Mower first cut prep in Exeter
Professional mower first cut prep services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Lawn mower serviced and ready for spring's first cut. Blade sharpened, oil changed, all systems checked. Your mower will start first time and cut cleanly when the grass starts growing.
Start the Season Right
Nothing worse than dragging your mower out in April, pulling the cord 40 times, and getting nothing. Or worse - it starts but the blunt blade tears your grass instead of cutting it cleanly.
💡 Pro tip: A sharp blade cuts grass cleanly which helps it recover faster and stay healthier. A blunt blade tears it, leaving brown tips and stressed grass that's more prone to disease.
What Happens During Winter
Even though your mower's been sitting unused, it's not stayed in perfect condition:
| ✅ Properly Serviced | ❌ Neglected Since Autumn |
|---|---|
| Sharp blade, clean cuts | Blunt blade tears grass |
| Fresh oil, runs smoothly | Old oil, sluggish engine |
| Clean fuel system | Gummed carburettor, won't start |
| Ready for first cut | Emergency Saturday at Halfords |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Check | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Blade | Sharpened for clean cutting (or replaced if damaged) |
| Oil | Old oil drained, fresh oil added (petrol mowers) |
| Air filter | Cleaned or replaced if clogged |
| Spark plug | Checked, cleaned, replaced if worn |
| Fuel system | Old fuel drained, carb cleaned if needed |
| Test run | Full power check across the lawn |
🌱 You're Left With
- Reliable mower ready for spring
- Sharp blade for healthy grass
- New fuel mixed correctly
- Confidence it'll start when you need it
Pricing Guide
| Mower Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Electric mower | 1 hr | £60 |
| Petrol rotary mower | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Parts extra if needed - oil £5, spark plugs £5-8, filters £8-15, blades £15-25.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Hasn't run since autumn - been in the shed for months
✅ Never serviced - you just use it until it stops
✅ Larger lawn - need reliability all season
✅ Hate maintenance - rather pay someone to sort it
Why Choose Us for Mower first cut prep in Exeter?
Blade sharpened for clean cutting
Oil changed and filter cleaned
Spark plug checked and replaced if needed
Full test run before the season starts
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
I'll check your mower over, try starting it, and work out what needs doing. Sometimes it's just blade and oil, sometimes more.
Step 2: Service Work
Blade comes off for sharpening, oil gets changed, filters checked, spark plug sorted. This is the actual maintenance work.
Step 3: Test Run
I'll mow a strip of your lawn to check it's cutting properly and running smoothly. You'll see it working before I leave.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to service your own mower? Here's the process:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Socket set for blade bolt
- Oil drain pan
- Fresh engine oil (check manual for grade)
- Replacement spark plug
- Air filter (or compressor to clean foam type)
- Blade sharpening file or bench grinder
- Work gloves
🛠️ Service procedure
- Safety first - disconnect spark plug lead, can't start accidentally
- Drain old oil - tip mower on side (air filter up!), drain from filler
- Remove blade - note which way up it goes, bolt usually tight
- Sharpen blade - file or grind the cutting edge, keep it balanced
- Clean/replace air filter - foam ones wash in soapy water
- Check spark plug - clean or replace, check gap is correct
- Refill oil - correct grade, check level with dipstick
- Fresh fuel - drain old stuff, add new (2-stroke mixed correctly)
⚖️ Balancing the blade
- After sharpening, blade must be balanced
- Hang it on a nail through the centre hole
- Should sit level - if one end drops, remove metal from heavy end
- Unbalanced blade vibrates and damages the mower
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Tipping mower wrong way (oil floods air filter)
- Over-tightening blade bolt (cracks the boss)
- Sharpening blade unevenly
- Wrong oil type or overfilling
- Forgetting to reconnect throttle/brake cables after blade change
💡 Pro trick: End of season in autumn, run your mower until the fuel tank is empty. Storing it with no fuel means no gummed carburettor in spring. Much better than draining or using fuel stabilizer.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🌱 First cut of spring should be higher than summer cuts. Set your mower about a notch higher than usual - don't scalp the grass after winter dormancy.
Timing this service - late March/early April is ideal. Before grass starts growing fast, after the worst of winter. Means you're ready when it's needed.
Multiple garden tools? Get the mower, strimmer and leaf blower all serviced together. I'm there with tools out, you save on separate callouts.
Older mowers in Devon's salty coastal air can have corroded parts. Sometimes a bit of WD-40 and elbow grease brings them back to life, sometimes they're done. I'll be honest about what's worth fixing.
Cylinder vs rotary - both get sharp blades, but cylinder mowers need precise adjustment. I can do both types properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's included in a mower first cut prep?
I'll sharpen the blade (or replace if it's beyond sharpening), change the oil, clean or replace the air filter, check the spark plug, and do a proper test run. Basically everything your mower needs to start reliably and cut cleanly after sitting in the shed all winter.
Why does my mower need servicing if it was fine last autumn?
Oil degrades while sitting idle, petrol goes stale and gums up the carburettor, and blades go blunt. Trying to cut spring grass with a blunt blade tears it rather than cutting cleanly - stresses the grass and looks rough. Fresh service means clean cuts and reliable starting.
Can you do electric and petrol mowers?
Yes to both, though petrol ones need more work. Electric is mainly blade sharpening and checking the motor's not clogged. Petrol needs oil change, fuel system check, spark plug, air filter - the full works.
How long does a mower service take?
Usually 1-1.5 hours. Simple electric mower is quicker, petrol rotary takes the full time. Ride-on mowers take longer and cost more - give me a call to discuss those separately.
What if the mower needs parts?
Common bits like spark plugs, filters and oil I'll have with me or can pick up quickly. Bigger parts (blade, drive belt, etc.) I'll quote first. Sometimes an old mower isn't worth repairing - I'll tell you honestly.
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