Get matched with top lawn tool repair specialists in Big Horn, WY

There are a few reasons why a lawn mower cord won’t pull, including an engine jam, a tangled cord, a broken recoil starter, or poor maintenance. To troubleshoot, turn the mower off. Then, inspect the cord, look for any tangles, and gently pull it to identify where the resistance starts. If you’re not seeing any obstructions, you may need to call in a professional for repairs.

A standard home lawn mower with sharp blades can handle a thin layer of leaves without issue. You may need to make a couple of passes within several days to mulch leaves down, but your mower shouldn’t struggle. If your mower comes with a mulching kit, like an attachment to blow leaves out the side, that’s a good sign it’s ready for fall leaves. Set your mower to the highest or near-highest height for this project so it focuses on the leaves rather than the grass below.

Whether to repair or replace your lawn mower depends on what is wrong with it and how long you have owned it. If your lawn mower is relatively new, ensuring you regularly service it will help keep it in good shape. There are issues that will cost hundreds of dollars to repair, such as the engine blowing or the lawn mower going over rocks. Many people go by the three-year rule and replace their lawn mower rather than do repairs after this time.

The American ideal of a large, perfectly-manicured lawn is tied to the post-World War II suburban housing boom. In the decades that followed, technological advances made self-propelled mowers more affordable and plentiful. Many Americans came to see reel mowers as old-fashioned, inconvenient, and time-consuming, and they eventually fell out of fashion.