Just like in your cars and other machinery that require a battery to perform effectively, there comes a time when your lawn mower’s battery needs to be changed. Usually after 3 to 6 years of use.
Replacing your lawn mower’s battery is in no way a difficult task. It is pretty similar to replacing the battery in a car or any other machine. In this article, I will be walking you through the steps to safely change your lawn mower battery.
Find the Battery
The battery is usually located under the hood, on the deck or under the seat of a riding mower. But before you go in search of your lawn mower battery, make sure that your lawn mower is turned off and has had some time to cool off. Put your lawn mower on a flat surface, remove the keys and then proceed to replace the battery.
Disconnect the Battery Terminals
After removing any brackets that serve to hold the battery in place, you can now proceed to remove the battery cables.
Always start by disconnecting the negative terminal first. The cable for the negative terminal is colored black. The polarity of each terminal is indicated on the battery, be sure to check that indeed the terminal connected to the black cable is the negative terminal. After disconnecting the cable, move it aside so it doesn’t come in contact with the battery terminal or any other metal part of the lawn mower.
In the same way, go ahead to disconnect the positive terminal. If you encounter any corrosion on either of the battery terminals. You can try using a wire brush to scrape off the rust but if it doesn’t bulge, prepare a mixture of water and baking soda and apply it to the terminals. Allow it to sit for a while and then use a wire brush and clean water to wash away the corrosion. Clean up any water left with a rag. If the connectors still prove stubborn, a flathead screwdriver will come in handy.
Replace the Battery
After removing the old battery, store it in a safe place and be sure to take it to a battery store or a car service station so it can be recycled or properly disposed of.
The replacement battery should be of equal voltage with the previous battery. Before putting in the new lawn mower battery, clean the battery compartment. Use a towel dipped in a mixture of water and baking soda. After that, just use a wet rag to clean out the compartment and give it time to dry.
Then put in the new battery, and orient it the same way as the old battery. To avoid future corrosion, rub petroleum jelly on the lawn mower battery terminals before connecting them. At first, you should connect the positive terminal after that connect the negative terminal. Make sure the connections are secure, then install any brackets or covers that were previously removed.
Safety Tips
Lawn mower batteries like other batteries contain acid, so be careful when handling them. it is a good idea to wear safety goggles and hand gloves, you never know, there might be a leak.
