Lawnmower test in Exeter
Professional lawnmower test services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
Up to 1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Quick test of your inherited/left-behind lawnmower to check it actually works. Better to find out now than when the grass is ankle-deep and you need it urgently.
Don't Wait Until You Need It
So you've moved into a house with a garden (congratulations!). The previous owners helpfully left their mower in the shed. Is it a generous gift or a broken piece of junk they couldn't be bothered to take?
💡 Pro tip: Test it now, while the grass is short. Not in three weeks when your lawn looks like a hay field and you desperately need a working mower.
What Can Go Wrong With Inherited Mowers
| ✅ Working Mower | ❌ Garage Ornament |
|---|---|
| Starts reliably, cuts properly | Won't start (old fuel, dead spark plug) |
| Blades sharp and safe | Blades bent or missing |
| Oil clean, level correct | Hasn't been serviced in years |
| Actually better than buying new | Dangerous death trap you shouldn't touch |
What I Check
🔧 Full Mower Test
| Check | What I'm Looking For |
|---|---|
| Visual | Obvious damage, missing parts, rusty blades |
| Oil & Fuel | Levels correct, fuel fresh (not 3-year-old gunk) |
| Start Test | Does it actually start and run smoothly? |
| Safety | Blade brake works, no loose dangerous bits |
| Operation | Cuts properly, height adjust works, grass box fits |
📦 You Get
- Honest assessment: keep it or bin it
- Basic fixes done if it's simple stuff
- Operating demonstration if you've never used one
- Peace of mind before you need to use it
Pricing
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Basic test & assessment | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| Test + minor fixes (plug, oil, fuel) | Up to 1 hr | £60 |
£60 minimum covers up to 1 hour. If major work is needed, I'll quote separately - but honestly, if it needs major work, buying new is usually smarter.
Perfect For...
✅ Just moved in - left-behind mower in the shed
✅ First-time lawn owners - never used a mower before
✅ Spring garden prep - checking equipment after winter storage
✅ Peace of mind - is this thing safe to use?
Why Choose Us for Lawnmower test in Exeter?
Know if the mower works before the grass is knee-high
Basic safety check included
Quick oil/fuel check
Advice on whether to keep or replace it
What to Expect
Step 1: Visual Inspection
Quick look over the mower - checking for obvious damage, missing safety guards, blade condition, general state of it.
Step 2: Fluids & Fuel
Check oil level and condition, see if there's old gunky fuel that needs draining, assess if it just needs fresh petrol or has bigger issues.
Step 3: Start & Run Test
Try to start it. If it goes, I'll run it for a few minutes, check the blade engagement, test the cutting height adjustment, make sure nothing sounds or feels wrong.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to check an inherited mower yourself? Here's what to look for:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Fresh petrol (if it's petrol-powered)
- Oil dipstick (built into most mowers)
- Spark plug wrench (for petrol mowers)
- Gloves
- Common sense
📐 Basic safety checks
- Blade condition - tip it back (carefully!) and check the blade isn't bent, cracked, or hanging off
- Safety bar - the handle bar that stops the engine when you let go should work
- Grass box - should fit properly and not be cracked
- Wheels - should all turn freely and not wobble
✂️ Getting it started
- Old fuel is the number one reason mowers won't start
- Drain any fuel that's been sat there for months
- Check oil level (dipstick near the engine)
- New petrol, fresh spark plug, it'll probably go
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Trying to start it with ancient fuel still in the tank
- Not checking the oil before starting (can wreck the engine)
- Assuming electric mowers don't need maintenance (they do)
- Using it without checking the blade brake works
💡 Pro trick: If it's been sat unused for a year or more, drain the old fuel, replace the spark plug, fresh oil, and fresh petrol. 90% of the time that's all it needs.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌱 Never owned a lawn before? Electric mowers are much easier than petrol - just plug in and go. If the inherited mower is petrol and seems like hassle, might be worth just buying a decent electric one instead.
Old petrol mowers: If it's ancient and hasn't been serviced in years, sometimes it's genuinely cheaper to buy a new mower than repair an old one. I'll tell you honestly what makes sense.
Strimmers too: If they've left a strimmer as well, I can test that at the same time. Same principle - does it work or is it junk?
Spring servicing: If the mower's fine but just needs a service (sharpen blade, oil change, new plug), I can do that too. Gets it running perfectly for the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly do you check on a lawnmower?
I'll check it starts, runs properly, blades engage correctly, and there's no obvious damage or safety issues. Also check oil level, fuel system, and give you an honest opinion on whether it's worth keeping or if you should buy a new one.
The previous owners left a mower - should I test it?
Absolutely. You don't know how old it is, when it was last serviced, or if it even works. Better to find out now than discover a dead mower when your lawn looks like a meadow in three weeks time.
Can you fix it if it doesn't work?
I can handle basic issues - clean spark plug, fresh fuel, oil top-up, that sort of thing. For anything major (broken recoil, blown engine) I'll tell you honestly whether it's worth repairing or if you're better off buying new.
How long does a mower test take?
Usually 20-30 minutes. Just need to check it over, get it started, see how it runs. If there's simple fixes needed (old fuel, dirty plug) that might add time but I'll tell you first.
What if the mower is fine but I've never used one?
I'll show you how to start it, adjust the height, empty the grass box, and give you some basic tips. Most people who've never owned a lawn before find electric mowers much easier - I can advise on that too.
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