these concerns.

When it comes to cars, like many other things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By increasing efficiency and reducing the levels of corrosive elements inside the engine, using a fuel stabilizer just twice a year has been shown to boost performance and extend the life of small engines.

By: Kyson Crowell

Ethanol vrs Straight Gasoline

Ethanol has been used as a gas substitute for years. The alternative fuel produced from corn has been added to gasoline at pumps across the country, but in recent years many have begun to question its effects on small engines.

Gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol (E15) has been approved by the EPA for use in cars produced since 2001, but not in small engines like lawn mowers and leaf blowers. They found that the fuel caused small engines to run at higher temperatures than straight gasoline, which caused a number of problems including component failure.

While E15 is prohibited for use in small engines, its diluted counterpart E10 is not. Gasoline with 10% ethanol content can be found just about anywhere. The FDA has given it the go ahead with respect to use in small engines but many in the industry are not quite convinced. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the trade organization for the industry, has indicated small engine repair shops everywhere are reporting the same problems caused by E15 in engines that only use E10. I have seen these issues first hand at my shop, Crowell’s Flying Wrench Mobile Small Engine Repairs.

Proponents of higher ethanol content refute these claims, pointing to a go-cart race park that runs its entire fleet on fuel containing a whopping 85% ethanol. An operation like that puts an incredible amount of stress on their engines; if a higher ethanol content can be linked to increased wear and tear, they should be able to reproduce these negative effects. Al Novstrup, owner of Thunder Road Family Fun Park, has been running his fleet of 135 go-carts on E85 gasoline for over 7 years and has yet to see any of the problems described in the FDA report.

Whichever side of the fence you land on, it is still best to heed the FDA guidelines and not use E15 gasoline in your small engine equipment. Particularly cautious individuals can buy specialty gas at home and garden stores and small engine dealers everywhere. You will certainly pay a higher price for this type of fuel but for many, the piece of mind is worth the extra money. If you prefer not to go this route, you can minimize the risk of damage by trying to run through the gas in your mower as quickly as possible during the summer months. This gives less time for the ethanol to draw water into the fuel system.

By: Kyson Crowell

How Do You Know If You Need To Change Your Oil?

Recently, we posted an article explaining how to change the oil in your small engine, but how do you know if you need do it? First, you should make sure your machine even requires oil changes in the first place. If you have a two-cycle engine, where you mix the oil with the gas manually, you don’t need to worry about it. If oil is added separately, however, you will want to change the oil periodically.

Recommendations can vary when it comes to the regularity of oil changes in small engines, even from the same manufacturer. Small Engine giants Briggs & Stratton recommend changing the oil after every 25 hours of operation at one place on their site, and every 50 hours at another. To be safe, you should check the owner’s manual for your specific machine for specific service intervals.

For most people this means one oil change a summer, but that is assuming the machine was operated under relatively mild conditions. If you have a habit of mowing through wet grass, or letting it grow to the point that your mower can barely make it through, you will need to do this more regularly. Other conditions that can cause you to go through oil more quickly are if you are consistently working in extreme heat, dusty conditions, or operating over rough and hilly terrain.

Any scenario that causes the engine to work harder or run at unusually high RPMs for extended periods of time will require more regular maintenance in all areas, not only engine oil. Changing the oil is an easy thing you can do to increase the life of your machine, so you aren't needing to call for a snow blower repair in the middle of a snow storm! If you aren’t particularly mechanically inclined, you can easily find a nearby small engine repair mechanic to take care of everything for you.

By: Kyson Crowell

How to Sharpen a Lawn Mower Blade

Spring is coming, and for many of us, that means it is time to pull the lawn mower out of the garage and get to work taming the jungle that your yard has become. But if your mower has seen its share of summers, it may be time to sharpen the blade.

If you are the do-it-yourself type, sharpening the blade is an

easy way to add a few years to the life of your machine. All you need to do is remove the blade, and take care of any rust you may find with a steel brush or some steel wool. Once the blade is free of rust, and the blade is free of major damage, you can start sharpening. Secure the blade in a table vice, and use a file to sharpen the cutting edge. As you move the file, it is important to match the angle of the cutting edge. This will allow the file to sharpen the blade, rather than dulling it.

The blade of your mower can be damaged in a number of ways, but most commonly it is caused by accidentally mowing over hidden hazards like sprinkler heads. If there are deep gouges or dents in the blade, it is best to have it professionally sharpened. There are countless options for lawn mower repair in Salt Lake City, UT. Do your research and find one you can depend on because you’ll need them for more than just sharpening the blade.  Like with cars, a little research and elbow grease can save you money when it comes to lawnmower maintenance. And just like cars, once you find a good mechanic for your mower, you’ll want to keep them around forever.

Lawn mowers aren’t incredibly complex machines. If maintained properly, they can last for many years. Sharpening the blade ever few seasons is an easy way to extend the life of your mower and it can often be done in your own garage. However, if the damage is too bad to fix with a file, you may need to consider having it looked at professionally. But don’t worry; just look at this as an opportunity to vet your new small engine mechanic! 

By: Kyson Crowell