Ways to reduce wear and tear?

[Vigilant]

I let my X500 idle for about a minute after it starts, but when I'm finished mowing, instead of just parking it in the garage, I let it sit outside and blow down while I trim. We already talked about engaging the PTO. As I said, I engage my PTO at just above idle, then speed up gradually to full throttle. I will take the advice of another member and try idling it down even more and half-choking before I engage. I do my best not to ever turn the steering wheel unless the mower is rolling to make it easier on the front end and steering. Every 200 hours or so, I add a bottle of Techron to a 7 gallon gas can before filling. Of course, I only buy non ethanol gas. I change the oil every Spring with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10W30 and have everything greased. I have the blades sharpened every season (about 50 hours) and the belts checked. A sharp set of blades means a cooler engine. Transmission is serviced every 200 hours or so.

Can anyone else share some tips to reduce wear and tear? Thanks in advance.

 

[buck12]

Heck your mower may run forever with such treatment. I have a GT 235 I bought used 15 or so years ago and I don’t warm it up or cool it down. I just cut grass and park it. I do service it regularly. You are wise to lower the RPMs before engaging the PTO. I didn’t always to this this for years with my mower and had to replace the clutch assembly. In my opinion good gas and regular service are the most important.

 

[jaxs]

Check for grass and dirt where air flow's across engine. Pressurized air is best way to clean it out. If you use water hose or pressure washer,do it when engine is at ambient temperature to prevent cracking something. Storing machine out of weather help's immensely.

 

[Zebrafive]

The only thing I would do different is change oil in the fall. That's if you do not use it in the winter. Then is sits all winter with clean fresh oil in the engine. Disreguard if you use it in the winter. Mine only mows, so it sits all winter.

 

[5030]

Easiest way to reduce wear... Leave it parked....:laughing:

 

[oosik]

I have a JD G100. It's a riding mower with a 54" cut. It was purchased new in 2002. I change oil annually and grease where required. I use it just like most will use a PTO driven rotary cutter. It cuts my lawns - it cuts my meadows - it cuts my Buck brush - it cuts down my wild Multi-floral roses. I still have the OEM drive belts and blades. I sharpen the blades every spring. This unit REFUSES to die.

 

[jaxs]

I have a JD G100. It's a riding mower with a 54" cut. It was purchased new in 2002. I change oil annually and grease where required. I use it just like most will use a PTO driven rotary cutter. It cuts my lawns - it cuts my meadows - it cuts my Buck brush - it cuts down my wild Multi-floral roses. I still have the OEM drive belts and blades. I sharpen the blades every spring. This unit REFUSES to die.

Loan it to my neighbor and let us know if it still refuse's to die.

 

[beenthere]

A good way is to NEVER loan it out..

 

[Gafn]

Maintenance is key...
I got an old commecial belt drive walk behind - a Encore PRO 48 with a kawasaki engine on it... Keep tellign the wife if it dies I am getting a zero turn...

This this sits outside all the time, mows every week in the summer, sits all winter, fires up on the 1st or 2nd pull...
I have had it 9 years and have not been kind to it.... dont think I changed the oil for 3 years once....,
I have started to treat her better, installed a shut off for the fuel - so this new CORN fuel never sits in the carb, Every fall - oil change and grease the heck out of it.... sharpen blades once a year... mid mowing season re-grease, and she just refuses to die...
All this equipment was built to be used.... grease it and run the snot out of it......
and beenthere I agree 1000% by all means NEVER loan it out... truer words have never been typed... I once loaned stuff to a Brother in law - SMH - what a fool I was

 

[CobyRupert]

- Not turning the PTO on and off every time you get off the seat or when you reverse when mowing reduces wear.
Of course they're are potential human downsides to this versus the real mechanical savings. Weigh risks accordingly.