The mower tractor also offers the advantage of having more extensive functionality than a simple lawn mower. This makes it all the more appreciable for gardeners who want to spare themselves the too strenuous tasks linked to the maintenance of the lawn. When to get the mower tractor, how to maintain it and how to choose the right model?
When should a mower tractor be used?
The mower tractor is a small vehicle that takes the form of a chassis mounted on 4 wheels. It was designed to make it easier to mow large areas of lawn as well as the collection of mowing waste. It can cut the time you can usually spend mowing a lawn with a heat or electric mower in half. This time saved can be even more considerable if we compare it to that taken when using a manual mower.
This is due to the fact that the tractor is powered by a 4-stroke engine which can have a power between 10 and 18 CV.
There are two types of mower tractors from which you can choose depending on the area to be mowed: the rider that is suitable for medium surfaces of 1000 m² or more and the ride-on mower which was designed for gardens whose surface is between 1500 and 6000 m².
These 2 types of mower therefore share the common characteristic of being suitable for use over a large area and furnished with obstacles such as slopes for example.
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Maintain your mower tractor
Replace damaged parts
The mower tractor requires regular maintenance to be able to use it effectively. If a mechanical part such as the starter of a mower tractor is damaged for example, you will have to change it before you can use your machine again in the garden. You will find the spare part you need from online stores that specialize in the sale of spare parts for tractor mowers.
Clean the air filter
To ensure that the tractor is operating properly, you must also perform the cleaning the air filter by removing the air filter from the prefilter then passing a blow of air on the parts. The air filtration parts can also be changed when they are too dirty (which can happen after long use).
Clean the cutting deck
Maintenance of the lawn tractor includes cleaning the cutting deck or the cutting deck after each use. During mowing, pieces of cut grass are lodged in the inner walls of the cutting deck and can damage the mechanism if they are not cleaned regularly. You must therefore equip yourself with a cleaning spatula or scraper to remove the residue then water the interior to clean it well the rest. Let dry and then loosen with a suitable product to prevent the inside of the tray from rusting.
Maintain tires
The lawn tractor is strong enough to support your weight while you mow the lawn. However, it won't be able to roll away if you don't care for its tires! You should therefore take care to clean them regularly. Remember to spray it with water before each use to prevent small stones from getting too easily attached to it.
It can also be interesting spray a puncture resistant product especially if you are riding on particularly rough terrain. Besides, this type of product can also be useful for sealing leaks in the event of a small puncture.
Finally, think about spray penetrating oil onto the wheel axle to make the mechanism more fluid.
Change engine oil
The oil change is very useful when your tractor mower reaches 40 hours of use. This maintenance can be done at home in your garage using a drain syringe, funnel, engine oil and a container to collect used oil.
Choose the right mower tractor
The surface of your garden is the first criterion that you must take into account when buying a lawn tractor to mow your lawn. Both the rider and the ride-on mower are suitable for a plot of more than 1000 m² with a slope of 30%. But before making your choice, it is necessary to take into account other criteria such as:
The cutting width of the mower
The cutting width of your mower should match the area to be mowed in your garden. If the surface of the lawn is between 1000 and 1500 m², it will be necessary that the blades of the machine have a cutting width between 60 and 75 cm. Between 1500 and 3000 m², a width of 75 to 100 cm is recommended, while from 3000 m², the blade should be more than 100 cm wide.
Engine power
Most lawn tractors have a 4-stroke petrol engine running on unleaded petrol. You will also have to opt for a power adapted to the surface to be mowed, namely that for an area of less than 2000 m², a power of 10 to 12 CV. Between 2000 and 3000 m², you will need a power of 12.5 CV on average while for an area of 3000 and 6000 m², the required power is 15 CV.
The comfort of use of the lawn tractor
In order for you to be able to use your lawn tractor comfortably, it must be equipped with a comfortable seat with adjustable height. Its controls must be easily accessible and centralized in one place.
Finally, to avoid the machine vibrating too much during use, it is better that the diameter of the wheels is very large.
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