Mower maintenance checklist

A mower maintenance checklist covers what to look at before each mow (oil, blades, deck, belts, tyres) and the service jobs that come round every season (oil, filters, spark plug, blades). Doing the quick check each time catches a worn belt or a dull blade before it costs you a day.

This is a general list drawn from two university extension guides, not your maker's schedule. Your mower's manual sets the real intervals, and it matters most if you use the mower for work. Change the list to fit your machine.

Download the printable PDF Download the spreadsheet

Before you mow

Oil level on the dipstick with the engine cold, filled to the mark and not over it
Tyre pressure even on every wheel (low pressure in one tyre cuts unevenly)
Blades sharp and balanced, with a spare set to hand
Belts: cracks or worn spots
Battery charged, if your mower has one
Clippings cleared from under the deck
Dust and debris cleared from around the engine and battery

Before your hands go near the blades

Spark plug lead disconnected (petrol mower) or battery removed (electric mower)

After mowing

Deck cleaned of clippings and wiped dry (wet clippings cause rust)

Fuel

Fuel stabiliser added if the mower will sit unused for more than 30 days
Fuel stabiliser added before off-season storage

Service jobs to log (your manual sets the intervals)

Engine oil changed (follow the manual's interval in hours)
Air filter cleaned or replaced
Fuel filter or primer bulb checked
Spark plug checked or replaced
Blades sharpened and re-balanced

Keep the record with the mower

A paper tick-sheet gets lost. In Loggy you do the same check on your phone.

Open the mower and tap Inspect.
Pick a template, or tap Create your own and build the list above.
Mark each item P (pass), F (fail) or N (not applicable). Tap the clip to add a note and a photo.
Tap Review & Sign, draw your signature and submit.

If an item fails, tap to create a fault from it. The fault stays on the mower’s Active Faults list until someone fixes it. Inspections are free. Inspections help · Track faults

Service work is a separate list

This checklist is the quick check. Services, oil changes and repairs get logged on their own, with the reading, the workshop, the cost and the invoice. Your manual sets the intervals, and Loggy can remind you when the next one is due. Set a service reminder · Track a mower by engine hours

Questions

How often should I change the oil in a mower?

Follow your owner's manual, which gives the interval in hours. Illinois Extension says most residential mowers need an oil change once a year, and that heavy users should follow the maker's hour interval instead.

How often should I replace the spark plug?

The two sources used here disagree. Illinois Extension says every two years. Alabama Extension says every 100 hours, or sooner if the engine runs roughly. Your manual is the one to follow.

Why clean the deck after every mow?

Wet clippings left under the deck cause rust, according to both extension guides. Scrape them off and wipe the deck dry.

Is this list enough for a mower I use for work?

It is a starting point. A working mower racks up hours quickly, so use the maker's hour intervals for services and keep a dated record of each one.

Is it free?

The checklist is free to download. In Loggy, inspections and service logs are free too: the app has a generous free tier with unlimited vehicles and machines, and no ads. Premium adds sharing a vehicle with other people, folders and downloadable reports.

Run your first mower check on your phone. On iOS and Android, with a generous free tier and no ads.

Checks based on: Illinois Extension, Mower Maintenance; Alabama Extension, The 10 steps of lawn mower maintenance (revised November 2023). Read 10 November 2026.