Your lawn mower is probably the most important tool in your lawn maintenance arsenal. Not only does it help you create that beautiful green grass, but also it helps keep all those pesky weeds away!
But if there’s one thing about a lawnmower, is that they can be quite difficult to use and maintain sometimes.
You’re probably reading this because your mower has developed a case of unusual vibrations. Lawn mowers are powered by piston engines, so some vibration is to be expected.
If it’s vibrating badly however, there may be problems.
If your troubleshooting skills are lacking then worry not as we have compiled this guide on how to identify what might cause these excessive vibrations.
Lawn Mower Vibrating Really Bad – Causes & Fixes
Here are some common causes of excessive vibrations in a lawn mower:
Missing or damaged blade
A missing or damaged blade may cause your mower to vibrate. It is important to check the blades regularly, and replace them if they are damaged.
Fix
The missing or damaged blade needs to be replaced immediately. A blade’s alignment can also become out of balance as it ages due to improper sharpening.
If you can’t find a replacement blade, then you may need to buy a new lawn mower.
Dirty engine oil
If your engine oil is dirty, it will not lubricate your lawn mower’s moving parts properly. The result is that the mower will vibrate as it moves over uneven surfaces.
This can also cause the engine to overheat and break down due to friction.
Fix
Cleaning out the old oil and adding new oil should solve this problem.
You should also check the filter for clogging, which could be causing the engine to work harder than it needs to. Replace any clogged filters with new ones before starting up your mower again.
Loose spark plug wires or gas cap
Loose spark plug wires can cause your lawn mower to shake violently when you start up your machine.
A loose gas cap can also cause vibration in your lawn mower, so make sure that it is tightly closed when you start up your machine.
Fix
Check if any of the wires are loose and tighten them back into place if necessary.
Broken or worn belt
Worn or broken belts can cause your lawn mower to vibrate. Worn belts will also make your machine work harder, which means that it will overheat more easily.
Fix
If you think that your belt is worn out, then replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
Loose handlebars or wheels
Loose handlebars can cause your mower to shake violently when you are using it. If the handlebars are loose, tighten them back into place before using the machine again.
Loose wheels can also cause vibration in your lawn mower. Make sure that both of these parts are firmly attached before starting up the machine again.
Loose or damaged wheel bearings
Wheel bearings are the parts that connect your wheels to the axle. If they are loose, then your mower will shake as you use it.
Fix
Check the wheel bearings and tighten them back into place if necessary. You may also need to replace them if they are damaged.
Broken wheels
If any of your lawn mower’s wheels have cracked or broken, then you may need to replace them with new ones. A cracked wheel can cause vibration in your machine as well as make it harder for you to turn corners and maneuver around obstacles.
Replacing a broken wheel is much easier than replacing an entire lawn mower, so it is worth fixing this problem before buying a new machine.
Loose nuts and bolts
Loose nuts and bolts can cause your lawn mower to vibrate. Make sure that all of the nuts and bolts are securely fastened before you start up the machine again.