FAQ | Lake Oconee Tool And Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

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Should I wash my mower?

How long do you warrant your work?

What is included in a mower annual service?

Check for operational safety.
Check engine oil and add oil if necessary.
Start engine and note starter performance.
Note how quickly engine starts and how engine runs at idle, half throttle, and full throttle.
Listen for excessive engine valve clearance and adjust valves later if necessary.
Engage blades and note any excessive belt slippage, and mower performance with blades engaged.
Listen for failed pulley bearings, and/or failed spindle bearings and replace later if necessary. (With engine off, belts removed, and any blade brakes disengaged, pulleys and spindles should spin smoothly and silently. In most cases they should also spin with very light resistance due to friction from lubricant and seals.)
Note any excessive vibration. (Bent or excessively worn blades, burned or worn belts, sticks or gumballs lodged in pulley grooves, and bent pulleys can all cause excess vibration.)

Test mower functions and safety features.
Allow engine to run several minutes to reach operating temperature.
Shut engine off and drain engine oil. (For most oil changes, we allow oil to drain overnight for a more complete drain.)
If practical, visually inspect fuel in fuel tank and remove contaminated or old fuel from fuel system.
Remove air filter and check for dirt ingestion. Ensure air filter housing sealing surfaces are clean.
Change engine oil, oil filter, spark plug(s), fuel filter, and air filter.

Test battery if battery terminal corrosion is present or if starter performance was questionable.
Check for proper choke adjustment/operation if engine was hard to start.
Remove belt guards.
Blow debris from mower and engine using compressed air.
Check all belts for cracks and wear. Replace if necessary.
Grease all grease fittings and check pivot points for sticking or binding.
Sharpen or replace mower blades, and check blades for coplanarity after installation.

Check hydraulic/drive oil level and change hydraulic filter if necessary.
Adjust tire pressures if necessary.

Adjust deck levelness if necessary and straighten deck if twisted.

Adjust brakes if necessary.
Adjust mower tracking if applicable and necessary.
Note any oil leaks and call customer if necessary.
Call customer if any significant issues are noted outside of general maintenance.

Debris lodged in pulley groove

Blade misalignment

Acceptable Tire Pressure

Over Inflated Tire

Twisted Deck

Red line shows approximate angle of left side of deck.
Blue line shows approximate angle of right side of deck.

Should I wash my mower?

Although it can be tempting to spray or even pressure wash your new mower to keep it looking clean, you should be aware of the problems that will result from washing.

Water will settle into ball bearings in pulleys and blade spindles. Although most bearings are sealed, water will eventually make its way in and cause the bearing to rust internally. The bearing will no longer run smoothly and silently as a result of the rust and the bearing will fail prematurely. We replace a large number of pulleys and blade spindles or spindle bearings as a result of customers washing mowers.
Water will settle into pivot points and cause those areas to rust and bind. Pivot points such as belt tensioner arms will no longer move freely.
Water will settle into cables and cause the inner wire to rust and break.
Water will settle into electrical connectors and cause corrosion of terminals and electrical problems.
Water will settle between the threads of fasteners and cause corrosion, especially fasteners threaded into aluminum. This may make it difficult or impossible to remove some screws for mower service without breakage.

The best way to keep your mower clean is to blow it off with an air nozzle connected to an air compressor or at the very least use a leaf blower.

How do Kawasaki And Kohler Command engines compare?

Below is simply a summary of what we have experienced over the years in our shop.

Some of the most common Kawasaki engine problems we have seen are listed below.

Ignition coil failure
Oil leaks
Exhaust valve guide movement in cylinder head
Carburetor Problems (Specifically the loss of welch plugs on some engine carburetors.)
Premature starter failure

Some of the most common Kohler Command engine problems we have seen are listed below.

Ignition system failure
Oil leaks
Poor ground of charging system on some versions
Blown head gaskets

Kohler Command engines have hydraulic valve lifters, so valves do not need adjustment. Most Kawasaki engines have valves that must be adjusted at about 200 to 300 hours and periodically throughout the life of the engine.
Kohler Command Engines seem to need less repairs than Kawasaki engines, however, when repairs are needed on a Kohler engine, you are more likely to run into seized/stripped/broken fasteners. Similar repairs tend to be more expensive on a Kohler Command engine vs a Kawasaki engine.
Kawasaki engines have a more straightforward design and utilize higher quality fasteners that are more consistent with each other, making repairs much easier than on a Kohler Command engine.

Most engines that we have replaced due to major engine failure, were replaced around 1100 to 1300 hours of use. This applies to both Kawasaki and Kohler engines. As any engine ages, it will need more maintenance and inspection. However, the reality is that it often will receive less. If the level of maintenance that you are providing is no longer sufficient for an engine with over 1000 hours of use, you may be met with an unwelcome surprise.

How long do you warrant your work?

Installed parts are subject to manufacturer’s warranty.

If there is something not right about our work or something we have overlooked, then we always want the opportunity to address our mistake regardless of the amount of time that has elapsed. Every repair we perform is thoroughly tested to try to ensure it meets the customer's expectations. Sometimes however, things are overlooked or the full scope of a problem or solution may not have been in view at the time of repair. We stand behind our work, and if we decide that a customer must be charged a second time, then we will ensure that it is not a case wherein things are questionable.