Fancy a top petrol mower for under a tenner?

The sound of petrol lawnmowers firing up will ring out across the country this Bank Holiday weekend — punctured by the occasional expletive from those unable to kick their machine into action for the first cut of the year.

Households spend £130 million buying new mowers or getting old ones fixed every year. 

But rather than splash out hundreds of pounds on repairs and brand-new mowers, you can fix most problems for less than a tenner — simply by following our money-saving steps. 

Take care when doing repairs and ask a professional if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.

Rather than splash out hundreds of pounds on repairs and brand-new mowers, you can fix most problems for less than a tenner – simply by following our money-saving steps

1. Replace the petrol

Brian Radam, author of Haynes Lawnmower Manual, says: ‘Modern petrol can go stale, so if your mower has been sitting in a shed over winter, the chances are the engine will not fire up. Empty the old tank and replace it with new petrol.’

This is often a case of undoing a clip and pulling off a rubber pipe that runs from the petrol tank to the carburettor and emptying the fuel into a plastic container.

You may wish to refill with specialist fuel, which lasts longer and is better for lawn mowers. A fuel called 95 octane (also known as E5) is a good option — it is a 5 per cent ethanol and 95 per cent petrol mix and is better for the machine.

A gallon typically costs around £7.50 from garage forecourts.

A specialist ‘alkylate’ petrol — brands include Aspen — is even better. It costs about £20 for five litres (just over a gallon) from garden machinery shops.

Mr Radam says: ‘It seems expensive, but alkylate petrol can last five or six years without going stale. It does not contain the corrosive elements of ethanol that can damage rubber and plastic in a carburettor system.’ 

Also ensure the oil is at the correct level — by checking the dipstick which is usually nearby.

2. Clean or swap spark plug

The spark plug provides the flash point to ignite petrol for the engine. 

Old spark plugs can get sooted up with carbon deposits over a year of mowing the lawn, so it is a good habit to clean the metal ends with fine emery sandpaper.

Alternatively, you can replace the spark plug for around £3, but you’ll need a spark plug spanner and a feeler gauge, which cost around £5 each. Read the manual to find out how to replace yours.

Old spark plugs can get sooted up with carbon deposits over a year of mowing the lawn, so it is a good habit to clean the metal ends with fine emery sandpaper.

3. Check air filter & blades

When the mower won’t start, don’t turn it over to check underneath — that may allow oil to flow into an already often clogged sponge air filter. 

Take out the filter, clean it with white spirit and put it back when it is dry. 

Mr Radam says: ‘Sharpening the blades once a year is a good idea.’ Take them off using a spanner and sharpen with an angle grinder.

4. Look for leaks/damage

The carburettor — which supplies the engine with the correct mix of fuel and air — is the most common part of the mower to develop a fault because its rubber seals and gaskets perish over time.

You can buy a good carburettor gasket and diaphragm kit for £4. Basic tools, such as a screwdriver and spanners are all that is required for most jobs. 

Check videos on YouTube channels such as Mower Man and Micks Mowers The Mower Man for repair tips.

5. Check the warranty

Machines are usually covered by a warranty of up to three years. Check to see if you’re eligible for a repair from the manufacturer.

6. Get an annual service

Sometimes it pays to get an expert to fix the problem — especially if yours is a complex machine. 

An annual service costs around £100 — money well spent if it prevents you from having to fork out for a new mower.

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This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk